The Epistle of Jesus #2: To the Churches
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
A. Defining the Church
A. Defining the Church
1. The book of Revelation, that we are calling the Epistle of Jesus, was written at His command by John. Jesus said in Revelation 1:7, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
1. The book of Revelation, that we are calling the Epistle of Jesus, was written at His command by John. Jesus said in Revelation 1:7, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
2. Then Jesus dictates and John, literally acting as his amanuensis, writes starting at Revelation who is sending this letter and who it is being sent to, this was the traditional way of addressing a letter, an epistle in John’s day. It is the way we see Paul, Peter, James and John address most of their letters.
2. Then Jesus dictates and John, literally acting as his amanuensis, writes starting at Revelation who is sending this letter and who it is being sent to, this was the traditional way of addressing a letter, an epistle in John’s day. It is the way we see Paul, Peter, James and John address most of their letters.
3. Revelation 1:17–20… I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
3. Revelation 1:17–20… I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
4. Then in chapter 2 Jesus begins to address each of the churches individually according to the needs in each church. The were real churches that John who had been the pastor in Ephesus in the past, knew quite well. Each church was along a highway that led from Ephesus in a circular path which then ended at Laodicea. The order of the letters is the order that you would travel along that trade road.
4. Then in chapter 2 Jesus begins to address each of the churches individually according to the needs in each church. The were real churches that John who had been the pastor in Ephesus in the past, knew quite well. Each church was along a highway that led from Ephesus in a circular path which then ended at Laodicea. The order of the letters is the order that you would travel along that trade road.