Revelation part 2

Intro

the address to the seven churches

many very similar words of encouragement and conviction

writing to a church in a difficult world

He knows their works

Ephesus

Ephesus is in the center of a world torn by many things

the truth for most all of these places

the movement has grown to the point of difficulty within and without

the beginning of the church’s greatest problem can be seen in this

there are many who are teaching things that are not what Christ taught

most all of these messages to the church have the same format

Ephesus was able to weed out those who were untrue, such as the gnostics

however, they have lost the love that they first had and Jesus through John calls them to repent

to us this seems almost silly to use the term repent for

your attitude toward this is serious

Smyrna

it seems as though the Jews in this area are still acting toward the movement like the leaders who killed Jesus

encourages the church to be conquerors, similar language to Paul

there is nothing that can overcome the love you have in Christ

the crown of life is worth all of this

this is why its important that your love not fade

Pergamum

the two edged sword, a two- fold call

encouragement for those remaining faithful despite their circumstance

conviction for those who are falling into all of these many temptations

Thyatira

images of Christ resembling Daniel things

there are many working for faith but there has come one who claims to be a prophetess who is leading many astray

those are to be trampled like pots

there are many who sound good and appealing that will lead us to be trampled over

Sardis

the reputation of being alive, but you are dead

calling to wake up

a similar call to Ephesus

it is easy to appear to be something that in reality you are not

to have a faith that looks alive but is really dead

these are the words of Christ, that unless your life is about this you will die

Philadelphia

very positive to Philadelphia

the power that they have is not to do great and amazing miracles but it is the power to endure and continue working in the midst of evil

something exciting hinted at

the new heaven and the new Jerusalem for those who have seized the crown

Laodicea

probably the most famous of all of these

the neither cold nor hot passage

why is it that they are neither hot nor cold?

they are unmotivated to be anything of significance

ironic considering their status

he disciplines those whom he loves

Application

after all of this he will begin describing all the things leading up to and the apocalypse

Jesus is giving the what before the why here

this world is full of evil and life is reserved for those who overcome despite that

those who are living entirely for this and their works show that

there is no time to waste being lukewarm or faking this or remembering when it was easier to be

the kingdom is now and forever and the crown is still to be earned