The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Thyatira, founded under Alexander the Great, was noted for its trade, particularly purple dye. Our focus should be on what message God is giving us through the seven churches. Located in Asia Minor (now modern Turkey), these churches represented actual communities of early Christians—not buildings or meeting halls.In addressing each of these congregations, God said that He knew their works. Revelation 21:1. 3:17 100% Economic Leadership -Rev. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 3:1 Rev. There church, however, had a giant problem. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him. Deuteronomy 11:12, In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. If you had been John on the island of Patmos, how would you have responded when Jesus appeared in all His glory? The answer lies in the realization that the letters of chapters 2 and 3 have a representative as well as a specific purpose. Goodbye trials and troubles. Most pastors teach that Jesus was just addressing the churches that existed at the time it was written in 95 A.D. He listed them in verses 7–10. 2:14-15 -Rev. Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Comment: Christ specifically addresses the book of Revelation to the seven churches in Asia, but the introductory chapter places it in the context of the Day of the Lord and Christ's return. Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. In the church in which I grew up and the Bible College I attended there was a great deal of focus on the the Book of Revelation (as the Bible Church tended to refer to it). Temptation. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves “soberly”—that is, realistically or accurately. With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites made—not to provoke God’s discipline by willfully sinning. California is a dry state that needs water to be transported over many miles to population and agricultural centers. Satan doesn’t attack bad or weak churches. Once the apocalyptic … Ephesus, the gateway to Asia Minor, was located at a major harbor on the Aegean Sea and housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (a temple to Artemis). When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. To think less of God’s gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly. Paul’s topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. Comparison Chart Š Letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation . They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. Luke 6:12. Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. Earlier this year, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. However, the … As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith. Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Knowing the challenges they were facing and how they were responding, He admonished them to repent of their mist… But what is the biblical view of humility. This Revelation Timeline Decoded Bible study will show you how the 7 churches of Revelation represent seven Church eras that have spanned throughout history, and end when the Lord returns.. The Christian’s victory is through Christ. Third, since both the challenge and promise with which each letter ends are pers… With false humility? Hiding sin does not remove it from God’s sight; but when we seek God’s forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restored—that is the power of confession. In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). It was also known for its medical school and costly fabrics. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Coming back to our study in Revelation, we see the sin problem as it affected seven churches of the time of the Apostle John – at the end of the first century. Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. We have noted already that John wasn’t writing to individual believers, but to churches that were characterized by sin problems. The trip of a lifetime landed in my lap—visiting the Seven Churches of Revelation. IV, p. 1144. The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. 1 Peter 5:5, NIV, What is humility? Describe the references to doors made by Paul in the following verses: How should we determine whether an opportunity is a door being opened by God? After the shock of seeing Him, would you have worshiped Him or cowered in fear for having ignored Him in your life? Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. The first level is historical. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. Although the Book of Revelation has been vastly studied and interpreted throughout church history, usually the focus is on one major issue within the text, namely, the role and future of the church. 2:9 --Rev. The New International Version translation was used in making this quiz. That is integrity. ; Smyrna: The church that would face severe persecution (Revelation 2:10). Until recently, I didn’t even know all seven churches were located in modern-day Turkey. Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. How do you view yourself? They can be read with four levels of application. 1 Corinthians 15:58. (2) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution (2:10). As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. The church in Thyatira was doing everything right, except for holiness. If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word. 2:19-20 -Rev. These seven churches really existed, and each was experiencing the particular problem to which the Lord referred as He dictated the letters to John. to the warnings that Old Testament Israel received from their prophets when Israel failed in their role as God’s representatives on earth These seven churches are the reason the Revelation was written in the first place. To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Genesis 1:28. Is it the opposite of pride? The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom. Privacy Policy, In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Revelation 1:20 defines the "seven stars" as the angels or messengers of the seven churches that are held in the hand of Jesus. 3:9 Rev. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always. How does the theme apply to those who are possibly facing death for their faith? The seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 were congregations of the Church of God in the first century. During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. William Gurnall, The Lord your God cares. What we’re going to do today, is we are going to look at just an overview of Rev. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The first purpose of the letters was to communicate with the literal churches and meet their… 10 0 obj The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11—”Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.” To what things was Paul referring? Because of its recent existence, historical records and documented information on the subject is not yet available. 2:6 Rev. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realistically—humbly—and minister accordingly. They’re building a palace for me over there. That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Today, we begin an eight (8) part series on the Book of Revelation. seven churches of Revelation to be a predictive prophecy representative of the chronological unfolding of the Church’s history. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his “bones grew old” and he groaned “all the day long” (verse 3). 2 and 3 are found back in the Epistles of Paul. Pergamos, the location of Rome’s provincial capital, was a major cultural hub that housed a library rivaling the famed Alexandrian library. Pray for holiness in the Body of Christ. Francis Schaeffer, Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Matthew 23:27-28 refer to “whitewashed tombs.” How could this metaphor apply to the church in Sardis? (�-��u��/΅�ed���vI� B�2�l�pQ>� J�~LO)�+�x9�P�Ψ�$a� E�x�)�B@u�tj~Pi��h�4�)R�K� 3� � e��5KT%���Q�Z�)5�t!����4vcN�QP�HJ��� Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human. Founded by Paul, this was the most prominent church in Asia Minor. One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. Revelation 1:4 . Richard Sibbes, I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. Spiritual Problems and Solutions from the 7 Churches of Revelation 1. The seven churches described in Revelation 2-3 are seven literal churches at the time that John the apostle was writing Revelation. 2. In the end, we saw a lot of rocks. With pride? The seven churches had their share of problems, but they also had some important positive attributes. We should neither overestimate the gift of God’s grace or underestimate it. /Filter /LZWDecode 2:6 Rev. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10). Seven Churches of Revelation Dony K. Donev While Bulgarian Protestant churches and missions in Northern America have been present since the early twentieth century, networking between them is a rather new phenomenon that has occurred for less than a decade. Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian’s life. The book of Revelation is addressed to the Seven Churches; not just Chapters 2 and 3, but the entire book. Integrity of heart is indispensable. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Read Acts 19—20. that the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 represent the condition of the church during the various periods comprising the Christian Era-as Ephesus, for the apostolic age; Sardis, in the eighteenth century; and Laodicea, the 'remnant' church at the end of the age." Our focus should be on what message God is giving us through the seven churches. 2:20 Rev. Description. Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life? God’s Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it’s too late. The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world. Snowfall in the winter and melting snow in the spring are critical factors in replenishing shrinking reservoirs. There are several problems with this interpretation though. We must look for and take “the way of escape” God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). List all the things Paul says cannot separate us from God’s love in Christ. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in Asia Minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in today’s church age. Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32—a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. It was now more than fifty-five years from the time of Jesus’ death and Resurrection. The end of the church's letter also mentions details about eternal rewards. How do Paul’s words in Romans 12:11 illustrate what the church in Laodicea illustrate had not done? These churches were planted and cultivated by the Apostle Paul, with the church at Ephesus being the lead church. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will. Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. usk�6��f����p��HU����5�D��2��/|� �R���KW|Tĺ��\^��{/�~�i�G ��r�9�(i���N�W�N|���5b��. Take the Quiz: Seven Churches in Revelation Part 1. Think of every promise as a precious stone. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). In the second century A.D., Rome martyred Polycarp, its bishop. << The Seven Churches of Revelation are … (1) Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) – the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4). How do we find balance in a world that focuses so much on outward appearance? But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. Jesus’ words to John are His words to you today: “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. According to Revelation 1:11, on the Greek island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs John of Patmos to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." Or do you graciously say, “Thank you,” in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study Rome and the surrounding territories became increasing hostile to Jesus’ followers after His death. That’s the view given by most English dictionaries—a deemphasis on one’s own importance. Have you maintained your “first love”? None of us is above God’s discipline if we engage in sin.
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