Revelation 2:16

‘Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Peace with the world can mean war with God

Remember Balaam was killed with the sword

Revelation 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."

“hidden manna”

In chapter 11 the ark of the covenant and manna is in the ark

Exodus 16:33-34; Heb. 9:4 If you are invited to have manna you

are invited into heaven

“white stone”

Token of acquittal given by the judge in a court case

Token used to gain access to the marriage supper or some formal occasion where authority for admission must be given

Token granted as a special privilege of honor to public heroes with purchase of power in the market place

Token given for protection in contrast to charms—this was genuine

“new name”

Associated with the stone gives power and authority to the possessor.

Name only known to the chosen Most likely the name of Jesus Christ

see 3:12

II. The Message to the Seven Churches

a. To the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)b. To the Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)c. Pergamum (2:12-17)d. Thyatira (2:18-29)

Thyatira

40 miles Southeast of Pergamum Was well known for trade guilds Acts 16:13-14 One noted trade guild was the

bronze and coppersmiths

Revelation 2:18

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

Feet of bronze

Rev. 1:15 and 2:18 use this word calkolibanov chalkolibanon for “fine bronze”

This is the only known time this word is used in all of Greek literature

Used here because of guild of metal workers, they would have known its technical meaning

Revelation 2:19

"I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

How can we show love, service, faith and patience? How can we show our works?

Revelation 2:20-23 "Nevertheless I have a few things

against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

Who was Jezebel?

1 Kings 16:31 1 Kings 18:4, 13 1 Kings 19:1-7 1 Kings 21:5-25 2 Kings 9:7, 10, 22, 30

Who is Jezebel in this text?

Could be the wife of a leader in the congregation

Could be a woman of great influence in the congregation and the community

Most likely a name to designate someone totally sold out who tried to influence others to do the same

What does the text specifically say she was doing?

How can we ensure that no false teaching takes place?

Revelation 2:24-25

"Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.”

“deep things of Satan”

False teachers like the Gnostics of the next century, may be claiming secret, deep knowledge, and these secrets are now designated as having Satan for their author, not God as we claimed

Revelation 2:26-29

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ — as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Authority over the nations

Rev. 21:24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Iron Scepter

Image of Judgment Rev. 19:2 "For true and righteous are

His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.“

Ps. 2:9

Morning star

To the Romans Venus was the morning star

It was a symbol of victory Could be symbolic of eternal life Rev. 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel

to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

Idea here would be that Jesus is clothed with the glory of the brightest star, and it is a sign that the dawning of a new day is at hand.

It was reported that there was no church in the city at the end of the second century. Epiphanius that that it later became a nest for Montanism.

II. The Message to the Seven Churches

a. To the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)b. To the Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)c. Pergamum (2:12-17)d. Thyatira (2:18-29)e. Sardis (3:1-6)

Revelation 3:1

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

What is the difference between character and reputation?

What is their reputation, what is their character?

Sardis

30 miles Southeast of Thyratyre It had been a political center, but no

longer It had a mountain fortress

surrounded by cliffs. In contemporary literature it is made

fun of because of its great arrogance They bragged about the days of old

and how they are unbeatable

Sardis

In 549 BC Cyrus did conquer them In 218 BC Antiochus III conquered

them What is important is how they were

beat They were also known for their dried

goods and their rich residents They had a large Jewish population

as is seen by their synagogue that built by the gymnasium that was a football field in length

Sardis Some of the local religions focused on

seasonal renewal of life According to Strabo Sardis had been

devastated by an earthquake sometime before (A.D. 17)

Melito in A.D. 180 is the most well known Christian he was the first to refer to the Scriptures as divided between the Old Testament and, by inference, the New Testament. And among his works is listed the earliest known commentary of the Apocalypse.

Revelation 3:1

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Seven Spirits and Seven Stars

Seen in chapter 1 Will be seen again in 4:5

Revelation 3:2-3

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

What appears to be their major problem?

Repent and be ready

What other texts can you think of in which Jesus speaks like this?

Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39 Revelation 16:15

Revelation 3:4-6

"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Dressed in white

Often used in Revelation to denote purity and victory; unspotted by the world. The clothes of the redeemed (Rev. 6:11; 7:9, 13)

James 1:27

Book of Life

Philippians 4:3 Exodus 32:32-33 Psalm 69:28 Daniel 12:1 Luke 10:20 Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27

Book of Life

Basically it is a register of the citizens of Heaven, the saved. A person cannot earn his place in the book, but by grace and obedient faith, his name is written there; then as he is faithful and overcomes, his name will not be blotted out.

Remember this is imagery though

How can a person know if their name is written in the book of life?

What do you think your reputation is?

What do you think the reputation is of this church?

In what ways do you think the modern church is lazy or sleepy?

II. The Message to the Seven Churches

a. To the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)b. To the Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)c. Pergamum (2:12-17)d. Thyatira (2:18-29)e. Sardis (3:1-6)f. Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Philadelphia

40 miles Southeast of Sardis It had a large Jewish population It was meant originally to serve as a

missionary center for Hellenism in order to spread the Greek language and culture especially to the “backward people” in the mountains of Lydia and Phrygia.

It was on what became the greatest trade route in the country

Philadelphia

The whole city needed patient endurance for a good many years

No city had suffered as much through the years from earthquakes

Revelation 3:7

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":

Key of David

Isaiah 22:22 speaking of Eliakim God says this is symbol for the

messiah, whatever he opens no one can close…

Revelation 3:8-9

"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”

an open door

What could this mean knowing what you know?

1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3