wk6 revelation 3
DESCRIPTION
This is a slide show from week 6 of Jon Kohler's Revelation Class for Amarillo College.TRANSCRIPT
- 1. The Church of Sardis 3:1-6
2. Temple of Artemis at Sardis
3. Bath and Gymnasium
Synagogue at Sardis
4. Plaza
Acropolis of Sardis
5. Background
Center of trade and industry
impregnable acropolis
capital of the Lydian kingdom of Croesus
Greatest city of Persian Asia Minor
Imperial cult thrived
Acropolis was conquered twice both by stealth. 1st by Cyrus in 546
B.C. and 2nd by Antiochus the Great in 218 B.C.
On both occasions the invader came at night.
6. Rev 3:1
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and
the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being
alive, but you are dead.
Notice the similar description of Christ as that of Ephesus. Both
churches are struggling with comparative issues.
7. This churchs confession is that it is alive and well; yet, it is
dead.
Life and death in 3:1 probably relates to spiritual life and death
in the case of believers (3:1; 20:4, 5).In the case of Jesus, it
always represents resurrection life that is both physical and
eternal (fully-consummated life).Christ is the only one who is
currently alive in the fully consummated sense of the word. Thus
life for everyone else must be spiritual (metaphorical).
Church within a church.
8. Rev 3:2
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have
not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
Christ commands this church to wake from its spiritually lethargic
state.
There is something lacking in their faith.
9. Rev 3:3
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and
repent.
The therefore in this passage is a huge logical indicator.It means
that based upon the condition of the church they must turn around
from their present course of action.
10. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you
will not know at what time I will come to you.
This verse is shrouded in imagery like that of the synoptics and
Pauls description of Christs unexpected coming Day of the Lord
(Matt 24:43; Luke 12:39; I Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).
Because of the conditional clause this is probably a judgment
before the final judgment.
The thief metaphor would be esp. appropriate to this city.
11. Rev 3:4
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their
clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are
worthy.
Stain or soil is associated elsewhere in the bible for the
pollution of idolatry (14:4; 6-9).In chapter 14 it relates this
imagery to sexual immorality.
Walking with Christ being dressed in white means that they are pure
and have associated with Jesus rather than with the pagan
culture.
12. Rev 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never
blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his
name before my Father and his angels.
The reward of receiving white garments is an inaugurated reward.It
begins in this life, yet it is only fully consummated at the second
coming or even at the believers death and then finally consummated
at the second coming (4:4; 6:9-11; 7:9-14; 19:13).
Book of life is used in a predestinational context (13:8; 17:8;
20:12, 15; 21:27; see likewise Phil. 4:3; Luke 10:20; Heb.
12:23).
13. If they are genuine believers, then their names, indeed, have
already been written down in the book of life, they are destined
for a salvific inheritance, and nothing will prevent them from
possessing it.In somewhat unusual fashion the positive guarantee of
this inheritance is expressed negatively: I will not erase his name
(Beale, Revelation, 280).
I will never blot out his name This phrase does not represent a
possibility but a fact stated by Jesus.There is major assurance of
salvation in this text, if you can see it.
The unfaithful are never positively associated with the book of
life.
14. The Church of Philadelphia 3:7-13
15. Background
Newest of the cities addressed
Founded by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum (159-138 B.C.)
A missionary center for the spread of Greek culture
Earth quakes were common
Destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 17
Rebuilt with aid from Tiberius, and renamed Neocaesarea
16. Rev 3:7
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key
of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one
can open.
Christ is the holy and true witness and the heir of the Davidic
throne.Christ and his people are the true Jews in contrast to those
who claim to be Jews, but are not, but lie (3:9).
Isaiah 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of
David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can
open.
17. In 3:9 Jesus assumes the role of Yahweh and his followers
represent the true Israel.
The Keys that Jesus is talking about refers back to 1:18.Jesus by
his sovereignty holds the keys over salvation and judgment.
18. Rev 3:8
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that
no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have
kept my word and have not denied my name.
This is an open door for the Philadelphians to enter into salvation
life.Moreover, it is an entrance into covenantal life that is
described as entrance into the house of David (v. 7) and into the
city and temple of God (v. 12).
19. Open door is often associated with witnessing in the NT (Acts
14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3).Therefore, the open door
not only refers to salvation but to the churches witness to that
salvation.
Even in spite of little strength they have stayed true to the
witness of Christ among the nations.
20. Rev 3:9
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to
be Jews though they are not, but are liars
These ethnic Jews are claiming to be the true Israel, yet in
reality they are liars because they reject the Jewish Messiah:
Jesus.
21. I will make them come and fall down at your feet and
acknowledge that I have loved you.
The second half of this verse is parallel to the first.Both halves
have salvation in mind, and further point to the fact that the
church is the true Israel.This phrase echoes Isa. 45:14; 49:23;
60:14 and Ps. 86:9 that predict the Gentiles bowing down before
Israel and Israels God in the last days.
In Isa 43:4 ethnic Israel is to be the object of Gods love, in a
salvation historical shift; the church is now Israel.
22. Rev 3:10
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also
keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the
whole world to test those who live on the earth.
The Christians in Philadelphia have been faithful to witnessing for
Christ.Because of this Christ promises his protection.
The fact that this trial will occur upon the whole world could lead
to three possible interpretations: (1) this is the final period of
escalated tribulation (11:7ff and 20:8), (2) Christs second coming
which is referred to as an hour (11:13; 14:7, 15; 18:10, 17, 19),
or (3) an imminent trial that is to face all of Asia Minor in the
limited known world at that time.
23. Rev 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will
take your crown.
This is a promise not that the Christians will escape physical
trials but that they will be able to endure through it based upon
Christs sustaining power.
Reference to believers receiving a crown may develop further Isa.
22:22 context, where God promises to take away evil Shebnas crown
and give it to faithful Eliakim (Isa. 22:17, 21) (Beale,
Revelation, 293).
24. Rev 3:12
will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he
leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of
the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of
heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
Christ promises to write the name of God on the faithful (v.
12).The name of God is not only a sign of intimacy, of being a
member of his family, but here in Revelation a sign of ownership
and protection, as we see in 14:1 compared to 13:16.It is
equalivant to the seal on the forehead in 9:4 and 7:1-8 (cf. Hag.
2:23; Mal 3:17-18; Ezek. 9:4-11; Ex. 28:36; 19:5-6) (Poythress, The
Returning King, 92).
25. The church of Laodicea 3:14-22
Hot springs of Laodicea
26. Colonnade of Laodicea
27. Background
Founded by Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.)
Cicero knew it as a banking center
Famous textile industry
glossy-black wool produced in the vicinity
Had a medical school
Known for ear ointment and probably also for the Phrygian powder
used in the making of eye salve
Financially independent and refused government aid after the
earthquake of A.D. 60
28. Rev 3:14
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
ruler of God's creation.
Jesus uses the terminology of a faithful and true witness to
inspire the Christians in Laodicea to stop compromising with the
world.If they do not heed his warning to repent, they will face him
again as the faithful and true judge (19:11) who will vomit them
out of his mouth (3:16).
Christ is the beginning of creation, this is an echoing back to the
resurrection as the first event which launches the inaugurated new
creation event.
29. Rev 3:15-16
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you
were either one or the other!So, because you are lukewarm-- neither
hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Cold water was good for drinking
Hot water was useful for bathing
Lukewarm was useful for nothing
30. Rev 3:17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a
thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,
poor, blind and naked.
Recall Laodiceas economic independence
The Laodiceans could have believed the OT concept known as the
retribution principle.Since they were economically astute, they
believed that their financial status was a barometer to determine
their spirituality.
31. Rev 3:18
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can
become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your
shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can
see.
Refined Gold is biblical imagery for the purifying of ones life by
the removal of sin (cf. Job 23:10; Prov. 27:21; Mal. 3:2-3).
This same imagery is used for the purifying effect of tribulation
upon Gods people (Zech 13:9; 1 Pet. 1:6-9).
32. Uncovering their shame of nakedness is language employed in
Gods accusation of Israel and other nations for participation in
idolatry (so Isa. 43:3; Ezek. 16:36; 23:39; Nah. 3:5) (Beale,
Revelation, 306).
Eye-salve for regaining sight is an allusion to the Laodiceans lack
of spiritual discernment (cf. Jn 9:39-41).
Buying white garments has the same meaning as that of refined
gold.Note the parallel to the church in Sardis who is clothed in
white, because they have not stained their garments.
33. Rev 3:19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and
repent.
Christs message to this church is one of reproof and discipline, it
is a message of love based upon Gods mercy in light of his coming
judgment.
34. Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with
me.
This is an invitation not for the readers to be converted but for
them to renew a relationship with Christ that has already begun
based upon the context of verse 19.
35. Rev 3:21
I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Christ shares the Fathers throne because his victory is the Fathers
victory also, and the conqueror shares Christs throne because his
victory is Christs.It is the profound and moving theme of the
apocalyptic visions which follow that, in the agelong battle
between God and Satan, God knows no other victory and needs no
other victory than that which is won by the Cross of Christ,
faithfully proclaimed to the world in the martyr witness of his
church (Caird, The Revelation of St. John, 58).