Revelation 2 Letters

Letters to
to the
the Churches
Churches

1
A. Salutation: Church Character
B. Jesus’ Self-Designation
C. Commendation
D. Condemnation
E. Exhortation
F. Warning
G. Promise
A. Salutation: Church Character
B. Jesus’ Self-Designation
C. Commendation
D. Condemnation
E. Exhortation
F. Warning
G. Promise
Revelation 2 Letters
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the Churches
Churches

I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

v.1 To the angel of the church—

In this case—human messengers.

• Angelos:
elos “An envoy; one who is sent.”
• John the Baptist (Matt 11:10) “My messenger”
• John’s disciples (Lk 7:19, 24) “Two messengers”
• Two spies (Jas 2:25) “Received the messengers”

Since John was to write a book (Rev 1:11)…

How could he deliver it—if it were to an angelic spirit
6 being?
Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

v.1 The church at Ephesus—

Paul stopped here

briefly on his 2nd
journey (Acts 18:19)

He spoke in the
synagogue.
ue
Aquila & Priscilla
remained here. (v.21)

Paul returned & taught

7 here 2 yrs (Acts 19:10)
Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

A. Salutation: Church Character
Ephesus:
Ephesus Capitol of Asia
• Very wealthy.
• Export center.
• Marble paved streets.
• Theater seating 25,000.
• Baths & Huge libraries.
• Temple to Artemis.
• Affluent, worldly, and
distracted populace.
populace
• Sounds like Seattle.
Road leading to the Harbor
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Acts 19:29, 40 Scene

of Ephesian Riot

Ephesian public toilets

Ephesian Marble Street

9 Temple of Artemis (Acts 19:27)
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

B. Jesus’ Self-Designation
Rev 2:1 The One who holds
the seven stars in His right
hand, the One who walks
among the seven golden
lampstands, says this…

Picture Christ walking among 7

churches of Puget Sound.

He knows what’s going on (continuously walks & inspects)

10 and is in control of the message and the messenger !
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

C. Commendation v.2-3
They had been a strong, active, faithful church.
They would not tolerate continuing sin.
1. I know your deeds & your toil & perseverance,
2. And that you cannot tolerate evil men,
3. And you put to the test those who call themselves apostles,
and you found them to be false (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1)
4. You have perseverance & have endured for My name's sake,
5. And have not grown weary. (Gal 6:9)
These are tremendous commendations
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Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

D. Condemnation v.4
Rev 2:4a But I have this against you, that
you have left your first love.
love
1. They had the Doctrines –right.
2. But they’d lost their strong ardent affection & concern.

Left—
Left “to give up.” Possibly because of battles with Nicolaitans (

First—(protos)
First At the beginning of your Christian life (UBS)

Love—(agape)
Love To hold in affection, to cherish, loving concern.
Could apply to their attitude toward others (1 Cor 13:4-7)
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Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

E. Exhortation v.5
Rev 2:5 Remember from where you have fallen,
& repent and do the deeds you did at first

Remember—
Remember Call to mind (in the continuous tense, imperative)
Fallen—
Fallen From a higher to lower place (Thayer’s)
Repent—
Repent To change one’s mind (Lk 17:3-4)
Do deeds—
deeds Qualities of love: not jealous, is not provoked,
believes all things, hopes all things (1 Cor 13)
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Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

F. Warning v.5-6
Rev 2:5 Or else I am coming to you and will
remove your lampstand out of its place
Lampstand—represented
Lampstand the church itself (Rev 1:20)

Historical fact:
fact The city had existed before 500 BC.
•Temple of Diana burned in 262 AD & wasn’t rebuilt.
ISBE
ISBE • An early church council was held here 341 AD.
• City soon lost importance & decreased in population
• Its sculptured stones were carried away to Italy.
• Later its few inhabitants were murdered or deported.
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Revelation 2 Letters
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I. Letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

G. Promise v.7
Rev 2:5 To him who
overcomes,
overcomes I will grant
to eat of the tree of life
which is in the Paradise
of God.'

Eternal life is promised

in paradise. (Gen 3:2)
Will YOU be an
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Overcomer?
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

A. Character of the city
Smyrna:
Smyrna 40 mi north of Ephesus

• First in beauty, in size, in litera-

ture, and loyalty to Rome.
• Her faithfulness and loyalty
became proverbial Hendricksen
• Considered themselves First in
so many areas! Lower level Agora
• Among most prosperous in Asia.
In Smyrna, Polycarp (AD 69-156), the disciple of John
served as an elder in later years and here was
18 martyred for his faith when he would not deny Christ.
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

A. Character of the city

Modern Smyrna Smyrna Market Smyrna Harbor

Streets and buildings extended from the bay up the sides of
the surrounding hills. Fountains flowed with the water from
the city’s aqueducts. A theater on one of the highest slopes
overlooked the lower city. Baths,
Baths gymnasiums,
gymnasiums a stadium &
speakers famed for rhetoric contributed to its cultural life.
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Revelation 2 Letters
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

B. Jesus’ Self-Designation
Rev 2:8 The first and the last,
last who was dead,
and has come to life..

Smyrna—
Smyrna You are NOT the beginning the end.

Was dead, and has come to life—Smyrna’s

life history is one
of successive battles, fires, earthquakes & rebuilding, but
it always escaped entire destruction. Smyrna was the last of
the Christian cities to hold out against the Moslems. (ISBE)
Jesus knows what it is to die—and return to life !
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

C. Commendation v.9
Rev 2:9 I know your tribulation and your poverty
(but you are rich),
rich and the blasphemy by
those who say they are Jews and are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan.

Poverty—
Poverty (ptoocheia) Meaning beggary, destitute.
Rich—(plousios) Wealthy, abundantly supplied. They were:
Rich in faith (Jas 2:25); Riches in heaven (Mat 6:20)
How much is heaven worth?
How much is the privilege of prayer worth?
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How much is all things working together for good worth?
Revelation 2 Letters
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

D. Condemnation

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Revelation 2 Letters
Letters to
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

E. Exhortation v. 10a
Rev 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
suffer

Do not fear—
fear (Phobeo) Meaning “terrified”.
You’ve faced poverty, tribulation & the Jews already.
But brace yourself—more is on the way.

About to suffer—that
suffer is “anything you suffer” UBS Handbook
Mentally prepare yourself to survive & overcome…
overcome
sickness, adversity, persecution, terrorists or whatever.
23 Plan that not death or disability will cause you to give up.
Revelation 2 Letters
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

F. Warning v. 10b
Rev 2:10 Behold, the devil is about to cast some
of you into prison, so that you will be tested,
tested
and you will have tribulation for ten days.
days

The Devil—The
Devil Jews were really Satan’s assembly (2:9)
Tested — test one’s faith or virtue. Thayer’s Greek-Eng Lexicon
Ten days — A short period of time (Gen 24:55; Dan 1:12,14)
Jesus didn’t say that he’d eliminate tribulations—
But he promised that it wouldn’t last too long.
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Revelation 2 Letters
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

G. Promise v. 10c, 11b
Rev 2:10c Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
life

Be faithful—Keep
faithful being trustworthy in discharge of duties.
They were already noted for their loyalty to
Rome.

Until death — “Keep faithful even if they kill you“ (UBS)

Crown of life — (Stephanos) Victory crown

But this crown is everlasting life !
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Revelation 2 Letters
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II. Letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

G. Promise v. 10c, 11b
Rev 2:11b He who overcomes will not be hurt by
the second death.
death

Rev 20:14-15 This is

the second death,
death the
lake of fire.
fire 15 And if
anyone's name was
not found written in
the book of life, he
was thrown into the
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lake of fire.
fire
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Revelation 2 Letters
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

A. Salutation: City Character v. 12
Rev 2:12 to the angel of the church in Pergamum write
• City Stood in a wide
valley 15 mi. from Aegean

• Colonists struck the

first coins here 420BC.
• Became the most
beautiful city in the east—
State Buildings, Temples,
Theater, Library w/ 200,000
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volumes 2nd only to the
Revelation 2 Letters
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

B. Jesus’ Self-Designation 2:12
Rev 2:12 The One who has the
sharp two-edged sword

a. Sword comes from His Mouth (1:6)

b. Sword of Spirit =
Word of God (Eph 6:17)

c. Sword was necessary to cut out the

corrupt religion & false teaching
30 in Pergamum (see v. 13-15)
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

C. Commendation 2:13
Rev 2:13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.
And you hold fast My name, & did not deny My faith
even in the days of Antipas… who was killed

1. Was earliest Asian center for Emperor-worship

• Had THREE temples to individual Caesars.
2. Had TWO temples for cultured Greek religions
• Temple to Zeus—mercy
Zeus & justice (admin capitol).
• Temple to Athena—wisdom,
Athena war, protector of cities.

3. Had TWO temples for popular Asiatic Religions

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• Temple to Dionysus—god of vegetation, wine, orgies.
 Revelation 2 Letters
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

D. Condemnation 2:14-15
Rev 2:14-15 But I have a few things against
you

# 1 Some hold the teaching of Balaam—

Balaam immorality accepted.
Compromise of religion is fatal (Num 31:15-16)
# 2 Some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans—
Nicolaitans Sect
that persuaded men that eating food offered to idols
was irrelevant (contrast Acts15)…especially in times
of persecution. They would claim liberty : “Eating in
the heathen temples is fine.” (McClintok; Nelson)
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Revelation 2 Letters
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

E. Warning 2:16
Rev 2:16 'Therefore repent; or else I am
coming to you quickly, and I will make war
against them with the sword of My mouth.
mouth

His word has POWER:

It calmed the sea, created worlds, & raised dead.
Neither Nicolatians, Balaamites left documents
nor institutions behind.
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Revelation 2 Letters
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III. The Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

F. Promise 2:17
Rev 2:17 To him who overcomes, to him I will give…
give

#1 Some of the hidden manna—Divine

manna food (Ex 16:13-35)
Close communion with Christ (John 6:49-51)
#2 I will give him a white stone—ancient
stone courts gave a
black stone for guilt & white for acquittal. Robertson
# 3 And a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he
who receives it— Names described character, relationship or status.
You will be given
a name—and only you will know what it cost you !
34 Abraham Gen 17:5; Peter Jn 1:42; Barnabas Ac 4:36
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KEY
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Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

A. Salutation v. 18
Rev 2:18 to the angel of the church in Thyatira write

It was a wealthy commercial town in

the Lycus valley. Its modern name is
Akhisar with a population of 100,000.
The gospel may have reached here
as a result of Paul’s teaching in the
school of Tyrannus & then it spread-
ing through Asia (Acts 19:10).
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Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

A. Salutation v. 18a
Thyatira was noted for its trade guilds (A union). Every
artisan belonged to a guild, & every guild, owned
property, wielded a wide influence. Lydia sold her purple
fabrics in Philippi,
and was a native
of Thyatira.

She was a convert

of Paul.
(Acts 16:14-15)
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 Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

B. Jesus Self-Designation v. 18b
Rev 2:18 The Son of God, who
has eyes like a flame of fire…
fire
Eyes Searching-Penetrating
Heb 4:13; 2 Chron 16:9
6:19

Heb 4:13
And there2isChron 16:9 that isRev 2:18 And his feet are like
no creature
For the eyes in
not manifest of his
Jehovah run all
sight: but to burnished bronze says
and froare
things throughout
naked and thelaid
whole
open Feet show Strength & Stability
earth,
before the eyes of him with Not weak w/ iron & clay Dan 2:42
whom
39 we have to do.
Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

C. Commendation v. 19
Rev 2:19 I know your deeds, and your love and faith &
service and perseverance, and that your
last deeds are greater than at first.
first

Thyatira toiled & persevered like Ephesus (2:5)

Better than Sardis who didn’t complete deeds (3:2)

Are we known for persevering and completing ?

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Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

D. Condemnation v. 20-21
Rev 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate
the woman Jezebel,
Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess,
prophetess and
she teaches and leads my bond-servants astray so that
they commit acts of immorality and eat things
sacrificed to idols.

Most wicked woman in the Bible

1 Ki 18:4 Killed the prophets of the Lord
1 Ki 18:18 Supported idolatrous priests
1 Ki 21:6-8 Murdered innocent Naboth
1 Ki 21:25 Incited Ahab to do evil
41 2 Ki 9:30-37 Was eaten by dogs
Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

D. Condemnation v. 20-21
Rev 2:21 I gave her time to repent, and she does
not want to repent of her immorality.

Church Discipline is Critical (1 Cor 5: 1-13)

God shows More or Less Patience Depending
(2 Peter 3:9) God… is patient toward you not wishing..
(Rom 2:4) Goodness of God leads you to repentance
Show Love—Determine the progress—Set time to repent.
What should be needed: 2 days? 14 days ? More/Less?
42 Some like Jezebel— just don’t want to change!
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

E. Warning v. 22-23
Rev 2:22-23 Behold, I will … (a coming judgment)

1. Throw her on a bed of sickness (She’ll suffer, not thrive!)

2. Those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation,
tribulation
(Huge problems for following her doctrines or morals.)
3. I will kill her children with pestilence,
pestilence (Her disciples will die)
4. All the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and
hearts (Secrets acts of sin will be punished)
5. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
(Gal 6:7) Reap-Sow. (Hos 8:7) Whirlwind (Rom 2:9) Glory
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Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

F. Exhortation v. 25
Rev 2:25 Nevertheless what you have,
have hold fast until
I come.

What you have – they had several good points of toil,

perseverance, love, faith & service. (v.19)
Hold Fast —Hang on tight
Till I come – coming in earthly judgment (v. 22-23)

Any church that has uncorrected “sin in the camp”

is guaranteed to have problems sooner or later.
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And it may end in absolute disaster !
Revelation 2 Letters
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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

G. Promise v. 26-29
Rev 2:26-28 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My
deeds until the end—to him I will give authority over
the nations & he shall rule them with a rod of iron

• Saints not viewed as defeated—but victorious

• Christ rules with a rod of iron (Ps 2:7-9)
• Christ rules in midst of enemies (Ps 110:1-2)
• Kingdom of God outlasts other kingdoms (Dan 2:44f)

Fear not – Christ does rule

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IV. Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

G. Promise v. 26-29 continued

Rev 2:29 and I will give him the morning star.

star

“Morning star”—Venus:
star bright object high in the eastern sky
just before sunrise.
Rev 22:16 [ Jesus ] “Is the bright morning star”
Num 24:17 [ Jesus ] “A star shall rise from Jacob”
Reflecting
ReflectingHis
Hisbrightness,
brightness,YouYoushall
shallshine
shinelikelikeHIM,
HIM,the
the
morning
morningstar,
star,and
andshare
shareHis
Hiskin
kinggly
lygglor
loryy
46 (We’ll
(We’llhave
havethat
thatclose
closerelationship
relationshipto
tothe
theKing
Kingof ofkings)
kings)
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