Transcript Document

The Seven Churches of Revelation
We’re going on a journey of
•
•
Discovery
Exploration
Exegesis:
- what it meant when it was
written
Hermeneutics:
- what it means now
Context and Culture
Application
“All Scripture is
God-breathed and is
useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting
and training in
righteousness, so
that the servant of
God may be
thoroughly
equipped for every
good work”
- 1Timothy 3:16-17
(NIVUK)
The Seven Churches of Revelation
Location
• Modern day Turkey
Revelation
• Written by John – last
surviving disciple
• One Jesus loved who Jesus
entrusted to care for Mary
• Prophetic book – picture
language; visionary
• John exiled to Patmos
• Eventually released he
moved to live in Ephesus
The Seven Churches of Revelation
Addressed to
• The angel of the church
at…
• Messengers
Author
• Jesus!
• John is the scribe
• 7 stars | 7 lampstands
“Whoever has ears
to hear, let them
hear what the Spirit
says to the
churches”
“I know…”
The Seven Churches of Revelation
Structure – 7 “A’s”
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Address – greeting
Attribute – a pictorial title of Jesus
Approval – commendation
Accusation – criticisms
Advice – helpful guidance
Assurance – promise
Appeal – to move forward
The Churches of Revelation
Ephesus
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Major commercial and cultural hub
Visited by Paul twice
Wrote epistles there
Sent Timothy to oversee the church
Now abandoned and deserted
Revelation 2:1-7 (NIVUK)
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the
seven stars in his right hand and walks among
the seven golden lampstands. I know your
deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I
know that you cannot tolerate wicked people,
that you have tested those who claim to be
apostles but are not, and have found them
false. You have persevered and have endured
hardships for my name, and have not grown
weary.
Revelation 2:1-7 (NIVUK)
Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken
the love you had at first. Consider how far you
have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at
first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and
remove your lampstand from its place. But you
have this in your favour: you hate the practices
of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To the one who is
victorious, I will give the right to eat from the
tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Key Messages
• Jesus holds us and walks with us
• He’ll never leave us
• Jesus knows us and what’s happening
• Hard work | perseverance | hardship
• Test false teaching | teachers
• Don’t let others “lord it over you”
• Wrong beliefs lead to wrong behaviours
• We can’t mix and match our faith
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good” – Romans 12:9
(NIVUK)
Key Messages
• Problem – lost their first love
• Not mislaid but abandoned
• Which love?
• So serious Jesus will close a church down
• We’re called to a deeper relationship with
Jesus – one of intimacy and obedience
• 3 “R’s”
• Reconsider
• Repent
• Restart
• Reward
“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and
do the things you did at first” – Revelation 2:5