Revelation 3 Paul Gibson Hardinsburg Baptist Church Revelation

Revelation 3 Paul Gibson Hardinsburg Baptist Church Revelation Bible Study #3

The Letter Structure of Revelation 2 -3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Christ-Centered Introduction Praise Criticism Warning Promise

Christ-Centered Introduction • We see that these Christological statements at the beginning of each letter are neither casually chosen nor mere decorations, but they serve a theological purpose. (Patterson, Loc. 2255)

Introduction/

The Church at Pergamum • Consequently, the first death is defined as the separation of the soul from the body, whereas the second death is the separation of the soul from God and its confinement in the place the Bible denominates as hell. (Patterson, Loc. 2368) • City was known for emperor worship. (Patterson, Loc. 2428)

The Church at Pergamum • Balaam—See Numbers 31 • According to Irenaeus, Nicolas and his followers had fallen into the error of Cerinthus of Ephesus, who apparently had adopted a gnostic cosmology. (Patterson, Loc. 2529) • Married love is a signpost to the faithfulness of the Creator to his creation. The reason sexual immorality is so often coupled with idolatry, as is here, is because such behavior points to different gods. (Wright, pg. 17)

MODERN APPLICATION FROM THE LETTER TO PERGAMUM

The Church at Thyatira • The city of Thyatira was well known for the development of its trade guilds or collegia to which Lydia, the seller of purple mentioned in Acts 16: 14, may have belonged. (Patterson, Loc. 2638) • Both ideas definitely owe themselves in part to a similar expression in Dan 10: 6, Daniel’s description of the Ancient of Days. Both underscore the initial identification of the Lord as the Son of God. (Patterson, Loc. 2649) • Psalm 2: 9

The Church at Thyatira • The church has no business compromising at any point with pagan worship and the practices that reflect and embody it. Here, as in the devastating scene in chapters 17, 18, and 19, where the ‘great whore’ is Babylon, the imperial city, judgment is pronounced on Jezebel and on all who have gone with her into wickedness. (Wright)

The Church at Thyatira • “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. ” Revelation 22. 16

MODERN APPLICATION FROM THE LETTER TO THYATIRA

Overview of 7 Churches • Praise and Criticism – Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis • Praise – Smyrna, Philadelphia • Criticism – Laodicea (Pate)

Overview of 7 Churches • Why these specific 7 churches? – “If we draw a line on the map through the seven cities in the order in which they are named, we find that we have followed a roughly circular route through what were doubtless the most important parts of the province of Asia. ” (Pate, pg. 102) • GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE (Pate)

Overview of 7 Churches • Remember: The number 7 represents completion, perfection, or wholeness. • Therefore, these letters were not only written to the 7 churches of Asia Minor, but to the COMPLETE church throughout history (Pate)

Overview of 7 Churches • “Thus exposed and excommunicated Jewish Christians were no longer perceived by the Roman government as under the umbrella of Judaism and, therefore, faced the cruel dilemma of either forsaking Christ (if they were to be readmitted to the synagogue) or worshipping Caesar. ” (Pate, pg. 141) – Jews received an exemption from Caesar worship (Pate)

Sardis • “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but are dead. ” Rev. 3: 2 • Dead=unfinished business • Are churches susceptible to not finishing what they started?

Sardis • “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” Rev. 3: 3 • City on a hill, completely impregnable (Wright, pg. 29) • Surprise attack by King Croesus=no longer impregnable (Wright, pg. 29)

Sardis • “Dressed in white” v: 4 & 5 – See Isaiah 1: 12 -20 – Symbolic of baptism washing away of sins • “Never blot out the name of that person from the book of life” v: 5 – See Exodus 32: 32 – Blotting out of town register after being convicted of crime (Wright)

MODERN APPLICATION FROM THE LETTER TO SARDIS

Philadelphia • “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. ” v: 7 – Isaiah 22: 22

Philadelphia • “I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ” v: 9 – “The unbelieving synagogue will realize that Jesus, their own Messiah, has loved this little group that believes in him. ” (Wright, pg. 35)

Philadelphia • “Thus exposed and excommunicated Jewish Christians were no longer perceived by the Roman government as under the umbrella of Judaism and, therefore, faced the cruel dilemma of either forsaking Christ (if they were to be readmitted to the synagogue) or worshipping Caesar. ” (Pate, pg. 141) – Jews received an exemption from Caesar worship

Philadelphia • “I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world…” v: 10 – Are you a preterist, idealist, progressive dispensationalist, or classical dispensationalist? • “I am coming soon” – Could mean God’s judgment or physical presence

MODERN APPLICATION FROM THE LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA

Laodicea • 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. V: 15 -16 – To the north of Laodicea was Hierapolis—Hot springs – To the south of Laodicea was Colosse—snow-capped spring water

Laodicea • 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. V: 17 – Banking center of whole region – Ophthalmology school – Black sheep wool of fine quality Wright

Laodicea • 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 that person, and they with me. – Matthew 25: 10 -13 Wright

Laodicea • “The echoes of the gospels suggest that the one knocking on the door is the master of the house, returning at an unexpected hour (as in the warning to Sardis in 3: 3), while the one who should open the door is the servant who has stayed awake. ” (Wright, pg. 40)

(See verse 16) MODERN APPLICATION FROM THE LETTER TO LAODICEA

References • Pate, C. Marvin. Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan House, 1998. • Patterson, Paige. The New American Commentary. Nashville, TN: B & H Group, 2012. • Wright, N. T. For Everyone Bible Study Guide: Revelation. London: SPCK Pub. , 2012. • Wright, N. T. Revelation for Everyone. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2011.