Revelation Chapter 1 Revelation Chapter 1 Revelation 1

Revelation Chapter 1

Revelation Chapter 1 • Revelation 1: 3 • Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. • Our reason to study Revelation…to be blessed!

Revelation Chapter 1 • 9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,

Revelation Chapter 1 • The island of Patmos is seldom mentioned by the ancient authors into their books. It is to be supposed that its prehistoric inhabitants were the Cariens. The name Patmos, as it is generally believed derives from the word Latmos, which is the name of a mountain of Caria, a country situated across the island in Asia Minor where the goddess Diane (Artemis), was particularly adored.

Revelation Chapter 1 • Patmos was at times colonized by the Doriens and thereafter followed the Ionians. • From the well preserved until now relics, old cemeteries, pottery fragments, carved works , inscriptions, sepulchral stones and other dispersed or framed into walls sculptures of the Christian orthodox churches, all said evidences are a proof of the flourishing and prosperous stand of the ancient Patmos.

Revelation Chapter 1 • Under the domination of the Romans, the island failed to decline. It was abandoned and used as an exile place. In the year 96 AD, the Apostle John was banished in Patmos by the emperor Domitian for preaching the Gospel at Ephesus. • From the evidence of the history of Patmos I believe others inhabited Patmos along with John.

Revelation Chapter 1 • How do you think John was treated by the other inhabitants of the Island? • 10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day” • What does John mean with this statement? • Was he in some sort of trance?

Revelation Chapter 1 • Are we in the spirit on the Lord’s day? • Yes • No • Maybe • How do we know?

Revelation Chapter 1 • Was John worshiping when he received the Revelation? • Is it significant that John received this while he was in the spirit and worshipping?

Revelation Chapter 1

Revelation Chapter 1 • Why do you think this was only addressed to these seven churches?

Revelation Chapter 1

Revelation Chapter 1 • There were other churches in the region so these seven would aid in the distribution of the Word to the others. • These seven churches seem to be a representation of what all the churches in the region were experiencing.

Revelation Chapter 1 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

Revelation Chapter 1 • clothed in a robe reaching to the feet • What does this signify? • Royalty, majesty, this aids in the detail to the image • girded across His chest with a golden sash • What does this signify? • Again, royalty and majesty

Revelation Chapter 1 • His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow • Signifies purity and wisdom of age • His eyes were like a flame of fire • Fire in scripture signifies burning up that which is useless, judgment on the wicked, eternal torment

Revelation Chapter 1 • His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace • Why mention glowing in a furnace? Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper. • The addition of other metals (usually tin, sometimes arsenic), produces an alloy much harder than plain copper. Heating removes impurities, adds to its strength, won’t rust Micah 4: 13 , Ezekiel 1: 7, Daniel 10: 5

Revelation Chapter 1 • His voice was like the sound of many waters • Picture being on the beach and the surf and wind so powerful you could not hear anything but them • Examples: • Hurricanes • Tsunamis • Typhoons • Nor’easters (mullet blow)

Revelation Chapter 1 • and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword • See Hebrews 4: 12 • What is significant about a sword? • An instrument of death used for battle

Revelation Chapter 1 • Chapter 1 summary: • John is writing in exile on the island of Patmos. He was in the spirit on the Lord’s day when he had a vision of Christ. He is told to record what he sees and distribute it to the seven churches of Asia.

Revelation Chapter 2

Revelation Chapter 2 • 2 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. 6 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. '

Revelation Chapter 2 • Ephesus was a port city that Paul had occupied during various times. John was probably living there before his exile to Patmos. • Ephesus church was commended for: • Working hard • Not tolerating evil men • Testing false teachers • Hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Gnostics)

Revelation Chapter 2 • How do we test false teachers today? • Condemned for: • Leaving their first love • What was Christ’s threat to the church at Ephesus? • I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Smyrna • 9 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Smyrna • Smyrna was also a port city located about 40 miles north of Ephesus and competed for port commerce. • Smyrna was an enthusiastically Roman city. This made its persecution severe. • Commended for: • Works • Tribulation • Poverty • Spiritual wealth

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Smyrna • Condemned for: • Nothing • Warning issued: • 10 'Do not fear what you are about to SUFFER. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into PRISON, so that you will be TESTED, and you will have TRIBULATION for ten days. Be faithful until DEATH, and I will give you the CROWN OF LIFE.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Smyrna • Why didn’t Christ have any criticism of this church? • Severe persecution and tribulation • Can we as a church and individuals benefit from tribulation?

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos • 13 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos • Sounds like the ancient Las Vegas! • Pergamos housed the alter to Zeus • Pergamos was the Roman capital or seat of the Asian province • The first city to have an Imperial Temple (emperor worship) • pagan culture, the people had enthroned Satan

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos • Commended for: • Holding fast to Jesus name • Not denying His faith • Who was Antipas? • Violently killed, Christ considered him a faithful martyr

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos • Condemned for: • Some held the teachings of Balaam • Practicing sexual immortality • Promises: • Hidden manna • Why?

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Pergamos Promises: White stone Why? Greek word psephos refers to a stone used to cast a vote. White stone used to signify approval, black stone used to signify disapproval. (probably where we get the modern term “blacked balled”) Christ will cast a vote of approval with the faithful one’s name on it

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira

19 'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them--I place no other burden on you. 25 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira • A rest stop between Pergamos and Sardis • Known for its organized trade guilds (labor unions) • Guild activities included: pagan activity, idols, immorality • Christians would have been social outcasts • Commended for: • Love, service, perseverance, improvement

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira • Condemned for: • Tolerating the prophetess Jezebel • Is this person really named Jezebel or is Christ making comparison to the Old Testament Jezebel? • What is she doing? • Teaching something that led to sexual immorality, maybe exploiting the economic situation to have Christians participate in pagan activities.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira • Christ promises to cast her and her followers into a bed of tribulation unless they repent and to kill all her children. • Literal children or spiritual followers killed?

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira • Chapter 2 summary: • In chapter 2 Christ addresses four churches in Asia Minor. In his address he commends the churches on their good works, addresses their weaknesses, issues warning for correction, and promises good if they repent and live according to his will.

Revelation Chapter 2 Church at Thyatira • Next week guest speaker Josh Hearne presenting a lesson on the mission work in Honduras.