THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
I. Introduction: Continuation of the 7 Letters to the 7 Churches of Revelation.
A.
Review From Last week:
1. Revelation is written to real local communities but it is also to the whole church (#7) in
any and every situation and in any and every age.
2. Each letter recaptures a statement about who Jesus is from Chapter 1.
3. In each letter Jesus announces his personal knowledge and presence in his follower’s life
and communities –– (he walks amongst the lamp-stands).
4. In each letter Jesus identifies strengths and/or weaknesses of a given church by
referencing certain aspects of the cities history or culture.
5. In each letter the reader is called on to grasp what it means to walk in true Kingdom
discipleship (what it means to be a Christian in this context) in their day-to-day world.
6. In each letter Jesus calls for the reader to “overcome” (image of warfare and conquering)
the powers of the kingdom of darkness. What does it mean to be an over-comer; a
conqueror; to be victorious? The rest of the book spells out the answer to that question.
7. In each letter Jesus promises the lasting blessings of His Kingdom for those who have a
radical change of heart toward evil and who overcome in this present world.
B. THE FINAL THREE CHURCHES
1. Sardis:
a. Built 1500 feet high making the city seem ______________________________.
b. The whole book of Revelation is a prophtic pastoral _________________ call.
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
2. Philadelphia:
a. A __________________________________ city of Greco–Roman Culture.
b. It’s new name: Neocaeceria (the new city of Caesar).
3. Laodicea: 6 Allusions Made
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
C. HELPS FOR CHALLENGING REFERENCES IN THE 7 LETTERS
Ephesus ¨ “Nicolaitans.” ¨ Commentaries and Bible Dictionary Articles allude to their
association with Gnostic ideas and the Demiurge as well as being “antinomial” in their outlook
¨ those articles led to references regarding Mani and Manichaeism. [Evangelical Dictionary of
Theology ed. by Walter A. Elwell – Baker Publishing Co./ New Bible Dictionary Ed. By JD
Douglas – Eerdmans Publishing Co.
D. A PERSONAL “TAKE -A-WAY!”
I think a benefit of understanding the 7 letters is the encouragement there is for us to stand in
solidarity with all the church in the world (the persecuted church and the seduced and
materialistic church, etc.) and to gaining wisdom from the strengths and weaknesses of any
other church in the world.
E. THE 7 LETTERS EQUATED WITH THE SWEEP OF HISTORY
II. CHAPTER 4
A. “AFTER
THE VISION OF AN OPEN DOOR & THE HEAVENLY THRONE.
I LOOKED
HEAVEN .” ––REV .4:1
THIS
1. A Scene Shifting:
AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A DOOR STANDING OPEN IN
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
2. The Restart of the Book? The Gaining Of Perspective
B. “HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO T HE CHURCHES.” –– THE TEXT: (4:1-6A)
C. A DOMINATING IMAGE AND THEME OF REVELATION: “THE THRONE IN HEAVEN”
1. Throne =
a. The throne raises the question of...
b. Gaining perspective on the “realest real”.
c. The Central Issue For The Reader
2. “An Open Door”: (3:8/3:20)
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
3. The Trumpet Voice = (1:10)
4.
What John Saw?

No _____________________________ used to describe “God Almighty.”
5. ROUND THE THRONE!
a. The “One Who Sits On The throne.”
(1) . Where The Focus Is!
b. The 24 Elders: Who Are They?
(Rev. 2:10; Mt. 19:27-29; Rev. 5:8; 8:3; 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Job 2:1, Isa 24:23; Col. 1:16; Ro. 8:38; Eph. 3:10 )
(1) Two major views:
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
(2) An Alternative View:
(3) What Do They Do? Two Primary Activities In Revelation
D. LIGHTENING, RUMBLING, AND T HUNDER (Rev.8:5; 11:19; etc.)
E. SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD (See Rev.1:4;)
(1) Some See Angels.
(2) What Most See? (Isaiah 11:2) –– 7 Fold Nature Of The Spirit Of The Lord!
(a)
The Lord’s (Yahwey) Spirit (b) Wisdom (c) Understaning (insight into the true
nature of a thing.) (d)Counsel (e) Might (Power) (f) Knowledge
(g) Fear (Reverential Awe) of the Lord
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
F. T HE FOUR LIVING CREATURES
1. “Hear What The Spirit Is Saying To The Churches.” Rev. 4:6b–11
2. The Combo Deal: (Ezek. 1-2; 10:14 & Isa. 6:1-3)
3. What Do They Represent?
4. What is missing and why? (Rev. 21:1)
5. What Do These Creatures Do?
“Anything which is fulfilling the function for which it was created is praising God.” –Barkley
THE REVELATION OF JOHN
Fall Quarter 2013
Session #3 Jesus and the Seven Churches Pt. 2
G. WORSHIP & THE B OOK OF REVELATION
1. Revelation is a book _____________________________ by worship.
2. The two _____________________of these worshipful beings are God’s
_____________________ (4:18) and the _________________________ of all creation on the
creator (4:11).
3. The Shape of Worship?
4. True worship is not ___________________________ it’s _________________________!
5. The Point Being? The central point to all the images and realities of worship that John will
convey to us is: