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Lesson 3

 

LETTERS  TO  FOUR  CHURCHES

 

 

I.  COMPLIMENTARY TEXTS

        1. Galatians 6:9 - Don’t get tired of doing good.

        2. James 1:12 - There is a crown of life for those who endure temptation.

        3. Matthew 19:28 - Jesus’ apostles were promised to share in His reign.

        4. 2 John 7-11 - Christians must guard against false teachers.

 

II.  MAIN THEME:  Revelation 2 - Four churches are commended for their works of faith, but three are warned about

    problems that they need to correct.

        1. Textual Discussion of Revelation 2 and related passages from Revelation.

                1). The church at Ephesus - verses 1-7.

                        a. Your works are good - verses 2-3; 3:8; 14:13; 20:12-13.

                        b. You hate the false teachers - verse 6, 14-15; chapter 13.

                        c. But you have left your first love - verse 4; 1:5.

                        d. Repent and do your first works or you will be removed - verse 5, 16, 21.

                2). The church at Smyrna - verses 8-11.

                        a.  Jesus knows your works and your trials - verse 9; 13; 12:17; 14:12-13

                        b.  Some of you are going to suffer - verse 10; 6:9-11.

                        c.  But he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death - verse 11; 20:6.

                3).  The church at Pergamos - verses 12-17.

                        a.  Jesus praises your work and faith - verse 13; 12:11

                        b.  But you are allowing false teachers to corrupt the faithful - verse 14-15; chapter 17.

                        c.  Repent or be punished - verse 16; 19-23; 3:3, 19.

                        d.  He who overcomes will receive a new name - verse 17; 3:12; 14:1; 19:12-16; 22:4

                4).  The church at Thyatira - verses 18-29

                        a.  Your works, love, service, faith, and patience are good - verse 19;

                        b.  But you shouldn’t permit the false prophetess to lead Christians astray - verse 20.

                        d.  He who overcomes and keeps Jesus’ works will share His reign - verse 26-27.

        2.  Related Topics:

                1).  Endurance is necessary to receive the promised reward - Gal 6:9; James 1:12

                        a.  Those who turn back will lose the promise - Luke 9:62; 2 Pet 2:20-22; Heb 3:6-13; 4:11-13

                        b.  Those who hold fast to Jesus will be blessed eternally - 1 Cor 15:1-4, 58; Col 1:22-23; Heb 3:14;

                             1 Pet 5:9-10; Rev 2:13, 25.

                2). The reign of Christ began with His ascension into heaven - Acts 2:32-36; 1 Cor 5:24-28.

                        a.  Christians are promised to share in His reign - Rev 2:26-27, 5:10, 20:6; Matt 9:28; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Cor 15:25

                        b.  Redeemed saints are pictured reigning with Christ - Rev 7:9-17; 14:2-5; 15:2-4;  19:13-21; 20:4-6; Acts 7:59;

                             Rom 8:14-19; 2 Cor 3:8-12, 17-18; 5:5-8; Gal 4:6-7.

                3).  Jesus must reign until all things are subjected to Him - 1 Cor 15:24-26, 28; Matt 8:18.

                        a.  Jesus’ reign is eternal - Luke 1:31-33; Heb 1:8; Rev 1:5-6.

                        b. Yet God has given all authority to Jesus from the time after His resurrection until the victory over death at the

                             time of the general resurrection - Matt 28:18; Heb 10:12-13; 1 Cor 15:24-28, 50-5

                4).  Christians must limit the teaching of false teachers - Rev 2:14-15, 20-23; 2 John 7-11.

                        a.  To prevent false teaching from spreading - Matt 16:11-12; Gal 5:1-12; Acts 20:28f.

                        b.  To show support for the true teaching of Christ - Jude 3; 2 John 9-11; Gal 1:7-9.

 

III.  PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

        1. We can think about the promises of Jesus when we are tempted to be discouraged - Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21;

            John 14:3; 2 Cor 6:16-18; 2 Pet 1:2-4.

        2. Holding fast to Jesus is accomplished by trusting His power instead of our own - 2 Cor 1:8-10; 12:7-9; Phil 3:7-10;

            Luke 18:9-14.

        3. Standing against false teaching should be done in a way that depends on the authority of God instead of our own wisdom

            and opinions - Luke 4:1-13; 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 4:11.

        4. Withdrawing fellowship from someone in the church should be done carefully, considering ourselves and the well being

            of others involved - Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Cor 2:5-11; Gal 6:1.

        5. We share in the reign of Christ when we are active in the church - Rev 1:9; 5:9-10; Col 1:12-14; 2 Tim 2:12;

            Romans 8:1-6, 16-17; 1 Pet 3:9-12; Matt 5:5.

 

IV.  MEMORY VERSES - REVELATION 2:26-27

 

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