|
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 |