part 18: Revelation Reboot 4
Puzzled About Revelation, Feb. 23, 2022
“A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
. . .
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...”
Recap
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne…”
“KEEPING” the words of this prophecy involves two things:
FEASTING on the Scriptures: They must become life to us!
FIGHTING for the Scriptures: We must CONTEND for the faith, we must pull down the STRONGHOLDS of ARGUMENTS that exalt themselves against the truth of God’s Word (Prov. 21:22; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)
The Seven churches: Important considerations
1) The seven churches were REAL HISTORICAL churches located in ONE geographic region: Asia Minor (Turkey) (1:4,11). Nowhere does the Lord indicate these seven churches represent “ages” of church history.
2) John saw Jesus walking AMONG the seven golden lampstands (churches) and HOLDING the seven stars (1:12-13,16; 2:1). This is meant to both encourage and warn the saints!
3) Jesus gives us the INTERPRETIVE KEYS to understanding the symbols of Revelation (1:19-20). We are not left to come up with our own methods of interpretation!
4) The MESSENGERS who received the seven letters from John: angelic or human? Consider the progression of communication:
FATHER - SON - HOLY SPIRIT - ANGEL - JOHN - MESSENGERS (HUMAN ELDERS?) - CHURCHES
5) The MESSAGES of the seven letters are both UNIQUE & UNIVERSAL. Each one is:
1. PERSONAL
2. PRACTICAL
3. POWERFUL
4. PROPHETIC
6) The SEVEN CHURCHES in Revelation 2-3 are:
1. EPHESUS: THE LOVELESS CHURCH (2:1-7)
2. SMYRNA: THE PERSECUTED CHURCH (2:8-11)
3. PERGAMUM: THE COMPROMISING CHURCH (2:12-17)
4. THYATIRA: THE CORRUPT CHURCH (2:18-29)
5. SARDIS: THE DEAD CHURCH (3:1-6)
6. PHILADELPHIA: THE FAITHFUL CHURCH (3:7-13)
7. LAODICEA: THE LUKEWARM CHURCH (3:14-22)
7) Is the “rapture” in Revelation 3:10? See John 17:11-15.
