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Seven Letters to the Churches
REVELATION 2 & 3
I. Background of letters.
A. Provenance.
1) Earlier compositions.
a) But too short for real
letters.
b) Close correspondence with
opening and closing visions.
2) Written after John had vision.
B. Nature.
1) Similar to prophetic
oracles. See Amos 1-2.
a) "These are the
words" similar to "thus says the Lord."
1> In NT, only occurs in
Acts 21:11.
2) Concluding generalization of
each is addressed to all churches.
II. Letter to Ephesus.
A. City.
1) Great city commercially,
politically and religiously.
2) Temple of Artemis.
3) Two temples for worship of
emperor.
4) Church was probably the most
influential at end of 1st cent.
B. Know works.
1) Works are the criterion of the
genuineness of faith.
a) Toil of maintaining true
faith.
2) "apostles who are
not"
a) Gnostics, same as Nicolaitans.
1> Permissive
religion.
2> Later writers
referred to shared wives and possessions.
b) Moral cancer results from
their doctrine.
1> They are told to
combat heresy.
A> Later writers
(Ignatius) confirmed this.
3) "abandoned first
love"
a) Object of love.
1> God.
2> Man.
A> Context favors
it.
3> Both.
A> Biblically tied
together.
b) "If the price paid by
the Ephesians for the preservation of true
Christianity was the loss
of love, the prices was too high, for
Christianity without love
is a peverted faith."
4) "remove your
lampstand"
III. Letter to Sardis - church of
mediocrity.
A. History.
1) Capital of ancient Lydian
kingdom.
a) Rich but steadily
declined.
1> Rebuilt after AD 17
earthquake.
b) Contrast of past splendor
and present unresting decline."
2) Built on mountain, acropolis
on impregnable spur.
a) Yet twice captured
unawares by enemies.
b) (note church's lack of
vigilance - 3:3)
3) Commercial center for woollen goods.
(3:4-5)
B. Church.
1) seven
spirits.
a) Contemporary Judaism
emphasized two things about the
Spirit - it inspired
prophecy and gave the breath of
life
to the dead at the resurrection.
b) Sardis, the church in a living death,
needs both.
2) your
works...death.
a) Ephesus' works were approved, Sardis' are rejected.
1> They look good, but
aren't.
b) Death - Primarily a matter
of relation to the Lord by
the
Spirit.
c) Works not perfect
(=completed) in God's sight.
1> Approved works -
see 2:19.
2> Sardis had vestige of these, but not in
fullness.
3> Most of the people
were soiled. Cf. 3:4
3) Awake! Remember...repent.
a) They must go back to their
baptism.
b) Come like a thief.
1> Reflects parousia. See
Matt 24:43f.
A> Some think 16:15 has been transposed here.
Charles(BM)
2> Or, in line with other
warnings, second coming language
is
adapted to churches' present situation.
A> Jesus will come
to visit them in judgement right
now.
4) Promise. 3:4
a) A few are not soiled.
b) They will walk with him in
white.
1> Refers to presence
with Jesus in his kingdom. see 3:5
2> Heavenly bodies of
glory? 2 Cor
5:4 Charles
A> But doesn't
tally with 19:8b.
3> Better to see
holiness of believers in view.
c) Book of life. 3:5
1> Exod
32:32; Psalm 139:16 (predestination).
2> Christ can erase
from book - election and redemption
are
in and through Christ. We are always
dependent
on
the Lord. BM
3> "before my
Father"
A> In Revelation,
Jesus alone is seen as Son of the Father.
IV. Letter to Philadelphia.
V. Letter to Laodicea. (Beasley-Murray)
A. History of city.
1) At intersection of three
imperial trade roads.
2) Wealthiest city in Phrygia.
a)
Turned down help after devastating earthquake in AD 60-1.
3) Widespread reputation for:
a) Banks.
b) Linen and wool industry.
c) Medical school and
medicine, especially eye ointment.
B. Church.
1) No commendation.
a) Severest condemnation.
b) Yet its promise is the
climax of all.
2) Opening address (vision of
Jesus).
a) Jesus is embodiment of
truth of God. 3:14
b) "the
Amen" - transference of divine title in Isaiah 65:16.
c) "beginning
of God's creation".
1> Echoes Prov 8:22;
cf. Col 1:15-20.
A> Letter to
Colossians was probably exchanged in
area. Col. 4:16.
2> Not first of
creatures, but prime source of creation.
3> Same meaning as
"alpha."
A> Cf. Rev 22:13, "first &
last, beginning & end."
3) Works.
a) No specific charge: they don't reject gospel, but affirm
it
without joy.
b) "Hot or cold."
1> Cold = pagan.
2> Cold = useful.
4) "Spit out of mouth."
a) Six miles away were hot springs of Hierapolis.
1> Water lost heat and
deposited limestone crusts on
nearby
hills.
b) Alludes to condemnation,
as in Matthew 7:23.
1> But condemnation
not yet carried out.
A> Judgment is
threat more than reality.
2> Rest of letter
gives opportunity of repentance.
c) "I am rich."
1> Citation of Hosea
12:8.
2> The reality is
spiritual poverty.
5) Exhortation.
a) Buy genuine, spiritual
wealth.
1> Riches of
faith? Lk
12:21; Jam 2:5; 1 Pet 1:7
2>
"Purchase" points to exercise of faith, which
results
in blessing by God.
A> Holiness is
God's gift. Rev 7:14; 19:8
b) Loved ones are
chastened. Cf. Prov 3:12
1> God's harshness
flows from love.
A> Be zealous -
continuous present.
B> Repent - a
single act of turning.
c) "Open the
door" Cf. John
14:2-3. Song 5:2?
1> Image of messianic
fellowship banquet.
A> Frequent with
Jesus.
2> Application:
A> Allusion to
church's part in future kingdom?
B> Appeal to
individual believers, here and now.
6) Promise. 3:21
a) Sit on throne.
1> Wholly future. Rev 20:4ff; Mt 19:28, Lk 22:30,
1 Cor 6:2, 2 Tim 2:11f
2> Highest honor of
all.
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