REVELATION 2-3, “7 CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR: CHURCH REPORT CARD”

Matt Willmington 

WHAT IS REVELATION? 

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which willtake place after this.” 1:19

Apocalyptic literature? (Popular writing style 200 B.C. – A.D. 100)

1.    Claims to be prophecy – 1:1-3, 22:18-19

2.    Author identifies himself and the 7 recipients (not anonymous)

3.    Positive tone with an optimistic ending (not dark ending)

4.    Struggle of good / evil are part of God’s redemptive history

5.    Moral urgency, calling readers to repent

6.    Identifies many symbols: seven stars (1:16-20), morning star (2:28, 22:16), seven lamps of fire (4:5), seven eyes (5:6), fallen star (9:1-11), great city (11:8), stars in sky (12:4-9), beast of the Sea (13:1-10), great prostitute (17:1-18), rider on white horse (19:11-16, 19) 

HOW TO READ REVELATION? 

1. Preterist = “Past”
   1. prophecies fulfilled by A.D. 70
   2. full, partial (moderate)
   3. Post-tribulation rapture or denies it completely
   4. Amillennial or post-millennial
2. Historicist = “Present”
   1. panorama of church history seasons (7 churches)
   2. more about the western church
   3. Post-tribulation rapture
   4. Pre-millennial, post-millennial, or amillennial
3. Idealist = “Timeless”
   1. moral tale, a parable of good vs. evil, God vs. Satan
   2. allegoristic hermeneutic
   3. Post-tribulation rapture
   4. Post millennial or amillennial view
4. Futurist = “Future”
   1. Real people / events at the end of world history
   2. Grammatical-historical hermeneutic
   3. View of the early church
   4. Any of the views of the rapture
   5. Pre-millennial 

WHO ARE THE 7 STARS AND 7 LAMP STANDS? (1:12, 20) 

• Lamps stands = churches
• Stars = angels or pastors 

HOW DOES THE VISION START?

• Before the PROPHECY, a PERFORMANCE Review
• Format: Picture, Praise, Problem, Prescription, Prediction, Prize
• Purpose? Instruction for ALL churches

EPHESUS 2:1-7

Picture – Holds seven stars in His right hand, walks amidst seven golden lampstands

Praise – Patient labor, guarding against false teaching

Problem – Left your first love

Prescription – Remember + repent, do first works

Prediction – I will come quickly, remove your lampstand

Prize – Eat from tree of life in Paradise of God 

SMYRNA 2:8-11

Picture – First and Last, was dead and came to life

Praise – Working through poverty and persecution

Problem –

Prescription – Do not fear, be faithful

Prediction – Devil will imprison, test some for “10 days”

Prize – Crown of life, not be hurt by second death 

PERGAMUM 2:12-17

Picture – Who has the sharp two-edged sword

Praise – Working faithfully where Satan dwells

Problem – Some hold teachings of idolatry + immorality (Nicolaitans, 2:6)

Prescription – Repent

Prediction – I will come quickly to fight them with sword of My mouth

Prize – Hidden manna to eat; white stone with new name 

THYATIRA 2:18-29

Picture – Son of God, eyes like flame of fire, and feet like fine brass

Praise – Growing works of love, service, faith, patience

Problem – False prophet teaching idolatry and immorality

Prescription – Repent. Hold fast what you have till I come

Prediction – I will judge, give to each one according to your works

Prize – Power over nations; the morning star 

SARDIS 3:1-6

Picture – Has seven Spirits of God and seven stars

Praise – Works and name. Some walk worthy with me

Problem – You are dead. Your works are not perfect before God

Prescription – Be watchful, strengthen things remaining. Remember, hold fast, repent

Prediction – I will come as a thief

Prize – Clothed in white garments, name in the Book of Life; name confessed to the Father and angels 

PHILADELPHIA 3:7-13

Picture – Holy and true, has key of David, opens and shuts

Praise – Works. Faithful to His name and word

Problem –

Prescription – Hold fast what you have

Prediction –

Prize – Kept from hour of trial in the world, Make you a pillar in God’s temple. Name of God, His city, Jesus written on you 

LAODICEA 3:14-22

Picture – Amen, Faithful / True Witness, Beginning of God’s creation

Praise –

Problem – Lukewarm, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

Prescription – Buy gold refined in fire, and white garments, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, Be zealous and repent

Prediction – I rebuke / chasten whom I love. I stand at door and knock. Open the door I will come in and dine

Prize – Sit with Me on My throne, as I did with My Father 

Homework

• What is Jesus’ Report Card on TR?
• Your group?
• Your family? 

Picture JESUS! 

One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.