Apocalyptic Insight
Sunday, Sept. 3
Pastor Andrew Boone
The Letters to the Churches
Revelation 2 & 3
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. —Revelation 1:12-13, 20
Lampstands have one purpose: to project light.
New Covenant Bible Church is a lampstand to Cedar Rapids.
Structure of each letter:
A) Jesus addresses himself in a way that is significant to that church.
B) “I know your works…”
C) Commendation
D) Rebuke
E) Promise to overcomers
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ —Revelation 2:1-7
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. —Revelation 2:4
Jesus is not interested in churches that are doctrinally sound but cold in their love.
Witness well. Live holy. Overcome.
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule[a] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ —Revelation 2:18-29
Your worship and your sexuality matter to Jesus.
It’s never too late to repent.
Witness well. Live holy. Overcome.
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ —Revelation 3:1-6
Reputation without integrity is worthless.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ —Matthew 7:21-23
Do spiritual things for spiritual reasons.
Witness well. Live holy. Overcome.
You were made for today.
Big Idea: Witness well. Live holy. Overcome.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Revelation 2:1-7
The Church at Ephesus was rebuked because they had lost the love they had at first. Do you ever feel that the Christian life is more mundane than exciting? What can we do to hold a steady posture of worship rather than seeing things as a chore? What do you do in your life to keep the love you had at first?
Read Revelation 2:8-11
The Church of Smyrna is poised to face intense persecution. In some countries, Christianity is illegal. If you lived in a country hostile to Christianity, do you think that would be fuel or water on your fire for Jesus? What can we do to help those who live in places where Christianity is either illegal or persecuted?
Some in this church will die because of their faith. If you were faced with the option to recant your faith or die, what would you be processing internally? What would you do in that moment?
Read Revelation 2:12-17
False teachings have entered the church at Pergamum and were leading people astray. Jesus calls them to repent. As a believer, what role does repentance have in your walk? Do you regularly practice confession and repentance?
Read Revelation 2:18-29
Jesus calls out the church at Thyatira for tolerating Jezebel, who was a root of sin in the church. How have you experienced a root of sin spreading in your own life? How can we identify and address sin in our lives? What is the role of a Christian in addressing sin within the body? What is the danger of not addressing sin when it is known?
God’s desire for sexual expression is to be between one man and one woman in a covenant relationship. What does Scripture consider sexual immorality? Why do you think adherence to God’s guidance in this area is such a struggle for so many? If this is an area of struggle for someone, what suggestions would you give to help them overcome it?
Read Revelation 3:1-6
Jesus chastens the church of Sardis by saying, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Do you ever feel like your reputation is not an accurate reflection of who you really are? Do you ever cover up struggles you are having, pretend to be happy, and tell everyone that you are doing great? How can we move from presenting a fake persona to becoming genuine and authentic?
Read Revelation 3:7-13
Can you resonate with the description of the church in Philadelphia that they have little strength? What does it look like to live a life of patient endurance? Is their faithfulness an encouragement to you?
Read Revelation 3:14-22
Jesus says to the church in Laodicea, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” As you think about why parents discipline kids, does being disciplined by God make you feel loved? In what way(s) would you say you have experienced God’s discipline? Did you learn and grow from the experience? Are there still areas where you need to learn your lesson?