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Revelation 3

Letters to the Seven Churches�Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea

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Outline of the Book of Revelation

Introduction (1)
Letters to 7 Churches (2-3)
A Scene in Heaven (4)
The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
The 7 Seals (6-8)

The Sealed People of God (7)

The 7 Trumpets (8-11)

The Angel & Little Scroll (10)
The 2 Witnesses (11)

The Woman & the Dragon (12)
The Beasts (13)
People of God & People of the Beast (14)
The 7 Plagues (15)
The 7 Bowls of Wrath (16)
Babylon is Fallen (17-18)
A Fourfold Hallelujah (19)
Final Judgment (20)
New Creation (21-22)

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Location - Island of Patmos & Churches of Asia Minor

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Introduction

There are three types of literature contained in Revelation: Apocalyptic, Prophetic, and Epistle (letter). We will be looking at seven epistles written by John from Jesus. These fall into the category of epistles, with prophetic overtones.

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Quotes from Commentary

Understanding that the book of Revelation is a prophetic letter, “helps the reader to realize that the book is not just a casebook for identifying future events but more a theological workbook addressing the church in the present through the prophecies of the future. John expected his readers to see themselves and their current situation through the lens of this book and to realize that as the church of the last days, they were corporately identified with the church at the end of the age.” - Osmond Baker Commentary on the book of Revelation

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Chapter 2:18-29 - Thyatira

Background:

The least important of the seven cities
Situated on the Lycus River forty miles southeast of Pergamum on the road to Sardis
Founded in the third century B.C. as a military outpost by Saleucus I
Until the first century B.C. it had little peace, but when the Pax Romana finally arrived, Thyatira was well situated on trade routes to take advantage of commercial and manufacturing opportunities.
Most cities in the Greco-Roman world centered on the guilds, but in Thyatira they were especially prominent
The religious life of Thyatira was also influenced by the guilds. Each guild had its own patron god or goddess, and the frequent feasts of the guilds were religious in character.
The primary god worshiped in Thyatira was Apollo, the sun god and son of Zeus

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Questions

Why does Jesus call himself the

“Son of God” in this letter?

It’s the only letter where He refers

to Himself in that way.

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Notes

The reference to eyes of fire and feet like brass are a reference to Daniel 10:6. Jesus is saying that He sees the idolatry, and it will be consumed, that He is stronger than Apollo.

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Questions

What did the Christians in Thyatira do well?

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Questions

What did they do poorly?

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Questions

What are the consequences for the

Jezebel and her children?

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Questions

What lesson should the Church

take from Jesus’ final words

to the Thyatiran church?

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Questions

What is the promised reward

for the Thyatiran church

if they stay faithful?

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see Ps. 2:8-9

Basic idea is, they will participate in the judgement of the nations as Jesus shatters them for their disobedience.

The morning star reference is not understood clearly.

from baker - “ As with so much of the imagery of this book, innumerable proposals have been made:

(1) an allusion to Dan. 12:3 centering on the immortality of the saints, with the promise that they will shine like stars (so Beckwith, Moffatt, Ladd, Thomas);

(2) an allusion to the king of Babylon/Lucifer in Isa. 14:12 (so Alford, Aune);

(3) an allusion to Num. 24:17 (Balaam’s prophecy) with its use of a star and scepter as messianic symbols (so Hemer, Mounce, Ford, Beale; cf. Aune);

(4) Christ as the “morning star” in Rev. 22:16 (so Morris, Johnson, P. Hughes, Roloff);

(5) a reference to the planet Venus as a symbol of sovereignty often used by Roman generals and emperors (so Beasley-Murray, Krodel, Giesen);

(6) a reference to the Holy Spirit as equivalent to Ishtar (Lohmeyer 1926: 28).”

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Chapter 3:1-6 - Sardis

Background:

Thirty to forty miles southeast of Thyatira
Sardis was one of the most glorious cities in Asia, but much of its splendor lay in the past.
It was certainly one of the most ancient; founded perhaps about 1200 B.C., it became the capital of the wealthy and powerful Lydian kingdom.
Sardis had a large Jewish community that dated from the fifth or fourth century B.C. Antiochus III placed two thousand Jewish citizens in the area, and there is evidence that many Jews in Sardis retained Roman citizenship.

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Questions

Why does Jesus refer to Himself

as having the “seven fold spirit” and “seven starts” in verse 1?

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Questions

What does He mean when He

says we “have a name, that we live,

but are dead”?

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Questions

What is the church of Sardis struggling with?

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Questions

How are they supposed

to overcome that struggle?

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Questions

How are they supposed

to overcome that struggle?

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Questions

What is promised to those

who overcome?

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Chapter 3:7-13 - Philadelphia

Background:

Philadelphia (modern Alashehir) was thirty miles southeast of Sardis on the main trade route from Smyrna on the coast to the east (Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia
It also lay on the major Roman postal road from Troas through Pergamum, Sardis, and then Philadelphia to the east. Thus the city was ideal for commerce and was called “the gateway to the east.”
It was the most recent of the seven cities, founded sometime after 189 B.C. by either Eumenes II, king of Pergamum, or his younger brother Attalus Philadelphus, so-called because of his love and loyalty for his older sibling.
The religion of Philadelphia was similar to that of several of the cities, a syncretistic blend of Anatolian and Hellenistic practices. Its patron deity appropriately was Dionysus, god of wine.

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Note

Philadelphia, like Smyrna, has nothing negative said about it. Only praise and encouragement are given by Jesus to the church there.

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Note

The reference to the key of david comes from Isaiah 22:22, and is quoted here nearly verbatim.

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In reference to opening/shutting:

“In this context this describes Jesus as the Davidic Messiah who controls the entrance to God’s kingdom, the “New Jerusalem” (3:12). In the original context the “open/shut” parallel stressed the absolute power and authority of Eliakim. Here it means more. The Jews had probably excommunicated the Christians in Philadelphia from the synagogue (as throughout the Jewish world), but this declares unequivocally that only Christ, not they, has that authority. He alone can “open” and “shut” the gates to heaven. Moreover, the Jews excluded the believers from the synagogue, but Christ will exclude these Jews from God’s eternal kingdom. His decision will be final. When he “opens” the New Jerusalem (to the Gentiles), no one can change that decision. When he “closes” the door (to these Jews), this decision also cannot be altered.”

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Questions

What do you suppose the “open door” is to in verse 8?

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Questions

What do you think Jesus means when He tells the church that the Jews will worship at their feet?

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Questions

What do you think Jesus means when He tells the church that the Jews will worship at their feet?

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Questions

What is all the business of names about?

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Chapter 3:14-22 - Laodicea

Background:

The traveler from Philadelphia would go forty-five miles southeast to Laodicea on the same major postal road from Pergamum through Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia to the Mediterranean.
Philadelphia and Laodicea were situated on the only two routes into Phrygia (the eastern province) from the west. This confluence of major trade routes made Laodicea critical for trade and communications in the province.
There were only two drawbacks to the city. First, like Philadelphia it lay in a region prone to earthquakes. One in A.D. 60 virtually destroyed the city, the wealthy citizens rebuilt their city. Second, it had no water supply. They had to pipe in water from Denizli, six miles south, via an aqueduct that left the city vulnerable to weather and enemies.
Their religion, typical of that period, was syncretistic, a combination of local and Roman gods. The two main gods worshiped were Men and Zeus, but they also sent an annual delegation to the oracle of Apollo at Klaros.
Judaism was also prominent in the city, both in numbers and influence.
The church in Laodicea was founded by Epaphras (who also founded Colosse and Hierapolis)

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Questions

Why does Jesus refer to Himself as �the “Amen” and the “true witness”�in the opening line?

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Note

This is the only letter than doesn’t say anything positive about the church before diving into the issue Jesus has with them.

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Questions

What does the church in �Laodicea do wrong?��What is the source of this problem?

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Questions

What should the church do�to resolve their issue?

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Review

What are the common themes from�Jesus’ letters to the Seven Churches?

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