Lesson 7a

 Chapter 1 Given to John: wrote what he saw  Chapter 2 Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira  Chapter 3 Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea  Chapter 4 One on the throne in heaven  Chapter 5 Lamb is worthy to open the book

 Theme: Revelation given to John  God gave to Jesus  ↓  Jesus gave to an angel  ↓  Angel gave to John  ↓  John gave to the 7 churches in Asia  Write: things which you have seen, which are and which will take place after these things

 Jesus’ Message to the Churches  Ephesus: don’t leave/ abandon your first love  Smyrna: don’t fear tribulation; be faithful unto death  Pergamum: hold fast to Jesus’ name, don’t deny My faith  Thyatira: don’t tolerate false teaching and sin in the church

 Description of Jesus: has the Seven Spirits of God and the seven stars  Seven stars are: the angels of the 7 churches  Seven Spirits:  Rev. 1:4 Before God’s throne  Rev. 4:5 Seven lamps/torches of fire burning  Rev. 5:6 Seven eyes sent out into all the earth

 A lampstand with 7 lamps and spouts  Temple would NOT be built by might and power of man, but by the Spirit of the Lord  4:10 These are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth  The temple was God’s dwelling place among the people: His presence with Israel  Jesus holds the lampstands and walks among the churches (Rev. 1:13)

 Prov. 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good  Seven Spirits IS the Holy Spirit  Holy Spirit Sees  Holy Spirit illumines and goes throughout the world seeing all that goes on  Is. 11:1-5 Holy Spirit gives: Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Fear of the Lord Counsel Strength

 Rev. 3:1 Have a name that you are alive, but you are dead  No life in almost all of the church  John 1:11-13; 10:10; 14:6  Jesus came to give life. He IS the Life  Only those who believe in Him have life  Rom. 8:1-2, 9-11; John 6:63  Spirit gives life  He = Spirit of Jesus = Spirit of Christ = Spirit of God = The Holy Spirit  No Spirit: No life dead

 Most of the church members at Sardis were dead/not saved (Rev. 3:4)  The Spirit produces righteousness Rom. 8:10  Eph. 1:13; 2:1-5 I heard the Word and I believed  God’s mercy and love make people come to life Eph. 2:4-5  Heb. 3:6, True believers: Hold fast their confidence and hope firm to the end  Hold fast their assurance firm until the end

 I Cor. 15:1-2 True believers stand in the gospel and hold fast the Word  Like Smyrna and Antipas of Pergamum  Sardis had not held fast to the gospel; their deeds were not complete.  “Pleroo”: perfect, fully preached, executed, satisfied; complete, accomplished, finished  Their deeds, then, were not fully preached or executed.

 Are YOU dead?  How do you know?  Are YOU alive?  How do you know?  Do you say you are alive, but you are dead?  What does your life say?  What does the Spirit say about you?  There is still time… for Sardis, time is up