Revelation Session 2
Feb 4, 2026
Let’s review a little from our last meeting.
This is important but it is not a first order issue. It’s important because it helps us see:
· The glory of Jesus
· The victory of Jesus
· How God feels about evil
· The end of evil
· The sovereignty of God
· God’s ultimate plan
But, there are some things that are not clear and that godly, well-meaning theologians and church members disagree on. Let’s agree to remain brothers and sisters even though we may have significant disagreements about the interpretation of this book.
Some might ask, why is it so unclear? Why does God not make it clear? I cannot say for sure but I suspect that God is fine with people wrestling with different views of interpretation within reason. I think He probably intends for this to be the case. I believe it is a good thing for us to consider the different viewpoints and be open to the possibility they could be correct. This is particularly true of the 4 major views of the millennium. Here are the 4 views:
Preterist – Least likely
· Primarily Catholic
· The book was written to the seven churches and all of the events happened within the first century AD.
· The second coming of Jesus is assumed to have happened in 70 AD with the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
Post-millennial
· Jonanthan Edwards, R. C. Sproul
· The Gospel will continue to transform the world leading to a golden age on earth of 1000 years after which Jesus will return
· Outlook for the future: The world will get better
Premillennial
· Two types
o Dispensational –
§ John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Dallas Theological Seminary, Scoffield Study Bible
§ Furturist – Chapters 4-22 all happen in the future
§ Rapture => 7 years of Tribulation => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
§ Outlook for the future: The world will get worse
o Historical
§ Erasmus, John Piper, Darrell Bock
§ Not futurist, events have been happening since book was written
§ Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
§ Jesus returns => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
§ Outlook for the future: The world may get worse
Amillennial
· Augustine, Voddie Baucham, Sam Storm
· The millennium in not a literal 1000 years but instead refers to a long time
· The millennium began when Jesus ascended and will end when He returns
· Some believe Jesus is reigning in the intermediate state now
· Some believe Jesus reigning on earth now.
· Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
· Outlook for the future: The world may be worse or may stay about the same
Chapter one is a vision of the resurrected Jesus His command to John to write what He sees.
One question that came up after our last sessions was about chapter one verse 4:
Revelation 1:4 (ESV)
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
“The reference to seven spirits, of course, does not mean that there are seven Holy Spirits. The number seven is used symbolically, referring to perfections of the Spirit.”
Thomas R. Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Chapters 2 and 3
These chapters contain the letters to the seven churches. There are some important things to consider before we get into the text.
It is important to note
First, how do we interpret the inclusion of these letters in this book? There are several approaches.
1. The churches represent 7 eras of the church.
2. The churches represent 7 types of churches.
3. The churches describe the church age that ends with a time of tribulation. This is true of dispensational premillennials who see everything after chapter 4 as future.
4. The churches portray 7 actual churches that help set the context for the material to come.
Second, chapters 2 and 3 seem to be a completely different type of literature.
The 7 churches at the very least represent a different genre, a different type of literature. Most refer the letters epistles while the rest is referred to as apocalyptic or prophetic. Epistles remind of the letters of Paul and Peter and the three other letters John has written. Epistles typically address specific issues faced by a church or a group of churches. Chapters 2 and 3 provide a setting for the rest of the book while providing the modern church a roadmap of how to prepare for difficult times.
Third, the 7 churches are all facing difficulties from without and 5 seem to facing difficulties from and within.
All 7 are under some pressure of persecution that is likely to get worse. If written in 60s Nero was actively persecuting the church and if written in the 90s Domitian was persecuting the church. Jesus delivers this book to the churches to help them through this persecution.
Fourth, 2 of the churches are not corrected by Jesus at all.
Smyrna and Philadelphia are encouraged and not corrected. This could help us understand the role of the true church later in the book.
The Text
Ephesus
Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)
1“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.
2“ ‘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.
3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5Remember 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.
6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7He 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.’
· Compliments
o You are theologically sound
o You are careful and diligent to call out heresy
· Corrections
o You have left your first love
· Warning
o Repent and return to who you were at first
§ Lampstand removed – cease to exist
o Listen
· Promises
o Eat from the tree of life
Smyrna
Revelation 2:8–11 (ESV)
8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
· Encouragements
o I know what is happening to you
o I know how hard things have been
o Do not fear suffering
· Corrections
o None
· Promises
o Be faithful and receive the crown of life
Pergamum
Revelation 2:12–17 (ESV)
12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13“ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
· Encouragements
o You have some faithful history even in times of severe persecution
· Corrections
o You allow false teaching to flourish among you
o You participate in idol worship by eating food offered to idols
o You practice sexual immorality
· Warnings
o Repent or you I will go to war with you
· Promises
o Hidden manna
Thyatira
Revelation 2:18–29 (ESV)
18“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.
19“ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
20But 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.
21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22Behold, 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,
23and 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.
24But 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.
25Only hold fast what you have until I come.
26The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
28And I will give him the morning star.
29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
· Encouragements
o You’re doing so great things – love, faith, service, patient endurance
o Some of you are doing well
· Corrections
o You tolerate one who teaches sexual immorality
· Promises
o Authority over the nations
Sardis
Revelation 3:1–6 (ESV)
1“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.
2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
3Remember, 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.
4Yet 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.
5The 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.
6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
· Corrections
o You think you are alive but you are dead
· Encouragements
o
· Warnings
o Wake up!
o Strengthen what remains
o Remember what you received
o Repent
o I am coming when you do not expect it
· Promises
o The one who conquers will be clean, His name will remain in the God of life
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7–13 (ESV)
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
11I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
· Encouragements
o Open door
o You have kept my word
o Hold fast to what you have
· Corrections
· Promises
o The synagogue of Satan will bow before you
o I will make you a pillar in the temple of God
o I will write my new name on you
Laodicea
Revelation 3:14–22 (ESV)
14“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15“ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
· Corrections
o Hot nor cold
o You think you are rich but you are poor
· Encouragements
o I stand at your door knocking
· Promises
o Conquer and you will sit with me on my throne.