The Book of Revelation - Home Groups - Home

Go To: AncientPath.net

LESSON 07 - CHAPTER 2:12-3:6
Printed Version: Pages 77-90

R E V E L A T I O N

Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p. 37-44
Ephesus & Smyrna

A REMINDER

These lessons are written as an accompanment to
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996] Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is not included in these lessons)

THE SEVEN CHURCHES CONTINUED

Section 2 – “THE THINGS WHICH ARE” 2:1-3:22

A. The Message to Ephesus 2:1-7

B. The Message to Smyrna 2:8—11

THE VISUALIZED TEXT

C. The Letter to Pergamum 2:12-17

1. The Destination 2:12a

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:”

Ryrie pg. 37 mid

Our Comments

Just a reminder that the “Angel” (messenger) is both a possibility of being a heavenly protective angel or a God chosen/appointed human leader in the Local Church. The same is true today. I prefer to believe that both are active in the Local Church – that God selects heavenly angels and men and women specifically for service in the Local Church.

2. The Lord 2:12b

“The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”

Ryrie pg. 37 bottom

Our Comments

The imagery I see is often found in exciting “middle-earth” battles (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings) where the appointed here swings their two-edged sword against the enemy and with the forward stroke takes down the enemy in the front and a quick backward stroke takes down the rear approaching enemy. God’s Word never comes back void.

The Commendation 2:13

13 “I know

where you dwell,

where Satan’s throne is; and

you hold fast My name, and

[you] did not deny My faith

even in the days of Antipas,

My witness,

My faithful one,

who was killed among you,

where Satan dwells.”

Ryrie pg. 38 top

Our Comments

It is not happening here (where we are) like it is happening elsewhere in the world – places where the enemy comes and burns a Local Church with all it’s members still inside! I wonder how often a single false member has been the tipster who tells the enemy where and when to strike with fire. The lesson tells us to always be on alert.

The Condemnation 2:14-15

14 “But

I have a few things against you,

because you have there (in Pergamum) some

who hold the teaching of Balaam,

who kept teaching Balak

to put a stumbling block

before the sons of Israel,

to eat things sacrificed to idols and

to commit acts of immorality.

15 So you also have some who

in the same way

hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Ryrie pg. 38 mid

Our Comments

Again, we run into Balaam and the Nicolaitans. These two references bring forth the dark powers of this world who attempt to convince believers that it is alright to “sin a little” in living the Christian life. Pergamos did not “put them to the test” and expel them. Leadership has no right to be “lifted up” as better or holier than the rest of the body. No individual in the body is worthy of being “better” than any other. The believer is equal with their brothers and sisters in-Christ – and that includes Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, Teachers, and helpers. We are all ONE under Christ.

The Exhortation 2:16

16 “Therefore

repent;

or else

I am coming to you quickly, and

I will make war against them

with the sword of My mouth.”

Ryrie pg. 38 bottom

Our Comments

It is not normally taught strongly, but as this verse says, “repent; or else I am coming to you quickly….” Christ, through John, is talking to the church. In each age there are those who believe they are free from the effects of sin – disobedience to your Lord and Master Jesus Christ. He tells us that intentional acts against His and His Father’s will bring forth discipline – by His two-edged sword (Vs. 12). Take this as your warning!

The Promise 2:17

17 “He who has an ear,

let him hear what the Spirit says

to the churches.

To him who overcomes,

to him

I will give some of the hidden manna, and

I will give him a white stone, and

I will give him a new name written on the stone

which no one knows but he who receives it.”

Ryrie pg. very bottom

Our Comments

I will stress the beginning of this verse, “He (she) who has an ear… that is a mind that hears what the Spirit of God says, and does not disregard it… and does what the Spirit of God says to do, will acquire the special benefits of God’s grace; Spiritual food, the mark of belonging to Him, and a permanent new name of belonging… to Him (her) who overcomes the evils spoken of in these verses – that New Name is your New Identity… In Christ!

The Letter to Thyatira 2:18-29

The Destination 2:18a

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:”

Ryrie pg.39 mid

Our Comments

If you are not a student of the possibilities of each church mentioned in this book as to its place across the ages, then perhaps it is better to focus upon how each of these local church qualities (both positive and negative) affect your local church and your neighbors local churches today. In these verses we have seven (the perfect number) churches that have blessings and curses working out in them. Keep your focus on them so you may see the blessings, and problems reported. Then focus our daily life in regards to your local church and work to encourage the blessings and work to prevent the curses – every day in your local church, family, neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country.

The Lord 2:18b

“The Son of God,

who has His eyes like a flame of fire, and

His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:”

Ryrie pg. 39 lower

Our Comments

My first thought with this verse is the Son of God and His feet. Way back in the book of Daniel, Nebuchadrezzar’s dream was of this great statue that is thought to represent the coming world powers. Down at the bottom of that statue were a pair of feet that were made out of clay and iron. The whole world system was seen to stand upon feet of clay and iron. Clay that can be dissolved in water and washed away toppling the whole statue, and iron, that sort-of-hard metal that just sits there and rusts until it is all rust. What a vision of the destination of world systems.

Now, here is the Son of God revealed with His feet of burnished (polished) bronze. No washing away, No rusting away – forever brilliant and reliant as the footing for all that rest upon them. And what does He say?....

The Commendation 2:19

19 “I know

your deeds, and

your love and

[your] faith and

[your] service and

[your] perseverance, and that

your last deeds are greater than the first.”

Ryrie pg. 39 lower

Our Comments

This is what our Lord says to Thyatira because of she continues to do good works. Oh, that all our works for Him would be greater than the first – and continue so.

The Condemnation 2:20-23

20 “But

I have this against you,

that you tolerate the woman Jezebel,

who calls herself a prophetess, and

she teaches and leads

My bond-servants astray

so that they

commit acts of immorality and

eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 I gave her time to repent, and

she does not want to repent of her immorality.

22 Behold,

I will throw her into a bed of sickness, and

those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation,

unless they repent of her deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death, and

all the churches will know that

I am He who searches the minds (kidneys) and hearts; and

I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”

Ryrie pg. 39 bottom

Our Comments

Two further thoughts. First, this is a good place to see the symbolism in the language of the book. Ryrie already mentioned it, but it is so important to see. The mentioning of “her children,” is not talking about a woman with children. It is talking about those people who submit to this woman’s ideas and directions for life – settled deeply in immorality and idolatry. They are her children. We are to see, the Jesus, the Lord God and King, will not let such things continue in His kingdom. He will take corrective action even to the point of bringing death to those who continue to jeopardize His brothers and sisters. Secondly, look around you and see the number of closed churches and churches with 10 or less cars in their parking lot on Sunday morning. Our Lord does strike down immorality and idolatry, and every other kind of sin that attempts to destroy His work.

The Exhortation 2:24-25

24 “But

I say to you,

the rest who are in Thyatira,

who do not hold this teaching,

who have not known the deep things of Satan,

as they call them

I place no other burden on you.

25 Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.”

Ryrie pg. 40 mid

Our Comments

Acts 15:28-29

28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

The Promise 2:26-28

26 “He who overcomes, and

he who keeps My deeds until the end,

to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall shepherd them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Ryrie pg. 40 lower

Our Comments

Ryrie just made this clear, but I’ll say it again: Those who are faced with these great efforts of the evil one to destroy them and Christ’s churches… yet they are able to overcome and “keep My deeds until the end,” will receive authority, will become a shepherd with a rod of iron, with the gift of the morning star (power and light in Christ) and much more in His eternal life. As Ryrie also noted, this does seem to indicate the successful believer’s position to come in the Millennium in Christ’s New 1,000 year Kingdom.

The Revelation Of Jesus Christ

The “Visualized” NASB [1999] Text

Chapter 3

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

The Things Which Are 2:1-3:22

The Letter To Sardis 3:1-6

The Destination 3:1a
3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:”

Ryrie pg. 40 bottom

Our Comments
We should make special note of Ryrie’s comment about Sardis thinking it was impregnable. Yes, we have safety teams, careful watchers in our classes and during worship – but like Sardis… it only takes one (or a few) to follow up a secret path – both physically, emotionally, theoretically, or doctrinally.

The Lord 3:1b

“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars,”

Ryrie pg. 41 top

Our Comments
It is up to us and our leadership to focus upon Christ’s reign over His local churches. He sets the rules, and we are the one who are responsible in seeing to it that our whole operation as a church is done in His purity.

The Condemnation 3:1c-2

“says this:

‘I know your deeds,

that you have a name

that you are alive,

and

you are dead.

2 Wake up, and

strengthen the things that remain,

which were about to die;

for I have not found your deeds completed

in the sight of My God.’”

Ryrie pg. 41 lower

Our Comments

Yes, Sardis was a mess – and we should be constantly on guard to prevent any part of our body falling asleep… or as Jesus put it, dying. WAKE UP, and wake up those around you when you see areas of our work for Christ… falling asleep!

The Exhortation 3:3

3 “So remember

how you have

received and

heard; and

keep it, and

repent.”

Therefore if you do not wake up,

I will come like a thief, and

you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

Ryrie pg. 41 Lower

Our Comments

Jesus is telling us that now that you have heard His evaluation,,, and hopefully heard it and received His words, KEEP IT (what you have heard) and REPENT of the things you now know are against His will.

The Commendation 3:4

4 “But

you have a few names in Sardis

who have not soiled their garments; and

they will walk with Me in white,

for they are worthy.”

Ryrie pg. 41 lower

Our Comments

While I understand the broad comment concerning the soiling o their garments… it also alerted me that sometimes the soiling of your garment comes from inside you! Not just what you might touch or do with your life. I know people who think they are truly clean – but their mouths are sometimes foul, and the things they say about others is despicable. We often must be reminded, “Do not judge.” Our place in this world is to win others to Christ – not to judge others and push them away – no matter their sin.

The Promise 3:5-6

5 “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and

I will not erase his name from the book of life, and

I will confess his name before My Father

and before His angels.

6 He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Ryrie pg. 41 bottom

Our Comment – No Comment!

The Book of Revelation - Home Groups - Home

Go To: AncientPath.net

The "The Ancient Path" Study materials on this website are made available here free and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them. Items that appear as copyrighted materials that are not of our authorship are not to be copied without the express permission of the original copyright holders. Every effort has been made to give proper footnote credit for items that are quoted.

J. Deering [AncientPath.net] is the author and editor of this study.

2025-10-24