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LESSON 08
- CHAPTER 3:7-22
R E V E L A T I O N
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p. 37-44
Ephesus
& Smyrna
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
C. The Message to
Pergamum 2:12-17
D. The Message to
Thyatira 2:18-29
E. The Message to
Sardis 3:1-6
F.
The Message to Philadelphia 3:7-13
G.
The Message to Laodicea 3:14-22
The Letter To Philadelphia
3:7-13
The Destination
3:7a
7 “And to the
angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
Ryrie pg. 42
top
Our Comments -
none
The Lord
3:7b
He who is holy,
[He] who is
true,
[He] who has
the key of David,
[He] who opens
and no one will shut, and
[He] who shuts
and no one opens,
says
this:
Ryrie pg. 42
lower
Our Comments
The Quote is
from Isaiah 22. More on this as we move to verse 8.
The Commendation
3:8
8
‘I know your
deeds.
Behold,
I have
put before you
an open door
which no one can shut,
because you
have a
little power, and
have kept My word, and
have not denied My name.
[Isaiah
22:22
“Then
I will set the
key (to the door)
of the house of David
on his shoulder,
When he
opens
no one will
shut,
When he
shuts
no one will
open.”]
Ryrie pg. 42
mid
Our Comments
First, “I know
our deeds.” The message is to the faithful members of the church at
Philadelphia. It is not negative… It is positive.
Just to be sure you don’t miss Jesus’s
point here. In this Old Testament reference, God was disciplining David for his
falling away from His Lord God and the responsibilities of his office. He was
calling upon His (God’s) servant Eliakim and giving him the keys to the
leadership of the Nation of Israel. God’s emphasis falls upon that “door”
(through the power of God Almighty) that opened a new leadership to Israel.
Here then,
since the beginning of the Church Age, the God given power (the key to the door)
over the affairs of The Church to His Son, Jesus - The Christ. All power over
The Church, and the events of the future, has been given to Him. The Church at
Philadelphia is being commended as representing the FAITHFUL members of the Body
of Christ (the Church).
(No
Condemnation)
The Promise [1]
3:9-11a
9 Behold,
I give
those of the synagogue of Satan,
who say that they are Jews and
are not, but lie—
I will
make them come and bow down before your feet, and
[I
will] make them know that I have loved you.
10 Because
you have kept the word of My perseverance,
I
also will keep you from the hour of testing,
that hour which is about to come
upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on whole inhabited earth.
11 I
am coming quickly;
Ryrie pg. 42
bottom
Our Comments
Pre:
Believers protected by being removed
before Daniel’s 70th week (The Tribulation).
Mid:
Believers by God’s hand during first
3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th Week (The Tribulation).
Post:
Believers destined to live through (and possibly be martyred during)
Daniel’s 70th Week (The
Tribulation).
Daniel
prophesied 70 weeks of years would pass before the new Kingdom Age would begin.
The first 69 weeks of years came to pass historically. 490 years prophesized
until “the Messiah is cut off.” Daniel left an undescribed period of time
between the 69th and 70th weeks of years. That time came
to be known as the “Church Age.”
Daniel’s 70
week of years would be a time of devastating war of retribution to sinful man
before the establishment of the 1-thousand year promised Kingdom of The Christ.
The Exhortation
3:11b
hold fast
what you have,
so
that no one will take your crown.
Ryrie pg. 46
top
Our Comments
“Hold Fast”
that’s the exhortation to this Church Age. Life is unexpectedly challenging,
sometimes unfair, and sometimes quite awful. Christ’s message to us is to “Hold
On!.” Believe – Hope – Trust – That’s what we are to do until… “Then.”
The Promise [2]
3:12-13
12 He who
overcomes,
I will
make him a pillar
in the temple of My God, and
he
will not go out from it anymore; 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 out of heaven from My God,
and My new name.
13 He who has
an ear,
let
him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Ryrie pg. 42
bottom (repeat of 3:9-11)
Our Comments
Study these
two verses thoroughly – This is the beginnings of our rewards –
especially if we are still among the
physically living during the late end times – things don’t get better and better
from here on!
(pg. 46 mid) The Letter to
Laodicea 3:14-22
The Destination
3:14a
14 “To the
angel of the church in Laodicea write:
Ryrie pg. 46
Our Comments
As Ryrie has
said, “The Church exhibits characteristics of the modern period.” I found it
interesting that the city was named “judgment of the people.” Ryrie didn’t
mention that Laodicea was the first city on the Roman Road to & from the East –
Today’s Asia, Russia, China, etc. This would be the place where these people
would encounter Christians of that day. So sad it seems that the encounter with
Christians would be like that in many of our barely Christian churches today.
“Oh hi, yes, we believe in the one called ‘Jesus’ – at Christmas and Easter,
presents, and lots of good music!”
It is a lesson
for us today… We live in a place where new people from all over the world come
to visit and live. May they find us welcoming, non-judgmental, and interested in
them coming to know our Jesus!
The Lord 3:14b
The Amen,
the faithful
and
[the] true
Witness,
the Beginning
of the creation of [by] God, says this:
Ryrie pg. 46.
Bottom
Our Comments
“Amen” in
Hebrew literally means “Truly.” Amen, Amen – “Truly, Truly” We often have come
to see it as meaning how to end a prayer “Amen.” But it is an exclamation that
what we are telling God, what we are asking of Him, is “the truth, and nothing
but the truth.”
Ryrie also
brings up Jesus’ place in the creation story. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth.” John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him
nothing came into being that has come into being.” 1:14, “And the Word
became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory. 1:16-17, “For of
His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given
through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”
(No Commendation)
The
Condemnation 3:15-17
15 ‘I know your deeds,
that
you are neither cold nor hot;
I
wish that you were cold or hot.
16
So
because you are lukewarm,
and neither hot nor cold,
I
will vomit you out of My mouth.
17
Because you say,
“I am rich, and
[I] have become wealthy, and
[I] have need of nothing,” and
you
do not know that you are
wretched and
miserable and
poor and
blind and
naked,
Ryrie pg. 47
top
Our Comments
How pathetic… a
large, physically wealthy church – but the opposite is spiritually true of them.
Consider ourselves, our positions, our membership in the Body of Christ.
Re-Evaluate everything in your life. Don’t wind up with Jesus labeling you and
your church as Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind and/or Naked.
The Exhortation
3:18-19
18 I advise
you
to buy
from Me
gold refined by fire
so that you may become rich, and
white garments
so that you may clothe yourself, and
that the shame of your nakedness
will not be revealed; and
eye salve to anoint your eyes
so that you may see.
19 Those whom
I love, I reprove and discipline;
therefore be zealous and repent.
Ryrie pg. 47
mid
Our Comments
Look what
Christ’s heart is for these who have wandered away from their original
intention.
The Promise
3:20-22
20 Behold,
I
stand at the door and knock;
if anyone hears
My voice and opens the door,
I
will come in to him and [I] will dine with him, and he with
Me. 21
He who overcomes,
I
will grant to him to sit down with Me on
My throne,
as I also
overcame and
sat down with
My Father on
His throne.
22 He who has
an ear,
let
him hear what the Spirit says
to the churches.’”
Ryrie pg. 47
bottom
Our Comments
Again: Look
what Christ’s heart is for these who have wandered away from their
original intention. Jesus will do for you what His Father
has done for Him! – IF… when He knocks on your door – you let Him in!
This is what He says to the Churches, and to you personally.
Ryrie Page 48 –
THE SUMMARY
Our Comments
“BEWARE.”
The Book of
Revelation - Home Groups - Home
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