Lesson 4: The Book of Revelation (Chapters 2 & 3)

by Rev. Manson B. Johnson
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

A CHRISTIAN LIFE CONNECTION SERIES
“DEVELOPING MY NEW LIFE RELATIONSHIPS: The Book Of Revelation”

LESSON 4: The Book of Revelation (Chapters 2 & 3)

These two chapters cover letters addressed to the seven churches.  The seven churches represent all of God’s churches. THEY REPRESENT ALL CHURCHES OF ALL AGES.  Any church that exists can fit the descriptions within these seven churches.  John lived in the same dispensation, same age that we live today–the day of the Church Age. Christ spoke to the seven churches in a definite order.  He follows a definite pattern as you will see as we study each of the seven churches.  The pattern in each is:

1.    First Christ identifies Himself
2.    Then He commends the church (all but Laodicea)
3.    Next, He condemns the things that are wrong.  (He had no condemnation for Smyrna and Philadelphia.)
4.    Then He warns the church
5.    And finally He challenges the church

HE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF:  2:12

1.  HE COMMENDS:  v.13
2.  HE CONDEMNS:  vv.14,15
3.  HE WARNS:  v.16
4.  HE CHALLENGES:  v.17

1.   HE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF:  v.18
2.   HE COMMENDS:  v.19
3.   HE CONDEMNS:  vv.20-23
4.   HE WARNS:  vv.24,25
5.   HE CHALLENGES:  vv.26-28

Let’s talk about it:

1. Compared to the Church of Pergamos above what are some of the similar warnings and challenges the Christian Church in America faces today?
2. In what ways can a Church in America today to be guilty of catering to the doctrine of Balaam? (Numbers 22:5-41)
3. In what ways are Churches today like the Church at Thyatira that permitted Jezebel activities to rein among them?