Lesson 5: The Book of Revelation (Chapters 2 & 3)

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

Bible Fact: The Book of Revelation is given by Jesus and written by John to strengthen our hope of the future.

LESSON 5:  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

1. SARDIS – “Unto the pastor of the church at Sardis, write…”  This church period is the church of the Reformation:
   1. HE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF: 3:1
   2. HE COMMENDS: v.4
   3. HE CONDEMNS: v.1
   4. HE WARNS: vv.2,3
   5. HE CHALLENGES: vv.5,6

B. PHILADELPHIA – “Unto the pastor of the church in Philadelphia, write…”    This church means “open door.”It represents the great missionary movement.

1. HE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF:v.7
2. HE COMMENDS:vv.8,9
3. HE CONDEMNS:v.10
4. HE WARNS:v.11
5. HE CHALLENGES:v.12

Let’s talk about it:

1. Name some ways that Christian Churches today express imperfect works and have not kept high standards of spiritual purity.
2. Discuss ways that today’s Christian Church can hold fast to the standards of Christ and not let the world take their reward.