Africa Training Bible School Bible Verse Hand Book Session 4 to use with Mike Bickle Escatology Revelation Series adapted for Pastors in Africa

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Session #4 - The Seven Churches: Called to Overcome- Bible Verse Hand Book

Session #4 The Seven Churches: Called to Overcome

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Session 4 The Seven Churches: Called to Overcome

I. REVIEW: MESSAGE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him [Jesus] to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. He sent and signified it by His angel to…John. (Rev. 1:1)

D. Jesus will come for a prepared Bride walking in deep unity with the Spirit.

7 “For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
(Rev. 19:7)

II. HOW TO APPLY THE 7 LETTERS: 4 WAYS

C. Jesus spoke to individuals (“he” who has an ear), and then applied it to a group (“churches”).

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2:7)

III. STUDYING THE 7 LETTERS: COMMON ELEMENTS

D. Correction for compromise: Jesus highlighted numberous temptations:

1. Immorality and idolatry

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. (Rev. 2:14, 20)

2. Holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans

15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (Rev. 2:15)

3. Leaving their first love

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (Rev. 2:4)

4. Having a name of being spiritually alive but being spiritually dead

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Rev. 3:1)

5. Lukewarmness

16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Rev. 3:16)

F. Promise for overcomers: Jesus promised 18 eternal rewards in Rev. 2-3

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— (Rev. 2:7, 10, 17, 26)

5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev. 3:5, 12, 21)

3. We receive salvation (justification) as a free gift, based on Jesus’ worthiness

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Heavenly rewards are given according to the works that we do as our response of love and gratitude to Jesus for giving us so great and free a salvation.

41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; (1 Cor. 15:41-42)

G. The exhortation that Jesus repeated the most in His earthly ministry was the call to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Mt. 11:15) (Mt. 13:9, 43b)

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Mk. 4:9, 23) (Mk. 7:16)

8 “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Lk. 8:8b) (Lk. 14:35)

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2:7) (Rev. 2:11, 17, 29) (Rev. 3:6, 13, 22) (Rev. 13:9)

H. “The angel to the church” refers to the apostolic leader over each church.

It is translated “messenger” when referring to John the Baptist

10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’ (Mt. 11:10)

IV. EPHESUS: RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself: He holds the seven stars and walks in the midst of His people.

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands…’”
(Rev. 2:1)

C. Jesus affirmed their perseverance in their labor and in standing for truth

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. (Rev. 2:2-3)

D. Jesus corrected them for neglecting to cultivate their first love for God

4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Rev. 2:4)

He exhorted them to remember, repent, and act in the ways that they had in their former days.

5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Rev. 2:5)

He promised them a place “in the midst” of the paradise in the New Jerusalem

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Rev. 2:7)

V. SMYRNA: FAITHFULNESS IN SUFFERING

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev. 2:8-11)

VI. PERGAMOS: A CHURCH WITH COMPROMISE (REV. 2:12-17)

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself:

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. (Rev. 2:12)

There are five references to Jesus’ sword

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Rev. 1:16)

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev. 2:12, 16)

15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Rev. 19:15, 21)

C. Jesus affirmed their faithfulness in not yielding to fear in the midst of persecution.

13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. (Rev. 2:13)

D. He corrected their compromise in tolerating immorality and idolatry

He exhorted them to repent

16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev. 2: 16)

And promised them hidden manna and a white stone

VII. THYATIRA: COMMITTED, YET TOLERATING IMMORALITY (REV. 2:18-29)

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself: the Son of God, with eyes of fire and feet like brass.

18“To…the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass…’” (Rev. 2:18)

D. Jesus affirmed their ministry, love, service, faith, and perseverance in persecution.

19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience [perseverance]…” (Rev. 2:19)

E. He corrected their toleration of idolatry and immorality—lacking in moral purity—(v. 20)and warned of His discipline (v. 21-23).

To overcomers, He promised power over the nations (v. 26).

20“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow [tolerate] that woman Jezebel… to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality…21I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent…23I will kill her children with death…26He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations...” (Rev. 2:20-26)

F. Believers are sometimes made sick and even die under God’s judgment.

30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [are dead]. 31If we…judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened [disciplined] by the Lord, that we may not be condemned [go to hell] with the world. (1 Cor. 11:30-32)

1 It is reported that there is sexual immorality among you…5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord...
(1 Cor. 5:1, 5)

VIII. SARDIS: REPUTATION WITHOUT SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE (REV. 3:1-6)

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself:

C. Jesus gave them no affirmation, but corrected their spiritual passivity and lukewarmness

1 “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain…
3 Remember how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent…5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father…” (Rev. 3:1-5)

IX. PHILADELPHIA: FAITHFULNESS UNTO ETERNAL REWARDS (REV. 3:7-13)

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself:

7 “To…the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts…’” (Rev. 3:7)

C. Jesus affirmed their faithfulness to obey in the face of temptation and great persecution.

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Rev. 3:8-10)

He gave no correction, but exhorted them to hold fast, to continue to persevere

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
(Rev. 3:11)

He promised to make them a pillar in God’s temple and to write on them God’s name.

X. LAODICEA: SPIRITUAL PRIDE AND LUKEWARMNESS (REV. 3:14-22)

B. Jesus’ revelation of Himself:

14“To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God…’” (Rev. 3:14)

C. He corrected their lukewarmness and spiritual pride

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Rev. 3:15-17)

He exhorted them to buy gold refined by fire

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Rev. 3: 18)

He promised them deep fellowship with God and authority over the nations

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3: 19-21)