Citywide Baptist Church
The seven keys to Revelation
The Seven churches to whom Revelation was written are the key to understanding the whole book
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
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https://www.citywidehobart.org.au/payment-or-gift-to-citywide/Ask your questions about Revelation
https://www.citywidehobart.org.au/2024/07/25/ask-your-questions-about-revelation/The five principles of reading Revelation
1) Correct reading of the bible leads to the fruit of the spirit and not fear
2) Revelation should be interpreted symbolically unless you are forced by the text to read it literally. Numbers, particularly are very symbolic.
3) The most important key to Revelation is understanding the Old Testament and what the over 200 allusions to the Old Testament mean in that context
4)Reading Revelation requires imagination.
5) Revelation was written to shape people as dissidents who give their allegiance not to the world but to the Kingdom of God.
1) Correct reading of the bible leads to the fruit of the spirit and not fear
2) Revelation should be interpreted symbolically unless you are forced by the text to read it literally. Numbers, particularly are very symbolic.
3) The most important key to Revelation is understanding the Old Testament and what the over 200 allusions to the Old Testament mean in that context
4)Reading Revelation requires imagination.
5) Revelation was written to shape people as dissidents who give their allegiance not to the world but to the Kingdom of God.
The Characters of Revelation:
The prostitute Babylon (Rome): What the bible calls "the world" or the system that sets itself up to tell you what success is apart from Jesus. (chapter 17)
The dragon (Satan), the woman (the people of God) and the child (Jesus) (chapter 12):
The dragon attempts to destroy the child being born, but the child is exalted to God and to his throne. The death of the Messiah (as was the case with the death of the Lamb in chap. 5) is the means by which the dragon is hurled out of heaven. The dragon, filled with rage, despite being evicted from heaven, continues his attempt to destroy God’s people—the woman—through persecution. The dragon’s attempt to annihilate the woman is vain, for the woman will be helped and will survive the dragon’s attacks. (from Thomas Schriener's commentary on Revelation)
The Beast from the Sea: Satan's coercive power and authority exercised through people (his agents) on earth (chapter 13) The beast is sometimes called the antichrist because he is a sick parody of the one who is faithful and true. The saints are encouraged to endure and be faithful.
The Beast from the Earth: Satan's lies communicated by his agents on earth.
The Lion who is a Lamb: Jesus who is victorious over Satan.
The faithful witnesses: The church
The prostitute Babylon (Rome): What the bible calls "the world" or the system that sets itself up to tell you what success is apart from Jesus. (chapter 17)
The dragon (Satan), the woman (the people of God) and the child (Jesus) (chapter 12):
The dragon attempts to destroy the child being born, but the child is exalted to God and to his throne. The death of the Messiah (as was the case with the death of the Lamb in chap. 5) is the means by which the dragon is hurled out of heaven. The dragon, filled with rage, despite being evicted from heaven, continues his attempt to destroy God’s people—the woman—through persecution. The dragon’s attempt to annihilate the woman is vain, for the woman will be helped and will survive the dragon’s attacks. (from Thomas Schriener's commentary on Revelation)
The Beast from the Sea: Satan's coercive power and authority exercised through people (his agents) on earth (chapter 13) The beast is sometimes called the antichrist because he is a sick parody of the one who is faithful and true. The saints are encouraged to endure and be faithful.
The Beast from the Earth: Satan's lies communicated by his agents on earth.
The Lion who is a Lamb: Jesus who is victorious over Satan.
The faithful witnesses: The church
Overview of Revlation PDF
https://www.citywidehobart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Revelation-overview.pdfLast week we saw how the letters to the churches are a bit like the whole book in that they each finish with a vision of the New Creation and an encouragement to hold on for that vision.
This week we look at the implications of the letters for us and for the whole book.
Revelation starts with a vision of who Jesus is
This week we look at the implications of the letters for us and for the whole book.
Revelation starts with a vision of who Jesus is
As human beings, we are wired to adapt to the reality we find ourselves in... Revelation is an invitation to see the bigger reality that is Jesus.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This vision of Jesus is the foundation of the whole book and also the foundation of his specific words to the churches.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This vision of Jesus is the foundation of the whole book and also the foundation of his specific words to the churches.
Jesus is far beyond your picture of who he is, and as he turns up to the churches, there are specific aspects of who he is that are relevant to their particular situation that are brought into focus.
John introduces his specific words for each church by Jesus assuring them that he walks among them
The Seven Churches
The letters to the churches give us a glimpse of the particular challenges being faced by the churches...
The key focus of each letter is whether they are faithful to Jesus or not.
The key focus of each letter is whether they are faithful to Jesus or not.
One church (Ephesus) is warned that they are doing good things but they have lost their first love and need to get back to doing the things that they did at first.
Two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) are encouraged for their faithfulness in the face of attack by Satan through Jewish people and Rome and asked to hang on.
Two churches (Sardis and Laodicea) are warned that they are in serious trouble. Sardis looks good to others and Laodicea looks good to themselves but they are warned they are about to be judged.
Two churches (Pergamum and Thyatira) were encouraged for some things but warned that they had allowed false teachers to take them away from the truth of who Jesus is.
Two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) are encouraged for their faithfulness in the face of attack by Satan through Jewish people and Rome and asked to hang on.
Two churches (Sardis and Laodicea) are warned that they are in serious trouble. Sardis looks good to others and Laodicea looks good to themselves but they are warned they are about to be judged.
Two churches (Pergamum and Thyatira) were encouraged for some things but warned that they had allowed false teachers to take them away from the truth of who Jesus is.
Themes that come into focus through the letters:
- Loving Jesus and each other is the most important focus for Christians and love is expressed through actions
- Faith is expressed through actions (deeds are mentioned seven times, and hard work is mentioned once)
- Jews have been kicking Christians out of Synagogues and encouraging Roman persecution, publically declaring that Christians (including Jewish Christians) are not God's chosen people.
- Christians have suffered, will suffer, and have been killed and will be killed by the religious and political structures of their day
- False teachers are a serious threat and lead to idolatry and sexual immorality.
- Seeking "secret knowledge" is a dangerous temptation
- Satan is behind the attacks and false teaching
- Loving Jesus and each other is the most important focus for Christians and love is expressed through actions
- Faith is expressed through actions (deeds are mentioned seven times, and hard work is mentioned once)
- Jews have been kicking Christians out of Synagogues and encouraging Roman persecution, publically declaring that Christians (including Jewish Christians) are not God's chosen people.
- Christians have suffered, will suffer, and have been killed and will be killed by the religious and political structures of their day
- False teachers are a serious threat and lead to idolatry and sexual immorality.
- Seeking "secret knowledge" is a dangerous temptation
- Satan is behind the attacks and false teaching
As we see the incredible truth of who Jesus is and the specific challenges being faced by the churches, we start to see how the rest of Revelation is God's attempt to reveal to them the profound nature of the battle they are in.
- The different glimpses of God's throne room and Jesus remind them of the real power in the universe
- The different images of the multi-ethnic church remind them they are not alone
- The image of outer courtyard of the temple being trampled by the Gentiles, echoes the encouragement that they will be pillars in the temple (3:12) and directly contradicts what the Jews have told them
- The two faithful servants are images of what it means to be "one who is victorious"
- The beasts reveal the ways that Satan will seek to attack the church
- The fact that Revelation culminates with three chapters on the fall of Babylon tells us that the system supported by Satan and its beasts is the overarching challenge facing the church.
- The different glimpses of God's throne room and Jesus remind them of the real power in the universe
- The different images of the multi-ethnic church remind them they are not alone
- The image of outer courtyard of the temple being trampled by the Gentiles, echoes the encouragement that they will be pillars in the temple (3:12) and directly contradicts what the Jews have told them
- The two faithful servants are images of what it means to be "one who is victorious"
- The beasts reveal the ways that Satan will seek to attack the church
- The fact that Revelation culminates with three chapters on the fall of Babylon tells us that the system supported by Satan and its beasts is the overarching challenge facing the church.
In chapter 12 the story of the Dragon and the woman gives an overview of their experience and the big story of the church which is both attacked and protected by both God and the earth.
In that chapter he had declared their method of victory over evil...which reinforces the encouragements to the seven churches.
In that chapter he had declared their method of victory over evil...which reinforces the encouragements to the seven churches.
In both situations there are people who perceive themselves to be right about their way to God and see the church as a threat that they must persecute.
Ultimately people who are committed to another God than Jesus will always perceive followers of Jesus as a threat... a threat that we respond to by the blood of Jesus, the word of our testimony, and a willingness to die.
Ultimately people who are committed to another God than Jesus will always perceive followers of Jesus as a threat... a threat that we respond to by the blood of Jesus, the word of our testimony, and a willingness to die.
We want to be open to the challenges that Jesus levelled at those seven churches, that perhaps he might want to also level at us.
For John, Love is the very center of the Christian faith.
What do you love?
Unless you have sought God's direction, you can measure what you love by what you spend your time and your money.
The second challenge Jesus had for the churches is that they were listening to teachers who took them away from truth.
Unless you have sought God's direction, you can measure what you love by what you spend your time and your money.
The second challenge Jesus had for the churches is that they were listening to teachers who took them away from truth.
Ideas are infectious; they become part of how you see the world and now any nutter with a video camera can spread their ideas globally.
One of the most important tasks you now have is curating the inputs you let into your life because they are currently shaping what you believe to be true.
Andrew Tate is the personification of the problem of false teachers.
Paul gave us a grid to evaluate false teaching... which we need to continually be referencing.
One of the most important tasks you now have is curating the inputs you let into your life because they are currently shaping what you believe to be true.
Andrew Tate is the personification of the problem of false teachers.
Paul gave us a grid to evaluate false teaching... which we need to continually be referencing.
The beast's primary weapon is deception, so we need to be very careful about the teachers we choose to follow
Another Jesus levelled against the church was that their behaviour (deeds) no longer reflected the way of the Lamb.
Another Jesus levelled against the church was that their behaviour (deeds) no longer reflected the way of the Lamb.
Christianity that is not primarily focussed on loving Jesus, being taught by Jesus and worshipping Jesus leads to a cheap kind of grace.
“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it is the Lord’s Supper without confession of sin; it is absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It boils down to the challenge to the Laodiceans
“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it is the Lord’s Supper without confession of sin; it is absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It boils down to the challenge to the Laodiceans
We are not saved by doing things, but if we are not doing things it is an indication of the real nature of our faith.
The beast wants us to trust only ourselves.
Jesus counsels us to buy:
Gold refined in the fire - Character that reflects the fruit of the spirit which the result of perseverance and willingness to die
White clothes to wear - Salvation through jesus
Salve to put on our eyes- See the heavenly reality ... the true reality. Faith is about seeing.
Jesus counsels us to buy:
Gold refined in the fire - Character that reflects the fruit of the spirit which the result of perseverance and willingness to die
White clothes to wear - Salvation through jesus
Salve to put on our eyes- See the heavenly reality ... the true reality. Faith is about seeing.
Each of the churches is invited to live from the perspective of the heavenly reality of the victory Jesus has already won.
Will you let him in?
Small Group Questions:
1) 1) Revelation starts with a remarkable vision of who Jesus is (1:12-20). How do you respond to that vision and the CS Lewis quote?
2) Two of the churches are facing opposition and persecution and are simply encouraged to "hold on". Have there been times in your life when you simply had to hold on in the face of big challenges? What did your faith meant to you in those moments?
3) The first criticism Jesus has for one of the churches is that their love had changed. Matt said that you can measure what you love by what your spend your time and money on (unless you have submitted those things to God first). If that was true then what things do you spend the most time an money on? What does that tell you?
4) Jesus warned people against false teachers, which Matt said is even more relevant today because we each have so much access to so many voices. What teachers do you trust? Are there teachers that you can see take you away from the fruit of the spirit? Are their teachers that take you towards it?
5) Jesus warns us against being lukewarm. Who are some of the people you know that you would say are not lukewarm? What can you learn from them?
6) What do you think Jesus would say to us at Citywide if he were to dictate a letter to John for us? Please let Matt know: matt@citywidehobart.org.au
Pray for each other
1) 1) Revelation starts with a remarkable vision of who Jesus is (1:12-20). How do you respond to that vision and the CS Lewis quote?
2) Two of the churches are facing opposition and persecution and are simply encouraged to "hold on". Have there been times in your life when you simply had to hold on in the face of big challenges? What did your faith meant to you in those moments?
3) The first criticism Jesus has for one of the churches is that their love had changed. Matt said that you can measure what you love by what your spend your time and money on (unless you have submitted those things to God first). If that was true then what things do you spend the most time an money on? What does that tell you?
4) Jesus warned people against false teachers, which Matt said is even more relevant today because we each have so much access to so many voices. What teachers do you trust? Are there teachers that you can see take you away from the fruit of the spirit? Are their teachers that take you towards it?
5) Jesus warns us against being lukewarm. Who are some of the people you know that you would say are not lukewarm? What can you learn from them?
6) What do you think Jesus would say to us at Citywide if he were to dictate a letter to John for us? Please let Matt know: matt@citywidehobart.org.au
Pray for each other