Revelation

Lesson 3 Chapter 3

Comments, Questions and Discussions

COMMENTS

Verses 1&2 - you are alive, but you are dead

This of course in not literally possible; but, the meaning is quite clear. The reputation might be that life abounds but by the standards of the one holding the 7 stars and 7 spirits they might as well be dead. The next verse brings this out. "Strengthen the things which remain, that are about to die because I have not found your works perfect before God."

Its interesting that the translation reads "perfect" instead of fulfilled or complete. This is not the usual word that we find translated perfect that word is tevleiow this word is plhrovw. The former carries with it the idea of maturity, being full grown. The latter carries the idea of fulfillment or completion. Their works were not complete and thus did not have the substance to sustain their life.

Verse 3 - Remember how you have received and heard.

Since the question is asked we can probably assume that they were excited, glad, relieved, and other things we experience when we hear the gospel. But they had not completed their works and so the receiving and hearing with whatever attitude may be assumed was not sufficient and they needed to hold fast, get a good grip on, what they had, and repent of not finishing up their works

- you will not know what hour

Where have we heard this before? In Revelation this is said regarding Jesus coming quickly, would it not also be true in Matthew 24&25? Is 36 truly a verse that separates the coming against Jerusalem and a coming at the end of earthly time? Are there two comings mentioned in Matthew 24? I'll keep on reminding everyone in this study, The Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ and was to show his servants things which must shortly take place. However one is going to understand Revelation is dependent on whether or not he views the book as speaking of the same coming Jesus speaks of in Matthew 24. If it speaks of the same coming, then the coming was then imminent. If he speaks of coming in judgment against Jerusalem in Matthew 24 and if it is the coming referred to in Revelation, then Revelation deals with the destruction of Jerusalem. The following passages are after the famous 34th verse of Matthew 24. "this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." I believe John's use of the phrase in reference to Jesus coming quickly, indicates that the phrase in Matthew is not meant to point to a coming which has not happened yet.

Matt 24:36 (NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

Matt. 24:41-44 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Matt 25:13 ""Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

-- I will come upon you as a thief . Not only do we find similar language, but we see the thought of a thief mentioned which is also part of the verses listed above. Jesus coming as a thief is brought out in a few other passages also. In I Thess. 5:2-6 the same idea of watching is brought out. In II Peter 3, right living is stressed. Why would such close symbolism be used if two or more comings are being mentioned. I urge every one to consider their stand. How many comings of Jesus are talked about in the New Testament?

Daniel 12:7 says at the time of the end many will be purified, made white and refined.

White is associated with purity. When one wears garments of white it shows their purity. Isaiah 1:18 says:

"Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

In verse 4 we find the worthy walking with Christ in white and in verse 5, those who overcome are clothed in white. In other verses in Revelation we find white apparel and white robes. 7:13 says of the multitude that no one could number, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." This was written to address people in a great tribulation and overcoming it. "Who overcomes" is addressed to each of the 7 churches. This was referring to the then and there, not the here, now and yonder.

The one holding the key is no other than Christ and expresses His power. Christ was the one who could open and shut the door. He was of the house of David and he opened the door to all who would hear. And the door was closed to all who rejected Him. While on earth Jesus said he was the door to the sheep and all who entered, entered by him. (John 10) I don't consider the mention of the house of David, the door and the key, and the reference to Isaiah 22::22 to be a coincidence.

Mention of the synagogue of Satan, Jews that aren't Jews, shows the identification of the tribulation with the persecution of the false and impious leaders of the Jewish revolution that was probably in the early stages. Christians might be spared if they were not identified with the Jews as part of their rebellion. The tribulation, hour of trail, would be from the false Jews, the local and Roman authorities quelling the disturbances and the general dislike by many for the Jews in general. This hour of trial is no doubt the tribulation spoken of by Jesus, the fiery trial in I Peter 4:12, the storing of wrath for the day of wrath (Romans 2:5), the heaping up of treasure, a witness against the unjust in the last days -- fattened hearts as in a day of slaughter (James 5:1-6), the visible evidence of the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

Jesus was coming quickly and when he did this is what he said would happen to him who overcame: "I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name."

This is possibly a reference to Deuteronomy chapters 27-30 where the people were to say "Amen" to accept the commandments and statutes of the Lord. They could not stay if they broke the laws. If they repented, God would hear. Now, in the last days, the commandments and statutes had been broken by them and the Lord was bringing judgment upon them for their failure to obey. That was the covenant regarding their inheritance in the land in which they were to dwell and they had broken it. Jesus, the one they rejected as God's Messiah, as the Amen, was the Faithful and True Witness of their total turning away from God, but yet was knocking at the door seeking their repentance even at that late hour.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

REVELATION CHAPTER 3

1. Exactly what was ready to die in verse 2?

2. What was the book of life? What would happen to any not in that book? Who controlled the book in Exodus? In Revelation? See Exodus 32:31-34

3. Describe the problem of the church at Sardis. What did they need to do in order to repent?

What does mean to be watchful and why would this be sinful?

4. Why did Philadelphia have an open door?

5. What were the promises to those in Philadelphia who overcame? When did Jesus get a new name? How long would the Philadelphians need to wait?

6 How were the Philadelphians blessed because of their persistance?

7.Explain the phrase, "The beginning of the creation of God"

8. Explain what was wrong with the church at Laodicea?

9. Explain what the Laodiceans would do to repent?

10. Name the faithful churches in chapters 2&3.

11. What was the blessing of those who overcame in Laodicea,

12. What door was Jesus standing and knocking at?