Exploring the Letters to the Seven Churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum
Discover the messages to the early churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum as outlined in the Book of Revelation. Dive into the themes of approval, accusation, admonition, alternatives, and praises given to each church. Explore the historical context and significance of these letters within the broader narrative of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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11/15/2024 David Tye 1
11/15/2024 David Tye 2
The Revelation of Jesus Christ Lsn 2d of 22 Chapter 2 & 3 Letter to the Church in Thyatira Rev. 1:3 Blessed is he who readsand those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
This evening we will 1. Overview what we have covered 2. Review letter to Pergamum 3. Study the letter to Thyatira in this order: a. The parable of the leaven b. The letter to Thyatira c. The church age 500 1507 AD 4. Think about the take-away 11/15/2024 David Tye 4
Overview of what we have covered. 11/15/2024 David Tye 5
Ephesus Desirable Paul ministered, silversmiths, Timothy, John Name Meaning 7 stars (sovereign) among 7 Lampstands Images of Christ Sovereign Lord Christ s Title Deeds, toil, perseverance; cannot endure evil; test; endurance for His name; hate deeds of Nicolaitans Approval left 1st love; - reason for deeds is important, defect of heart, clergy vs. laity Accusation Remember, repent, restore 1st deeds Admonition Removal of light, lose effectiveness Alternative Eat of tree of life (all true believers) Praise to Overcomer Church Period Apostolic: 30 to 100 AD. Increasing doctrine, cooling love Sower and soils Matt 13 Parable 11/15/2024 David Tye 6
Smyrna Myrrh, fragrant beautiful; wicked; gospel opposed by pagans; abject poverty; Caesar worship; Polycarp martyred First & Last; dead, now alive Name Meaning Images of Christ Risen Lord Christ s Title Approval Tribulation; abject poverty; blasphemy X Accusation do not fear suffering (prison, testing, 10 days of tribulation); be faithful until death Admonition X Alternative crown of life, Jas 1:12 and 1 Cor 9:25; not hurt by 2nd death Praise to Overcomer Persecuted: 100-313 AD, suffering, seeds of evil enter Church Period Tares sowed, left until the harvest Matt 13 Parable 11/15/2024 David Tye 7
Pergamum Additional Marriage wealthy; many temples; Satan s throne; civic & religious life entwined; heathen feasts (guilds); doctrines of Balaam & Nicolaitans accepted, Christianity became popular Name Meaning 2 edged sword Images of Christ Warring Lord Christ s Title Satan s throne, hold fast My Name, not deny My faith, martyr days Approval teaching of Balaam: idol worship, immorality, teaching of Nicolaitans (note that these folks are called out) repent Accusation Admonition come quickly, war with sword Alternative Praise to Overcomer hidden manna, white stone, new name Compromising,: 313-500 AD , Constantine, state church, pagan practices, spiritual compromise Church Period Mustard seed, birds of air nest in tree Matt 13 Parable 11/15/2024 David Tye 8
Pergamum Take Away What does it mean to compromise? accept standards that are lower than desired, endangering position How might churches compromise today? How might believers compromise today? 11/15/2024 David Tye 9
The parable of the leaven 11/15/2024 David Tye 10
Christ taught about the kingdom of heaven in Matt 13 parables to show the progression of the kingdom in the world until the King returns: Christendom 1. Matt 13:3-9 2. Matt 13:24-30 3. Matt 13:31-32 4. Matt 13:33 5. Matt 13:44 6. Matt 13:45-46 7. Matt 13:47-50 The sower The wheat and tares The mustard seed The leaven The hidden treasure The pearl of great value The drag net Wheat & tares explained 11/15/2024 David Tye 11
Matt 13:33 The Leaven [focus on the nature of leaven once it is added to flour] He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid [mixed] in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." 11/15/2024 David Tye 12
The Bible Knowledge Commentary - Dallas Seminary. If the yeast in this parable represents evil, the idea would be redundant for evil was already represented by the weeds in the second parable. Therefore some feel that Jesus had in mind here the dynamic character of yeast. The nature of yeast is such that once the process of leavening begins, it is impossible to stop. Perhaps Jesus was implying that those who profess to belong to the kingdom would grow in numbers and nothing would be able to stop their advance. This idea fits with the nature of yeast and makes sense in the flow of these parables. 11/15/2024 David Tye 13
Leaven Matthew 16:5-12 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Phariseesand Sadducees." 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, "He said that because we did not bring any bread." 8But Jesus, aware of this, said, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?9"Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10"Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11"How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 11/15/2024 David Tye 14
Leaven 1 Corinthians 5:6-13 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?...9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are withinthe church?13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. 11/15/2024 David Tye 15
Matt 13:33 The Leaven 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; What is the implication here about the importance of Sound Doctrine? 11/15/2024 David Tye 16
The letter to the church at Thyatira 11/15/2024 David Tye 17
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Thyatira 1. Transliterated Thuateira: "thuo" sacrifice +"ateires" unweary (or continuing) [Harry Ironside] 2. small and obscure manufacturing town, especially purple dye 3. Acts 16, Lydia converted; seller of purple 4. Baal worship (Jezebel, 1 Kings 18-20), pagan doctrines part of the culture 5. Some think the local church was possibly led by a woman (why is this not true?) 11/15/2024 David Tye 19
W. Barclay Thyatira had no special religious significance. The only notable thing about Thyatira from the religious point of view was that it possessed a fortune-telling shrine, presided over by a female oracle called the Sambathe. No threat of persecution hung over the Thyatiran Church. Extraordinary number of trade guilds. .. wool, leather, linen and bronze, makers of outer garments, dyers, potters, bakers and slave-dealers. The threat came from inside the Church. There was a strong movement, led by the woman addressed as Jezebel, which pled for compromise with the world's standards in the interests of business and commercial prosperity, maintaining, no doubt, that the Holy Spirit could preserve them from any harm. Here is a warning. It is possible for a Church to be crowded because its people come to be entertained instead of instructed, and to be soothed instead of confronted with the fact of sin and the offer of salvation. 11/15/2024 David Tye 20
Revelation 1:14-15 His [like Son of Man] head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 11/15/2024 David Tye 24
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: 19'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21'And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23'And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you. 25'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TOHIM I WILLGIVEAUTHORITYOVERTHE NATIONS; 27AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, ASTHEVESSELSOFTHEPOTTERAREBROKENTOPIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28and I will give him the morning star. 29'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' 11/15/2024 David Tye 25
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: 19'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 11/15/2024 David Tye 26
Xreference verses 1 John 5:5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 11/15/2024 David Tye 27
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 20'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 11/15/2024 David Tye 28
Xreference verses 1 Kings 21:25 Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Do not be deceived[led astray]: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 34Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 11/15/2024 David Tye 29
A Different Gospel = Error Galatians 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, Titus 1:11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 John 1:9-11 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 11/15/2024 David Tye 30
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 21'And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23'And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 11/15/2024 David Tye 31
Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 11/15/2024 David Tye 32
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 24'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you. 11/15/2024 David Tye 33
From Life Change series Satan's so-called deep secrets (2:24). The word Gnostic comes from the Greek word gnosis ("knowledge"), for the Gnostics taught that salvation required simply that one know the deep secrets about God and reality. The saved were then free in the Spirit to explore both good and evil and to practice any indulgence of the body. Some Gnostics even "boasted that it was precisely by entering the stronghold of Satan that believers could learn the limits of his power and emerge victorious." The prophetess may have encouraged Christians to participate in pagan rites and orgies to prove that evil could not alter their salvation by grace nor their life in the Spirit. 11/15/2024 David Tye 34
Acts 15:29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." 11/15/2024 David Tye 35
Rev. 2:18-29 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 25'Nevertheless what you have, hold fastuntil I come. 26'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIMI WILLGIVEAUTHORITYOVERTHE NATIONS; 27AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, ASTHEVESSELSOFTHEPOTTERARE BROKENTOPIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28and I will give him the morning star. 29'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' 11/15/2024 David Tye 36
1 Corinthians 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent toconstitute the smallest law courts? Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 11/15/2024 David Tye 37
Thyatira Unwearied (continuing) sacrifice - small and obscure, Acts 16 Lydia converted; Baal worship (Jezebel); pagan doctrines accepted; local church likely led by woman Son of God, eyes like flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze searches mind and heart Name Meaning Images of Christ Judging Lord Christ s Title knows deeds, love, faith, service, perseverance; growing deeds Approval tolerate Jezebel, immorality, idol worship, 1 Kings 21:25-26 Jer. 44:17,18,25 Accusation Christendom - repent - sickness, great tribulation - no other burden - pestilence, judgment Christians - hold fast Admonition Alternative authority over nations, morning star (Rev 22:16) Praise to Overcomer Corrupted: 500-15017 AD, Middle Ages, inquisition, Mary elevated, works Church Period Leaven, all becomes leavened Matt 13 Parable 11/15/2024 David Tye 38
The church age 500-1507 AD 11/15/2024 David Tye 39
500-1517 AD (Middle Ages) Love, but Corrupt Church 1. Breakdown of Roman society and rise of the church as unifying influence a. Vandals, Huns, and Goths over run Europe b. Rome sacked in 455, no longer a stabilizing influence c. The church sought to combine Christianity with pagan philosophy and heathen religious rites so that much of the ritual of the church of that period is directly traceable to comparable ceremonies in heathen religion. Walvoord, p 75. 11/15/2024 David Tye 40
500-1517 AD (Middle Ages) Corrupt Church 2. 590 AD - Gregory [a monk] elected the Reluctant Pope a. taught man wins merit by his good works plus grace b. must do penance for sins committed after baptism c. belief in the intercession of the saints, holy relics have power, remaining sins atoned in purgatory, Eucharist is actual body and blood of Christ d. priest offers the blood for the sins of the participants, unlike Christ for all men 800 AD King Charles the Great (Charlemagne) rescued Pope Leo III, who then crowns him King of all Christendom Weak succeeding kings lead to feudalism, political popes a. Lords, vassals, fiefs, local government; bishops and abbots became vassals 1100-1300 AD Crusades; Inquisitions to drive out heresies (including rejection of authority) 3. 4. 5.
500-1517 AD (Middle Ages) Corrupt Church 6. 7. ~1300 Mary elevated to co-redemptress 1348-1350 The Black Death sweeps Europe; ~100 million die (40% of population) Ring around the rosie
Bubonic Plague http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Hand_necrosis_casued_by_plague.jpg/300px-Hand_necrosis_casued_by_plague.jpg 11/15/2024 David Tye 43
500-1517 AD (Middle Ages) Corrupt Church 8. 1378 John Wycliffe (first reformer, Wycliffe Bible, persecuted, body desecrated) a. Every man, whether priest or layman, holds an equal place in the eyes of God. b. Believers should search the scriptures themselves c. Preaching is of more value than any sacrament; NO transubstantiation d. NO transubstantiation; mediating priesthood is not necessary!! e. The papal institution is full of poison. It is Antichrist itself, the man of sin who exalts himself above God. Let judgment fall! f. The church is other than an organization on earth headed by a pope g. Too powerful to martyr, John Wyclif was persecuted and after death his body was desecrated ecclesiastical of or relating to a church as an established institution
500-1517 AD (Middle Ages) Corrupt Church 9. 10. 1522 William Tyndale to a clergyman, "I defy the Pope, and all his laws; and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!" 1517 Martin Luther s 95 Theses
Take Away 1. Believer a. Hold fast to Christ and His Word 2. Unbeliever a. Repent and return 3. Unrepentant a. Judgment 11/15/2024 David Tye 46
The Letter to Thyatira John MacArthur Detailed Study at http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg1441.htm 1. Application Letter to the Church universal Polarized church: Should have Love & Sound Doctrine Ephesus had which? Thyatira had which? Extremes today would be: doctrinal perfectionists or tolerant sentimentalists!! 2. Application Instruction to individual Christians Do you have more Love or Doctrine??? Or neither!!?? We need to seek balance between sound doctrine and love for neighbor Without sound doctrine, love is a empty. You can tell your friend, I love you, and accept you unconditionally. Do what you want. -- That is notlove. True love says, With tears in my eyes I tell you that without Jesus Christ, you're on your way to hell. 11/15/2024 David Tye 47
Rev 2&3 Review Christ's Title Sovereign Lord Church Meaning Age Matt 13 Parable Sower and SoilsRenew your first Points Apostolic 30-100 AD 1 Ephesus Desirable Love Myrrh fragrant, bitter Additional Marriage Be faithful until death Persecuted 100-313 AD Wheat and Tares 2 Smyrna Risen Lord Do not compromise! Compromising 313-500 AD Warring Lord Mustard Seed 3 Pergamum Hold fast Unweary sacrifice Corrupted 500-1517 AD Judging Lord 4 Thyatira Leaven Repent 5 6 7 11/15/2024 David Tye 48
Middle Ages (500- 1500) Thyatira ContinuingSacrifice The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. Reformation (1517- 1648) Renaissance (1648-1789) Revival (1789-1914) Ideologies (1914-1996) Age: Sardis Remnant Philadelphia Brotherly Love He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, 'I am coming quickly; Laodicea Church Letter to: Judgment of the people The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God I advise you to buy from Me gold and white garments, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. The Lord s description/promis e [Note: to Pergamum He said, 'Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Question: All of the below church and world views continue today. Luther: grace alone, faith alone, Rom 1:17 the just shall live by faith Calvin: grace/faith, chosen Membership by formal assent to doctrinal views set forth by scholars Luther: church, as justified by scripture Calvin: God is sovereign Tyndale: scripture to the masses experience REASON The goal is a religiously neutral civilization Denominations emerge Evangelical view: 1. faith 2. new birth, born again 3. God s love revealed in Jesus Positive view of man, not a sinner; common sense needed more than grace. Gregory: grace + good works - Salvation is not required 1. How saved? Reason: truth found thru senses, not revelation Modernism (liberalism), scriptures rejected in favor of learning thru 4. devotion to Bible as only authority (Higher criticism challenges the Bible) - Rational thought, science, experience Innocent III: Pope is Vicar of Christ 2. Source of authority? AWAKENING Edmonds, Whitefield, Wesley: Evangelical awakening led to volunteer missions New World Puritans Pietism emphasizes importance of regeneration. Moved back to personal faith and fellowship with Jesus Led to Puritans who lived it An Institution: Sectarian Pope Leo III & Charles the Great (Charlemagne): Universal Catholic Church, Holy Roman Empire Luther: universal church, hierarchy with Pope at head. Zwingli (Anabaptists): community of saints separate from government. - Body of Christ - Mission to world, from nurturing to spreading - July 1800 Gasper River camp meeting - Universal ecumenical federation - Meet personal needs - Marketing to people s needs [wants] 3. What is the Church? - faith in deeds - millennialism returns, live expectantly - Public vs. Private Protestants - Fundamentals of the Faith: Inerrancy of Bible Deity of Jesus Virgin Birth Jesus physical resurrection Jesus physical return, 1000 yr reign Sacraments, baptism, confession, celebration of Mass , indulgences, Crusades Zwingli (Anabaptists): Confession, baptism, discipleship daily walk with Christ Personal preparation for the return of Christ, and life in Heaven with Him Moral conduct. Happiness and fulfillment in this life - Sacred and secular life separated - Being [experience] and doing are more important that belief - Social/political activism 4. What is the Christian life? 11/15/2024 David Tye 49
Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 11/15/2024 David Tye 50
