1. Eschatology, a Broad Perspective
From Genesis to Revelation

2. Basic Outline
Three major divisions; John was commanded to write concerning
Things past, “the things which you have seen,” i.e. the Patmos vision (1:1-20)
Things present, “the things which are,” i.e. the existing churches (2:1-3:22)
Things future, “the things which shall take place after these things,” i.e. events after the Church Age ends (4:1-22:5).
“Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.” (Rev 1:19) NASB
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3. A Synopsis of the Four Views
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4. Seven Churches
Without looking at your Bible, who can name the seven churches in Revelation 2-3?
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5. Seven Letters Rev 1:19-20 Format of each letter
“Write therefore the things which you have seen, the things which are, …”
Stars (Angels): Leader/Pastor of the church
Lampstand: Church
Format of each letter
Address
Attributes of the speaker (Jesus Christ)
Assertion of complete knowledge of the people (“I know”)
Description of the state of the church including condemnation or criticism
Promise of the Lord’s coming (“I am coming”)
Universal command to hear (“He who has an ear to hear”)
Promise to the overcomer
Each letter shows distinct attributes of the church that should be considered today
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6. Ephesus Prosperous port city on Aegean sea in modern-day Turkey
Wealthy and cultured population
Famed for Temple of Artemis (Diana) & Library of Celsus
Church founded by Paul on 2nd journey
Demetrius (silversmith) caused uproar during Paul’s visit: Acts 19:23-41
Harbor
Ancient Ephesus
Modern-day Ephesus
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7. To the Church in Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
Attributes of Christ
“One who holds the seven stars in His right hand”
“One who walks among the seven golden lampstands”
Signifies Christ’s power and authority over, sustainment of, and concern for His church
Positive Assessment
Toil, hard work
Perseverance, staying with it
Unwillingness to tolerate evil men, holding to moral purity
Commitment to test false teachers
Have not grown weary
Hatred of the Nicolaitans
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8. The Nicolaitans
Followers of Nicolaus of Antioch leader of “a heretical sect, who retained pagan practices like idolatry and immorality”
Gnostics who were associated with Nicolaus and were given to licentious living
Name comes from Greek words for victory (nikos) and people (laos): meaning conqueror of the people
Similar to Hebrew Balaam (devourer of the people): Num 22
Forerunners of clerical hierarchy in the church
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9. But …
Condemnation
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
Matt 24:12, Jer 2:2
A church of loveless orthodoxy that has become distracted
What causes us to be distracted from important things in our lives?
Busyness
Misplaced priorities
Trying to meet the perception of others
CHurch
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10. Exhortation
“Remember, therefore where you have come from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds that you did at first.”
Remember
Repent
Do what you did previously
What did our early Christian experience look like?
What does it look like today?
Early Christian experience
- Bible study, prayer, witnessing, worship, scripture memory?
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11. Promise
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
Not everyone will hear/listen
Note the work of the Trinity in the passage (Father, Son, Spirit)
“To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God”
Gen 2:22-24; Rev 22:2
Overcoming recognizes the reality of conflict
Overcomers are the faithful, but through the work of God
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12. The Prophetic Nature of the Letters?
Location
Church
Time Frame
Characteristic
Ephesus
The Apostolic Church AD
Lost first love
Smyrna
The Persecuted Church AD
Persecuted Church
Pergamum
The State Church AD
Faithful, but tolerates false teachers
Thyatira
The Papal Church AD
Church dominated by a powerful false teacher
Sardis
The Reformed Church AD
Spiritually dying church
Philadelphia
The Missionary Church AD
Faithful witnessing church
Laodicea
The Apostate Church
1900-
Lukewarm church
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13. Take-away
We can easily become distracted in the chaos of life and lose our first love
We need to remember, repent, and do the things we previously did
Great remembering passages
Romans 1-3, 8
Ephesians 1:3-2:10
Col 2:9-3:4
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves James 1:22
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14. The Next Several Weeks
Oct 9 IBC Band (No Morning Song) Oct 16 Smyrna Chris Oct 23 Pergamum Jim Oct 30 Thyatira Jon Nov 6 IBC Band (No Morning Song) Nov 13 Sardis Jim Nov 20 Philadelphia Clint Nov 27 Laodicea Chris
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15. See you NEXT week!
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16. When will the end come?
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