The Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter Three

1 ‘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. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 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. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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7 ‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 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.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 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. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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14 ‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 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 realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.

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.’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 3: “Spirit” (vv.6, 13 & 22)

Each of the 7 localised messages in both these chapters calls for receptivity to assimilate the points raised. But in addition discernment is also required to appreciate the source of the words. It wasn’t enough to listen to their church representative, even devoutly and in complete agreement. Not to think, ‘what a powerful letter from the apostle John!  

He’s exiled in Patmos, and still so dedicated to serving the Lord!  God bless him!’  Behind the human script or voices was “what the Spirit says to the churches” (vv.6, 13 & 22). 

We need to heed the Holy Spirit’s voice and words!  Seriously!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Three

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

CHAPTER 1 TO 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

How to Read the Bible: 

Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

David Pawson

-Part 1-

-Part 2 - 

- Part 3 -

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The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Two

  

1 ‘To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 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.

4 Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first. 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. 6 But you have this in your favour: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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.

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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.

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12 ‘To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 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.

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. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

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.

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18 ‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

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. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, “I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.”

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – 27 that one “will rule them with an iron sceptre and will dash them to pieces like pottery” – just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 2: “angel” (vv.1, 8, 12 & 18)

This chapter contains messages for the first 4 of the 7 churches, with the remaining ones in the next chapter. Writing to an “angel” seems more than a bit weird. How do letters like that get delivered?  Scratch your head no more!  The Greek word ‘angelos’ really means ‘messenger’, and can apply to human or heavenly beings (see Hebrews 13 v.2). 

Here they are the speakers or preachers in each of the congregations, who will subsequently relay the content of their particular messages. They were the conduits for God’s word to his people. 

Always listen for God’s voice through his human channel.

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Two

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

CHAPTER 1 TO 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

                                 How to Read the Bible: Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

David Pawson

-Part 1-

-Part 2-

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SONGS

Revelation Song 

Chris Tomlin - ft. Kari Jobe

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter One

 

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him  to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw – that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

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4 John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7 

‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’

    and ‘every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him’;

    and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’

So shall it be! Amen.

8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’

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9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.’

12 I turned round to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 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.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19 ‘Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 1: “revelation” (v.1)

Martin Luther is reputed to have felt that this final book of the New Testament wasn’t tremendously accessible, commenting ‘a “revelation” (v.1) should be ‘revealing’. Admittedly much of the content is hard to fathom, partly due to the extensive use of symbolism, and also because so much refers to the future. 

On the other hand, our full comprehension isn’t needed to make it inspiring. Furthermore a good number of explicit explanations are supplied (e.g. “the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches, and the 7 lamp-stands are the 7 churches” (v.20). 

That’s a decent revealing start, at least!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter One 

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Chapter 1 to 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ 

David Pawson

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Revelation 1 : 9-20

The Lord's Word in His Church

John McArthur

The Cosmic King - Revelation 1:9-18

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SONG

 Revelation Chapter One 

Vinesong

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The First Letter of PETER - Chapter Five

1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because,

‘God opposes the proud

    but shows favour to the humble.’

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

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12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

1^st Peter 5: “Chief” (v.4)

Peter offers encouragement and advice to “elders” [Greek ‘presbiteros’), categorising himself as a “fellow elder” (v.1). He speaks of their task as “shepherds of God’s flock … under your care” (v.2). 

Any ‘leadership’ role gives an authority easily abused, risking one’s integrity – it is God’s flock, not yours. Jesus is “the Chief Shepherd” (v.4), a unique word for a unique Person. In the Greek New Testament ‘poimon’ means shepherd, ‘archipoimon’ is - as in ‘archbishop’‘-the ‘Arch Shepherd’). 

Pastors must remember they have their authority delegated to them by the Chief Shepherd Jesus.

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READINGS

1 PETER 5

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The First Letter of PETER

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

1 and 2 Peter / David Pawson

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The First Letter of PETER - Chapter Four

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm  yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body has finished with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

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12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

1^st Peter 4: “Christian” (v.16)

It may shock you to know that the term “Christian” (v.16) only appears 3 times in the New Testament.  The first historic occasion was in Antioch, where “the disciples were called Christians” (Acts 11 v.26). A later event shows it had become a normal way to identify Jesus’ followers; King Agrippa asked Paul, “do you think … you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26 v.28). 

Apart from noting... 

[A] being a Christian comes by persuasion;

[B] we will be identifiable when we act as “disciples”; 

[C] if “suffering” (v.12) comes “as a Christian 

… praise God that you bear that name” (v.16). It’s a wonderful honour!

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READINGS

1 PETER 4

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

the First Letter of PETER

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

1and 2 Peter / David Pawson

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