Chapter 3

The Last Three Churches and Jesus' Message

• The Dead Church - Sardis

Their Personality - alive physically but dead in the spirit. (v1)

3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

The Warning - Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. (v3)

The Promise - He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (v5) 

• The Faithful Church - Philadelphia

Their Personality - for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (v8)

The Commendation - Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you (v9). Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (v10).

The Promise - I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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. (v12) 

• The Lukewarm Church - Laodicea

Their Personality - neither hot nor cold (v15) wretched, miserable, blind and naked (v17)

The Warning - I will vomit you out of my mouth (v16)

The Advice -  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (v18)

The Promise - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (v20). To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (v21).

Chapter 2

The First Four Churches and Jesus' Message 

• The Loveless Church - Ephesus

Their Personality: hard working, patient, persevering, untired, cannot bear evil, tested false apostles, 

2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love

The Warning: Repent or else lampstand will be removed from its place (v5)

The Promise: To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (v7) 

• The Persecuted Church - Smyrna

Their Personality: encountered tribulation, poor, some were blasphemous

2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer

The Warning: Devil will throw some of them in prison and tribulation in 10 days (v10)

The Promise: Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life (v10); He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death (v11)

• The Compromising Church - Pergamos

Their Personality: held fast to Jesus' name, did not deny the faith

However, held to Balaam's doctrine and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (14)

The Warning:  Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth (v16) 

The Promise: To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. (v17)

• The Corrupt Church - Thyatira

Their Personality: loving, serving, faithful, patient

However, allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce; servants committed sexual immorality and eat those offered to idols (v 20)

The Warning: Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation (v22) I will kill her children with death (v23) 

The Promise: And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (v26)

Chapter 1

Background: 

Revelation - unveiling Jesus Christ in glory (John MacArthur) hence the book is titled "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"

Apostle John - author of the Book of Revelation and four other books (one being the gospel of John and three being the epistles 1, 2, 3 John)

Word, Lamb, Witness - John's description of Jesus in the gospel and in Revelation

Last decade of the 1st century (near the end of Emperor Domitian's reign) - time when Revelation was written

The seven churches - churches in Turkey where John ministered. 

14 Titles Given to Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation

1. The glorified Son of God ministering among the churches
2. The Alpha Omega, the Beginning and the End 
3. The One who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty
4. The First and the Last
5. The Son of Man
6. The One who was dead but now is alive forevermore
7. The One who is holy and true 
8. The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God
9. The Lion of the tribe of Judah 
10. The Lamb in heaven, on the throne
11. The Messiah who will reign forever
12. The Word of God 
13. The majestic King of kings and Lord of lords
14. The Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star

Revelation 1:8

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Island of Patmos (located in the Aegean Sea SW of Ephesus) - place where Jesus Christ appeared to John.

The Seven Churches in Asia

• Ephesus
• Smyrna
• Pergamos 
• Thyatira
• Sardis 
• Philadelphia 
• Laodicea

The seven stars = angels of the seven churches

The seven lampstands = seven churches