The Seven Churches Of The Revelation

The Lifeless Church in Sardis

(Revelation 3:1-6)

I. The Characteristics of Christ to the Lifeless Church [Sardis] (v.1a) [Wicked pagan worship/ctr trade/wealthy

A. He Who hath the Seven Spirits of God [prosperity abundt/A.D.17 earthquake destroyed/nothing good said

B. He Who hath the Seven Stars [message of condemnation/spiritually dead, the Lifeless Church]

II. The Condemnation of Christ to the Lifeless Church (v.1b)

A. I know [perfect active ind.] thy works

B. That thou hast [present active ind.] a name that thou lives

C. And art [present active ind] dead

III. The Commands of Christ to the Lifeless Church (v.2, 3a)

A. Be[present impv.] watchful

B. Strengthen[aorist impv.] the things which remain…

C. Remember[present impv.] therefore how thou hast received and heard

D. Hold fast [present impv.]

E. Repent [aorist impv.]

IV. The Chastening of Christ to the Lifeless Church (v.3b)

A. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief

B. Thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee

V. The Counsel of Christ to the Lifeless Church (v.4-6)

A. Thou hast [present active ind.] a few names even in Sardis…not defiled their garments

B. He that overcomes,[present active ind.] the same shall be clothed in white raiment

C. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life

D. I will confess his name before the Father…

E. He that hath an ear let him hear [aorist impv.] what the Spirit saith [present active ind.] unto the churches

The Living Church in Philadelphia

(Revelation 3:7-13)

I. The Characteristics of Christ to the Living Church [Philadelphia] (v.7) [Roman emperor worship/last city to

A. He that is Holy(Holy One/Israel) [fall to Muslim fanaticism/protected

B. He that is True (John 14:6) [from G.T. 3:10

C. He that hath the Key of David [Symbol of power and authority of the king]

D. He that opens and no man shuts-Power of Sovereign God

II. The Commendation of Christ to the Living Church (v.8)

A. I know[perfect active ind.] thy works-deeds, actions

B. Behold, I have set [perfect active ind] before thee an open door-opportunity to preach the Gospel

C. Thou hast kept[aorist active ind.] My Word-kept: guarded, protected, preserved

D. Thou hast not denied[aorist deponent] My Name-denied: repudiated, disowned

III. The Comfort of Christ to the Living Church (v.9,10)

A. Behold I will make them of the synagogue of Satan…to come and worship before thy feet

B. Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of tempt’n/affliction

Keep: to watch over, guard, preserve- John 17:5-tnrew ek ‘to keep out of the sphere of tempt’n/trouble

IV. The Counsel of Christ to the Living Church (v.11)

A. Behold, I come[present act dep.] quickly

B. Hold that fast[aorist act impv.] which thou hast[present act. ind.] that no man take thy crown

V. The Challenge of Christ to the Living Church (v.12)

A. To him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God

B. And he shall go no more out

C. And I will write upon him the name of My God

D. And I will write upon him My new name

VI. The Counsel of Christ to the Living Church (v.13)

A. He that has an ear

B. Let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches

The Lukewarm Church in Laodicea

(Revelation 3:14-22)

I. The Characteristics of Christ to the Lukewarm Church (v.14)[mentioned twice in Colossians/Paul intensely

A. The Amen [concerned 2:1/important commercial center

B. The Faithful and True Witness [eye-salve/black wool/banking center/destroyed

C. The Beginning [Source] of the Creation of God [earthquake A.D.17 devastated region/large pop.

[Jews strong politically

II. The Condemnation of Christ to the Lukewarm Church (v.15-17)

A. I know thy works

B. Thou art[present act ind] neither hot or cold…lukewarm. I would that thou were[imperfect ind]

C. Thou art[“] wretched

D. Thou art [“]miserable

E. Thou art[“] poor

F. Thou art[“] blind

G. Thou art[“] naked

III. The Complacency of the Lukewarm Church (v.17)

A. I am rich-w/capital ‘R’[I am = present act. ind.]

B. I am increased[perfect act. ind.] with goods-enriched/abundantly wealthy

C. I have[present act. ind.] need of nothing

IV. The Counsel[present act. ind] of Christ to the Lukewarm Church (v.18,19)

A. Buy[aorist act inf] of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich

B. Buy[“] of Me white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedn’s do not appear

C. Anoint[aorist act inf] thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou may see

D. Be zealous [aorist active impv.] Hot, enthusiastic, fanatic

E. Repent [aorist active impv.]Change of mind by the Spirit resulting in change of direction/actions

V. The Call of Christ to the Lukewarm Church (v.20)

A. Behold, I stand [perfect act. ind.] at the door and knock [present act. ind]