Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira - Revelation 2:8-29
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Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 7:55 AM
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Smyrna Summary: Persecution and Perseverance
Revelation 2:8 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Revelation 2:9–11 (ESV) - “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Commendation (v9)
Critique – there is none
Command (v10)
Conclusion (v10-11)
James 1:12 (ESV) - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Revelation 2:8 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Revelation 2:9–11 (ESV) - “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Commendation (v9)
Critique – there is none
Command (v10)
Conclusion (v10-11)
James 1:12 (ESV) - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Pergamum Summary: Conviction and Compromise
Revelation 2:12 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
Commendation (v13)
Revelation 2:13 (ESV) - “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Critique (v14-15)
Revelation 2:14 (ESV) - …you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam
Revelation 2:15 (ESV) - So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Command (v16)
Revelation 2:16 (ESV) - Therefore repent.
Conclusion (v16-17)
Revelation 2:16 (ESV) - Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Revelation 2:17 (ESV) - To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Revelation 2:12 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
Commendation (v13)
Revelation 2:13 (ESV) - “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Critique (v14-15)
Revelation 2:14 (ESV) - …you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam
Revelation 2:15 (ESV) - So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Command (v16)
Revelation 2:16 (ESV) - Therefore repent.
Conclusion (v16-17)
Revelation 2:16 (ESV) - Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Revelation 2:17 (ESV) - To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Thyatira Summary: Passion and Passivity
Revelation 2:18 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Commendation (v19)
Revelation 2:19 (ESV) - “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. (opposite of Ephesus)
Critique (v20)
Revelation 2:20 (ESV) - But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
Command (v21-22)
Revelation 2:21 (ESV) - I gave her time to repent, but she refuses…
Conclusion (v22-29)
Revelation 2:23 (ESV) - And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
Revelation 2:18 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Commendation (v19)
Revelation 2:19 (ESV) - “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. (opposite of Ephesus)
Critique (v20)
Revelation 2:20 (ESV) - But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
Command (v21-22)
Revelation 2:21 (ESV) - I gave her time to repent, but she refuses…
Conclusion (v22-29)
Revelation 2:23 (ESV) - And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
So what?
1. Maintain faithfulness in persecution.
2. Be a people of conviction and discernment so as to recognize compromise and passivity, repent, and persevere in pure devotion. Hold on!!
1. Maintain faithfulness in persecution.
2. Be a people of conviction and discernment so as to recognize compromise and passivity, repent, and persevere in pure devotion. Hold on!!
Discussion Questions
1. What specific truth about God stands out to you in Revelation 2:8-29 and why? If needed, review the opening descriptions of Jesus in each letter to get you thinking.
2. What else stands out to you (words, phrases, concepts, themes) and why?
3. Do any of these words, phrases, concepts, or themes remind you of other Bible passages? It’s ok if you can’t remember a specific reference, just describe what you recall and the group can do a search to find it.
4. Which of these letters do think most reflects the challenge of your own life following Jesus? Explain why and give a specific example if possible.
5. In what way will you have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? In other words, how will any truth of these letters make a difference in your life today?
1. What specific truth about God stands out to you in Revelation 2:8-29 and why? If needed, review the opening descriptions of Jesus in each letter to get you thinking.
2. What else stands out to you (words, phrases, concepts, themes) and why?
3. Do any of these words, phrases, concepts, or themes remind you of other Bible passages? It’s ok if you can’t remember a specific reference, just describe what you recall and the group can do a search to find it.
4. Which of these letters do think most reflects the challenge of your own life following Jesus? Explain why and give a specific example if possible.
5. In what way will you have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? In other words, how will any truth of these letters make a difference in your life today?