2. Purpose of the book of
Revelation
It was written to give Christians,
struggling in this world against those who
oppose the Faith, hope that the Christ
who died for us will also one day return
for us as a conquering King to establish
his eternal reign! Because Jesus
overcomes, so can we!

3. The structure of the
book of Revelation
Revelation 1:19
Write therefore the things that you
have seen, those that are and those
that are to take place after this.

4. Chp. 1 Chp. 2-3 Chps. 4-22
“Things
which “Things
“Things which will take place”
you have which
seen” are”
Vision of Christ Vision of Consummation
Theophany Talks Tribulations Triumph Together!

5. Revelation 1:11
Write what you see in a book
and send it to the seven churches,
to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to
Pergamum and to Thyatira and to
Sardis and to Philadelphia and to
Laodicea.

6. A circular letter
which was
circulated
among churches
via postal route

7. 3 Guiding Principles
1. These first century letters are
meant for us just as much as they
were meant for their original
recipients.

8. 3 Guiding Principles
Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.

9. 3 Guiding Principles
1. These first century letters are
meant for us just as much as they
were meant for their original
recipients.

10. 3 Guiding Principles
2. Don’t miss the forest for the trees!
Let’s not get lost in the details and
therefore miss the message Jesus has
for us!

11. 3 Guiding Principles
3. The Church may not be perfect, but
it is precious!

12. 3 Guiding Principles
Revelation 2:1
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.

13. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
Ephesians 2:1
To the angel of the church in Ephesus
write:

14. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
Ephesians 2:8
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna
write: ‘The words of the first and the
last, who died and came to life.

15. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
3. A word of praise (5 of 7)
Revelation 2:13 (Pergamum)
I know where you dwell, where Satan's
throne is. Yet you hold fast my name,
and you did not deny my faith.

16. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
3. A word of praise (5 of 7)
4. A sharp rebuke (5 of 7)

17. The Structure of the Letters
Revelation 3:1 (Sardis)
I know your works. You have the
reputation of being alive, but you are
dead.

18. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
3. A word of praise (5 of 7)
4. A sharp rebuke (5 of 7)
5. A charge to repent (5 of 7)

19. The Structure of the Letters
Revelation 3:16 (Laodicea)
So, because you are lukewarm, and
neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of
my mouth. (rebuke)

20. The Structure of the Letters
Revelation 3:19 (Laodicea)
Those whom I love, I reprove and
discipline, so be zealous and repent.

21. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
3. A word of praise (5 of 7)
4. A sharp rebuke (5 of 7)
5. A charge to repent (5 of 7)
6. A call to hear (all)

22. The Structure of the Letters
1. A command to write (all)
2. A self-description of Christ (all)
3. A word of praise (5 of 7)
4. A sharp rebuke (5 of 7)
5. A charge to repent (5 of 7)
6. A call to hear (all)
7. A promise offered (all)

23. The Structure of the Letters
Revelation 2:7b (Ephesus)
To the one who conquers I will grant to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the
paradise of God.

24. 3 Vital Lessons
1. We must beware of spiritual
COMPLACENCY!

25. Beware of complacency!
Revelation 2:4 (Ephesus)
But I have this against you, that you
have abandoned the love you
had at first.

26. Beware of complacency!
Revelation 2:5b (Ephesus)
I will come to you and remove
your lampstand from its place,
unless you repent.

27. Beware of complacency!
Matthew 22:37
You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind. This is the
great and first commandment.

28. Beware of complacency!
Revelation 3:15-16 (Laodicea)
I know your works: you are neither
cold nor hot. Would that you were
either cold or hot! So, because you
are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

29. Beware of complacency!
Revelation 3:19 (Laodicea)
Those whom I love, I reprove and
discipline, so be zealous and repent.

30. Beware of complacency!
Revelation 3:20 (Laodicea)
Behold, I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in to
him and eat with him, and he with
me.

31. 3 Vital Lessons
1. We must beware of spiritual
COMPLACENCY!
2. We must embrace a “Jesus-
Driven” philosophy of ministry
and life.

32. Friends who is THE
central person in
these letters?
JESUS!

33. “In the final analysis, Jesus
cares comparatively little about
numerical size, cultural
relevance, social influence, or financial
prosperity. What matters most to him
and must therefore matter most to us is
whether a church holds forth HIS name,
proclaims the gospel of which HE is the
center, and heeds HIS words as
guidance to govern its life and its loves.”

34. “Is your church Jesus-driven?
Are the ministries and
programs of your corporate
existence energized and given
shape by what pleases HIM? Is
HE prized above all earthly
treasures?”
(Sam Storms, To the One Who Conquers)

35. 3 Vital Lessons
1. We must beware of spiritual
COMPLACENCY!
2. We must embrace a “Jesus-
Driven” philosophy of ministry
and life.
3. We must put the word “repent”
back into our vocabulary!

36. Put “repent” back in vocab!
Revelation 2:5 (Ephesus)
Remember therefore from where you
have fallen; repent, and do the works
you did at first.

37. Put “repent” back in vocab!
Revelation 2:16 (Pergamum)
Therefore repent.

38. Put “repent” back in vocab!
Revelation 2:22 (Thyatira)
Behold, I will throw her onto a
sickbed, and those who commit
adultery with her I will throw into
great tribulation, unless they repent
of her works.

39. Put “repent” back in vocab!
Revelation 3:3 (Sardis)
Remember, then, what you received
and heard. Keep it, and repent.

40. Put “repent” back in vocab!
Revelation 3:19 (Laodicea)
Those whom I love, I reprove and
discipline, so be zealous and repent.

41. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
RECOGNIZE sin for what it is, an
offense against God and therefore
totally and absolutely disgusting to
him!

42. Repentance
Psalm 51:4
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight.

43. Lancaster County

44. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
RECOGNIZE sin for what it is, an
offense against God and therefore
totally and absolutely disgusting to
him!

45. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
Recognize
Take RESPONSIBILITY – we must own
up to our sin!

46. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
Recognize
Take Responsibility
RID ourselves of the sin – we must
willfully and decisively turn from the
sin!

47. Repentance
2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises,
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from every defilement of body and
spirit.

48. Repentance
James 1:21
Therefore put away all filthiness
and rampant wickedness.
1 Peter 2:1
So put away all malice and all
deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all
slander.

49. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
Recognize
Take responsiblity
RID ourselves of our sin – we must
willfully and decisively turn from the
sin!

50. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
Recognize
Take responsibility
Rid ourselves of the sin
REQUEST from God – cleansing and
strength to say “No!” in the future

51. Repentance
Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow.
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your
salvation, and uphold me with a
willing spirit.

52. To ‘repent’ means to . . .
Recognize
Take responsibility
Rid ourselves of the sin
Request from God

53. 1. Has your love for Jesus Christ
grown cold?
2. What “drives” your life? Is it
Jesus? Or something else?
3. When was the last time you
practiced biblical repentance?

56. A fourth “bonus” lesson …
We must Know the
Truth …. and Stand
for the Truth!