THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• The 7 Churches of
  Revelation
• The Number 7 The Biblical number of
  completion
• (7 days in a week, 7th day is Holy, 7 colors in a
  rainbow, 7 notes in a musical scale, 7 major
  oceans, 7 major continents, 7 Trumpets, 7 Seals,
  7 Bowls, 7-fold Spirit before the Throne, etc.)
• 1. Ephesus The Loveless Church
• 2. Smyrna The Lasting Church - a positive
  name
• 3. Pergamum The Lenient Church
• 4. Thyatira The Licentious Church
• 5. Sardis The Lifeless Church
• 6. Philadelphia The Loved Church - a
  positive name
• 7. Laodicea The Lukewarm Church

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• THE THREE COMMON ELEMENTS OF THE LETTERS
• 1. Commendation - A recounting of the good
  things.
• 2. Condemnation A listing of the bad things.
• 3. Challenge/Charge A word of instruction or
  warning.
• Read Text Revelation 37-13

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• Philadelphia The
  LOVED church
• I. THE COMMENDATION
• 1. OPEN DOOR NO ONE CAN SHUT!
• 2. LITTLE STRENGTH YET
• a. Kept My Word
• b. Not denied My Name
• 3. I WILL MAKE YOUR PERSECUTORS FALL AT YOUR
  FEET!

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• Philadelphia The LOVED
  church
• COMMENDATION - CONTINUED
• 4. Since you have kept my command to endure
  patiently
• I will keep you from the hour of trial that is
  going to come upon the whole world WHAT
  DOES THIS MEAN?
• Note the rapture and tribulation
  type language here.
• The Pre-Tribulation rapture camp uses this
  passage as proof.
• (Jesus said he would keep you from it)
• The Post-Tribulation rapture people use this
  passage as proof.
• (Emphasis on patient endurance to preserve in
  the midst of)
• THEY CANT BOTH BE
  RIGHT!

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• Philadelphia The LOVED
  church
• COMMENDATION - CONTINUED
• HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
• CONTEXT!
• 1. Did it have a meaning THEN? YES.
• 2. Could it have prophetic significance as well?
  YESbut first
• For proper Biblical
  interpretation
• 1. What does the text SAY? (in the original
  language)
• 2. What did it mean THEN?

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• 
  Philadelphia The LOVED church
• KEEP-FROM-HOUR-TRIAL-WH
  OLE WORLD
• 1. Keep 5083 Tereo (TAY-REH-O) To guard
  something by keeping a watchful eye on it. To
  preserve in the midst of.
• NOT 5442 Phulaso (FOO-LAS-SO) To preserve
  something by removing or isolating it.
• --------------------------------------------------
  -----------------------------------------
• 2. From 1537 Ek or Ex a preposition
  from or through used interchangeably
  throughout scripture.
• --------------------------------------------------
  --------------------------------------------
• 3. Hour 5610 Horah (Ho-rah) Lit. or Fig.
  Season-time-day- an instant or a literal
  hour. Used interchangeably throughout the
  scripture.
• --------------------------------------------------
  ----------------------------------------------
• 4. Trial 3986 Peirasmos (Pi-ras-mos) Proving
  faith or character by facing adversity. NOT
  2347 (THILPSIS) TRIBULATION (Rev 714)
• --------------------------------------------------
  -----------------------------------------------

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• 
  Philadelphia The LOVED church
• 5. Whole World - 3625 Oikoumene
  (Oy-kou-men-ay)
• Lit. or Fig. land, region, territory
  Most specifically - the ROMAN EMPIRE. Note
  LUKE 21 - a decreethat the whole world
  should be taxed
• So what does the text actually and
  really say?
• I will preserve you- and give you strength in
  the midst of a time of great adversity in which
  your faith and character will be tested This
  time that is to come upon the vast area in which
  you live and/or the entire Roman Empire.
• SO WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY
  HAPPENED?

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• 
  Philadelphia The LOVED church
• SO WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY
  HAPPENED?
• Tacitus The Roman Statesman and Historian tells
  usthat shortly after the time in which this
  letter would have been written TWO TRAUMATIC
  EVENTS HAPPENED
• 1. A devastating earthquake hit Asia Minor
  leveling and destroying 12 complete cities.
  Philadelphia was particularly hard hit.
• 2. Shortly after this time a succession of Roman
  Emperors leveled some of the most wicked
  persecution and torture upon the Roman Empire
  Christians. Hundreds of thousands met their
  deaths during this time.

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• Philadelphia
  The LOVED church
• Can we apply this passage to the teachings on
  TRIBULATION and RAPTURE?
• Probably NOT neither of these words, terms or
  concepts are used in the original language of the
  text. In fact, those specific Greek words are
  PURPOSELY not used.
• IF ONE DID USE THIS TEXT THAT WAY it would have
  to support the POST-TRIB. Theory because of the
  distinctive use of the words of preserving in
  the midst of Tereo (TAY-REH-O) , rather than
  preserving by taking out (Phulaso).

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

• 
  Philadelphia The LOVED church
• II. THE
  CHARGE/CHALLENGE
• HOLD ON! I AM COMING
  SOON!
• I will make you a Pillar - Strength
• I will write on you a new Name - Ownership
  and Security
• If you belong to Jesus (TRULY) then you are
  secure in Jesus! You are victorious regardless of
  what trials are around you or what fate befalls
  you. Jesus can and will preserve you in the
  midst of If you will be FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD
  and NOT DENY HIS NAME!

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST