Revelation 3-5

Revelation 3

Letter to Sardis

Description of Jesus: him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

Commendation

Very little praise is given. A few people in Sardis have remained faithful and have not “soiled their garments.”

Rebuke

Jesus says: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Call

• Wake up
• Strengthen what remains
• Remember the gospel
• Repent

Promise

The overcomer will:

• Be clothed in white garments.
• Have their name remain in the Book of Life.
• Be confessed by Christ before the Father.

Letter to Philadelphia

Description of Jesus: the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

Commendation

Jesus praises them for:

• Keeping His Word
• Not denying His name
• Remaining faithful despite having “little power.”

Christ’s Authority

Jesus holds “The key of David.”He alone opens and shuts doors no one can reverse.

• Quoted from Isaiah 22

Promise

Believers will be:

• Kept through the hour of trial.
• Made pillars in God’s temple.
• Given:
  • God’s name
  • The name of the New Jerusalem
  • Christ’s new name

Letter to Laodicea

Description of Jesus: the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

Commendation

None (!) 

Rebuke

The church is:

• Lukewarm
• Self-sufficient (For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” )
• wretched
• pitiable
• poor
•  blind
• naked

Jesus says “Because you are lukewarm… I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Counsel

Buy from Christ:

• Gold refined by fire
  • To be rich (in spiritualness)
• White garments
  • To clothe shameful nakedness
• Eye salve
  • So that you may see

Invitation

Jesus says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Jesus invites us to let Him in

Promise

The overcomer will sit with Christ on His throne.

Revelation 4

 The Throne in Heaven

John is invited “Come up here.”

Immediately he sees:

• God’s throne
• God reigning over all creation

God’s appearance is described with precious stones (the first and last stones of the ephod!):

• Jasper
• Carnelian (Sardius)

Around the throne:

• Rainbow resembling emerald
• Twenty-four thrones
  • With Twenty-four elders
• Lightning
• Thunder
• Rumblings/Voices

Before the throne were seven burning torches

• These represent the seven Spirits of God (the fullness of the Holy Spirit see Isaiah 11:2).

Also before the throne was a sea of glass like crystal.

• Similar to the basin in Tabernacle

The Four Living Creatures

The creatures resemble:

• Lion
• Ox
• Man
• Eagle

Each has:

• Six wings
• Eyes all around

Day and night they worship “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

The twenty-four elders:

• Fall before God.
• Cast their crowns before His throne.
  • Word here is στέφανος (stephanos) which means a victorious crown or wreath, not a royal crown
• Proclaim “Worthy are you, our Lord and God…”

God is worthy because:

• He created all things.
• Everything exists by His will.

Revelation 5

 The Scroll

God holds:

• A scroll
• Sealed with seven seals

A mighty angel asks “Who is worthy to open the scroll?” but no one in heaven or earth is found worthy. John begins to weep.

One of the elders tells him to weep no more and announces “The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered.”

• Quoted from Genesis 49:9-10 

He is also “The Root of David.”

• Quoted from Isaiah 11

John then sees a Lamb standing as though slain.

• Seven horns
• Seven eyes 

The Lamb takes the scroll.

The elders and living creatures worship Jesus. Each holds:

• Harps
• Golden bowls of incense
  • Represents The prayers of the saints.

Jesus is worthy because He:

• Was slain.
• Redeemed people by His blood.
• Purchased people from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
• Made them a kingdom and priests.

Millions of angels proclaim “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…”

He deserves:

• Power
• Wealth
• Wisdom
• Might
• Honor
• Glory
• Blessing

Every creature joins in worshipping both the Father and the Lamb to receive:

• Blessing
• Honor
• Glory
• Might

Forever.

Application

We have a beautiful picture of our Jesus in heaven, seated on the throne. No matter what happens on earth, God reigns and is worthy of our worship. He alone deserves our undivided loyalty!