Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 2:12–17

To the church in Pergamum (see Note below)

(1) From the glorious description of the Lord in 1:13-16 which particular part does the Lord use to depict Himself? (v. 12b)

(2) What is the purpose of this emphasis? (see v. 16; 19:15)

(3) Commendations (v. 13)

a. What is meant by "Satan has his throne" in the city?

b. Is it different from saying that the city is “where Satan lives”? Why or why not?

c. What about the city where you live? Is it a place where Satan is allowed a foothold (Eph. 4:27) or a place where he is in control?

d. What is the Lord’s commendation?

e. Do you think it is easy for them to do so? Why or why not?

f. What about you in your situation?

(4) Rebukes (vv. 14-16)

a. Holding on to the teaching of the Nicolatians which is likened to the teaching of Balaam:

1. What sin did Balaam lead the Israelites into? (see Num. 25:1-3; 31:16)
2. In what ways does the teaching of the Nicolatians resemble that of Balaam?
3. What does the Apostle Paul think of the eating of food sacrificed to idols? (see 1 Cor. 10:18ff)

b. While they could fend off external opposition, how then would they succumb to internal heresy? What is the lesson for us today?

c. What does the Lord promise to do? (v. 16b) What does it mean?

(5) Rewards (v. 17)

a. To the overcomers: What is meant by “overcomers” in their situation?

b. The reward of “hidden manna”

1. What was manna? (see Exod. 16)
2. What is the real heavenly manna? (see Jesus’ words in Jn. 6:32-33; 57-58)
3. To these “overcomers”, many of whom might have died as martyrs, what does “hidden” mean to them?

c. The reward of a “white stone”:

1. Most commentators see that the metaphor of a “white stone” refers to ancient practice by the jurors in using a white stone to declare one’s innocence and a black stone to denote guilt: What does this promise mean to the “overcomers”?
2. It is a “new name": Some commentators point out that the word “new” is used particularly to signify newness in quality, such as the “New Jerusalem”. What then does the “new name” signify?
3. The stone also has a name written on it, known only to the recipient:

1. Have you ever received a gift with your name engraved on it?

2. What might the engraving of your name mean to you?

(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

Pliny, the Roman historian, called Pergamum “by far the most distinguished city in Asia”. It was well known for the following: Its great library that boasted more than 200,000 volumes, its die-hard commitment to emperor worship, and (that) “it was a center of worship for four of the most important pagan cults of the day—Zeus, Athene, Dionysos and Asklepios…the shrine of Asklepios, (in particular), attracted people from all over the world. Galen, one of the most famous physicians of the ancient world, was a native of Pergamum and studied there.” (NICOT, 78)

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 2:18–29

To the church in Thyatira (see Note 1 below)

(1) While John describes the speaker as “like a son of man” (1:13), what does the Lord call Himself? (v. 18) What might be its significance?

(2) From the glorious description of the Lord in 1:13-16, which particular part does the Lord use to depict Himself? (v. 18b)

(3) What is the purpose of this emphasis? (furnace is obviously used for refining precious metals, weaning out the impurities)

(4) Commendations (v. 19)

a. What does the Lord know about them?

b. How do you describe such a church?

c. What is meant by “doing more than you did at first”?

d. Is that a fitting description of you and your church? Why or why not?

(5) Rebukes (vv. 20-23; 24b)

a. Jezebel (see Note 2 below)

1. What sins has her teaching led God’s servants into? (v. 20)
2. How similar are these sins to those of Pergamum? (v. 14)
3. Since such sins are so common among churches, and can even mislead God’s servants into committing sin, what kind of a warning should it be to us?
4. Why does the Lord not carry out His judgment immediately upon her? (v. 21)
5. How will the Lord punish her in v. 22?
6. What does this judgment intend to do?
7. What if she and her children do not repent? (v. 23; see 1 Cor. 11:30 for its possible meaning)
8. Most opine “children” is a reference to her followers, but some see them as her physical children: Is there any difference in terms of punishment?
9. What impact will this have on the churches?
10. How does this serve as an encouragement to us today as we see so many churches follow heretical teachings, especially those that lead to acceptance of immorality?

b. Deep secrets of Satan (v. 24b)

1. How attractive will it be for a church-teacher to claim that his or her teachings will usher you into a deeper knowledge of the secrets of God?
2. How can we tell such teachings are not of God, but of Satan? (you may want to read today’s Meditative Reflection)

(6) The exhortations (vv. 24-25)

a. To whom are these exhortations directed?

b. What are they to hold on to and not to hold on to?

c. What does “holding on to” suggest, especially with the gracious act of not imposing “any other burden” on them?

(7) The promised rewards (vv. 26-30)

a. To the overcomers: What is meant by “overcomers” in their situation? (v. 26a)

b. What authority will they be given? (vv. 26-27; Ps. 2:9)

c. What will they be also given? (v. 28, see 22:16 also)

d. Since these rewards are given to all overcomers, including you and me, how precious are they to you?

(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note 1:

Compared to the other six cities, Thyatira is the smallest and perhaps the least important city. However, it was known for its large number of trade guilds which included “woolworkers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze-smiths…Since the trade guilds were inseparably intertwined with local religious observances, they posed a special problem for the economic well-being of Christians” (NICOT, 84-5)

Note 2:

Many have associated this Jezebel with the wicked queen in Israel (see 1 Ki. 16:29ff; 2 Ki. 9:30ff) who led Israel into idolatry. I think such an association is not necessary, because Jezebel in the OT was not a prophetess, and she yielded her power as a queen and there was no teaching involved.

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 3:1–6

To the church in Sardis (see Note below)

(1) From the introduction by the Apostle John (1:4) and the glorious description of the Lord in 1:13-16, which particular parts does the Lord use to depict Himself? (v. 1)

(2) What is the purpose of these emphases?

(3) Rebukes (vv. 1b, 2b)

a. “I know your deeds”: What does the Lord refer to?

b. What does a church that has a “reputation of being alive” look like?

c. How could a church, in an environment similar to the rest of the churches in Asia, be able to “thrive” in reputation?

d. What is meant by being “dead” (v. 1b) or being about to die? (v. 2)

(4) Call to Repentance (vv. 2a, 3)—The Lord asks them:

a. To wake up (v. 2):

1. Do they think that they need to wake up?
2. Why or why not?

b. To remember (v. 3)

1. What does the Lord ask them to remember?

c. What if they choose not to wake up and repent? (v. 3b)

d. What does it mean?

(5) The promised rewards (vv. 4-6)

a. A few have not soiled their clothes (v. 4a)

1. How were they able to do that in the midst of such a soiled church?
2. What might life be like for them?

b. What is meant by being dressed in white? (see Rev. 4:4; 19:8, 14)

c. What is being guaranteed by the Lord? (v. 5)

d. What then is meant by “overcomers” in this church?

(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

The once powerful city of Sardis which felt secure because of its impregnable steep hills, suffered a catastrophic earthquake in A. D. 17 and was rebuilt with the help of Emperor Tiberius. Its great wealth was confirmed archaeologically by the discovery in local cemeteries of jewelry. It is interesting to note that internal issues rather than external problems are noted in this letter. This might explain why this church seemed to be able to co-exist with factors that were normally hostile to Christians at the time likely because of their compromise.

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 3:7–13

To the church in Philadelphia (see Note 1 below)

(1) How does the Lord remind the church of Who He is? (v. 7)

(2) What is the purpose of the emphasis on Him being “holy and true”? (See Isa. 40:25, Hab. 3:3; Mk. 1:24; Jn. 6:69; Rev. 19:11)

(3) In the glorious depiction of the Lord, the Lord mentions that He “holds the keys to death and Hades”, and yet He now emphasizes that He holds “the Key of David”:

a. What is the Key of David? (see Isa. 22:22ff and Note 2 below)

b. What is the purpose of this emphasis?

(4) The encouragement (v. 8)

a. Since the Lord knows their deeds, for what does the Lord commend them?

b. What might it mean to them to hear the Lord say, “You have little strength”?

c. What does it mean to you?

d. What kind of door does the Lord promise to keep open for them? (see Isa. 22:22ff and Col. 4:3)

(5) The promise of deliverance (vv. 9-10)

a. What is meant by “who claim to be Jews though they are not”? (see Rom. 2: 28-29; Gal. 2:14; 6:15-16)

b. Why are these Jews called “the synagogue of Satan”?

c. How will the Lord vindicate His believers? (v. 9)

d. For those who have kept His command to endure patiently, what will happen to them in the End-time when judgment of calamities will befall the whole world? (v. 10)

(6) The promise of rewards (vv. 11-13)

a. What is meant by “overcomers” in this letter? (vv. 11-12)

b. What do they have? (see 3:3)

c. Passive reward — no one will take their crown: What is that crown? (2:10)

d. Positive rewards (vv. 12-13)

1. How important is a pillar to a building? (see also 1 Tim. 3:15)
2. What is meant by being made a pillar to the temple of God? (see also Eph. 2:19-22)
3. Why does the Lord emphasize also that “Never again will he (the overcomer) leave it”?
4. What does the writing of names on him (the pillar) signify? (names signify belonging to)
5. What is the significance of having the three names written on us (the overcomers)?

1. The name of “my God”? (see Zech. 14:20-21)

2. The name of the “city of my God, the New Jerusalem which is coming down out of the heaven of my God”(see Rev. 21:10)

3. “My new name” (Rev. 19:12)

e. In giving these precious promises, the Lord prefaces by saying: “I am coming soon” (v. 11), but He certainly has not come yet:

1. What is the purpose of such an emphasis to the church in Philadelphia?
2. What does it mean to us today?

(7) What is the message to you today? How may you apply it to your life?

Note 1:

This city is fittingly known as the city of “brotherly love” because of the loyalty of Attalaus II Philadelphus to his brother Eumenes II king of Pergamum, although it is not certain which one of them actually founded the city between 189 B.C. to 138 B.C. In any case, it was built intentionally as a mission city to propagate the Hellenistic way of life because of its strategic locale earning its name, “the gateway to the East”. This prosperous city was known for wine-growing and its many temples. The church in Philadelphia is the only church after the church in Smyrna that received praise and not rebuke from the Lord.

Note 2:

Isaiah 22:22ff foretells the day of the Messiah on whose shoulder is put the Key of David which refers to the restoration of the David Kingdom. In essence, though, it points to Christ who will sit on the throne of David to rule, not just the Israelites, but over the kingdoms of the world. The Key signifies authority, reign and power.

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 3:14–22

The church in Laodicea (see Note below)

(1) As the Lord’s last letter before revealing “what must soon take place” (1:1), what is the significance of each of His self-addresses:

a. The “Amen”? (see Isaiah 65:16 where the literal translation of the expression “God of truth” is  “God of Amen”; also refer to Deut. 27:14ff for use as the end of prayers)

b. The “Faithful and True Witness”? (see 1:5 and 19:11)

c. “The “Ruler of God’s creation”? (see Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:15ff; note that the word “beginning” in Greek is the exact word translated as “ruler” here)

(2) Rebukes (vv. 16-17)

a. Lukewarm (v. 16)

1. Using drinking water as an analogy, why does the Lord wish that they are either cold or hot?
2. What would the Lord do if they were hot (as in being zealous in spirit or in their love for God)?
3. What would the Lord do if they were cold? (Matt. 24:12)
4. Now that they are lukewarm, what does the Lord threaten to do?
5. Which of the above describe your spiritual temperature today?

b. Spiritually poor (v. 17)—They are obviously wealthy physically with gold and silver etc.:

1. How might their physical wealth make them think that spiritually they are rich?
2. What might have blinded them from realizing that they are in fact wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked before the Lord?

(3) Call to Repentance (v. 18)—They are told to buy from the Lord:

a. Not just gold, but “refined” gold in order to be truly rich. What does it mean? (see 1 Pet. 1:7 and David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23)

b. White clothes to wear to cover their shame. What does it mean? How can they get them? (Rev. 3:4, 5; 4:5; 6:11; 7:9, 13-14; 19:14)

c. Salve to put on their eyes so that they can see. What is that eye-salve that can heal their spiritual blindness? (Matt. 6:19-24)

(4) The Encouragement (vv. 19-20)

a. Should they be discouraged by these harsh words of rebuke and threat? Why not? (v. 19)

b. Instead of instant punishment, what does the Lord depict Himself doing? (v. 20a)

c. Have they heard His voice and His knocking? (v. 22)

d. What do they have to do?

e. What will the Lord do once they choose to open their (heart’s) door?

f. What does eating mean, especially in the Oriental culture?

g. Although this invitation to open the door is extended to the self-deluded members of the church, do you think it is equally extended to non-believers? Why or why not?

(5) The promise of reward (v. 21)

a. What then is meant by “overcomers” in this church?

b. What is the promise given to the overcomers? (see Matt. 19:28; 2 Tim. 2:12)

(6) As we come to the last letter, can you sum up:

a. The key warnings to each of the churches?

b. The key promises to each of the churches?

(7) What is the most important message to you and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

The city of Laodicea was reputed to be the richest city in the province of Phrygia, and perhaps, fittingly its church receives the most severe rebuke by the Lord. While we do not take the position that the Seven Churches in Revelation represent a historical progression of the history of the Christians churches up to the return of the Lord, Laodicea, however, does best depict the churches in our time. Laodicea was noted for its banking, its manufacture of woolen garment and its medical school which produced two famous ointments one of which was an eye-salve. The church in Laodicea was established likely through the preaching of Epaphras (Col. 1:7; 4:12-13). The Apostle Paul wrote them a letter which has been lost (Col. 4:16).

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 4:1–6a

The first vision is now over. After the glorious appearance of the Lord Jesus and the words given to the Seven Churches in Asia at the time, John is given a second vision in which he is shown the throne of God in heaven in chapters 4 and 5. This vision is clearly about the future as 5:13 indicates. The future events that lead to the consummation of God’s plan of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ are now revealed through the unsealing of a scroll in heaven.

4:1—The Introduction to the 2^nd vision

(1) “After this I looked”: What is John referring to?

(2) What does John see? (Note: John is honestly recording what he sees, but in a vision of the non-materialistic realm in heaven, God has to use materialistic symbols to convey to John and us the reality of the heavenly. So John sees a “door”, but it does not mean that heaven has a door but it signifies “entrance” into the heavenly realm. This applies to all heavenly things in all of his visions, including the faces of the four living creatures.)

(3) Who is the one who now speaks to him again? (see 1:10-13)

(4) What are the things he is going to be shown about?

4:2-6a—The Throne of God in Heaven

(5) John is shown a throne in heaven (v. 2). What does a throne signify?

(6) What is the One who sits on the throne like? (v. 3)

(7) What is the throne encircled by? (v. 4)

(8) The 24 other thrones:

a. Who are the ones seated on these thrones? (see Note below)

b. Since thrones denote rule and authority: Together with their dresses (see 3:4, 5; 6:11; 7:9, 13-14; 19:14) and crowns, what do they portray about the elders?

(9) What do lightning and thunder signify? (Exod. 19:16ff)

(10) What are blazing before the throne? (v. 5) What do they signify? (1:4)

(11) What does the throne appear to sit on? (v. 6a)

(12) Turn to Ezekiel 1:26-28 and read Ezekiel’s perception of the same heavenly throne of God.

(13) What do both visions have in common?

(14) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

As “elders” always refer to human beings, I tend to agree with those commentators who interpret them as symbolic of the church in its totality—a combination of the 12 Israeli patriarchs and the 12 apostles. This is also in tune with the scene of the New Jerusalem in which the 12 gates and 12 foundations are inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel and the names of the 12 apostles respectively (21:12-14).

Scriptural Reflection
Revelation 4:6b–11

The Worship of the Four Living Creatures & the Elders (see Note below)

4:6b-9—The Four Living Creatures

(1) They are covered with eyes front and back. What do they symbolize?

a. What might their four faces symbolize?

1. Lion (see Prov. 30:30)
2. Ox (see Ps. 144:14; Prov. 14:4)
3. Man (Gen. 1:27)
4. Flying Eagle (see Ps. 103:5; Isa. 40:31)

b. What are their wings for? (see Isa. 6:2)

(2) What do they do day and night? (v. 8; see Isa. 6:3)

(3) How does their song of praise differ from that of the  Seraphim in Isaiah 6?

(4) What might be the reason for the difference given the context of this vision?

4:10-11—The 24 Elders

(5) They join in to praise God. What do both vv. 9 and 10 address God as and why?

(6) How do the elders worship? (v. 10)

(7) What does it signify?

(8) The elders’ song of praise (v. 11)

a.  What do they ascribe to God?

b.  What reason do they give in their praise?

c.  How might this praise echo the four faces of the four living creatures?

(9) It is helpful for us to close our eyes and allow the eyes of our mind to visualize the scene in heaven about which we have just read in this chapter. Why not join them in worship right now!

(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

Although the four living creatures in Revelation and Ezekiel have some differences in their symbolic description, they have far more in common. They should depict the same “cherubim” (Ezek. 10:15) who are “an exalted order of angelic beings…the immediate guardians of the throne” (NICOT, 124) From Ezekiel’s vantage point, he sees the four faces of each cherub, while John from his vantage point sees only one side of the faces of each cherub, but the symbols of their faces convey the same spiritual essence.