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Part 11 - A Study
on the first three Chapters in Revelation
These seven letters we have
examined follow a set
pattern of writing. There
are Seven Key Elements in
each letter . They are:
1. The meaning of the name
of the church being
addressed;
2. The title of Jesus, the
author of the letter, each
chosen relevant to the
message to that particular
church;
3. The commendation of the
Church- Their strong points
and merits;
4. The reproof and rebuke of
things they failed in;
5. The exhortation and
counsel specific to the
condition of the particular
church; relevant to the
geography and history of the
city;
6. The promise to the
"overcomer";
7. The concluding phrase,
"He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit
saith to the churches."
The Meaning
of Names
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Ephesus: |
The Desired One:
full purposed |
|
Smyna: |
Myrrh; Offering
of Sacrifice |
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Pergamos: |
MuchMarried;
Adultrous |
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Thyatira: |
Sacrifice of
Labor |
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Sardis: |
Remnant |
|
Philadelphia: |
Brotherly Love |
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Laodicea: |
Justice to
People; Judgement |
Thoug these
names are actual
geographical names of the
churches referred to, the
characteristics of the
churches are represented in
the meanings themselves.
They are also prophetic in
terms of the dispensational
approach.
Titles that
Jesus uses
General Title: I am the
First and the Last.I am the
Living One; I was dead, and
behold I am alive for ever
and ever! And I hold the
keys of death and Hades.
|
Ephesus: |
who holdsthe seven
stars in his right
hand and walks among
the seven golden
lampstands |
|
Smyna: |
the First and the
Last, who died and
came back to life
again. |
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Pergamos: |
who has the sharp
double-edged sword |
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Thyatira: |
Son of God, whose
eyes are like
blazing fire and
whose feet are like
burnished bronze. |
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Sardis: |
who holds seven
spirits of God and
the seven stars. |
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Philadelphia: |
who is holy and
true, who holds the
key of David. One
who opens the door
which no one can
shut. |
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Laodicea: |
the Amen, the
faithful and true
witness, the ruler
of God’s creation. |
Commendations
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Ephesus: |
deeds, hard work,
perseverance,
endured hardship,
did not tolerate
wicked men |
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Smyna: |
through affliction
and poverty did not
leave faith |
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Pergamos: |
among the satanists
kept the faith and
did not renounce
faith |
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Thyatira: |
deeds, love and
faith, service and
perseverance |
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Sardis: |
deeds |
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Philadelphia: |
deeds, kept the
word, did not deny
my name |
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Laodicea: |
deeds |
Reproof
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Ephesus: |
forsaken their first
love |
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Smyna: |
|
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Pergamos: |
teaching of Balaam
teaching of
Nicolaitans |
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Thyatira: |
tolerates Jezebel |
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Sardis: |
dead |
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Philadelphia: |
|
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Laodicea: |
neither hot nor cold
and is lukewarm |
Counsel
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Ephesus: |
remember your first
love
repent and do the
things you did first |
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Smyna: |
be faithful to the
point of death |
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Pergamos: |
repent, otherwise I
will come and fight
against them |
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Thyatira: |
hold on to what you
have until I come |
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Sardis: |
Remember what you
have received and
heard; obey it and
repent |
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Philadelphia: |
Hold on to what you
have |
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Laodicea: |
nuy from me gold
refined in fire so
you cn be rich;and
white clothes to
wear, so you can
cover your
nakedness; and slave
to put on your eyes
so that you can see |
Promise to
the overcomers
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Ephesus: |
I will give the
right to eat from
the tree of life
which is in the
paradise of God. |
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Smyna: |
Will not be hurt at
all by the second
death. |
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Pergamos: |
I will give some of
the hidden manna, I
will also give him a
white stone with a
new name written on
it, known only to
him who recieves it. |
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Thyatira: |
I
will give him the
authority over the
nations.
I will give him the
morning star. |
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Sardis: |
They will walk walk
with me , dressed in
white.
I will never blot
out his name from
the book of life,
but will acknowledge
him before my Father
and his anngels. |
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Philadelphia: |
I
will make him a
pillar in the temple
of my God.
Never again will
they leave it.
I
will write on him
the name of my God,
the new Jerusalem,
which is coming down
from heaven from my
God;
I will also wrie ton
him my new name. |
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Laodicea: |
I will give the
right to sit with me
on my throne. |
Corresponding
Dispensation Age and the
Parable
|
Ephesus: |
Apostolic Period:
sowing of the seeds
till 100 AD |
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Smyna: |
Persecution Period
Parable of the Weeds |
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Pergamos: |
State Church Period
Parable of Mustard
Seed |
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Thyatira: |
Period of Heresy
Parable of the
Leaven |
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Sardis: |
Reformation Period
Parable of the
Hidden Treasure |
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Philadelphia: |
Missionaary Period
Parable of the Great
Pearl |
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Laodicea: |
End time Apostate
Church Period
The Parable of the
Drag Net |
I will be dealing with this
aspect in another series of
articles.
 
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