Revelation 13

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Revelation 1-3

• Lecture 7

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Four traditional approachesof interpretation

• 1) Futuristall the visions . . . relate to
  period immediately preceding following 2nd
  advent of Christ
• 2) Historicistconcerned with placing historical
  events/eras in line with different portions of
  the Revelation
• 3) Preteristonly relates to Johns own time
• 4) Idealistis primarily poetical, symbolic
  spiritual

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Chapter 1 Introduction to the Revelation

• Prologue vv. 1-3
• V.1 revelation of Jesus Christ God gave him to
  show servants what must soon take place
• V.2 who testifies to everything he sawthe
  testimony of Jesus Christ // MARTYR
• V.3 Blessed is
• one who reads the words
• Those who hear it take to heart

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Greetings Doxology vv. 4-8

• Note
• Who is, who was, who is to come (v. 4 v. 8)
• What it says about Jesus
• Faithful witness
• Firstborn from the dead (cf. Col.118)
• Ruler of the kings of the earth
• Who loves us
• Has freed us
• Made us a kingdom priests (cf. 2 Pet. 29)

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Johns Commission

• Johns condition v. 9f.
• In exile - Patmos
• shares their experience in suffering
• in the Spirit (v.10) dream like trance (cf.
  Acts 1010)
• Write what you see (v.11, cf. v.19)

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Johns 1st visionthe Son of Man vv. 12-16
(ch.1-3)

• Seven golden lampstands
• Among the lampstands (v.13)
• Robe with golden sash
• Hair white
• Blazing eyes
• Feet like bronze
• Voice like rushing waters
• Out of mouth a sharp double-edged sword (v. 16,
  cf. Heb. 412)
• Face like the sun

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Johns Commission Confirmed vv. 17-20

• Write what you have seen (v.19, cf. v.11)
• What is now
• What will take place

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Ephesus

• Great important harbor city
• Greatest trading city of the Province
• gateway to the Province
• Temple to Great Mother goddessArtemis (see Acts
  1923-35)
• Shrine to Augustus

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Smyrna

• Considered itself 1st in beauty size in Asia
• Beauty of buildings on surrounding hills was its
  crown
• Mother goddess Cybele
• Birth place of Homer
• Harbor cityVERY wealthy

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Pergamum

• Royal citycapital of the Province
• Provincial temple of the Imperial cult (emperor
  worship a central feature)
• 4 patron deities
• Zeus - ruler/savior
• Athena - victory bearer
• Dionysos - leader (esp. royal family)
• Asklepios - savior (form of serpent)

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Thyatira

• On a major E/SE trade route
• Garrison cityfrequent battles here
• Patron deityTyrimnos, warrior god
• Large number of trade-guilds
• Woolworkers, linen, leather-workers, tanners
• Dyers (Lydia, Acts 1614)
• Potters, bakers, slave dealers bronze smiths

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Sardis

• Suffered earthquake 17 A. D.
• Former capital city of Lydian empire
• Lived on prestige from the past
• Been destroyed in past in war, in spite of being
  on elevated plateau
• Lion was the city symbol

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Philadelphia

• missionary city for sending out Greek culture
• Situated on important trade route
• Cult of Germanicus practiced
• Suffered earthquake in 17 A. D. as a result
  many people still lived in fear lived outside
  city walls

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Laodicea

• On major trade route
• Banking finance VERY WEALTHY
• Major earthquake 61 A. D. yet refused aid
• Clothing industry, esp. black wool
• Medical centre
• Patron deity Carian, god of healing

15
Themes to 7 churches

• 1. REPENT
• Ephesus (25) do the things you did at first
• Pergamum (216)
• Thyatira (221f.) of her ways
• Sardis (33)
• Laodicea (319)

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Themes continued

• 2. KNOWS
• Ephesus (22) your deeds
• Smyrna (29) your afflictions
• Pergamum (213) where you live
• Thyatira (219) your deeds
• Sardis (31) your deeds
• Philadelphia (38) your deeds
• Laodicea (315) your deeds

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Themes continued

• 3. OVERCOME
• Ephesus (27) right to eat from tree of life
• Smyrna (211) not hurt by second death
• Pergamum (217) givenmanna, white stone with
  new name
• Thyatira (226) given authoritymorningstar
• Sardis (35) dressed in whitename never blotted
  outacknowledged
• Philadelphia (312) a pillarwrite onname of
  Godmy new name
• Laodicea (321) right to sit with me on my
  throne