Revelation Session Six

The Revelation of St John

“for Everyone”                      

 

The Sixth Session

The SELECTED, OBSCURE/ECLECTIC even SCARY Writings of St John the Divine

brought to you by

The Soup Priest

COURSE DESCRIPTION It’s about healthy eating for our bodies and spirit. Come and dine.

Notes:

Open the hood: 

Tune-up in Thyatira

18‘Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like exquisite brass. 19I know what you have done: I know your love, your faith, your service and your patience. I know that your works have been more impressive recently than they were before. 20But I have something against you: you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and teaches my servants (in fact, deceives my servants!) to practice fornication and to eat idol-food. 21I gave her time to repent, but she had no wish to repent of her immorality. 22Look! I am going to throw her on a bed, and those who have committed fornication with her will have great distress, unless they repent of the works into which she has led them. 23I will utterly slaughter her children, and all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will give to each of you what your deeds deserve. 24For the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held this teaching, who haven’t discovered the so-called ‘satanic depths’: I’m not going to put any other pressure on you. 25Just hold on tightly to what you have until I come. 26To anyone who conquers, who keeps my works right through to the end, I will give authority over the nations, 27to rule them with a rod of iron, as when clay pots get smashed! 28That is the authority I myself received from my father. What’s more, I will give them the morning star. 29Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the spirit says to the churches.”’

One of the main industries in Thyatira was copper, bronze and brass. How does this tie into verse 18? The local deity in the area, who was the patron deity of the bronze trade, was ‘Apollo Tyrimnaeus’, who appeared on local coins together with the ‘son of god’, that is, the Roman emperor. What type of affluence do you suppose was around this community? Why do you think verse 1 also began the way it did?

Which Biblical villain is called out in verse 20 and for what? Who is she and what is she leading members to do? What is the promise of verse 23? What is the promise in v 28 (see Rev 22.16)? How does this speak to people held back by rulers?

Battery Dead in Sardis:

3. 1‘Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis. “These are the words of the one who has the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know what you have done. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen the things that remain – the things that are about to die – because I haven’t found your works to be complete in the sight of my God. 3So remember how you received the message, how you heard it and kept it – and repent! So if you don’t keep awake, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know what time I’m coming to you. 4You do, however, have a few people in Sardis who haven’t allowed their clothes to become dirty and polluted. They will be clothed in white and will walk with me, as they deserve. 5Anyone who conquers will be clothed like this in white robes, and I won’t blot their name out of the book of life. I will acknowledge their name in the presence of my father and in the presence of his angels. 6Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the spirit is saying to the churches.”’
4. What type of home security do you think is necessary in your neighborhood?
5. What happened to Sardis by a famous Biblical character?
6. What is the charge against Sardis in v.2?

What separates a good craftsman from an average or poor one?

Does there seem to be any room for partial faith in Christ?

4. There are a few in v.4 who have kept clean from what?

What will be the result of their behavior?

How is this referenced in Sardis?  What book is there that contains our names?

***Who can we include in our prayers this week?