Revelation 2:8-11; Season 15, Episode 4 (30min)

"Smyrna and the Crown of Life"

 

The Outline: 

Prologue  (1:1-8)

  I.  “THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN”
– The Son of Man and The Lampstands 
                  (1:9-20)

 II.  “THE THINGS WHICH ARE”
– The Letters to The Seven Churches
                  (2:1-3:22)

III.  “THE THINGS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE”
– The Judgments and The Characters 
                  (4:1-22:5)

Epilogue  (22:6-21)

***

 II.  “THE THINGS WHICH ARE”
– The Letters to The Seven Churches
                  (2:1-3:22)

     A.  Ephesus  (2:1-7)

     B.  Smyrna  (2:8-11)

     C.  Pergamum  (2:12-17)

     D.  Thyatira  (2:18-29)

     E.  Sardis  (3:1-6)

     F.  Philadelphia  (3:7-13)

     G.  Laodicea  (3:14-22)

***

B.  Smyrna  (2:8-11)

1. Commission[i]
2. Character
3. Commendation
4. Confrontation – None
5. Correction Encouragement
6. Call
7. Challenge

[i] This alliteration of characteristics from Daniel/Revelation Class Notes; Dr. Kenneth F. McKinley, LeTourneau College, 1973.

***

• Tributaries: "The first and the last"

Isaiah 41:4; “Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.’

         Isaiah 44:6; “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.”;
         Isaiah 48:12; “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.”

• Tributary: The Accuser

Zechariah 3:1; “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

***

APPENDIX: THE CROWNS OF REWARD

• “An IMPERISHABLE Wreath”(1Cor 9:25)
  for Self-Control
• “The Crown of EXULTATION”(1Thess 2:19)
  for Leading Others to the Lord and Nurturing Them
• “The Crown of RIGHTEOUSNESS” (2Tim 4:8)
  for Loving His Appearing
• “The Unfading Crown of GLORY”(1Pet 5:3-4)
  for Fruitful Ministry of the Word
• “The Crown of LIFE”(James 1:12; Rev 2:10)
  for Perseverance and Faithfulness