The Purpose of Revelation

Revelation 1:1-3 The The revelation of Jesus Christrevelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave , which God gave

him to show his servants . . . He made it known him to show his servants . . . He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 2 who who testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of God and God and the testimony of Jesus Christthe testimony of Jesus Christ. . 3 3 Blessed Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 19:10

““For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”prophecy.”

The Pattern of the Christ

Faithful Witness – Suffering - VindicationFaithful Witness – Suffering - Vindication

Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and companion in the I, John, your brother and companion in the

sufferingsuffering and and kingdomkingdom and and patient endurance patient endurance that that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Jesus.

Nero (60’s)

Tacitus Yet no human effort . . . could make that infamous rumor Yet no human effort . . . could make that infamous rumor

disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated. floods together and is celebrated.

Tacitus Therefore, first those were seized who admitted their faith, Therefore, first those were seized who admitted their faith,

and then, using the information they provided, a vast and then, using the information they provided, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of burning the city, but for hatred of the human race. And burning the city, but for hatred of the human race. And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps. . . . Even though they were clearly guilty nighttime lamps. . . . Even though they were clearly guilty and merited being made the most recent example of the and merited being made the most recent example of the consequences of crime, people began to pity these consequences of crime, people began to pity these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but on account of the fierceness of one man. good but on account of the fierceness of one man.

DOMITIAN (95 AD)

Suetonius Domitian 3

At the beginning of his reign he used to At the beginning of his reign he used to spend hours in seclusion every day, doing spend hours in seclusion every day, doing nothing but catch flies and stab them with a nothing but catch flies and stab them with a keenly-sharpened stylus. Consequently keenly-sharpened stylus. Consequently when someone once asked whether anyone when someone once asked whether anyone was in there with Caesar, Vibius Crispus was in there with Caesar, Vibius Crispus made the witty reply: "Not even a fly." made the witty reply: "Not even a fly."

Persecution Persecution OROR Compromise?Compromise?

Persecution Persecution ANDAND Compromise?Compromise?

Smyrna – poor, suffering, struggling 2:9 “I know your affliction and your poverty, yet you

are rich.”

Laodicea – wealthy, comfortable, secure “For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need

nothing. You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Revelation 2:10

““Be faithful Be faithful untounto death and I will give you death and I will give you the crown of life.”the crown of life.”

PERGAMUM

Sanctuary of Demeter

Sanctuary of Asclepius

Acropolis

Great Altar

Sanctuary of Athena

Temple of Emperor Trajan

Theater TerraceTheater Terrace Temple of DionysiusTemple of Dionysius

Letter to Pergamum

12 "And to the angel of the church in 12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 "13 "I knowI know where you are living, where where you are living, where Satan's throneSatan's throne is. Yet you are holding fast to is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan liveswhere Satan lives..

Letter to Pergamum

14 14 But I have a few things against youBut I have a few things against you: you have : you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication.sacrificed to idols and practice fornication.

15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching 15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.of the Nicolaitans.

16 16 RepentRepent then. If not, I will come to you soon and then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

14 14 But I But I have a few have a few things things against youagainst you: : you have you have some there some there who hold to who hold to the teaching the teaching of Balaam, of Balaam, who taught who taught Balak to put Balak to put a stumbling a stumbling block before block before the people of the people of Israel, so Israel, so that they that they would eat would eat food food sacrificed to sacrificed to idols and idols and practice practice fornication.fornication.

15 So you 15 So you also have also have some who some who hold to the hold to the teaching of teaching of the the Nicolaitans.Nicolaitans.

16 16 RepentRepent then. If not, I then. If not, I will come to will come to you soon you soon and make and make war against war against them with them with the sword of the sword of my mouth.my mouth.