The Letters to Ephesus & Smyrna

2. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER…
#1
How would these words have encouraged &
challenged those originally receiving them?

3. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER…
#1
How would these words have encouraged &
challenged those originally receiving them?
#2
What encouragement & challenge
can we draw from them in our context?

4. SIMILAR STRUCTURE IN EVERY
LE1.TRTeEmRinder of a description of Jesus
2. Congratulations on what they’re doing well
3. Warnings about what’s been going badly
4. A solemn warning & promise relevant
for all the churches reading the scroll
(including us!)

6. Model of The Temple of
Artemis

7. Former Ephesus
Amphitheater

8. IMAGINE…
- A ghost town that once thrived, but is now
ASdeKso…late
- What would have gone on there when it thrived?
- What could have happened to make it desolate?

9. IMAGINE…
- The VINTAGE building (& family) no longer
ASexKist…s…
- What happened there when it was thriving?
- What could have happened to erase it from the
map?

10. Revelation 2:1-7
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
‘The words of Him who holds the seven stars in his
right hand, who walks among the seven golden
lampstands.
‘I know your works, your toil and your patient
endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who
are evil,
but have tested those who call themselves apostles
and are not, and found them to be false. I know you
are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name's

11. Revelation 2:1-7
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned
the love you had at first. Remember therefore from
where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you
did at first.
If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand
from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have:
you hate
the works of the Nicolatians, which I also hate. He
who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the

12. Revelation 22:1-3
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of
life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of
the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city;
also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its
twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations.

13. (Smyrna)

14. Rendering of
Smyrna

15. Revelation 2:8-11
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
‘The words of the First and the Last, who died and
came to life. ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty
(but you are rich) and the slander of those who say
that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue
of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

16. Revelation 2:8-11
Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you
will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will
give you
the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear
what
the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers
will not be hurt by the second death.’”

17. JOHN’S VIEWS on DEATH
1. First death = physical death for the body
2. Second death = death for the whole person
post resurrection & post-judgment

18. N.T. WRIGHT
“…the ‘second death’ is the ultimate fate of those
who steadfastly and deliberately refuse to follow
Jesus…
This ‘second death’ will, it seems, do for the entire
personality what the ‘first death’ will do for the
physical body.”

19. SOUL TRAINING EXERCISES

20. SOUL TRAINING EXERCISES
#1 – Putting Love Into Action
Sign up to serve during Family Promise week
November 2 - 9

21. SOUL TRAINING EXERCISES
#1 – Putting Love Into Action
Sign up to serve during Family Promise week
November 2 - 9
#2 – Praying For Strength
Intentionally pray for the strength & patience
to remain faithfully committed to Jesus
no matter what circumstances you face this
week