Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Wow the word erase is used for the names in the book of life.
That is really scary.
Wow the word erase is used for the names in the book of life.
That is really scary.
Seven churches and seven promises for those who overcome the temptations of this world to drift away from the Lord’s side.
7. We will sit down with Christ on His throne.
6. We will be made a pillar in the temple Jesus’ God and we will not go out from it anymore and Christ will write on us the name of His God, and the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from His God, and Christ’s new name.
5. We will be clothed in white and our names will not be erased from the Lamb’s book of life and Christ will confess our names before the Father and before His angels.
4. We will have authority over the nations and rule over them with a rod of iron as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as Christ also has received authority from His Father and we will receive the morning star.
3. We will receive some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it that only we know.
2. We will not be hurt by the second death.
1. We will be granted to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.
Do you agree with this Susan?
Seven churches and seven promises for those who overcome the temptations of this world to drift away from the Lord’s side.
7. We will sit down with Christ on His throne.
6. We will be made a pillar in the temple Jesus’ God and we will not go out from it anymore and Christ will write on us the name of His God, and the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from His God, and Christ’s new name.
5. We will be clothed in white and our names will not be erased from the Lamb’s book of life and Christ will confess our names before the Father and before His angels.
4. We will have authority over the nations and rule over them with a rod of iron as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as Christ also has received authority from His Father and we will receive the morning star.
3. We will receive some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it that only we know.
2. We will not be hurt by the second death.
1. We will be granted to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.
Do you agree with this Susan?
Val, “the word erase”, you are referrring to v.5? “and I will not erase his name from the book of life”
Sounds to me like He doesn’t take the initiative to erase people’s names. However if they chose to remove themselves from the book then I think they effectively erase themselves.
Yes I do agree there are many promises and rewards for those who remain steadfast. It is quite an impressive list.
Val, “the word erase”, you are referrring to v.5? “and I will not erase his name from the book of life”
Sounds to me like He doesn’t take the initiative to erase people’s names. However if they chose to remove themselves from the book then I think they effectively erase themselves.
Yes I do agree there are many promises and rewards for those who remain steadfast. It is quite an impressive list.
In the fifth letter to Sardis the thing that stands out to me is v.2 “I have found your deeds unfinished…” There is a real need to persevere. Culturally perseverance is not highly valued.
In the fifth letter to Sardis the thing that stands out to me is v.2 “I have found your deeds unfinished…” There is a real need to persevere. Culturally perseverance is not highly valued.
The sixth letter is to Philadelphia. Seems like there is nothing bad to say about them. Only two churches out of seven (the other one being Smyrna) does God have no complaints against. I wonder if that statistic is about the same today?
The sixth letter is to Philadelphia. Seems like there is nothing bad to say about them. Only two churches out of seven (the other one being Smyrna) does God have no complaints against. I wonder if that statistic is about the same today?
The seventh letter is to the church at Laodicea and so v.20 (Behold I stand at the door…) is addressed to Christians. Not that I think it is wrong to use it for those who aren’t Christians but I think we do need remember it is addressed to people like us!
Apparently Laodicea was known for its bank, textile industry and as a place where eye ointment was made which is interesting in light of v.18. So often we rely on our own resources.
The seventh letter is to the church at Laodicea and so v.20 (Behold I stand at the door…) is addressed to Christians. Not that I think it is wrong to use it for those who aren’t Christians but I think we do need remember it is addressed to people like us!
Apparently Laodicea was known for its bank, textile industry and as a place where eye ointment was made which is interesting in light of v.18. So often we rely on our own resources.
v.15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
Hot drinks and cold drinks are both refreshing but lukewarm ones are not. God is not saying it is better to be cold towards him than lukewarm but rather his desire is that we be refreshing not indifferent.
v.15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
Hot drinks and cold drinks are both refreshing but lukewarm ones are not. God is not saying it is better to be cold towards him than lukewarm but rather his desire is that we be refreshing not indifferent.
v.4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.
A few people – God always has a few people who are faithful, always a remnant. Despite our circumstances we all have the opportunity to be part of the few.
v.4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.
A few people – God always has a few people who are faithful, always a remnant. Despite our circumstances we all have the opportunity to be part of the few.
v.5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
The Bible refers to several different books that God keeps. We write things down so we don’t forget. God doesn’t need to do this so books are a picture God uses to help us. This particular verse probably refers to the common practice of the day. So from a spiritual viewpoint everyone living is in the book of life and unbelievers are removed when they die, leaving only the name of believers.
(From Constable Commentary) "Practically every city of that day maintained a roll or civic register of its citizens, and in that record was entered the name of every child born in the city. If one of the citizens proved guilty of treachery or disloyalty or of anything bringing shame on the city, he was subjected to public dishonour by the expunging of his name from the register. (The name was, in any case normally obliterated at death.)"
v.5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
The Bible refers to several different books that God keeps. We write things down so we don’t forget. God doesn’t need to do this so books are a picture God uses to help us. This particular verse probably refers to the common practice of the day. So from a spiritual viewpoint everyone living is in the book of life and unbelievers are removed when they die, leaving only the name of believers.
(From Constable Commentary) "Practically every city of that day maintained a roll or civic register of its citizens, and in that record was entered the name of every child born in the city. If one of the citizens proved guilty of treachery or disloyalty or of anything bringing shame on the city, he was subjected to public dishonour by the expunging of his name from the register. (The name was, in any case normally obliterated at death.)"
Interesting that many things that we know about these places, God uses in a spiritual sense eg. Sardis was known to have never finished building its temple (v.2); in Philadelphia erecting pillars to honour people was common (v.12); Laodicea, as well as being known for its bank, textile industry and as a place where eye ointment was made, also had a spring from which the city received its water but it was lukewarm (v.16,17).
Interesting that many things that we know about these places, God uses in a spiritual sense eg. Sardis was known to have never finished building its temple (v.2); in Philadelphia erecting pillars to honour people was common (v.12); Laodicea, as well as being known for its bank, textile industry and as a place where eye ointment was made, also had a spring from which the city received its water but it was lukewarm (v.16,17).