Revelation
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Lesson OneThe Letters of Revelation (Revelation 1–3)21 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Revelation 1–3
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In | Revelation as a Letter
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In | The Pace of Change
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In | Symbols in Revelation
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In | Winning by Dying
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In | OT Allusions and Quotations
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In | Messages to the Seven Churches
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In | Threats to Life
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Behind | Patmos
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Behind | Onsite: Exile as a Place of Vision: The Cave of Apocalypse, Patmos Island
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Behind | 360 View: Cave of the Apocalypse
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Behind | 360 View: Patmos
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Behind | The Seven Churches of Revelation
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Behind | iMap: The Seven Churches of Revelation
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Behind | 360 View: Ancient Sardis
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Behind | Jesus Speaks to the Seven Churches
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In Front | Onsite: The Christian Legacy of Patmos
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In Front | The American Church
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In Front | Revelation and the Reformation
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoSymbolism (Revelation 4–13)21 Activities|3 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Revelation 4–13
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In | Symbolic Words and Phrases
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In | Symbols that John Himself Defines, Part 2
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In | Colors and Numbers
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In | Colors in Revelation Part 2
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In | Numbers in Revelation Part 2
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In | The Lamb, the Lion and the Eagle
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Behind | Seals, Trumpets and Horns
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Behind | White Robes and More Symbols
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Behind | The Plutonium and Poisonous Gas
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Behind | Numerology and the Number of Man
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Behind | Domitian
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In Front | Symbolism: Fire and Burning
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In Front | Language and Literal Realities
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In Front | Embracing Images and Impressions
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In Front | Certainties in Revelation
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In Front | The Four Creatures and Evangelists, Part 1
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In Front | Workbook: The Four Creatures and Evangelists
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In Front | The Four Creatures and Evangelists Part 2
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeNew Creation (Revelation 14–22)17 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Revelation 14–22
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In | An Intertextual Outline
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In | New Creation in Genesis and Revelation
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In | New Creation and Second Exodus
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In | New Creation and New Covenant
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In | Apocalyptic Themes Across the NT
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In | Seven Seals and the Synoptic Gospels
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In | Paradise and the Prophets
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In | Workbook: Paradise and the Prophets
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Behind | Babylon
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Behind | The Mythology of Rome
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In Front | A New Heaven and New Earth
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In Front | Creation and Culture: Andy Crouch
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In Front | The City and Culture: Andy Crouch
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In Front | Glory of the Nations: Andy Crouch
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourTheology of Revelation19 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Revelation Review
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In | God as Creator and Sovereign
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In | Theology of the Land: Dr. Munther Isaac
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In | Who Is Jesus in Revelation?
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In | Workbook: Christ in Revelation
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In | Christ in Revelation
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In | Jesus in John and Revelation
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In | Johannine Imagery
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In | The Trinity in Revelation and OT
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In | Revelation Approaches the End
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In | Rhythms in Space and Time
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In | Workbook: Names for Believers
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In | Names for Believers
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Behind | Accusations Against the Church
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Behind | Onsite: A Name in the Tree of Life - Steve Wunderink
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Behind | Signs of the End
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In Front | Closer to the End
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveInterpreting Revelation17 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Revelation Review
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In | Workbook: Revelation 1 and 22
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In | Revelation 1 and 22
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In | Workbook: Another Genre in the Book of Revelation
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In | Old Testament Allusions, Part 2
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Behind | Prophecy and Apocalyptic
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Behind | Natural and Mythical Imagery
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Behind | Jewish Interpretation: "PaRDeS"
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In Front | Interpretive Systems
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In Front | Poetic Texts and Hymns
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In Front | Non-poetic Texts and Hymns
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In Front | Prophetic Systems, Preoccupations
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In Front | Taking an Eclectic Approach
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In Front | A Call to Witness and a Promise
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In Front | Being Willing Witnesses
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 29
In | Threats to Life
While persecution was a major problem for the early church, many of the challenges that John outlines for the seven churches in Revelation are not external threats, but internal ones. The church was challenged from the outside, but internal discord and disunity remained the primary threat to the church’s vocation as the body of Christ.
Read Revelation 2:1–3:22 and look for whether the primary threats to the local churches were internal or external.
See the table below with each church and its primary source of threat listed in Revelation.
Church | Threat |
Ephesus | Internal |
Smyrna | External |
Pergamum | External/Internal |
Thyatira | Internal |
Sardis | Internal |
Philadelphia | External |
Laodicea | Internal |
Table quoted from: Mark Wilson, Charts on the Book of Revelation, 2007, p. 67.
Having identified the source of threats to the seven churches, see the specific spiritual problems John describes below.
Church | Threat | Spiritual Problem |
Ephesus | Internal | Loss of first love; false apostles/Nicolaitans |
Smyrna | External | None |
Pergamum | External/Internal | Balaamites/Nicolaitans |
Thyatira | Internal | Jezebelites |
Sardis | Internal | Spiritually dead |
Philadelphia | External | None |
Laodicea | Internal | Spiritually lukewarm |
Table quoted and adapted from: Mark Wilson, Charts on the Book of Revelation, 2007, p. 67.