April 3, 2016 – Letters From Home – Tolerating or Coming Out

Tolerating or Coming Out

Revelation 2:18-29 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹ I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

²⁰ Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. ²² So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³ I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

²⁴ Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, ²⁵ except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

²⁶ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ²⁷ that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. ²⁸ I will also give that one the morning star. ²⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In your opinion, what does it mean that Jesus describes Himself “to the angel of the church in Thyatira” as having eyes like blazing fire and feet like burnished bronze (verse 18)?

What good things does Jesus commend the church of Thyatira for (verse 19)?

How does “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet” mislead (verse 20)?

What does Jezebel mislead “my servants into” (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why is Jezebel unwilling to “repent of her immorality” even though Jesus has given her time to (verse 21)?

How will Jezebel be punished (verse 22)?

How can those “who commit adultery with her” avoid suffering intensely (verse 22)?

When will all the churches know “that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (verse 23)?

Who will Jesus “not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come” (verses 24 and 25)?

Who will be given “authority over the nations” (verse 26)?

How will “that one” rule (verse 27)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “that one” will also receive “the morning star” (verse 28)?

Who should hear “what the Spirit says to the churches” (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Ephesians 5:1-16 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

How do we “follow God’s example, therefore’ as dearly loved children” (verses 1 and 2)?

What is improper for God’s holy people (verse 3)?

What should there be instead of “obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking” (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why is an “immoral, impure or greedy person” an idolater (verse 5)?

What kind of words should we not let people deceive us with (verse 6)?

How are those who “were once darkness, but now . . . are light in the Lord” to live (verse 8)?

What does “the fruit of the light” consist in (verse 9)?

What should “children of light” find out (verse 10)?

How should we treat “the fruitless deeds of darkness” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “everything that is illuminated becomes a light” (verse 13)?

Why should the sleeper “wake up” and “rise from the dead” (verse 14)?

How do the wise live (verses 15 and 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion of the idolater, the immoral, impure or greedy, not having “any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” in Ephesians 5:1-16 help us to understand about “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet” and those she misleads that Jesus reveals to John in the letter to the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29?

John 8:31-47 - New International Version (NIV)

³¹ “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. ⁴³ Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Who did Jesus tell “if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (verse 31)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (verse 32)?

Why did the Jews resist Jesus statement about the truth setting them free (verse 33)?

Who is a slave to sin (verse 34)?

When will they “be free indeed” (verse 36)?

Why are the Jews “looking for a way to kill” Jesus (verse 37)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus make the contrast between “telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence” and “doing what you have heard from your father” (verse 38)?

What would the Jews do if Abraham was their father (verse 39)?

Who do the Jews say is the only Father they have (verse 41)?

Why would the Jews love Jesus if God was their Father (verse 42)?

Why is the language that Jesus uses not clear to the Jews (verse 43)?

Whose desires do the Jews want to carry out (verse 44)?

Why are lies the devils “native language” (verse 44)?

In your opinion, why could the Jews not believe Jesus (verse 45)?

Who hears what God says (verse 47)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s warning in Ephesians 5:1-16 to “let no one deceive you with empty words” help us to understand more about the devil who “when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” as described by Jesus in John 8:31-47?

In your opinion, how does Jesus’ discussion about those to whom His language is not clear in John 8:31-47 help us to understand more about His statement in Revelation 2:18-29 that to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, ²⁵ except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”?

Revelation 18:1-8 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ² With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
³ For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
⁵ for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.
⁶ Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back double for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
⁷ Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;
    I will never mourn.’
⁸ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

How is the “angel coming down from heaven described” (verse 1)?

Why has “Babylon the Great” fallen (verse 2)?

What have all the nations drunk (verse 3)?

Why does “another voice from heaven” warn “come out of her my people” (verse 4)?

What has God remembered (verse 5)?

How is Babylon the Great to be paid back (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why will she be given “as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself” (verse 7)?

What does she boast about (verse 7)?

How is “the Lord God who judges her” described (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, why is it fair, and unfair, to say that the Jews who claimed to be descendants of Abraham in John 8:31-47 but could not hear Jesus because they belonged to their father, the devil, had fallen like Babylon the Great of Revelation 18:1-8 and, like Babylon the Great, had become “a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal”?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 5:1-16 that “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” give us practical instruction today on how to “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins” as instructed by the voice from heaven in Revelation 18:1-8?

In your opinion, how do the instructions of Jesus to the church in Thyatira about the “one who is victorious and does my will to the end” which means avoiding the misleading teaching of Jezebel and escaping from the suffering coming to her in Revelation 2:18-29 help us to understand about Babylon the Great and her fall and the call to “come out of her” as described by John in Revelation 18:1-8?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Revelation, Ephesians and John show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Revelation 3:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

March 27, 2016 – Letters From Home – Hidden Manna and New Names

Hidden Manna and New Names

Revelation 2:12-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. ¹³ I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

¹⁷ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

How does Jesus describe himself in the message to the angel of the church in Pergamum (verse 12)?

Where does Jesus know that the church in Pergamum lives (verse 13)?

What does the church in Pergamum remain true to (verse 13)?

Why does Jesus say that Antipas is “my faithful witness” (verse 13)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say He holds against the church that “there are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam” (verse 14)?

What did Balaam teach Balak (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (verse 16)?

What will those who are victorious receive (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Jude 1:3-13 - New International Version (NIV)

³ “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. ⁴ For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

⁵ Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. ⁷ In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

⁸ In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. ⁹ But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” ¹⁰ Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

¹¹ Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

¹² These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

What was Jude eager to write about (verse 3)?

What did Jude feel compelled to write and urge (verse 3)?

Where have “certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long age” gone (verse 4)?

In your opinion, how have these “ungodly people” perverted the “grace of our God into a license for immorality” (verse 4)?

How do these “ungodly people” respond to Jesus Christ (verse 4)?

What happened to those who were the Lord’s people who were delivered from Egypt who did not believe (verse 5)?

What happened to angels “who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling” (verse 6)?

How are Sodom and Gomorrah examples (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what does Jude mean when he says “on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings” (verse 8)?

How did the archangel Michael dispute with the devil about the body of Moses (verse 9)?

What will “the very things they understand by instinct” do to these people who “slander whatever they do not understand” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is Jude trying to teach when he refers to “the way of Cain”, “Balaam’s error” and “Korah’s rebellion” (verse 11)?

What are “these people” at your love feasts (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what does Jude mean when he says “They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” (verses 12 and 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Jude’s discussion of the “certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago” in Jude 1:3-13 teach us about the ones who “hold to the teaching of Balaam” and the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:12-17?

John 6:26-40 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Why were the people looking for Jesus (verse 26)?

What food should we work for (verse 27)?

How does Jesus answer the question “What must we do to do the works God requires” (verses 28 and 29)?

In your opinion, why do they ask Him “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (verses 30 and 31)?

Who does Jesus say gave the “true bread from heaven” (verse 32)?

What is the “bread of God” (verse 33)?

Who asks “always give us this bread” (verse 34)?

What does Jesus declare (verse 35)?

Who will never go hungry (verse 35)?

Who will Jesus “never drive away” (verse 37)?

What is “the will of him who sent me” (verse 39)?

Who will be raised “up at the last day” (verse 40)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the people who ask Jesus to give them the “bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” but who have seen Jesus and not believed in John 6:26-40 similar to the people that Jude talks about who “are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” in Jude 1:3-13?

In your opinion, how does Jesus’ discussion about the “true bread from heaven” in John 6:26-40 help us to understand about the “one who is victorious” receiving some of the “hidden manna” in Revelation 2:12-17?

Revelation 19:11-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.”

Who is riding the white horse that John sees when he sees heaven stands open (verse 11)?

How does He judge and wage war (verse 11)?

What are His eyes like (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus have a “name written on him that no one knows but he himself” (verse 12)?

What is He dressed in (verse 13)?

What is His name (verse 13)?

Who is following Him (verse 14)?

In your opinion, how does the sharp sword coming out of his mouth “strike down the nations” (verse 15)?

What does He tread (verse 15)?

Where is the name “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” written (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does Jesus’ statement in John 6:26-40 that “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” help us to understand about the nations that Revelation 19:11-16 says the Rider of the white horse will strike down with the sharp sword that comes from His mouth?

In your opinion, how does Jude’s discussion in Jude 1:3-13 about those “who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” help us begin to understand the “winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” that John sees in Revelation 19:11-16?

In your opinion, what is the link between those who are victorious in Revelation 2:12-17 that they will be given “a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it” and Jesus who in Revelation 19:11-16 “has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself” and “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords”?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Revelation, Jude and John show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Revelation 2:18 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

March 20, 2016 – Letters From Home – Second Death and Victorious Life

Second Death and Victorious Life

Revelation 2:8-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

¹¹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

Where is the church that John was supposed to write (verse 8)?

Who died and came to life again (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say that this church is rich, even though he knows “your afflictions and your poverty” (verse 9)?

Who are the ones who are slandering the members of this church (verse 9)?

What is the church not to be afraid of (verse 10)?

Who will put “some of you in prison to test you” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the significance of the persecution lasting “for ten days” (verse 10)?

How long were the church members to “be faithful” (verse 10)?

What will those who remain faithful receive “as your victor’s crown” (verse 10)?

What will “the one who is victorious” not be hurt by (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

James 1:2-12 - New International Version (NIV)

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

What are believes to consider “pure joy” (verse 2)?

What produces perseverance (verse 3)?

When do believers become “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (verse 4)?

Who should we ask if we lack wisdom (verse 5)?

How does God give (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “believe and not doubt” (verse 6)?

Who should not expect to “receive anything from the Lord” (verses 6 and 7)?

Who should “take pride in their high position” (verse 9)?

What should the rich take pride in “since they will pass away like a wild flower” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what can we understand about the rich from the comparison of the wild flower and the rich (verse 11)?

Who is blessed (verse 12)?

What will the one who has “stood the test” receive (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does James’ discussion of believers in “humble circumstances” and the rich taking “pride in their humiliation” in James 1:2-12 help us to understand how Jesus in Revelation 2:8-11 indicates that He knows the afflictions and poverty of the church at Smyrna but says that they are rich?

John 5:24-30 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. ³⁰ By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Who “will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (verse 24)?

When will the dead “hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” (verse 25)?

What do the Father and the Son have in themselves (verse 26)?

Who has the “authority to judge” (verse 27)?

In your opinion, when will “all who are in their graves” hear His voice and come out (verses 28 and 29)?

Who will “rise to live” (verse 29)?

Who will “rise to be condemned” (verse 29)?

Why is Jesus’ judgment just (verse 30)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what can we understand from considering Jesus’ statement that “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal live and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” in John 5:24-30 with along with James’ statement that “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” in James 1:2-12?

In your opinion, how does Jesus’ statement in John 5:24-30 that “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” help us to understand about His statement in Revelation 2:8-11 that “the one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death”?

Revelation 21:1-8 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

What did John see (verse 1)?

Where was “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem” coming from (verse 2)?

Who said “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them” (verse 3)?

Why will there be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (verse 4)?

Who said “I am making everything new” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is “done” (verse 6)?

What will “the thirsty” receive (verse 6)?

Who will inherit (verse 7)?

What is “the second death” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does Revelation 21:1-8 help to understand about the life that Jesus promises to all who “hears my word and believes him who sent me” and also the condemnation of those who have done evil in John 5:24-30?

In your opinion, how is promise of Jesus in Revelation 21:1-8 when He says “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” especially meaningful to the people that James instructs “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” in James 1 2-12?

In your opinion, how does Revelation 21:1-8 explain how the promise of Jesus in Revelation 2:8-11 that “the one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death” is fulfilled?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Revelation, James and John show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Revelation 2:12 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)