The Letters to the Seven Churches (Part 5a) Revelation 2-3; Letter to Smyrna and Letter to Pergamos, 2:8-17

Significance of order of letters

 Nothing in the text tells us the order is significant (it may be)

 History MAY tell us something

 Characteristics of each letter (the first three for example)

o Ephesus--cooling of love for the Lord--could be the age of the apostles (up to AD 100)

o Smyrna—persecution--(AD 100 to AD 300 persecution under Roman emperors heavy)

o Pergamos--begin unity with paganism (begins 4th century--Constantine)

The letter to Smyrna

 The city 2:8

 The sender 2:8

 The message 2:9

o The present v. 9

o The future v. 10

 The promise 2:10b

The letter to Pergamos 2:12-17

 The sender 2:12

 The message 2:13

o The message of commendation

o The message of condemnation--they allowed…

• The doctrine of Balaam

• The doctrine of Nicolaitans