1. Read Revelation 3:1-6. How does Jesus’ message to Sardis compare with the other churches? What is missing?
2. How does Jesus identify Himself? Where in Revelation 1 does Jesus also identify himself in this way?
3. What is the relationship between Jesus and the seven Spirits?
a. Revelation 1:4 Where are the seven spirits?
b. Revelation 4:5 How are the seven spirits of God represented?
c. Revelation 5:6 Where are the seven spirits of God?
d. Proverbs 15:3 Where are the eyes of the Lord?
e. Isaiah 11:1-5 This is a prophetic passage pointing to the coming Messiah. What are the seven Spirits resting on Him?
f. Zechariah 4:1-14 Zechariah was written after the remnant of Jews returned from the Babylonian Exile. Cyrus, a Medo-Persian king, issued an edict to the Jews living in captivity in Babylon that they would return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians.
1) What does each figure symbolize or represent?
2) How was Zerubbabel able to build the temple?
3) Notice parallels concerning the word “seven” between Zechariah 4:1-14 and Revelation 1:19-20; 2:1; 3:1.
4) Summarize what you think the seven Spirits represent and why.
4. What do you learn about the work of the Spirit?
a. John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:5-15 What are some names for the Spirit? What is His role?
b. Romans 8:1-2, 9-11; John 6:63 What does the Spirit give?
c. Ephesians 1:13; 2:1-5 How are believers marked in Him? Who is at work in unbelievers?
d. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Hebrews 3:6-14 What is necessary to be saved by the gospel? Who gives us a warning against unbelief?
e. What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus (Matthew1:10; 3:16; 4:1 Luke 4:14; 10:21 John 7:39; 14:18 Acts 2:38; 10:38; 16:7 Romans 1:4; 8:2, 11; 15:16, 30 1 Corinthians 6:11; 12:3; 13:14 Galatians 3:14 Ephesians 1:17 Philippians 1:19; 3:3 1 Peter 1:2 1 John 5:6 Revelation 19:10)?
5. What do you learn from each reference to the word “deeds” in Revelation 2-3? Consider the context of each reference. Deeds:–ergon–work, employment, task, deed, act; it frequently occurs in an ethical sense of human actions, good or bad.
a. Revelation 2:2
b. Revelation 2:19
c. Revelation 3:1 COMPLETE (perfect, KJV)–pleroo–to fill, make full
d. Revelation 3:8
e. Revelation 3:15
6. What do works (deeds) have to do with our relationship to Jesus Christ?
a. Ephesians 2:8-10 How are we saved? Why do we do good works?
b. Titus 3:4-8 Why did He save us? Through what are we saved? What does Paul want Titus to stress? Why?
c. James 2:14-26 What do deeds prove?
d. Revelation 1:3 Who gets the blessing?
e. Matthew 7:21-27 Which house stands the storm and why? Who enters the kingdom of heaven and why?
f. Romans 4:3-8 Why was righteousness credited to Abraham?
g. How would you explain the relationship between faith and works?
7. What insights do you get into Jesus’ admonition to “wake us”?
a. Revelation 3:1-6 What was the spiritual condition of the majority of those in the church in Sardis? What are they supposed to do? How are they to do that? What will happen if they do not?
b. Matthew 24:42-51; Luke 12:35-40 Why should we “keep watch”? What should the owner of the house have known? What should we know?
c. Matthew 25:1-13 What do the wise virgins have that the foolish virgins are lacking? What implication does this parable have for us?
d. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 To whom will the Lord “come like a thief”? What situation is surrounding that time? Who will not be surprised? Why does Jesus tell us to “wake up” and how are we to do that?
e. 2 Peter 3:10-13 What will happen when the Lord “will come like a thief”?
How should we be ready for that day?
f. Revelation 16:15 Who is blessed and why?
8. How will you change after reading Jesus’ message to the church at Sardis?