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Question

Do the seven letters form a chiastic arrangement (Ephesus-Laodicea, Smyrna-Philadelphia, Pergamos-Sardis, with Thyatira at center), and how do Christ's self-identifications at the opening of each letter connect back to the vision of the glorified Christ in Rev 1:12-20? Document the specific element from the Rev 1 vision that each letter draws on.

CANDLESTICK — SYMBOLICAL

  • ZEC 4:2
  • ZEC 4:11
  • REV 1:12
  • REV 1:13
  • REV 1:20
  • REV 2:5
  • REV 11:4

OF THE TABERNACLE - Made after divine pattern EXO 25:31-40; 37:17-24; NUM 8:4. Place of EXO 26:35; 40:24,25; HEB 9:2. Furniture of EXO 25:38; 37:23; NUM 4:9,10. Burned every night EXO 27:20,21. Trimmed every morning EXO 30:7. Carried by Kohathites NUM 4:4,15. Called THE LAMP OF GOD 1SA 3:3. OF THE TEMPLE - Ten branches of 1KI 7:49,50. Of gold 1CH 28:15; 2CH 4:20. Taken with other spoils to Babylon JER 52:19. SYMBOLICAL ZEC 4:2,11; REV 1:12,13,20; 2:5; 11:4

KEY — SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY

  • ISA 22:22
  • MAT 16:19
  • REV 1:18
  • REV 3:7
  • REV 9:1
  • REV 20:1

General scriptures concerning JDG 3:25. A symbol of authority ISA 22:22; MAT 16:19; REV 1:18; 3:7; 9:1; 20:1. FIGURATIVE LUK 11:52

AMEN — A TITLE OF CHRIST

  • REV 3:14

A word used to reenforce a statement NUM 5:22; DEU 27:12-26; NEH 5:13; 2CO 1:20; REV 1:18; 22:20. Used in prayer 1KI 1:36; 1CH 16:36; NEH 8:6; PSA 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48; JER 28:6; MAT 6:13; 1CO 14:16; REV 5:14; 19:4. A title of Christ REV 3:14

SWORD — TWO-EDGED

  • HEB 4:12
  • REV 1:16
  • REV 2:12

Two-edged HEB 4:12; REV 1:16; 2:12. FIGURATIVE Of war GEN 27:40; Of judgments DEU 32:41; PSA 17:13; HOS 11:6; ZEC 13:7; Of the malicious tongue PSA 57:4; PRO 25:18. SYMBOLICAL GEN 3:24; JOS 5:13; REV 1:16

ALPHA — TITLE OF CHRIST

  • REV 1:8
  • REV 1:11
  • REV 21:6
  • REV 22:13

A title of Christ REV 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13. Compare ISA 41:4; 44:6; 48:12

CROWN — FIGURATIVE

  • ISA 28:5
  • 1CO 9:25
  • 2TI 4:8
  • JAS 1:12
  • 1PE 5:4
  • REV 2:10
  • REV 3:11

Of victory 2TI 2:5. FIGURATIVE ISA 28:5; 1CO 9:25; 2TI 4:8; JAS 1:12; 1PE 5:4; REV 2:10; 3:11. SYMBOLICAL REV 4:4,10; 6:2; 9:7; 12:1,3; 13:1; 14:14; 19:12

SYNAGOGUE — OF SATAN

  • REV 2:9
  • REV 3:9

Primarily an assembly of Jews and God-fearers ACT 13:43. Constitutes a court of justice LUK 12:11; ACT 9:2. Of Satan REV 2:9; 3:9

REPENTANCE — GENERAL

  • REV 2:5
  • REV 3:2
  • REV 3:3
  • REV 3:19
  • MAT 3:2
  • MAT 4:17
  • MRK 1:15

A complete reversal of one's attitude and values, i.e. a turning toward God. The burden of the preaching of John the Baptist MAT 3; of Jesus MAT 4:17; MRK 1:15. Exhortation to PRO 1:23-33; JER 7:3,5; REV 2:5; 3:2,3,19

THRONE — FIGURATIVE

  • REV 1:4
  • REV 3:21
  • REV 4:2-10
  • REV 22:3

FIGURATIVE - Of God 2CH 18:18; PSA 9:4,7; 11:4; 47:8; ISA 6:1; 66:1; MAT 5:34; HEB 8:1; 12:2; REV 14:3,5. Of Christ MAT 19:28; 25:31; ACT 2:30; REV 1:4; 3:21; 4:2-10; 7:9-17; 19:4; 21:5; 22:3

TREE — OF LIFE

  • GEN 2:9
  • GEN 3:22
  • GEN 3:24
  • REV 22:14

Of life GEN 2:9; 3:22,24; REV 22:14. Of knowledge GEN 2:9,17; 3:3-6,11,12,17

WITNESS — GENERAL

  • REV 1:5
  • REV 2:13
  • REV 3:14
  • REV 11:3

General scriptures concerning LEV 5:1; PRO 18:17. Two necessary to establish a fact NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6; 19:15; MAT 18:16; JHN 8:17. FIGURATIVE Of instruction in righteousness REV 11:3

FAITHFULNESS — EXHORTATION TO

  • REV 2:10
  • MAT 10:22
  • MAT 24:45-47
  • 1CO 4:2

EXHORTATION TO PSA 12:1; 31:23; PRO 20:6; 28:20; MAT 10:22; 24:45-47; 25:14-23; LUK 12:42-44; 16:10-12; 1CO 4:2; REV 2:10

FIRSTBORN — HONORABLE DISTINCTION

  • REV 1:5
  • COL 1:15
  • HEB 1:6
  • ROM 8:29

Honorable distinction of EXO 4:22; PSA 89:27; JER 31:9; ROM 8:29; COL 1:15; HEB 1:6; 12:23; REV 1:5

CREATION — BEGINNING OF

  • GEN 1:1
  • REV 3:14
  • COL 1:15-18

Beginning of GEN 1:1. History of GEN 1; 2