Socio-political: internal

Question 1

When does John recieve the prophecy?

Answer 1

The ‘Lord’s day’ - breaking the Jewish Sabbath tradition

Question 2

What is significant about the cities he writes of?

Answer 2

They are all linked by road - able to communicate by letter

Question 3

What is the importance of the symbolic ‘seven’?

Answer 3

Seven churches - shows how the church is the basis of the Christian faith

Question 4

What is the threat in 2:5?

Answer 4

Threat to remove the symbolic ‘candlestick’

Question 5

What is always repeated?

Answer 5

‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches’
Shows the possibility of the churches to err, need to be unified under a single tradition/rules?

Question 6

‘Your brother…’

Answer 6

‘Your brother and companion in tribulation, in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ’

Question 7

‘Fear none…’

Answer 7

‘fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried’

Question 8

‘Those whom I love…’

Answer 8

‘Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten’

Question 9

‘Open door’

Answer 9

Imagery especially appealing to Christian - reflects universality, but also suggests the possibility to escape

Question 10

‘to him that overcometh…’

Answer 10

‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ‘

Question 11

What does the death of each martyr do?

Answer 11

Bring the ultimate end closer - comfort for death