Revelation Assignment week of Nov.28-Dec.2

Questions on #12—Beware of Balaam’s Trick!

1. What is Rev. 2:8-17 about?
2. What is Numbers 25:1-18 about?
3. What was the identifying phrase Christ used in addressing the church in Smyrna?
4. What is the significance of this?
5. What were the commendations & condemnations to the church at Smyrna?
6. What was the identifying phrase Christ used in addressing the church at Pergamum?
7. What is the significance of this?
8. What is commendation of Pergamum?
9. What is condemnation of Pergamum?
10. Who were the Nicolaitans?
11. What was Balaam’s sin?
12. What are some lessons of Balaam for us?
13. What is promise given to those who overcome? (Need to listen to this again)
14. Anything else you want to discuss?
15. Any application?
16. What Psalm did PS end with and why?

Further Discussion (No need to write anything down about this):
1. If Ephesus had public testimony they would also be suffering persecution.
2. “7” churches indicates each letter is for every church in every time
3. Balaam=one who swallows people
Nicolaitans=victory over people
Therefore mean essentially same thing
4. Story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24):
(a) nations were afraid of Israel;
(b) Balak king of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel
(c) every time Balaam tried to curse Israel, a blessing came out
Balaam like Ahithophel—God was sovereign over his words, made him say
what he wanted him to say
(d) Numbers 24:25 seems to be end of effort; Balaam went home
(e) Numbers 25:1-18---given sweet success as a discipline for his persistent
attempts to earn wages; since he couldn’t curse Israelites he led them into sin
so that they would curse themselves; Balaam not mentioned in this passage
but Numbers 31:16 tells us Balaam counseled them to sin at Balaam. (ate meat
sacrificed to idols and immorality)
Balaam’s end: Numbers 31:16; Joshua 13:22
5. Two-edged=diastoma (two mouths; or 2 edges)