Jesus specifically mentions 7 Churches with letters written by John in Rev 2-3. These were all real places in what is today modern Turkey, (Turkiye). None of them exist today. There are many that believe that the Church of today can relate with those Churches that Jesus spoke to 1900 years ago and that there is a prophetic message therein. There are others that believe that the 7 Churches represent 7 ages of the Church age. There are still others that believe that the message was only for the 7 ancient churches and mean nothing for us. We are going to explore the truths of God’s Word in this study and how Jesus’ letters to the Churches relates to us now, as well as studies done by others that help us in the search for truth.
Credits to Dr. David Jeremiah, and BibleInfo.com for some information used as well as the notes from the KJV Bible; but mainly to the Holy Spirit for His guidance and insight and the words of our Lord Jesus given to John.
Interesting that the Churches were in Turkey. According to Genesis the 4 rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden was also in Turkey. Noah’s Ark also landed in Turkey in the mountains of Ararat, Gn 6.
Revelation of Jesus Christ (italics are my comments after verses)
Rev
1:1 ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ,
which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly
come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant
John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of
the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. These things must shortly come to pass. This
is referring to the Book of Revelation, but also can include the times of the
Churches and the Church Age and history.
3
¶ Blessed is he that readeth, and
they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand. These blessings are for reading and understanding Revelation, which
includes the letters to the Churches.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and
which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Yud Hey Vav Hey is the unpronounceable Name
of God. When the letters are rearranged, they mean past, present, and future.
God is outside of time that He created. He is transcendent to time and can be
anywhere in past, present or future. When Moses asked his Name, He replied “I
AM”. The seven Spirits before His throne we will reveal in chpt 3:1
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of
the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in
his own blood, Jesus is the Captain of
our Salvation, Heb 2:10.
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. We are kings and priests of the Melchizedek
order of Jesus and are His ambassadors to the world. Ps 110:4, Heb 7, 2 Cor
5:20.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye
shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the
earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. This is referring to the Rapture and the 2nd Coming, as well
as Israel coming to Messiah Jesus.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. In Hebrew that would be Aleph Tav, which is the hidden signature of Jesus the Messiah in the most important Hebrew Scriptures, and is not translated.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and
heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou
seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in
Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and
unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with
me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one
like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt
about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were
white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they
burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and
out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as
the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as
dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the
first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and
the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; Important: write what you have seen, things
which are, and things which shall be.
20
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and
the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. The seven candlesticks is a Menorah which is
an eternal thing; as Jesus is the center of the Menorah and the light of the
world.
Jesus is the light of the world and when God
called him to come to the earth He brought light. He is symbolized in the
Menorah in the first verse of the Bible. The 7 golden
candle sticks that Jesus in among is a Menorah. He is the center and all the
rest of the candles (or lamps) are lit from the center one.
Gn 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth.
Gn 1:3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there
was light.
Jn 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I
am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life.
EPHESUS (desirable or lovely,
permitted)- Founded by Paul the most prominent of these churches. A major
harbor on the Aegean Sea. The Temple of Artemis was there, which was one of the
7 ancient wonders of the world. It goes back to Semiramis of Babylon and was
also called the Temple of Diana. Their first love of Jesus had left.
Ephesus street
Rev
2: 1 ¶ Unto the angel of the church of
Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right
hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against
thee, because thou hast left thy first love. The intimate love of the Lord Jesus, walking with Him, and putting Him
first.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Repent is the Greek word, metanoeo, which
means to change your mind for the better.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the
deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Nicolaitans are a sect that are into idolatry, and also a Church
hierarchy where one class is above another. Nicolaitan means destruction of
people.
7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which
is in the midst of the paradise of God. In
the new Jerusalem, humans who come to worship the Lord can eat from the tree of
life and live forever, and injuries can be healed by the leaves, Rev 22:2.
Historical era would be the late Apostolic Age.
Conditions of modern churches; active churches that have not kept
Jesus as the center of their study and worship and thus have let practices in
that are not pleasing to the LORD.
SMYRNA (sweet fragrance, myrrh)- A
bustling seaport which also had a temple of Athena there, she was the Greek
goddess of war. Homer the Greek poet was also from there. Polycarp was the
Church Bishop there. He was a disciple of John and was martyred there by Rome.
Smyrna Basilica
Smyrna ruins
Smyrna Agora
Smyrna Corinthian Colonnade in Agora
8
¶ And unto the angel of the church in
Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is
alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say
they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye
may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The second death refers to the lake of fire
after the Great White Throne Judgment.
Historical era would be the early centuries of persecution and many Christians martyred.
Conditions of modern churches; America is just starting to see the
persecution. Much of the rest of the world is suffering terrible atrocities at
the hand of terrorist religions against Jews and Christians. Churches that do
not follow Christ, but the world won’t see as much persecution.
PERGAMOS (height, elevation)- Was
the Capitol of the providence of Rome and a major cultural center. The library
of Pergamum was there and donated to Rome, it was a large and important library
of the ancient world.
Pergamos Heights
Pergamos Ruins modern Bergama
12
¶ And to the angel of the church in
Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two
edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even
where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not
denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful
martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Satan will be attracted to Churches for he has no authority or power against those who
are in Christ and know the Gospel, therefore he will try to pervert the truth.
According to Eastern Orthodox, St. Antipas was killed in Pergamon in 92 AD for
his faith. He followed the King of Kings and not the Emperor who claimed to be
god.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast
a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto
idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine
of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and
will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Historical era would be the age of Constantine where the Church
was the state religion and persecution that had been was stopped. Many pagan
ideas and worship was morphed into the official Church.
Conditions of modern churches; churches that are supported by
government and if that government is evil it will affect the church. Also
churches that have an obvious hierarchy, or condone lifestyles that is against
Bible teaching.
THYATIRIA (odor of affliction, perfume
of labor, sweet savor of sacrifice)- The city was founded by Alexander the
Great and famous for its trade items that included purple dye that was used in
royal garments. Lydia in Acts 16 was from here.
Thyatira Basilica
Thyatira Ruins
18
¶ And unto the angel of the church in
Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto
a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service,
and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than
the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against
thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a
prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to
eat things sacrificed unto idols. Jezebel
was the queen of king Ahab who was a powerful witch. Jezebel and Ahab were very
evil and were destroyed by Jehu who was anointed by God through Elisha to do
so, 1 Ki 16- 2 Ki 9. Apparently the Thyatiria Church practiced things she did.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them
that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of
their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and
all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and
I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in
Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the
depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25
But that which ye have already
hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works
unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as
the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of
my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star. Jesus claims to be the Morning Star in Rv
22:16.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches.
Historical era would be the time of the Papal apostasy,
the dark ages.
Conditions of modern churches; many cults rise from the taking of
ancient Babylonian, and Eastern religious ideas. Mixing of Christian doctrine
with that of other religions is dangerous and will diminish Jesus’ worship in the
Church.
SARDIS (those escaping or remaining. Red ones)- This city is on top of a plateau and has been conquered several times.
The ancient Lydian capitol was here.
Sardis Ruins
Sardis Temple of Artemis
Rev 3:1 ¶ And unto the angel of
the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits
of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou
livest, and art dead. The seven Spirits
of God are: Compassion, Mercy, Love, Righteousness, Understanding, Justice, and
Vengeance. The seven stars are in the Big Dipper, which is the large sheepfold;
and in the Pleiades which is the heart of Taurus the Bull. There are many 7s in Revelation, and the Bible.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and
heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will
come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon
thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which
have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but
I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
Historical era is the middle ages.
Conditions of modern churches; formalized religion that develops
its own traditions aside from God’s Word and Holy Spirit interaction declines.
PHILADELPHIA (brotherly love)-
Called the Gateway to the East; this city was famous for textiles, leather
goods, and grapes.
Philadelphia Basilica of St. John
7
¶ And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he
that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and
hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
The key of David speaks of Messiah, our Lord Jesus.
David set up a Tabernacle that only had the Ark of the Covenant, which of all
the furniture of the Tabernacle mostly represented Jesus.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of
Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make
them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come
upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. This hints of the Church that will be Raptured before the Great
Tribulation.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write
upon him my new name.
13
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
Historical era would be the reformation times of freedom.
Conditions of modern churches; the earnest, Bible believing, Holy
Ghost-Spirit filled Church will be delivered from the hour of temptation.
LAODICEA (Justice of the people)- This city’s wealth came from trade and banking. It is known for its expensive fabrics and a medical school.
Laodicea Ruins
Laodicea on the Lycus River
Laodicea Street
Laodicea Amphitheater
14
¶ And unto the angel of the church of
the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if
any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup
with him, and he with me.
21 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.
22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
Historical era would be the end of the Church Age, or the “last
days” which will end with the Rapture.
Conditions of modern churches; popular, entertaining, self satisfied, and worldly Churches
It seems the Church Fathers that were after
John realized that there were greater meanings that surrounded the letters of
Jesus to the Churches other than just the time of the writings of John. Here is
a basic chart relating to the ages that the Church has gone through in the 2000
year Church Age.
I prayed before the Father in Jesus’ Name
about this study and the truth of it. Not that I do not pray about every study,
for I could not teach without the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. My prayer
asked the Lord of the truth of these 3 theories about the letters:
1.
They were only for the 7 Churches in
Asia at the time. (Turkey)
2.
They are to use for the Churches today
with the same problems and or blessings to come.
3.
They are an outline of Church Ages
that will cross the span of the Church Age from Jesus’ to the Rapture.
His answer to me on 3-25-24:
My
Words are prophetic truths that stand for all time.
The
letters are relevant to Churches today.
They
also represent ages that My Church has and will go through.
So there you have it, all of the theories have truth in them. The true Church of God is not in one Church, but all true Christian hearts, because the Church is composed of Born Again, believing Christians, where Jesus lives in them. Denominations break off over church doctrines and traditions that differ. Not that there is anything wrong with doctrines and traditions, as long as they are based on secure Biblical foundations.
The Churches of Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea were all told to repent.
If they did not: Ephesus would have their
candlestick removed, Pergamos would be fought against with the sword of Jesus’
mouth, Thyatira would have tribulation, Sardis would have Jesus come as a
thief, and Laodicea would be spewed out of Jesus’ mouth.
REPENT
Strong’s 3340 μετανοέω metanoeo met-an-o-eh’-o
AV-repent
1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily
to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins
If the Churches overcame: Ephesus would eat of
the tree of life in the paradise of God, Smyrna would get a crown of life and
not be hurt in the second death, Pergamos would eat hidden manna and receive a
white stone with their new name, Thyatira would receive power over nations and
the morning star, Sardis would receive white raiment, name sealed in the book
of life and confessed before God by Jesus, Philadelphia would be Raptured and a
pillar in the Temple of God with a new name written on them by God, and
Laodicea would be granted to sit on the Throne of Jesus next to the Throne of
the Father God.
When one comes to conviction to the Lord, and
is sorry for every sinning against Him, and asks Jesus into their life, they
have a supernatural experience of being Born Again. They are changed and become
a new creature. This changes their actions. It is not the other way around
where your actions save you. You are saved by Grace and your faith in what
Jesus promised.
If you
have not allowed Jesus into your heart, present yourself to Him, change the way
you think about God and ask Him for forgiveness and Salvation. Repent in Greek
is what that means; you want to change your mind and do things that please God,
not grieve Him. Jesus became a man to
die for the sins of the world, those who believe and come to God will receive
Him.
John 3:14 And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted
up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Come to God today humble yourself
before Him and ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins and come into your heart.
Become part of the family of God.
Scriptures are from the AKJV Bible. Pictures from the I-net, no infringement intended.
My book, The Plan: A Biblical Adventure is available at Amazon.com.
