The Seven Churches In Revelation
Revelation 1:4-20
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The agora in Ephesus, built around the first century BC and
continued in construction through the early church era |
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. Revelation 1:11
The primary recipients of the book of Revelation were seven actual literal churches, located on the western end of Asia, now modern-day Turkey. They were near the isle of Patmos. There were likely dozens if not hundreds of churches in existence by that time to whom Jesus could have written. He strategically chose these churches and gave them commendations, condemnations, commands, and consequences of their conduct (see chart). Over the next few sessions, we will see these churches historically and prophetically, and how they apply to us today.
4 John,
to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him
who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are
before His throne
v. 4 - Why seven churches? Seven is a number for God’s holy completion. We must remember that these were literal, existing churches at the time of John’s writing, and they were the primary recipients of the letters. However, we can also see these seven churches are representatives of churches over the past 2,000 years. Even the very names of the locations where the churches were have significance. Seven Spirits-Not literally seven different personages of the Holy Spirit, but even in the Old Testament we see that God’s Spirit has seven distinct attributes (Isa. 11:2 – Spirit of the Lord1, wisdom2, understanding3, counsel4, might5, knowledge6, and of fear of the Lord7).
5 and from Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over
the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His
own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God
and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
v. 5, 6 - The Prince who makes us kings. The word is “archon” arcwn which is also translated ruler. Jesus is described as the Prince of life (Acts 3:15), a Prince and Savior (Acts 5:31), and Daniel calls Christ the Prince of Princes (8:25) and the Prince of Hosts (8:11). Peter says that we are a royal, holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:5, 9). Some versions have “freed” us from our sins, rather than “washed”. The differences in words in Greek is one letter (lusanti=freed; lousanti=washed). Both have the same effect—His blood cleanses (1 John 1:9) and Christ frees us (Gal. 5:1). The original word was likely washed since it was used in several instances in reference to our sins (Eph. 5:26, Titus 3:5, Heb. 10:22, John 13:10). Being “freed” using this word is never used in relation to our sins or to the power of Christ’s blood.
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds,
and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of
the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
v. 7 - He comes with clouds is a reference to numerous Old Testament passages of God’s judgment. Ezek. 30:3, Joel 2:2, and Zeph. 1:15 say the Day of the Lord will be a day of clouds. Dan. 7:13, “One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days…” Jesus said in Matthew 24:30 and Mark 14:62 that the Son of Man will come in the clouds of heaven, clouds with “great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). The importance of Rev. 1:7 cannot be overstated, as John is telling his readers early on that this book is about the terrible and great day of God’s wrath, even though it is not fulfilled until Rev. 19. All will see Christ, living and dead and the unsaved will wail and mourn. The saved, like John, say, even so, amen (so be it)!
8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty.”
v. 8 - The first two of the seven “I AM”s of the Revelation with “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” Alpha a and Omega O are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and designate Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:13-16). Jesus affirms He is all-powerful, “Almighty,” linked everywhere else in the New Testament to God, the Lord, or the Lord God Almighty, thus being yet another proof that Jesus is God Almighty.
We have seen the I AM statements (see links here and here) in the gospel of John. The Greek form is ego eimi, but in Hebrew, "I AM" sounds like "Yahweh," the holiest name of God which stems from Moses asking God, “Who shall I say sent me?” at the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3.
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
9 I,
John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word
of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
v. 9 - John is a companion in tribulation, but obviously not the “great tribulation” which is yet to be. Yet, Jesus said, “In this world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Certainly the days of John were filled with trouble, but even those were not as severe as what will be in the “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21). The reason for John’s exile to Patmos was two-fold: the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in
the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a
trumpet,
v. 10 - The Lord’s Day can mean “Sunday” or, if John still esteemed the Sabbath, Saturday, or it could be “the Day of the Lord.” However, at this point of his vision, John is not yet transported to heaven or the future to see events unfold. So this is not yet “the Day of the Lord” in the sense of Christ’s coming in judgment. Nowhere else does John use “the Lord’s Day” to refer to that “Great Day” (see Rev. 6:17 and 16:14).
11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
v. 11 - The third “I AM” is “the first and the last.” John is told to write the things in a book, a “biblion,” the word from which we get Bible. The seven churches are the “called out ones.” There are four applications to the seven churches:
1) Particularly. To the local churches actually addressed in the day John wrote.
2) Pervasively, to all churches in all times
3) Personally, Jesus applied his letters to all who “has an ear, let him hear.”
4) Prophetically, disclosing seven phases of the spiritual history of the church
Strong parallels can be seen in the seven churches and eras of the church. Tim LaHaye gives the seven periods as:
1. Ephesus—Apostolic church (30-34 to 100 AD, beginning with Jerusalem)
2. Smyrna—Persecuted church (100-313)
3. Pergamos—State church (313-590)
4. Thyatira—The Adulterous church (590-____)
5. Sardis—Reformed church (1517-____)
6. Philadelphia—Missionary church (1730-____)
7. Laodicea—Apostate church (1900-____)
This does not mean those "types" of churches only existed in those time periods or years, (think about it...all of the churches literally existed in John’s day). But there are clear similarities in the eras given.
12 Then
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven
golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven
lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to
the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His
head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes
like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine
brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He
had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged
sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And
when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me,
saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
v. 12-17 - John hears the Lord’s voice like a trumpet and turns to see Jesus. Remember in the Old Testament when God spoke from Mount Sinai, it sounded as a loud trumpet (Exodus 19:19, Heb. 12:19) Portions John’s description of Jesus will be repeated to each church and we will discuss those descriptions then. That John would fall down as dead is not surprising, especially after so many years of Christ’s absence and upon seeing Him in such grandeur. Jesus places his right hand upon John and tells him to not fear.
18 I am He
who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have
the keys of Hades and of Death.
v. 18 The fourth through seventh “I AM” statements differ from the previous three. The first three refer to Jesus’ eternality and deity. The final four “I AM” declarations refer to Jesus’ relation to humanity.
I AM …
“He who lives, and was dead, and …alive forevermore” Rev. 2:23,
“He who searches the minds and hearts”; Rev. 22:16,
“the Root and the Offspring of David” Rev. 22:16,
“the Bright and Morning Star.”
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
v. 19-20 - John explains some of the imagery in the vision. The implication is that there are other symbolism in Revelation which are not necessarily spelled out or explained. However, caution should be used to avoid making the Revelation too allegorical. The stars and lampstands represented literal objects.
The next seven sessions will cover the seven churches and the letters.
