Also, the first few chapters of revelation contain letters from jesus to seven historical churches in asia minor. Nevertheless, the letters to the seven churches are important because, in addition to being real churches in johns day see map, they also form a complete prophecy of the church, as a whole through the last 2000years, revealing some interesting prophecies about end times today. Start studying new testament survey unit 1 quizzes. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2. The seven churches were selected because their attributes represent the attitudes and conditions of all churches. More specifically, the letters are addressed to the 7 stars, representing the 7 angels of the churches. Some say they are merely representative churches of the. The seven churches of revelation, as described in chapters two and three of that book, have intrigued bible expositors down through the age.
The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. In the apostle johns day the seven cities were located in a. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea were literal churches that existed in asia minor modern turkey during the first century a. The seven candlesticks represent the seven pastors of the churches. Thank you for the big list of sevens in the bible and it is really interesting to find out why god is giving importance to the number 7. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent.
Most students are eager to get into the action of revelation as soon as possible. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. The book of revelation and especially the letters to the churches in chapters two and three demands that the reader have at least a basic understanding of the old testament.
Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in todays church age. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in. The seven churches of revelation the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches. Jun 03, 2015 but here in this vision written down by the apostle john here in revelation we see just seven. It is also possible to explore the question of whether qualities similar to those of the 7 churches are present within todays churches or groups within churches and christian movements. The seven churches of revelation bible study ministry. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If an identification with the history of of the church is to be made, ephesus would represent the apostolic era of. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Though the seven churches of revelation are real churches, the writer uses them allegorically as seven future periods of the church. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Yet most people believe that this final book of the bible cannot be understood at allthat its language and symbols are too confusing to make sense. Revelation 1 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of the.
I believe that the seven churches located in asia what is now turkey represent the universal church. One of the best ways to learn something the right way is to observe a practice in the wrong way. And these seven come to represent the totality of the church and its personality and mission. The seven churches in asia is a perfect representation of the lords church as a whole. You will better understand this study if you understand the purpose of the book of revelation. The seven spirits of god are mentioned in the book of revelation. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the. As a book intended for the end time, the primary instruction in revelation 2 and 3 concerns the endtime church. A historical and spiritual view of the seven churches of. He was told to write the things which he saw and heard. Share flipboard email print laodicea, home of one of the 7 churches of revelation, ancient city in denizli, turkey. The seven churches of the apocalypse the church of god.
The seven churches of revelation ernest angley ministries. Named for their geographical locations, the churches were. The seven churches of revelation represent report cards for christians. I believe the seven stars represent the pastors or preachers of those seven churches. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen. The seven churches of revelation described in revelation chapters 2 through chapter 3 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. Seven churches of revelation rms bible engineering. It is a study of the seven churches of the revelation as they are related to the seven periods of church christian history and the spiritual meaning. Understanding the seven churches of revelation 10 i was in the spirit on the lords day, and i heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book and s end it to the seven churches which are in asia. Home content index books of the bible revelation seven churches of revelation. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.
The seven churches of revelation life in a dying world. Home youth leaders youth leaders blogs a study on the 7 churches in revelation. Seven phases of the church agethe book of revelation. The seven churches of revelation introduction untold numbers of professing christians have been taught, as i was, that the seven churches of revelation are somehow related to the body of christ. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches the john wrote letters to in revelation.
Trench, commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia, 233. Oh, how blessedly is jesus christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. Once in the possession of the seven churches, the book of revelation quickly made its. The 7 churches of the revelation, and the churches of today. The apostle john penned the revelation at the age of 92 while exiled as a prisoner of rome on the remote isle of patmos.
Some of the meanings of the names of the seven churches provided in our revelation study can be determined through the etymology of the names themselves, while in other cases pastor armstrong relied on the work of other scholars, who have researched the meaning the sources for determining the meaning of each city name are provided below. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. Johns vision was a physical representation of this imagery. His characteristics never change what he was, he is, and that he ever will be, blessed be his holy name. Why were these seven churches chosen in revelation answers. Determining the meaning of the names of the 7 churches. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered to these cities, so these letters may have less to do with seven different church ages as some scholars believe.
From doctrine proceed all of the attributes of the christian life whether good or bad. The book therefore is a divinely given book, and is the revelation of jesus christ and not of john. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my father and his angels. We need to remember that jesus himself is giving these commendations and rebukes, so we need to listen and heed what he says to the churches, because they apply to us also. Most pastors teach that jesus was just addressing the churches that existed at the time it was written in 95 a. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven.
A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. I would recommend starting with the purpose then returning to this study. If we heed these lessons, we will gain a reward from jesus christ. The number 7 and the book of revelation a heart for god. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come. The rapture is not referred to until chapter four when john saw a door opened in heaven. Were the messages to these churches intended mainly for the congregations to which they were sent during the apostolic period. The seven churches of revelation may include at least three fulfillments. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts.
Well study the context of the messages, what they meant for the original churches, and what they mean for us today what are the seven churches in revelation. Also known as the seven churches of asia modern turkey. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. The beginning chapters of the book of revelation contain 7 letters to the 7 churches. These studies on the book of revelation were the last sermons in the fruitful ministry of james montgomery boice. You will encounter names like baalam, balac, and jezebel. The view is known as the historicalprophetical view. It is the most important and valuable prophetic book in the bible. The belief that the seven churches addressed in revelation represent the whole church age is based on seven as the number for completion or whole in scripture. The church at philadelphia had many negative points.
In letters to seven churches of revelation, the apostle john lists. To the churches of the seven continents christian forums. The churches are represented by seven golden lampstands. They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus is on things that shall be. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. And when he had opened the second seal, i heard the second beast say, come and see. Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come.
At the end of each letter jesus tells those who overcome what reward. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church. Seven churches, god was pleased with only two churches. The entire book constitutes the letterthe letters to the seven individual churches are introductions to the rest of the book, which is addressed to all seven. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of. It will be good always to remember, that there is a temptation to make scripture mean more than in the intention of the holy ghost it does mean. The number seven is used 54 times in the book of revelation, giving credence that it is not a literal value but a representation of an idea. First of all, the word church greek ekklesia simply.
Horses in judgment notes revelation 6 r 06c to see the full text which has links to this page, go. Therefore, the seven churches of revelation are all about doctrine. He praised, encouraged, challenged, and warned each church so that they may be faithful to the end. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia and laodicea. The number seven is a number that signifies the completeness or whole of whatever is in view. While the dominant genre is apocalyptic, the author sees himself as a christian prophet.
The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. There are many great lessons that we can learn from the letters to the seven churches of revelation. Yet you have a few people in sardis who have not soiled their clothes. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of endtime events leading up to the return of jesus christ. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. The seven churches of revelation 2 and 3 are 7 historical.
Hence these seven churches seem to represent many other churches that were in asia at the time e. In the letters he applauds and chastises each church and he offers them advice on how to get back on track. What church is not one of the seven churches to whom the book of revelation was sent. Some of these seven churches kept closer to the gospel than others. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. The title of the sermon is the symbolic meaning of the seven churches of asia, the spiritual significance of the seven churches of asia.
Lessons from the apocalypse james montgomery boice on. The study of the seven churches can be very large and in depth. So that is why this first bible study is called the churches of revelation the totality of the church. The letters to the seven churchesand the seven church eras they representcontain important lessons. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that.
It is apparent that the message the lord conveyed was more than these seven literal churches, many of which did not continue to exist after john received the revelation. Keys to understanding revelation united church of god. However, if these seven churches represent seven time periods, then after this makes perfect sense. Since the first of the year, we have been preaching in the book of the revelation, and after these many months, we have finally arrived at chapter 2. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches revelation 3. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. Understanding the seven churches of revelation jonathan welton on. W hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. The style of the seven messages is similar, with the heart of each focused on commendation. The seven churches of revelation describe the different periods of the church age, painting a progressive picture of the professing church from the first coming of christ until the second coming. I am doing a study on the book of revelation and i would like to share the sevens which are in that book. Interesting to note that the church is not mentioned again in revelation during all the judgments that god brings upon the earth from revelation 4 through chapter 18. Jun 01, 2001 the 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience.
The seven churches of revelation sermon by larry cockerham. Secondly, revelation is written chronologically covering events from the early church through life in the future new heaven and earth. John was commissioned to send jesuss special message to seven churches in asia minor. In revelation chapters, seven stars are referenced four times. The names of the seven churches of revelation are symbolic names and represent the church down through the ages from the beginning of the new testament church, right to the end at the second coming of christ jesus, and reveals the condition of the church at different periods in history. Izzet keribar getty images abrahamic middle eastern. This revelation timeline decoded bible study will show you how the 7 churches of revelation represent seven church eras that have spanned throughout history, and end when the lord returns. For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation. The seven candlesticks are seen at the same instant. When revelation was written at the end of the first century, all seven churches existed at the same time, therefore the seven conditionsthe messages described. The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. The seven churches of revelation bible student archives.
Uncovering evidence that the book of revelation was written prior to the destruction of jerusalem in 70 ad is only of secondary concern. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. In the main text of the general significance of various cultural groups is also mentioned. Were the seven churches of revelation a prophecy for today. A study on the 7 churches in revelation churchleaders. When we look at lists, we want to look at things that are repeated and also differences. Revelation uses the word in various forms twentyone times, more than any other new testament book. In the original text in greek, there is an and in between all the church names. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. In these letters, jesus addresses the spiritual health of each church. Revelation tells that heaven was silent for a half hour before the seals were opened. Laodicea, home of one of the 7 churches of revelation, ancient city in denizli, turkey. All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. The book of revelation contains seven letters from jesus to 7 churches in asia minor.
Seven churches of revelation map artwork by kelly cunningham. So what jesus is teaching us in these seven letters is all about doctrine. The authors carry out the noble task of encouraging pastors to stop wishing for the perfect church and offer them realistic strategies on how to effectively minister where god has placed them. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. The seven churches are representative of the church as a whole. The primary focus of this article is to convey who comprised the membership of the seven churches of asia, to whom the book of revelation was written, and to which dispensation they belong. Each of the seven letters is a prophetic word from jesus, through the spirit, who is inspiring john to write. Do the seven churches in revelation predict seven eras of church history. The church of philadelphia, god was pleased with the church of philadelphia, why. As for example in the 7 spirits, or 7 loaves, 7 brethren, 7 devils of mary magdalene, 7 seals of the book, the 7 thunders, 7 messengers and so on and so forth. What the bible says about the 7 churches of revelation. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation.
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