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Revelation 2 & 3 Introduction To The Seven Churches

A general introduction to the messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor as found in Revelation chapters 2 & 3.

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Vern Peterman
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229 views5 pages

Revelation 2 & 3 Introduction To The Seven Churches

A general introduction to the messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor as found in Revelation chapters 2 & 3.

Uploaded by

Vern Peterman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to the Seven Churches

Why an introduction? Why not just jump right in?


This introduction will focus on dealing with some misunderstandings or misconceptions that have been
made about the seven churches of Revelation. We will also point out some culture and language that will
help us get more out of the verses.

Perspective:
With our study this morning, we are taking a momentous turn from the heavenly scene of our ascended
Lord Jesus Christ. From Johns vision of Christ we are turning to the seven churches which John had first
mentioned in chapter 1. These were the lampstands in the heavenly scene and listed individually by Christ
as He spoke to John.

Why these Seven churches?

John, as we have been told from sources outside the Scriptures, had spent likely more than two
decades and possibly as much as three decades with these churches, especially focused on
Ephesus.
These churches were all in an area previously mentioned in the New Testament with a history of
primary or secondary impact from the ministries of Paul, Timothy, Apollos and John, as well as
Priscilla and Aquila.
These churches were all in communication with each other, having a Roman road and Roman
postal route between them, and all being within the same political province of Asia.
These churches represent a variety of Spiritual conditions and external conditions. In that sense,
these are churches that reflect a broad spectrum of spiritual conditions into which any church
might find itself. It serves as a mirror into which we can examine where we are as a church, and
therefore provides a perfect means for self-examination and course correction under our Lord
Jesus Christ.

A misconception and a pattern in the writing:


About a century ago, William Ramsey wrote a book entitled The Letters to the Seven Churches in
Revelation. Since then it has become popular to refer to these verses as letters, however, they should not
be viewed in the same manner as the letters or epistles such as Pauls letters to the Ephesians, the
Corinthians, or the Galatians. Here are three reasons not to view these verses as letters:
Revelation itself does not refer to these verses as letters. The Greek work for letter epistoleen
is found throughout the New Testament, but not once in this entire book. Rather, in Revelation
1:19, the Lord tells John:
Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and
the things which will take place after these things.
The messages to the 7 churches also do not seem to have the form of any letter of that time.
Compare to the letters from Peter, Paul, James and even John, and you wont find those messages
to be of the same form as these messages to the seven churches.
Another distinction between a letter and these messages that might easily escape us is that these
letters appear to contain heavy use of legal terminology. Some of the words can be shown to have
legal application by comparative use of words within Scripture itself. Other words in the passage
are known to have legal meanings by comparison with other ancient documents of that era.
against you = legal claim similar to Matthew 26:62 & 27:13
Revelation 2:4, 2:14, 2:20
searches = conducts a legal investigation
HHBC 04 Revelation January 25, 2009
Introduction to the Seven Churches Page 1 of 5

Revelation 2:23
I know acknowledgment of defense claim
Revelation 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15
When the churches received these messages, they must have been stunned to hear such words! Those
churches that did not receive a rebuke must have been immensely relieved. When these churches had
begun, they came in the midst of rank paganism, gross immorality, and idolatry. Their lives were radically
changed! These messages were a real wake-up call! Now while we are compelled to look at these
messages as powerful, hard words, we need also to keep in perspective the other things that weve been
told about our Lord Jesus Christ:
He is the one constantly loving us.
He is our high priest in the heavenlies.
He is the one about whom it was written in Hebrews 12:2-3:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the
joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.
Each of these messages also has words of comfort as well and lays out a path of correction. It was
possible for these issues to be resolved. The Lord was looking for response from His warnings and
rebukes. He was not seeking to condemn. As hard and painful as these words may seem, they spring from
the Lords heart of infinite love. Proverbs 27:6 tells us Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Stinging
rebuke may at times be more loving than gentle words that fail to warn us of the error of our ways.

Another Misconception:
Seven Churches equal seven periods in the sequence of the church age.
First proposed by Peter Olivi (1248-1298) of the Franciscan Order, Most are generally known historical
churches, and the historical references to each fitting to know conditions in the first century. Variations
within the church at large existed then, as at all times. Scripture does not say these represent periods in
church history. The Rapture and the Second Coming are indicated in other, supposedly earlier,
churches. Different proponents have varying dates for each period. It just doesnt fit and the seven
churches shouldnt be viewed in this manner.

A Pattern in the Text:


There is a pattern in the text which is seen in the chart on the next page

HHBC 04 Revelation January 25, 2009


Introduction to the Seven Churches Page 2 of 5

.The
Church
Revelation

Seven Churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 & 3


Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

2:1-7

2:8-11

2:12-17

2:18-29

3:1-6

3:7-13

3:14-22

Opening

To the messenger of the church at . . . write

Description of
Christ

Holds 7 stars,
First & Last, The One with Eyes of fire, Holds 7
walks among 7 Died &
two-edged
feet like
spirits & 7
lampstands
came to life sword
brass;
stars
searches
minds

Holy, true,
Amen, true
holds keys,
witness,
opens & shuts Beginning of
creation

What Christ
knows

Deeds, labor,
steadfastness,
perseverance

Deeds

Trials,
poverty;
blasphemy
of false
Jews

Living where More


Deeds, (&
Satan's
works, love, see "What
throne is
service,
you have")
faith,
patience

Deeds:
neither cold
nor hot

Commendation Tested false


prophets,
perseverance

Rich in spite Held to My


(above)
of poverty
name & faith
even in time
of martyrdom

Have a few Kept


with
command to
garments
persevere
Unsoiled

Rebuke

Left first love

Some hold
Tolerate
the teaching false
of Balaam
teaching &
immorality

Works
imperfect

Lukewarm,
wretched,
blind, naked

Counsel

Remember,
repent, do first
works

Do not fear
suffering

Repent

Hold fast,
preserve
crown

Buy from Me
gold,
clothes, eye
ointment

Warning

Lampstand will
be removed

Will fight with Jezebel into


sword of
sickbed,
mouth
children
killed

I will come
as thief if
you do not
watch

I will spit you


out; rebuke
&
punishment

What you have

My hatred for
Nicolaitans

Tribulation
coming (but
not THE
Tribulation)

Some hold
Nicolaitans
teaching

Rest do not
have false
doctrine,
not Satanic
depths

A name as A little
alive, but
strength, My
dead (& see word & name
above)

Not what
you think
you have

Reward for
overcomers

Eat from tree of Not hurt by


life
second
death

Hidden
manna, white
stone
With new
name

Power over
nations;
morning
star

Clothed in Made pillar,


white, name inscribed with
in book,
new name
confessed

Sit on my
throne

Rest are
given no
other
burden

Undefiled
ones will
walk in
white

Hold fast till Watch,


I come
strengthen
remainder

Other promises

Crown of
eternal life
to ones
faithful to
death

Closing

He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

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Introduction to the Seven Churches Page 3 of 5

Submission of Eat with


false Jews;
those who
Kept from
open door
hour of trial

CHURCH
EPHESUS
SMYRNA
PERGAMOS

THYATIRA

SARDIS
PHILADELPHIA

LAODICIA

EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN


CHURCHES
To him who overcomes, I will grant to
eat of the tree of life which is in the
Paradise of God. (2:7b)
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by
the second death (2:ll)
To him who overcomes, to him I will give
some of the hidden manna, and I will give
him a white stone, and a new name
written on the stone which no one knows
but he who receives it. (2:17)
And he who overcomes, and he who
keeps My deeds until the end, to him I
will give authority over the nations; and
he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as
the vessels of the potter are broken to
pieces, as I also have received authority
from My Father; and I will give him the
morning star. (2:26-28)
He who overcomes shall thus be clothed
in white garments; and I will not erase his
name from the book of life. (3:5)
He who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he
will not go out from it anymore; and I
will write upon him the name of My God,
and the name of the city of My God, the
new Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from My God, and My new name.
(3:12)
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to
sit down with Me on My throne (3:21)

CHAPTERS 19-22
INCLUSIVE
(22:14)
(20:14)
(19:12)

(19:15)
(22:16)

(22:14)
(20:15)
(21:22b)
(22:4)
(21:10b)
(19:12)

(20:4) Also see Eph 2:6

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Introduction to the Seven Churches Page 4 of 5

One Last Misconception: Who are the Overcomers?


The loss of salvation view:
In this misconception the promises are written to believers to encourage them to overcome lest
they lose their salvation. To fail to overcome is to lose ones salvation.
John 10:28 Expanded Translation from the Greek:
And I am constantly giving them life eternal, and it is not even remotely possible for them
to destroy themselves into the eternity nor for any to steal them by force out of my hand.

One last pattern:


The Closing Remark, which is not the last in every message, but is included in every one, is this
statement:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The offer is to single individuals, so individual Christians can look at these messages and gain
valuable insights. The first part of the sentence, He who has an ear strongly implies that there
might be those who dont have an ear who are unwilling to hear what is being said. It is not
that they cannot hear physically, but rather that they cannot hear in their hearts and minds.
Though these messages are indeed addressed to the individual churches to which they apply, this
phrase opens the door for us to apply what fits to any church situation. To use the modern
vernacular: If the shoe fits, wear it!

Why did we do this introduction?


Lets avoid the misconceptions, be aware of the patterns in the messages to the seven churches,
and most importantly have an ear to hear what the Lord is teaching us with these verses.

HHBC 04 Revelation January 25, 2009


Introduction to the Seven Churches Page 5 of 5

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