Week 10 - The Seven Churches in Revelation

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1 Monday Scripture Reading: Rev. 1:4, 11, 20; 2:7a, 11a, 17a, 29; 3:13, 22 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt. 13:9). He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev. 3:6) HAVING EARS TO HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES This week, we will take a look at the relationship between the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, and the parables in Matthew 13. The seven churches mentioned in Revelation were located in Asia Minor, where Paul carried out his work (Rev. 1:4, 11). Although there were more than only seven churches in that region, such as the church in Colossae (Col. 4:15-16), the seven mentioned were used to prophetically prefigure church history and its spiritual condition. Attached to each of the names of the cities where the seven churches were in Asia is a prophetic meaning. The first church is Ephesus. The name Ephesus means desirable. The second church is Smyrna, whose name means myrrh, a bitter plant typifying suffering. The third one is the church in Pergamos, whose name means great tower and marriage; this indicated its marriage to the world and a condition of abnormal growth. After that, we have the church in Thyatira, the fourth one, which means unceasing sacrifice; it refers to the mixture of pagan teachings introduced into the church as of the beginning of the fourth century. The fifth one is the church in Sardis, whose name means restoration, alluding to the condition of the church during the post-reformation period; despite bearing the name of restoration, it was unable to completely fulfill the commission it had been entrusted. The sixth church mentioned is in Philadelphia, whose name means brotherly love. Finally, the seventh one is the church in Laodicea, whose name means judgment or the people s opinion. In the letters to the seven churches, we see the Lord s love and care in what He had to say to each one of them at that time, as well as a prophetic account of the entire church history. Tomorrow, we will begin to go over the relationship between these churches and the parables in Matthew 13. Hence: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7a, 11a, 17a, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). The Lord s love and care for His churches. Your Concerning the names of the cities where the seven churches were, what are their meanings? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 1

2 Tuesday Scripture Reading: Acts 20:18-31; Eph. 3:1-12; 1 Tim. 1:1-5 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:6-7) THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS The parable of the sower is related to the first church in Revelation, the church in Ephesus, which referred to the church during the time of the apostles. Having received much care from the apostle Paul (Acts 19:8-10; 20:18-31), the church in Ephesus should have been in a desirable condition matching the meaning of its name. During the time of Paul, however, it was not in a very good condition. After Paul was arrested by the Jews and sent to Rome, he wrote four epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Although he was not personally there to help build up the church, he hoped that the Ephesians would take his words and build the church there. The goal of that epistle was that the church would put it into practice. The epistle to the Ephesians contained high revelations on God s New Testament economy, that is, concerning the objective Faith being worked into our subjective faith (cf. Eph. 3:2-4, ). After being released, Paul visited the churches in Asia, passing through Ephesus; nevertheless, he was unable to remain with them for an extended period of time as he had done in the past. Hence, he left his young coworker, Timothy, there, advising him in a letter sent later on to admonish certain ones not to teach things that were different from God s economy (1 Tim. 1:3-4 2 ). Nonetheless, the situation in Ephesus was so negative and overwhelming that even Timothy became disheartened. Then, Paul wrote Timothy another epistle in order to encourage him. The church in Ephesus was in a rather undesirable condition. Here, we see that relationship between the first parable and the church in Ephesus. Perhaps the hearts of the saints there might have been like the first three kinds of ground described in the parable of the sower, so that the Word was not able to bear fruit. Despite exhorting the saints not to teach differently, Timothy was not able to help them remain steadfast in the divine economy. One can say that the saints in Ephesus used their mind to study and analyze Paul s teachings, but not their spirit to absorb them. In the end, they only took them as doctrines which was never the intention of the apostle Paul. Today, some believers continue to take God s Word as doctrine; these ones are proud to say that they have more biblical knowledge than the rest. Rather than promoting spiritual growth, such a stance only strengthens one s pride and soul-life. Both the negative situation of the church in Ephesus and Timothy s discouragement in that situation compelled the apostle Paul to write a second epistle, exhorting his young coworker to stir up, or fan into flame, the gift of God in him (2 Tim. 1:6). Likewise, we must exercise our spirit as we read the Word, applying it to our experience that it may become our reality. This way, as the seed that fell on the good ground, the word of the kingdom in us will germinate, grow, and bear fruit a hundred, sixty, and thirtyfold. 1 The word dispensation in v. 2 is economy in the original Greek. 2 The word edification in v. 4 is also economy in the original Greek. Absorbing the word of the kingdom in spirit and practicing it in our experience. Your How is the parable of the sower related to the church in Ephesus? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 2

3 Wednesday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:24-30, Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer... Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:11). For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18) THE PARABLE OF THE TARES AND THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA In Revelation 2:3, the second letter was written to the church in Smyrna. The word Smyrna means myrrh, a bitter resin used to embalm or preserve corpses. This indicates that this church would go through much suffering. According to history, many Christians were martyred under the persecution of the Roman Empire during this time. Still, the church called on the Lord s name, and the brothers and sisters there remained unwavering. During such a time, prefigured by the church in Smyrna, there were ten great persecutions (Rev. 2:10); nevertheless, amid much tribulation, the number of believers would only grow. The Lord s name and Word certainly encouraged saints there to be faithful even unto death, such as Antipas, a faithful witness to the Lord (vv. 11, 13b). This letter is related to the second parable, the parable of the tares in Matthew 13. The fact that tares were planted among the wheat in the field brings about suffering for the wheat. The tares were not sown by the sower, but by the enemy (vv ). Since the seeds of the tares and wheat were sown in the same field, their roots intertwine under the ground. If one tried to pluck up the tares, he might end up pulling out the wheat also. Hence, the owner said to his servants: Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn (v. 30). When the wheat matures, the plant bows down because it is filled with life from its many grains. The more life there is, the lower the plant bows down. Unlike the wheat, however, the tares remain erect. Then, in allowing the wheat and tares to grow together, we see that some become humbler as they grow, whereas those who are like the tares become proud. According to the Lord s explanation in verses 37-43, at His return when He comes with His angels at the consummation of this age, all will be judged before His judgment seat. Those who have God s life, represented by the wheat, will enter into the millennial kingdom (v. 43). However, the stumbling blocks and those who practice iniquity will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth (vv ). The tares represent the sons of the evil one who will be gathered into bundles and cast into the furnace of fire to be burned. Although the tares here represent the unbelievers, in order to apply this to our experience we can say that it also refers to the believers who, living in their soul-life, are also used by the evil one as obstacles for the growth in life of those who thirst and love the Lord. In this sense, the furnace of fire also refers to the outer darkness into which the soulish believers will be cast so that they will mature during the millennium (25:30). This process to accelerate the ripening of God s immature children is similar to that of a greenhouse where certain fruit are placed to ripen; they suffer there, for they were harvested while still unripe. The goal is not to destroy, but to help them mature quickly. All of us need growth and maturing. Hence, we must take advantage of every opportunity we have in the normal church life to grow. Often times, we go through persecution and suffer slander from those who want to destroy us; nevertheless, in these situations of opposition and suffering, we must seek to grow even more that we may become mature sons. Finally, those who have matured will be righteous and will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:43). Growing despite the difficulties. Your What can strengthen us amid tribulations and sufferings? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 3

4 Thursday Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:11-12; Matt. 13:31-32 But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matt. 4:4) THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS The third parable is the parable of the mustard seed, which despite being an herb, grows up to become a tree where birds come and nest (Matt. 13:31-32). Mustard is an herb used as food and it should remain as such. This abnormal growth is contrary to the divine principle established in Genesis 1 that every plant should bear fruit according to its own kind (vv ). Therefore, if an herb grows up to be a tree, this growth is abnormal. Some people misinterpret this abnormal growth, thinking it refers to the growth in number of the church which is something positive. However, we must note here that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches (Matt. 13:32). According to the Lord s interpretation in the parable of the sower, the birds represent the evil one (vv. 4, 19). Hence, the picture we see here refers to the abnormal growth in number which took place when Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire. This period in time refers to the third church: Pergamos. The word Pergamos has two meanings: one is high tower and the other, marriage. This has to do with the fact that during that time, Christians came to a high and strong position in society due to the marriage of the church and politics. During the times prefigured by the church in Pergamos, God s enemy ceased using the Roman Empire to persecute the church once he realized that persecution only helped multiply the number of Christians. Satan changed his tactic and began exalting the church he once persecuted. During the time when the emperor Constantine supposedly converted to Christianity, citizens were encouraged to also convert, being offered material benefit and tax exemption. Hence, because it was convenient, many people became Christians, not by calling on the Lord s name but to receive the benefits being offered. This brought the church to an abnormal condition. With time, the number of nominal Christians multiplied, and the ecclesiastic authority became even stronger than that of the Roman Empire. May the Lord free us from this kind of deceit, keeping us on the path of life! Abiding on the path of life. Your What was God s enemy s change in tactic once the persecution against the church by the Roman Empire did not work as he expected? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 4

5 Friday Scripture Reading: Matt. 4:4; 13:33; Rev. 2:18-29 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8). Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Tim. 4:16) THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN AND THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA The fourth church in Revelation 2-3, the church in Thyatira (vv ), refers to the parable of the woman who added leaven into three measures of flour: Another parable He spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened (Matt. 13:33). Leaven is used to make the dough rise, causing the loaf to be soft and easy to eat. Unleavened bread, however, is not as easy to eat. The three measures of flour refer to the Triune God as the life supply through His pure Word (cf. Gen. 18:6; Lev. 5:11). The leaven here is related to erroneous teachings and doctrines (Matt. 16:12; Gal. 5:9), or sins (1 Cor. 5:8). The woman mentioned here is Jezebel and the leaven she added until the whole meal was leavened refers to the teachings which led God s servants to practice fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols (Rev. 2:20; 1 Kings 16:31; 18:4; 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22). Once the leaven was added, that is, when pagan and even demonic doctrines were introduced into the church, especially during the middle ages, there was much abnormality. These teachings caused the church to grow and rapidly expand since the many pagan doctrines and practices made God s Word more appealing to the nations which no longer had to leave their own pagan practices to convert to Christianity. Teachings about worshiping Mary were also introduced, and the name of the Lord Jesus was subtly put aside as people ceased calling on His name. The bread we eat must be unleavened, that is, the word we speak must be pure and without any mixture. We should never add any philosophy, concepts, or the tradition of men to make the Word more appealing to people s ears. Although the Lord s pure Word may be difficult to receive, we must still take it wholeheartedly in spirit, for His Word is food for us and we live by it (cf. Matt. 4:4). Taking God s pure Word in spirit, wholeheartedly and without any leaven. Your What was the leaven introduced in the church in Thyatira? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 5

6 Saturday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:44-46; Rev. 3:1-13 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev. 3:10-11) THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE CHURCH IN SARDIS, AND THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL AND THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA Today, we will take a look at the fifth church, the church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6), whose name means restoration. This church covers the period in time which began with the reformation of Martin Luther around the year With the Reformation, the Bible which had been kept away from the masses and only available in Latin for the use of the clergy, was translated into various languages, becoming available to all. The invention of the printing press greatly contributed to the distribution of God s Word. This movement opened up a door for different interpretations of the Bible, and the rise of numerous Christian groups based on such interpretations. Hence, the Body of Christ became fragmented and divided into countless churches. Therefore, the Lord says to the church in Sardis: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent (vv. 1b-3a). Having a name that they were alive but being dead indicates that, rather than taking God s Word as life, they took it as mere doctrine. The fifth parable, the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, can be associated with the church in Sardis (Matt. 13:44). Despite finding a treasure hidden in a field and buying the field, the treasure remained hidden. In other words, despite having the Bible and many of its truths restored, the most import item was left aside, while much division in the Body of Christ was caused by their different interpretations of the Word. May the Lord keep us from merely studying and analyzing the Bible and causing division; rather, let us take the Word in spirit, with our heart, practicing and making it a reality in our living. The sixth church described in Revelation is the church in Philadelphia, whose name means brotherly love (Rev. 3:7-13). It symbolizes those who in these days, despite having a little strength, keep the Lord s word and do not deny His name; in other words, they are those who call on His name and no other. As a result of such a living, they remain in spirit and gain more of God s life. The more God s life grows in us, the more we manifest the main characteristic of this life love. The result of keeping the Word and practicing calling on the Lord s name is brotherly love; hence, the name Philadelphia. This is the real restoration! The parable in Matthew 13 that relates to the church in Philadelphia is the one about the pearl: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (vv ). The merchant here is a specialist who understands the value of the pearl he bought. Here, it does not say that he hid the pearl, but he bought it in order to display it. Today, as we go out to preach the gospel in all places and use the tools God has given us, such as books that reveal the gospel of the kingdom, we are presenting this pearl of great value to all! Hallelujah! Never hiding what we have gained but presenting it to all. Your What is the difference between the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl? THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 6

7 Powered by TCPDF ( Week 10 - The Seven Churches in Revelation Sunday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:47-50; Rev. 3:14-22 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Rev. 3:18-19) THE PARABLE OF THE DRAGNET AND THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA After Philadelphia, however, is the church in Laodicea, whose condition depicts those who think they are rich and with a need for nothing; these ones, however, are miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17). Having much knowledge of God s Word, these ones think that they have a need for nothing, which makes them proud and lukewarm in spirit (vv ). The seventh parable, related to the seventh church, is the parable of the dragnet in Matthew 13:47-50: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The dragnet is cast into the sea, gets filled with fish, and is hauled back to shore. Although it appears to have much content, it hauled in more than just fish. Once the net is on the beach, one has to go through it, separating the fish from the rest; the fish go into a basket, and the rest gets thrown away. This is what happens to those who are proud with their own knowledge. They deceive themselves by thinking they have much, yet they are poor in the Lord s presence, blind concerning God s will, and naked in their living. In a church with so much pride, the Lord can only be on the outside. Still, the Lord calls them to repentance (Rev. 3:19). Spiritually, the condition of the seven churches exposes the situation of God s people during different times and in different places. Historically, the period represented by the first three churches has already gone by. The last four churches, however, will remain until the Lord s coming: Thyatira, which typifies those who introduced idolatry and pagan teaching into the church; Sardis, which symbolizes the many groups who after the Reformation, only had the appearance of being living, but did not complete the restoration work; Philadelphia, which typifies the restoration of a proper living of the church, a living of brotherly love; and Laodicea, which represents those who consider themselves rich, remaining proud and closed. In His mercy, the Lord calls overcomers out from all seven churches (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). However, if we are wise, we will take heed to what the Spirit is saying to the churches, and seek to have the reality of the church in Philadelphia the church praised by God by being those who call on the Lord s name and enjoy His word (3:8). If we walk this path, not only will we be spared from the tribulation which will come upon the whole world, but we will also keep our crown, that is, we will be ready to reign with Christ for a thousand years in the millennial kingdom (3:10-11; 20:6). Hallelujah! Keeping the Word and calling on the Lord s name. Your How can we be overcomers in this age? Additional Reading Enrich your reading of the Daily Food by simultaneously reading the books suggested below: The Mystery of the Kingdom of the Heavens chap. 2 Dong Yu Lan Your Kingdom Come chap. 22 Dong Yu Lan THE MINISTRY WHICH WE FOLLOW AND PRACTICE - The Revelation of the Church Life 7