Date: October 25, 2017 Title: The Seven Churches: An Overview Text: Revelation 2:1ff Theme: Let him who has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Introduction: We have already noted who Jesus is and what He has done and who His people are because of this. Now we take a look at His Church, His body on the horizontal. The context is one of physical persecution and spiritual warfare. The serpent s seed is assaulting the offspring of the woman s seed. THE BIG PICTURE: Six thoughts guide us. First, the Revelation is an unveiling (1:1) where we see Jesus as claiming the title to God s Story, His people, and laying aside all His enemies. Second, God is an awe inspiring deity who holds all of creation accountable (1:9-20). He overrules all things. Third, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, His creation aligns rightly/justly with Him (1:5, 6). Fourth, He is bringing the Story to completion. What He began in the Garden of Eden, He is working in and through His church, and will complete in Eternity future. Numbers 14:21 Psalms 57:5, 11; 72:19; 108:4, 5 Isaiah 6:3; 11:9 Habakkuk 2:14; 3:3 Matthew 6:9-10 LAMPSTANDS - AAHHAA! New Testament Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash (Rev. 1:12, 13). As for 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 are the seven churches (Rev. 1:20). 47
Old Testament Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it (Exod. 25:37). He said to me, What do you see? And I said, I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it (Zech. 4:2). BIG PICTURE The Garden was created to house God s encounter with His people for their joy. The Temple continues this thought. The Church continues this thought. What this looks like in time is Rev. 2 and 3. What this will look like in eternity is Rev. 21 and 22. The Church is a continuation of the Temple and the Temple reflects the Garden of Eden. The fullest picture of the Garden will be Revelation 21 and 22. The whole of the biblical Story expands on, explains, and explores God s pursuit of His people for their joy and His glory. Fifth, the inauguration of His Story began in the gospel Story (chap. 5). The early church believed they were in the LAST DAYS. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17). This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Tim. 3:1). Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (Heb. 1:2). Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days (James 5:3). Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Pet. 1:5). Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (1 Pet. 1:20). Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (2 Pet. 3:3). Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time (1 John 2:18). How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18). 48
What God told the prophet Daniel to seal until the end, Jesus reveals / unseals. What are we looking at? We are looking at the time period between His 1 st coming [I.e. incarnation] and 2 nd coming [I.e. Revelation 19]. Sixth, the church receiving this Letter is persecuted and needs comfort and encouragement to persevere in the face of suffering and death (1:9). Because of who JESUS is and what JESUS does, His people can persevere. Perseverance is the result of preservation. His People Persevere Because God Preserves. CHAP DIVISION Prologue 1:1-8 [The 1 st of Seven Beatitudes {1:3}] 1 st Cycle The Seven Churches of Asia Minor 1:9-3:22 2 nd Cycle The Book with Seven Seals 4:1-8:1 3 rd Cycle Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets 8:2-11:19 4 th Cycle Seven Signs / Seven Symbolic Histories 12:1-14:20 5 th Cycle Seven Bowls of Wrath from the Temple 15:1-16:21 6 th Cycle Seven Stages in the Fall of Babylon 17:1-19:8 7 th Cycle Seven Sights 19:9-22:5 Epilogue 22:6-21 [The 7 th of Seven Beatitudes {22:14}] CHAP DIVISION Prologue 1:1-8 [The 1 st of Seven Beatitudes {1:3}] From 6:1 through 18 the victory of God is secured [Seals, Trumpets, Bowls]. Chapter 19 has His Second Coming. Chapters 4 and 5 are introductory [Porch] to Chapters 6 through 18. Chapters 19 and 20 are introductory [Porch] to Chapters 21 and 22. Epilogue 22:6-21 [The 7 th of Seven Beatitudes {22:14}] Outline: READING REV. 2, 3 1. Some suggest the LETTERS were to communicate with the literal churches and meet their needs at that time. 2. Others suggest the LETTERS were to reveal seven different types of individuals/churches throughout history and instruct them in God's truth. 3. Still others suggest the LETTERS were to use the seven churches to foreshadow seven different periods in the history of the Church. 4. I am of the opinion that the seven churches are descriptive of all churches. They are historical churches representing the church past, present, and future. 5. It is also important to see the Old Testament parallelism between Revelation 2 and the Old Testament text. 49
Revelation 2 Old Testament Tree of life (v. 7) Paradise of God (v. 7) Balaam / Balak (v. 14) Manna (v. 17) White stone (v. 17) Jezebel (v. 20) V. 26 V. 27 Gen. 2:9; 3:22, 24 Ezek. 28:13; 31:8f (see also Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 12:4) Numbers 24 Exodus 16 Isa. 65:16 1 Kings 21 V. 26 w/ Dan. 7:22 V. 27 w/ Ps 2:8, 9 Revelation 3 Old Testament Book of life (v. 5) Key of David (v. 7) A pillar (v. 12) New Jerusalem (v. 12) Exod. 32:32, 33 Isa. 22:22 Jer. 1:18 Psalm 48:8 50
Genesis 2, 3 Revelation 2, 3 Revelation 20-22 Tree of Life Adam and Eve are forbidden to eat the fruit of the tree of life (Gen. 2:17) The believing will partake of the fruit of the tree of life (Rev. 2:7) 22:2, 14 Death Death enters the world because of the transgression of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:17; 3:3) The believing will not be hurt by the second death (2:11) 21:8 [cf. 21:6; 22:17] Bread / Manna Adam and Eve eat bread by sweat (3:19) The believing will eat the hidden manna (2:17) 22:2, 4 Dominion Adam and Eve replenish and subdue the earth and have domino over the animal kingdom (1:28) The believing will have power over the nations (2:26) 20:4; 22:16 Sacred Clothing God made coats of skins, clothing Adam and Eve (3:21) The believing will be clothed in white raiment (3:5) 19:8, 9 Expulsion/Return The Lord sent [Adam and Eve] forth from the garden and drove out the man and the woman (3:23, 24) The believing will reenter and symbolically become pillars in the temple, possessing eternal temple access (3:12) 21:2, 10 Receiving Names God called their name Adam in the day when they were created (5:2) The believing of God will receive the name of God and Christ as a new name (3:12) 22:4 51
Who He Is 6. It is important to remember not just who He is and what He has done, but who we now are because of this. The Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5a) What He did Loved us Freed Us Made us (Rev. 1:5b, 6) Who we are Kingdom Priests (Rev. 1:6) 5b To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-- 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (Rev. 1:5b, 6). 9 And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth (Rev. 5:9, 10). 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. 14 I said to him, My lord, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them (Rev. 7:9-15). And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:5). When approaching this section we must examine how the gospel fits into the various appeals/charges to the churches. What are some of the questions coming from these chapters? A. Are the people we read of in chapters 1 and 5 [and throughout] the same people marked by failure in chapters 2 and 3? If they are the same people, why the threat? WARNING What is the intent of the warning? If the church is reflective of the OT Temple, the appeal to clean the Temple is very much in keeping with the word the prophets brought to the people. Clean up the TEMPLE (1 Cor. 7). Repentance and repair is appropriate on the HORIZONTAL. It is inappropriate to the VERTICAL. 52
B. What is God s intent in these chapters? C. Is not the message of Revelation an encouragement to those who are suffering? How is threatening the weak encouraging? D. Is the consequence at the end of each charge conditioned on the response in the invitation? We will tackle the ideas of works and overcoming in our next study. However, let us note a fundamental principle concerning the gospel and the Christian life. PUTTING IT INTO PERSPECTIVE A. The gospel vertical starts and the gospel horizontal finishes. The FLOW is only one way. B. The vertical [i.e. gospel] changes forever the horizontal [i.e. sin]. C. The flow is only one way. The vertical impacts the horizontal relationship. The horizontal cannot change or impact the vertical. D. Thus, regardless of what is happening on the horizontal, the vertical is set. E. The vertical is to be enjoyed and celebrated. F. The horizontal shadow points to, but can never replace the vertical. G. All of the hurts and heartaches on the horizontal are comforted by the vertical. 7. This vision is introductory to chapters 2 and 3, the letters to the churches, and the events that follow. Cmp. 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 One cannot help but notice that the Letters of chps. 2-3 stand in antithetical parallelism to chps. 21-22. Cmp. 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 In other words, the imperfections of the church in the old creation, as seen in the seven letters in chps. 2-3, find their counterpart in the perfections of the church in the new creation, as seen in chps. 21-22. Although these messages applied to the experiences of the specific churches they were written to, they are also prophetic of the experiences of the Church through the centuries. Each of the letters also contains admonishments appropriate to God's people in every age. This text reveals that John had seen the events described in visions, "which thou hast seen." It reveals that the visions had application for his time, "the things which are." And it reveals that the vision had application for the future, "things which shall be hereafter." This principle is applicable to the letters written to the seven churches. The letters have a then-time and an end-time application. The seven churches to which the letters were addressed were Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These cities stood along one of the ancient postal 53
Roman roads of that day, and, beginning at Ephesus, would have been visited in the order in which they are named. The distance between each is about 50 kilometres; a full day's journey on foot. 1 In the Seven Churches section (Revelation chapters 2 and 3), Christ reminds each church that He is the One speaking and, in each Self-introduction, Christ identifies Himself by referring to some part of His description in Revelation 1. The choice Christ makes to describe Himself to each church is pertinent to that church. Also, in each of the seven messages, Christ mentions a reward for those who overcome. Each reward is appropriate to the circumstances of that church. 2 LOOKING AHEAD - THE PATTERN IN REVELATION 2 AND 3 1. A Word about Jesus 2. A Word of Praise 3. A Word of Warning 4. A Word of Encouragement 1. A Word about Jesus a. God is in their midst, He knows i. The failure 1. His invitation Repent 2. He is coming to set things right ii. The warning b. God is in their midst, Ears to Hear 2. A Word about Jesus Shepherding the Sheep: (What is the NEXT STEP?) 1. This Letter is to us. 2. Let us have ears to hear what the Spirit says to His Church. 3. What God promises will come to pass. 1 http://amazingdiscoveries.org/s-deception-revelation_letter_seven-churches 2 http://everythingimportant.org/sda/viewtopic.php?t=1124 54
Revelation 2-3 Overview BIG PICTURE BIG PICTURE 1. 2. 3. 4. Numbers 14:21 Psalms 57:5, 11; 72:19 ; 108:4, 5 Isaiah 6:3; 11:9 Habakkuk 2:14; 3:3 Matthew 6:9-10 An unveiling God is awesome Rightly aligned Full circle AAHHAA! NT OT 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 1:13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 1:20 "As for 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 are the seven churches. Exod. 25:37 "Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it. Zech. 4:2 He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 55
BIG PICTURE The Garden was created to house God s encounter with His people for their joy. The Temple continues this thought. The Church continues this thought. BIG PICTURE What this looks like in time is Rev. 2 and 3. What this will look like in eternity is Rev. 21 and 22. BIG PICTURE The Church is a continuation of the Temple and the Temple reflects the Garden of Eden. The fullest picture of the Garden will be Revelation 21 and 22. GEN.3 REV. 1 REV. 21 Genesis 3: 8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Rev. 1:13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. Rev. 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 4 PILLARS OF AN ORTHODOX ESCHATOLOGY Return Of Jesus Future Bodily Resurrection Final Judgment Literal Heaven And Hell The whole of the biblical Story expands on, explains, and explores God s pursuit of His people for their joy and His glory. New Heaven New Earth The Church Garden in Eden JESUS Tabernacle Temple BIG PICTURE Because of who JESUS is and what JESUS does, His people can persevere.* The Purpose of God comes full circle. *Perseverance is the result of preservation. His People Persevere Because God Preserves. CHAP DIVISION Prologue 1:1-8[The 1 st of Seven Beatitudes {1:3}] 1 st Cycle The SevenChurches of Asia Minor 1:9-3:22 2 nd Cycle The Book with SevenSeals 4:1-8:1 3 rd Cycle SevenAngels with SevenTrumpets 8:2-11:19 4 th Cycle SevenSigns / Seven Symbolic Histories 12:1-14:20 5 th Cycle SevenBowls of Wrath from the Temple 15:1-16:21 6 th Cycle SevenStages in the Fall of Babylon 17:1-19:8 7 th Cycle SevenSights 19:9-22:5 Epilogue 22:6-21 [The 7 th of Seven Beatitudes {22:14}] 56
THE LAST DAYS From His 1 st Coming to His 2 nd Coming Prologue 1 st Cycle 2 nd Cycle 3 rd Cycle 4 th Cycle 5 th Cycle 6 th Cycle 7 th Cycle Epilogue Rev. 1:19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. CHAP DIVISION Prologue 1:1-8[The 1 st of Seven Beatitudes {1:3}] From 6:1 through 18 the victory of God is secured [Seals, Trumpets, Bowls]. Chapter 19 has His Second Coming. Chapters 4 and 5 are introductory [Porch] to Chapters 6 through 18. Chapters 19 and 20 are introductory [Porch] to Chapters 21 and 22. Epilogue 22:6-21 [The 7 th of Seven Beatitudes {22:14}] READING REV. 2, 3 1. Some suggest the LETTERS were to communicate with the literal churches and meet their needs at that time. 2. Others suggest the LETTERS were to reveal seven different types of individuals/churches throughout history and instruct them in God's truth. READING REV. 2, 3 3. Still others suggest the LETTERS were to use the seven churches to foreshadow seven different periods in the history of the Church. 4. I am of the opinion that the seven churches are descriptive of all churches. Revelation 2 1. Tree of life (v. 7) 2. Paradise of God (v. 7) 3. Balaam / Balak(v. 14) 4. Manna (v. 17) 5. White stone (v. 17) 6. Jezebel (v. 20) 7. v. 26 8. v. 27 Old Testament 1. Gen. 2:9; 3:22, 24 2. Ezek. 28:13; 31:8f (see also Lu 23:43; 2 Co 12:4) 3. Numbers 24 4. Exodus 16 5. Isa. 65:16 6. 1 Kings 21 7. v. 26 w/ Dan. 7:22 8. v. 27 w/ Ps 2:8, 9 Revelation 3 1.Book of life (v. 5) 2.Key of David (v. 7) 3.A pillar (v. 12) 4.New Jerusalem (v. 12) Old Testament 1.Exod. 32:32, 33 2. Isa. 22:22 3. Jere. 1:18 4. Psalm 48:8 57
Compare 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 One cannot help but notice that the Letters of chapters 2-3 stand in antithetical parallelism to chapters 21-22. Compare 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 In other words, the imperfectionsof the church in the old creation, as seen in the seven letters in chapters 2-3, find their counterpart in the perfectionsof the church in the new creation, as seen in chapters 21-22. Compare 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 1-false apostles (2:2) 12 true apostles (21:14) 2-false Jews (2:9; 3:9) the names of the tribes of true Israel (21:12) 3-Christians dwell where Satan s throne is (2:13) Compare 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 6-the church is filled with idolatrous impurities (2:14-15, 20) and liars (2:9; 3:9) 7-Christians face persecution, hoping in God s promises to overcomers (2:8-10, 14) Christians dwell where God s throne is (22:1) there will only be purity and truth in the new creation (21:8, 27) in the new creation they reign, having inherited these promises. Compare 2, 3 w/ 21, 22 4-some in the church are dead (3:1) 5-the church is a faltering, temporal lampstand (1:20; 2:5) all in the new Jerusalem are written in the Lamb s book of life (21:27) God and the Lamb are the eternal lamps (21:23-24; 22:5) HE IS, HE DID, WE ARE REMEMBER The vertical [i.e. gospel] changes forever the horizontal [i.e. sin]. The flow is only one way. The vertical impacts the horizontal relationship. The horizontal cannot change or impact the vertical. 58
REMEMBER Thus, regardless of what is happening on the horizontal, the vertical is set. The vertical is to be enjoyed and celebrated. REMEMBER The horizontal shadow points to but can never replace the vertical. All of the hurts and heartaches on the horizontal are comforted by the vertical. Ephesus 2:1-7 Smyrna 2:8-11 Pergamum 2:12-17 Thyatira 2:18-29 Sardis 3:1-6 Philadelph ia 3:7-13 Laodicea 3:14-22 JESUS v. 1 v. 8 v. 12 v. 18 v.1b v. 7 v. 14 PRAISE vv. 2, 3 vv. 9, 10 v. 13 v.19 vv. 8-11 CAUTION vv. 4, 5 vv. 14-16 vv. 20-23 vv. 1b-3 vv. 15-20 PRAISE v. 6 vv. 24,25 v. 4 REWARD v. 7 v. 11 v. 17 vv. 26-29 vv. 5, 6 vv. 12,13 vv. 21,22 P R A I S E Ephesus 2:1-7 2 'I know your deeds, toil, perseverance, and you cannot tolerate evil men, and put to the test, 3 and you have perseverance and have endured, and have not grown weary. 6 [and] hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, Endurance in Falsehood Smyrna 2:8-11 9 'I know your tribulation and your poverty 10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Endurance in Tribulation Pergamum 2:12-17 13 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not denymy faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Endurance in Martyrdom Thyatira 2:18-29 19 'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 24 I place no other burden on you. 25 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. Endurance in Weariness Sardis 3:1-6 NOTHING [Breaks Pattern] 4 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Endurance in Loneliness Philadelphia 3:7-13 8 'I know your deeds. because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Endurance in Temptation Laodicea 3:14-22 N O T H I N G ENDURANCE 59
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