REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 2.1.Introduction

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

 

CHAPTER 2

 

THE THINGS WHICH ARE

 

Introduction

To

Chapters Two and Three:

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

 

Many churches existed in the Roman Empire due to the evangelistic efforts of Peter, (along with John, Stephen, and Philip) and Paul (along with Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, Timothy, and Luke). The book of Acts chronicles the growth of the Christian church. Beginning with the Apostle Peter's sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2, thousands were added daily to the church. The Gospel rapidly spread to the ends of the earth. However, the core churches of Asia Minor are focused in the next two chapters and are the addressees of Chapter 1.

 

John’s Address in Chapter 1:

Revelation 1:4 - John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His Throne.

 

John’s Commission in Chapter 1:

Revelation 1:11 - I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, 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.

 

History

The most important area of the Empire, from the first to the third centuries A.D., was Asia. It was the epicenter where the East met the West in terms of commerce, trade, and religion. Because of its strategic location, the lead city of Ephesus became known as The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor.

 

Seven literal churches in the Roman Providence of Asia Minor existed when John penned this book (about A.D. 95 to 96). Before Paul concluded his third missionary Journey, All those who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews, and Greeks (Acts 19:10).

 

Starting with Ephesus, which is in the southwest, moving northward clockwise, and ending with Laodicea, would sketch an almost (60 miles) elliptical pattern, similar to our earth orbiting the sun.

The seven churches listed are:

1.  Ephesus (2:1-7) - The distracted apostolic church

2.  Smyrna (2:8-11) - The suffering persecuted church

3.  Pergamum (2:12-17) - The morally compromising church

4.  Thyatira (2:18-29) - The doctrinally compromising church

5.  Sardis (3:1-6) - The lifeless counterfeit church

6.  Philadelphia (3:7-13) - The faithful open-door church

7.  Laodicea (3:14-22) - The lukewarm apostate church

 

The Church in Prophetic Perspective

To properly comprehend these letters, there are three aspects of interpretation and application:

1.  Contemporary Literal

Each of the seven letters was written to actual churches existing during the first century. They addressed the concerns and conditions of these churches in John’s Day.

 

2.  Composite Progressive

Something in every letter applies to all the different churches, (at any age, any church) from the beginning of the church to the present. Hence, there is a message in the letters for not only our church but for us personally as well.

 

It is to all believers about every believer. Note: This does not mean that everyone in the church is of that character. For instance, there could be some Laodiceans within a church, but they do not make up the majority of their membership.

 

3.  Chronological Prophetic Church Ages

Some theologians do not adhere to this view, but logically, there are seven distinct historic church ages characterized chronologically and prophetically. I have seen some specific dates overlapping, but we will name each period in general:

 

1.  The Ephesian Period

This church commenced first-century Christendom. The majority of churches and members in this category were Ephesian types. Many Christians, once on fire for the Lord, gradually backslid and fell out of love with Jesus Christ. They may have been orthodox in their doctrine, but they strayed or simply cooled off.

 

2.  The Smyrnean Period

Characterized by severe suffering, this Age represents great Roman Imperial Christian persecutions during the second and third centuries.

 

Note: Before A.D. 312, one was persecuted for being a Christian. According to the early church fathers and historian Eusebius: One day before a battle, Emperor Constantine (A.D 306 – 337) reportedly looked up at the sun and saw a large glowing cross in the sky with a phrase reading, In Hoc Signo Vinces (Latin for, In this sign, you will conquer).

 

Believing it came from the Lord, Constantine’s army won the battle they faced. And afterward, everyone in the empire was mandated to become a Christian. From that point, anyone who was not a Christian was persecuted, thus commencing the Age of Pergamon.

 

3.  The Pergamon Period

The Age of Compromise between the fourth to sixth centuries. Pergamum personified being married to the world, so to speak. During this period, people were morally corrupt instead of adhering to the precepts of God. Romanism dominated the culture. It was during this time frame that the priesthood developed. The Age of Pergamos eventually transitioned into the Dark Ages.

 

4.  The Thyatiran Period

This was the period when the church lived in the dark ages of full-blown Romanism. It was a sinful immoral era peppered with false doctrines. The Thyatiran Age was also known as the era of the heretical harlot church.

 

5.  The Sardian Period

An age of apostasy wherein in the churches was dead in Christ. They were also lifeless and rested in the past. This epoch embodied the Renaissance Period paving the way for a great revival, brought about by the great reformers ushering in the Reformation.

 

6.  The Philadelphian Period

The church of the open door and brotherly love is characterized by a period of church revival. This evangelistic age holds the greatest missionary-minded effort of any church epoch.

 

Note: Discerning the signs of the times of Matthew 24:3-8: In my opinion, we are living in this time frame and gradually entering into the next.

 

7.  The Laodicean Period

Several names are given descriptive of this period:

1.  The end-time Age of Apostasy

2.  The liberal church

3.  The false church

4.  The lukewarm ecumenical church.

5.  The counterfeit church of Satan

6.  The church of the closed door

7.  The church that outwardly professes Christ without His inwardly internal possession or presence

 

The Laodicean Period is the church age where Jesus is seen on the outside of His church knocking on the door to enter. Also, this church age will steer in the Great Tribulation Period.

 

The Beginning of Sorrows

·        Matthew 24:3-8 - And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

·        Matthew 24:22 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

 

Even though Matthew 24 is geared toward Christ’s Second Coming, hints of pre-tribulation mentioned above are prevalent.

 

The Message

The message to every church is a special personal one exhorted or given to every believer in light of Jesus Christ. The Second Coming of Christ is the underlying theme. The number 7 represents the total church. To you and me, at the end of each letter, Jesus writes, "He who hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying."

 

Important to note: The seven letters are speaking the last words of Christ to the assemblies.

 

Also, interestingly and noteworthy: As the correspondent of each letter, John, through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, fosters a unique literary writing style. He introduces who Jesus is by extracting parts of His character from Chapter 1 as exampled below:

1.  To the Church in Ephesus - Saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh amid the seven golden candlesticks (2:1).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:12 - Standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man (NLT).

Revelation 1:20 - The seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.

 

2.  To the Church in Smyrna - write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive (2:8).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:11 - I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.

 

Revelation 1:17b-18a - I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.

 

3.  To the Church in Pergamos -These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. (2:12).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:16b - And out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword.

 

4.  To the Church in Thyatira - These things saith the Son of God, Who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass (2:18).

 

 

Compare

Revelation 1:1 - From Jesus Christ, which God gave Him.

 

Revelation 1:13 - One like unto the Son of man.

a.  Son of Man denotes His humanity

b.  Son of God denotes His deity

 

Revelation 1:14b-15a -And His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass.

 

5.  To the Church in Sardis – Saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars (3:1).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:4 – And from the seven Spirits.

 

Revelation 1:16 – And He had in His right hand seven stars.

 

Revelation 1:20 - In My right hand…The seven stars.

 

6.  To the Church in Philadelphia – These things saith He that is Holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth (3:7).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:14 - His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire.

a. White, light, shine, luminous, purity, and purifier: All typifying holiness

b.  Flame of fire – Abstract for firelight. Refined in the fire, made pure

 

Revelation 1:5 - And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness. and the first begotten of the dead.

a.  Jesus is faithful and true. He fulfilled God's promise – A Saviour.

 

Revelation 1:18 - I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of death.

 

Revelation 1:5 - And from Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

a.  Cleansed us, made us holy and pure

 

Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.

a.  One day Jesus will reign as our High Priest

 

Revelation 1:18 –I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

a.  Keys open and shut doors, of Hades, entrance into the Temple (cf. Rev. 15:8), and of Heaven itself

 

b. Key of David - A term taken from Isaiah 22:22, Representing government, power, and absolute authority

 

7.  To the Church in Laodicea - These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (3:14).

 

Compare

Revelation 1:8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.

 

Revelation 1:11 – Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.

 

Revelation 1:17-18 - Fear not; I am the first and the last…I am alive for evermore, Amen.

 

Revelation 1: 8 - And Who is coming, the Almighty.

 

Seven letters to the seven churches are not only personal but special prophetic messages as well. The underlying theme of each letter is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The following lessons will reveal the historical background, content, and application of each church letter.

 

We will begin with Ephesus next week.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  Why were these seven churches singled out?

2.  How do these letters apply to us specifically?

3.  How many periods are there in church history?

4.  What period are we living in?

5.  Why?

6.  What is the purpose of writing these letters?

7.  Why does Jesus extract part of His character from Chapter 1 as the addresser of each letter?

 

 

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