The seven Churches

The Churches

Revelation 1:3 (NASB95) — 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

25.119 μακάριος, α, ον: pertaining to being happy, with the implication of enjoying favorable circumstances—‘happy.’[1]

The implication is that a reader will read this message aloud to an audience. Not only is there happiness for the reader and the hearers, but there is also a blessing for those who respond in obedience.[2]

The reception, application and inculcation of this book, brings about the condition of the soul which is equated to happiness. This book offers to the born-again believer a message of hope (confident expectation) that help, vindication, validation is on its way.

Much like we have had with the last presidential election. There was the renewed hope in the American way, vindication that Justise has prevailed and validation that truth wins out over evil.

Let it be said that the battle between the truth and the Lie is not over and it won’t be over until the Lord sits upon his throne in Zion. Do not put your bibles away.

Revelation is the final showdown, between the Christ and Satan’s antichrist such as there was a showdown between Pharoah and Moses.

Light and darkness, good and evil will never find a happy medium and understand that Evil does not repent, it only blames others for its failure and then doubles down on its evil.

During the Great tribulation their will be the greatest persecution of God’s elect than it has ever been. There will be no nation that one can run to get away for the world ruler will have his influence on the four corners of the world.

None the less for the believers under the persecution they will be able to look up when they see these things because they know that what they are experiencing is birth pangs and that the Lord is near and he is bringing his reward with him.

Happiness means that there is a personal sense of destiny. There is Hope and the hope Is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is knowing that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

And so for these Soon means that once one finds themselves in the time of Jacob’s trouble, it only means that while weeping endures for the night that a shout of Joy comes in the morning.

This happiness is with the heart of the believer so sure of God’s promises that one lives in an already but not yet state of mind such as we fine in the Beattitudes in Matthew chapter 5

Matthew 5:3–13

Happy are the Poor is spirit for there is a future promise of the Kingdom of heaven. Happy are those who mourn for they know there is coming the time when they will be comforted. Happy are the gentile for they will inherit the earth. also those who huger and thirst for righteousness for the shall be satisfied and so it goes. Despite the believers lot there is a light at the end of the tunnel there is the heroe who comes riding his big white steed to win the day.

And there is happiness in persecution

Matthew 5:11–12 (NASB95) — 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Yes just so in Acts when after their beating the Apostles rejoice.

Acts 5:40–41 (NASB95) — 40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Point of Doctrine:

1. This carries with application

a. For those in the time of writing under persecution

b. Presently in the time of persecution

c. And certainly in Daniel’s 70 week suffering while in anticipation for the Lord’s return.

2. Happiness is based on the truth that is sanctifying the heart in the face of wickedness that seems to engulf the world.

3. Happiness is based on the principle that God’s promises and truth are more real than the pressures that the believer faces in this world.

Revelation 1:4 (NASB95) — 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

Having receiving the revelation from the Angel and having been privy to all that he would see of the future events that surround the coming of the Lord it becomes John’s responsibility to pass this on to the Churches.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

The Church is the assembly. It is Greek word that speaks of those within a principality that come together for the interest of the community.

Israel is referred to an assembly at the mount of sinai.

In context to the New Testament, the term church refers to a body of believers. It can refer to a local assemble or it can speak of church universal, or Catholic Church. Not to be confused with Catholicism. It just means universal church.

In heaven there will be no denominations. There will be one body of believers. The various doctrinal divisions will be no more and those who are born again and Christ will stand together as one.

Ephesians 4:4–6 (NASB95) — 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 301). United Bible Societies. [2]Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 928). Victor Books.

What blessings are mentioned in Revelation 1:3 for readers and hearers of the prophecy?