End of Times: Seven Churches of Revelation

It is important to look at the truth of Scripture and what can be ascertained from that truth. Contextually, John is given a vision, a message, to send to the seven churches. Verse 4 supports that these particular churches were in Asia, not the world. Many churches were excluded from this list, such as Rome, Thessalonica, Colassae, Philippi, etc. why? We do not know. God chose to focus on seven churches in Asia (or Asia Minor) as it was also known. Today it is modern-day Turkey.

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea

I am not going to go into the various theories about these churches, as there are some. My goal is to stick the context and what Scripture shares about these churches. Everything else we add to Scripture is simply conjecture on our part. When it comes to apocalyptic literature, “You don’t know, until you know.”

I want to point out a couple of verses in Chapter 1.

Verse 3: Emphasize “those who hear.”

Verse 11: Send the message to the seven churches. John would have known these church bodies existed and would have sent the message to them. He would not have kept the message to himself. Just as Paul sent letters to churches, so to, John sent this message to the seven churches.

Verse 13: Jesus is standing in the midst of the seven lampstands

Verse 20: the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Suggesting, Jesus is among the churches. There are also seven angels (messengers) of these seven churches, to whom the message would be delivered to.

Verse 20 concludes Chapter 1. Chapters 2-3 are the messages to each of the seven churches.

Each specific church is given a message that is unique for them, in their current state. However, at the end of each message to the seven churches there is a repeated clause, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This is followed by a promise for each of the seven churches.

This is where we need to use a good hermeneutic.

In each message to the churches, it is also meant for all believers of all time. Additionally, the promises are to all believers. So, in each message to each church, we as followers of Christ, must listen and take to heart. Refer back to 1.3.

These seven churches represent the complete Church, as is suggested by the number seven and the message for all believers to follow.

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May God be a blessings to you always.