The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. Why these seven churches commentary a testimony of. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. It is the most important and valuable prophetic book in the bible. Here is a short overview of each of the 7 churches of revelation, plus a description of patmos, the place john actually received the book of. For the 7 churches of revelation, all of the promises are stated in the future tense. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. When revelation was written at the end of the first century, all seven churches existed at the same time, therefore the seven conditionsthe messages described. Why did god call out those seven churches in particular in the book of revelation. The seven angels of the seven churches revelation 1. Named for their geographical locations, the churches were strategically located along a major roman road.
The only reference to his appearance is found in the book of isaiahmore than seven hundred years. The rapture is not referred to until chapter four when john saw a door opened in heaven. The entire book constitutes the letterthe letters to the seven individual churches are introductions to the rest of the book, which is addressed to all seven. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers to. Aug 02, 2001 what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. As for example in the 7 spirits, or 7 loaves, 7 brethren, 7 devils of mary magdalene, 7 seals of the book, the 7 thunders, 7 messengers and so on and so forth. Some say they are merely representative churches of the one body that have grievously erred and are being warned. The book therefore is a divinely given book, and is the revelation of jesus christ and not of john. Did jesus hide nuggets for the modern day church in the letters to the seven churches in revelation. But, primarily we will be looking at how the doctrine given to the seven churches of revelation is the same doctrine that was given to israel in the old testament, and the same as that given in matthew, mark, luke, john, hebrews and the epistles of peter, james, jude, and john. The apostle john penned the revelation at the age of 92 while exiled as a prisoner of rome on the remote isle of patmos. As a book intended for the end time, the primary instruction in revelation 2 and 3 concerns the endtime church. Laodicea lay in phrygia s lycus valley, ten miles west of colosse and six miles south of hierapolis. Jan, 2014 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands.
Though the seven churches of revelation are real churches, the writer uses them allegorically as seven future periods of the church. Angels of the seven churches definition and meaning bible. The number seven, the bible numeric, this is the number of perfection. Were glad youre all here, and we just appreciate the fact that you all bring your bible, because believe it or not, this is what people notice. Books of the bible revelation seven churches of revelation. The list of sevens in revelation agape bible study. Through the bible with les feldick lesson 1 part 1 book 59 the seven jewish churches in revelation. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. Quiz about the book of revelation, chapters 2 and 3, the 7 letters to the 7 churches. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. He was told to write the things which he saw and heard. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches rev.
Were the seven churches of revelation a prophecy for today. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. So, is covid19 one of the seven plagues mentioned in revelation 1617. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts. How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of revelation according to archaeology and history. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. Interactive map of the seven churches in revelation. And i will never blot out his name from the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father and his angels. The temple and city of jerusalem had been destroyed, and the jews dispersed 26 years before, and johns attention was called to the condition of the seven representative churches of asia. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen.
John was not far from 100 years old, and the only remaining apostle. They show us that the church of god and its members were destined to face many trials throughout the centuries before jesus christ would return. I will write on them the name of my god and the name of the city of my god, the. They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. The messages to the seven churches of revelation 23 have continuing relevance for us today. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. Explain the meanings of the messages to the seven churches in. Did he give us a prophetic description of future churches as they evolved, clashed and separated through time. The seven churches of revelation life in a dying world. Also, the first few chapters of revelation contain letters from jesus to seven historical churches in asia minor. May 31, 2017 if you put together all of the promises to the 7 churches of revelation, the sum total of all of the promises to the believers of those churches are very similar to what paul the apostle wrote in his church epistles, with one crucial difference. The church that has abandoned its love for christ and his teachings revelation 2.
While it might be tempting to try and identify this virus with one of those plagues, i believe there are a couple of reasons not to. Are you and i associating with the church the lord desires. The church of philadelphia, god was pleased with the church of philadelphia, why. There are many great lessons that we can learn from the letters to the seven churches of revelation. The seven churches of revelation 2 and 3 are 7 historical. Some say they are merely representative churches of the.
Do you remember each of the 7 churches of revelation. To the churches of the seven continents christian forums. The meaning of the seven churches in the book of revelation to the angel of the church in ephesus write. The seven churches of revelation described in revelation chapters 2 through chapter 3 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. Are the angels of the churches in revelation real angels, or are they human messengers. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning.
While the dominant genre is apocalyptic, the author sees himself as a christian prophet. In the book of revelation, jesus christ instructed john to write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. Second are the seven cycles of individual churches. The seven churches of revelation describe the different periods of the church age, painting a progressive picture of the professing church from the first coming of christ until the second coming. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2. The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. The seven churches of revelation bible study ministry. For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation.
The seven letters to the seven churches revelation 2 and 3. The seven churches of revelation ernest angley ministries. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible. The number seven is a number that signifies the completeness or whole of whatever is in view. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church.
In revelation 1, john the apostle sees the glorified christ in a vision. In revelation chapters, seven stars are referenced four times. Seven churches, god was pleased with only two churches. Revelations warning the church in philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches who received a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ. Roman, corinthian, galatian, ephesian, philippian, colossian, and thesallonian. The 7 churches of revelation ephesus its background youtube. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation.
Explain the meanings of the messages to the seven churches in revelation. Do the seven churches in revelation predict seven eras of church history. When reading the messages to the church, we must keep in mind that although each message was given to the seven churches as originally addressed, the churches also represent a church era in history. And to the angel of the church in philadelphia, write. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea were literal churches that existed in asia minor modern turkey during the first century a. The study of the seven churches can be very large and in depth. Three, seven, ten, and twelve are known as the perfect numbers. The seven churches of revelation introduction untold numbers of professing christians have been taught, as i was, that the seven churches of revelation are somehow related to the body of christ. Indeed, the primary purpose for john writing his letters to the seven churches was to deliver christs report card for the churches of that time. Nov 27, 2019 through the bible with les feldick lesson 1 part 1 book 59 the seven jewish churches in revelation. The church in philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches who received a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ. Studies from the seven churches of revelation explores christs warnings to the seven most prominent churches in asia minor in the book of revelation. These things says the holy one, the one who is true. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands.
The seven churches of revelation the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the. Or the angels may be regarded as the personifications of the churches. However, the seven churches in revelation also have spiritual significance for churches and believers today.
Perhaps you, like me, have wondered what jesus meant when he spoke of the angels of the seven churches. Here is a short overview of each of the 7 churches of revelation, plus a description of patmos, the place john actually received the book of revelation. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. These churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. The seven jewish churches in revelation lesson 1 part. If you count the number of new covenant, predominantly gentile churches to which paul the apostle addressed his letters, you will see that he also wrote letters to seven groups of churches. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. The seven churches in revelation are literal churches from the first century ad. Detailed description of the seven churches, revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven. Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. Are the angels of the churches in revelation real. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. Modern relevance of the messages to the seven churches of revelation.
The list of sevens in revelation new testament charts list scripture study guide according to hebrew tradition every number has a symbolic significance. I believe that the seven churches located in asia what is now turkey represent the universal church. Map shows the approximate locations of the cities with the seven churches that are mentioned in the bibles book of revelation. Revelation uses the word in various forms twentyone times, more than any other new testament book. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus is on things that shall be.
This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. The 7 churches of revelation ephesus its background. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in todays church age. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. The meaning of the seven churches in the book of revelation. Is coronavirus one of the plagues in the book of revelation. The seven churches described in the book of revelation.
We need to remember that jesus himself is giving these commendations and rebukes, so we need to listen and heed what he says to the churches, because they apply to us also. Each of the seven letters is a prophetic word from jesus, through the spirit, who is inspiring john to write. Secondly, revelation is written chronologically covering events from the early church through life in the future new heaven and earth. It appears to be a deliberate choice, like the many other occurrences of seven in the book of revelation, to signify that these seven churches typify all churches in every age.
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