Article 10

To The Seven Churches

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION - 10

To The Seven Churches

In Rev. 1:11-15 John is instructed by a loud voice to write what he sees in a book “and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia”.  When he turns to identify the voice speaking, he sees “One like the Son of Man” clothed in priestly garb “in the midst of the seven lampstands.”  As before mentioned, according to Jesus, the entire book of Revelation is for the “the churches” (22:16); and not just for seven local churches, but for the Christian Church in all places and at all times.  Many theologians agree that the descriptions of the churches tend to describe seven phases of the church throughout the Chistian Era.  The description of Christ in Rev. 1 and His title both seem to be borrowed from Daniel 7:9 and 13.  Christ’s favorite designation of Himself in the gospels is “the Son of Man”.  John, therefore being a disciple, was very familiar with that designation.

Out of Christ’s mouth “went a sharp two-edged sword”.  Heb. 4:12 speaks that the word of God is “living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword” and discerns the “thoughts and intents of the heart.”  The words of Jesus to the seven churches reveals His intimate knowledge of the condition of His people.  In 2:23 (see also 1 Chronicles 28:9) it is Christ who “searches the minds and hearts”.  He examines and evaluates churches.  He is the “faithful witness” (1:5) and the Christian Church needs to be willing to carefully apply His counsels to it.

Christ’s comforting words to John, “Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last” (1:17) are very significant.  They mirror Isaiah’s account in 44:6-8!  Jesus is identifying Himself as the OT covenant God Yahweh who said in Lev 26:12, “I will also walk among you and be your God and you will be My people”!!!  The very God of the covenant has come down in the person of Jesus Christ and He is with His NT people.  Read Isa. 43:10-13! 

The resurrected and exalted Christ is none other than the God of the covenant.  In Him, the covenant promises given to ancient Israel have found their complete fulfillment!  In every point where OT Israel failed – Christ was victorious! 

Now we see Him portrayed in Rev. 1 garbed as our heavenly High Priest fulfilling in reality what Israel’s priesthood had foreshadowed!  The living Christ hears our confessions and forgives our sins with absolute assurance!  Christ has replaced all earthly priesthoods.  READ HEBREWS 7:17-28!  This we see being dramatically confirmed in John’s Rev. 1 vision! 

It bears repeating, here Christ begins to speak in more specific terms to His church by means of seven letters that He dictates to John.  It is Christ who speaks from heaven to encourage His sinful, struggling churches and through them to all His churches everywhere and at all times!  Jesus obviously considers seven specific churches at the end of the first century representative of seven ecclesiastical conditions that exist in His expanding church till the end.  They are prototypes of the future church development in the entire world.  In these seven epistles Christ speaks to the Christian church today.

The churches beginning with Ephesus are located on the “Roman Post Road”.  The mail would be delivered in the same sequence.  The order of the churches reflects the positioning of a Menorah, each lamp on one side corresponds to its parallel on the other side.  Ephesus and Laodicea are in great danger of lovelessness and legalism.  Second and sixth, Smyrna and Philadelphia, are commended for faithfulness, do not receive a rebuke, and both are opposed to those “who call themselves Jews” (2:9; 3:9).  The third and fifth messages to Pergamos and Sardis, are parallel in apostasy, there is little good to be said about them.  The fourth message to the middle church is clearly different.  It is a divided, corrupt church and this message is the longest of all.

There is a format discovered for each church.  Each begins with “To the messenger…” and every church is known by its name.  Christ addresses each church individually.  Then follows a “thus says” which is followed by a partial description of Christ’s full description in chapter 1.  The parallels used were particularly suited to each local church’s situation and problems.  Then follows Christ’s appraisal of each, “I know your works”.  Jesus analyzes the spiritual Condition of each.  He has intimate and full knowledge of them – He walks in the midst.  If a church wants to learn how to live, it needs to listen to Christ.  His appraisals are followed by words of “counsel”.  Each church is encouraged to have ears to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.  To each the best is saved for last – promises to the overcomer.  We are called to a life of victory and loyalty in Christ.  The fulfillment of these promises is found in chapters 21-22.

Are the messages meant for the local churches?  That seems reasonable.  Could each local church benefit from the message to the others?  That also would seem obvious since any reader can sense the application to their own individual life.  Do the messages transcend just the local and present?  Do we understand that these messages tend to describe the development of the Christian church down through the ages and that they tend to describe seven historical phases of the church through time?

It is important to recognize that John’s vision of the inaugurated Christ is a heavenly scene of introduction (as noted in a previous article) to the seven churches.  Decisions and activities originating from the throne room of heaven directly affect our world and the continuing progress of God’s ultimate goal found in the last two chapters of this book.

Jesus’ concern is to save and to sanctify His sinful churches.  He does not immediately reject but gives time to correct our ways, doctrines, and sacraments.  They can be the light of the world only by remaining connected to Him, His power, by reflecting His light and the purity of His truth by faith.  The assurance of our risen Lord is that His people will be ready for His coming and will shine forth light in Pentecostal power to the whole world!  (Rev. 18:1)

We will address Christ’s message to each individual church more in detail in the next article.

~Rex Frost