A Timely Challenge:
Seven Mysterious Letters
by Chuck Missler
Berean Bible Study
The Seven Letters to the Seven Churches
Revelation 2-3, Overview
The Loveless Church
Rev 2:1"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'
The Persecuted Church
Rev 2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'
The Compromising Church
Rev 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'
The Corrupt Church
Rev 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — 27'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' —
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
The Dead Church
Rev 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
The Faithful Church
Rev 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
The Lukewarm Church
Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"
The first thing you notice about these letters, of course, is that there are seven of them. In the Bible, seven seems to consistently mean "complete," or "full." So, there is something complete about these letters, taken all together. Why these particular seven? Weren’t there more important churches? What about Jerusalem? What about Rome?
For whatever reason, these particular seven churches embody the things that the entire church faces. It is my personal opinion that every single thing that happens in our churches today, good or bad, can be traced back to one of the problems or commendations mentioned in these letters.
Now, another thing to note. Every single one of these churches ARE churches. There are two churches that have no criticism, and wouldn’t we all love to believe that our church is one of those? The first is Smyrna, the persecuted church. Guess maybe we’d rather not be in that one, huh? The other is Philadelphia. Yet, even those two, with no condemnation at all, only have part of the full picture of Jesus. Not one of these letters calls people to leave that church. It calls for the church to repent, but it doesn’t say, "come out of her, my people." That doesn’t mean you might not have very legitimate reasons for leaving a particular church, but none of these letters call for everyone to come out.
There is, however, one place that God’s people ARE called to come out of:
Rev 18:4-5
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her , my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
NKJV
These letters are directed to seven churches in Asia Minor, what we now call Turkey. That is the first audience they are intended for. However, note the phrase, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Each letter is intended for an individual church, but each is intended for not only all seven, but all churches. Also note the phrase, He who has an ear, let him hear. That is speaking to individuals – anyone who would understand or who wants to understand what is being said.
There are multiple layers of meaning in these letters. Throughout the Bible, to "have an ear" means to have spiritual understanding. When Jesus says "He who has an ear, let him hear," as He does both here and in Matthew 13, He is basically saying that there is more here than what is just on the surface.
As we discussed in the first study, there are many ways that people interpret the Book of Revelation. Actually, each is applicable here. The Preterist viewpoint is that these were real churches with real problems that Jesus is addressing. That is absolutely true. Each one of these churches was an actual church, with real people who really were going through these things at the time this was written.
The Historicist would say that these letters apply to churches throughout history. That is also true, and it seems to be true that each letter applies to a period in church history. It is fairly obvious with some of the letters and less so with others.
The Idealist would say that these letters apply to all churches in all time. That is also true. Every church has a little Ephesus, a little Smyrna, a little of all seven. And, it also seems to be true that each church might have a little more of any one church than the others. For example, the church in China seems very much like the church in Smyrna.
|
Ephesus |
Smyrna |
Pergamos |
Thyatira |
Sardis |
Philadelphia |
Laodicea |
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Theme |
Lost love. |
Persecution. |
Compromise. |
Corruption. |
Spiritual Death. |
Faithfulness |
Spiritual Apathy. |
|
Meaning of the name |
Desired one or desirable, beloved, darling |
Bitter. Comes from the word for myrrh. It must be crushed and beaten small in order to yield its fragrance. Myrrh is mentioned many times in the Scriptures in connection with the embalming of the dead. |
Mixed marriage. Or "much married." "Gamos" means marriage (as in monogamous or polygamous). Perverted, perversion? |
Some believe that Thyatira comes from the Greek words, thea, "a female deity, goddess," and tyrannos, "a tyrant or ruler." So, Thyatira would mean"ruled by a woman." There are others who say the name comes from thuo, "to sacrifice" and means "continual sacrifice" |
Escaping ones, those who come out, remnant |
Brotherly love |
"Lao" means people and "dicea" comes from dikē, which means rights, justice, ruling or governing. Laodicea would mean, then, "rule of the people" or "rights of the people" |
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Title of Jesus |
He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: |
'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: |
'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: |
'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: |
'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: |
'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": |
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: |
|
Commendation |
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. |
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. |
"I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. |
"I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. |
None |
8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. |
None |
|
Criticism |
You have left your first love. |
None |
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. |
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. |
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. |
None |
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked |
|
Exhortation to the church |
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. |
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. |
6 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. |
"Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. |
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. |
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. |
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. |
|
Promise to Individuals |
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."' |
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."' |
To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."' |
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — |
4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. |
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. |
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. |
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Key Phrase |
Before the promise |
Before the promise |
Before the promise |
After the promise |
After the promise |
After the promise |
After the promise |
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A Timely Challenge: Seven Mysterious Letters by Chuck Missler |
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PURSUE THIS TOPIC: |
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RESOURCES Letters to the Seven Churches Revelation |
The Book of Revelation
Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a special blessing to the reader.
1 (Many passages tell us to read the Bible in general terms. Only one book has the audacity to say, in effect, Read me; I'm special.)Early in my teens, I encountered a Bible teacher who heralded that The Book of Revelation is written in code; but every code is explained somewhere else in the Bible.
That really caught my attention. And that discovery changed my entire life.
The Seven Letters
Ask any Bible student how many epistles (letters) are in the New Testament. He will probably answer 21 : 13 authored by Paul, plus Hebrews, which appears anonymous;
2 and the seven "general epistles" by Peter, James, John, and Jude.We usually overlook the seven most important letters: the seven authored by Jesus personally. For many reasons, these seven letters, comprising Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation, are probably the most important part of this book for you and me.
Why These Seven?
There were many other churches at that time that would seem to be more historically significant than the seven that Jesus addressed: the churches at Jerusalem, Rome, Galatia, Corinth, Antioch, Colossae, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Miletus, to name a few. Why did Jesus select just these seven Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea?
Four Levels of Meaning
There appear to be at least four levels of application to these letters:
These letters describe, with remarkable precision, the unfolding of all subsequent church history. If these letters were in any other order, this would not be true!
These letters appear to fill the interval between the 69th and 70th "weeks" of Daniel 9. The Book of Acts covers about 30 years; these two chapters of the Book of Revelation cover the next 1,900 years.
Seven Key Elements
A key aspect to understanding the letters is to grasp the structure of their design. A careful examination of the letters reveals seven key elements in their design:
The Meaning of Names
|
Epheses: |
The Desired One |
|
Smyrna: |
Myrrh; Death |
|
Pergamos: |
Mixed Marriage |
|
Thyatira: |
Semiramis |
|
Sardis: |
Remnant |
|
Philadelphia: |
Brotherly Love |
|
Laodicea: |
People Rule |
It is also interesting that this key phrase in element 7 is the final element in the last four letters, but appears before the "Promise to the Overcomer" (element 6) in the first three, leaving the promises as a kind of post script after the body of the letters themselves. This design suggests that the first three letters and the last four may share some particular characteristic. [It is also interesting that only the last four letters include explicit references to our Lord's Second Coming.]
The Missing Elements
Once the basic structure is evident, one also notices that two of the letters, Smyrna and Philadelphia, have no Criticism, Element 4. That's encouraging for them.
Also, two of the letter, Sardis and Laodicea, have no Commendation, Element 5. That's rather grim.
The Prophetic View
If these seven letters really do include a preview of all church history, then where are we now? Are we, indeed, in the period suggested by the letter to Laodicea?
Judge for yourself.
Other Parallels
Also, is there an intended parallel between these seven letters of Jesus Christ and His seven "Kingdom Parables" of Matthew 13?
An what about Paul's letters? It is interesting that Paul signed 13 epistles; but 3 of these had "duplicate" addressees: Corinthians, Thessalonians, and Timothy. That is 13 - 3 = 10 addressees.
But three addressees were individuals: Titus, Timothy, and Philemon. 10 - 3 = 7. Paul wrote seven churches.
Is there a possible parallel between the seven churches Paul wrote to and the seven that Jesus addressed in Revelation 2 & 3?
A detailed study of these seven letters exceeds the scope of this brief glimpse. These remarks have been included to stimulate you to take a closer look at these two chapters and conduct your own careful analysis.
In addition to the practical insights from the letters, you will also see another of the many examples demonstrating the evidence of careful design: the Bible consists of 66 books, written by 40 authors over thousands of years--and yet bears the clear evidence of supernatural engineering.
This article was originally published in the
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/artarchaeology/a/histephesus.htm
One of the seven wonders of the world at Ephesus. The others were Great Pyramid at Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus at Rhodes, and the Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria.
3.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The statue of Artemis and her temple at Ephesus were built around 550 B.C. The temple of Artemis was deliberately burned down by Herostratus in an attempt to gain fame in 356 B.C. supposedly when Alexander the Great was born.