The Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation
Overview
I'm going to be using materials from the Christian Life Style Series by Randy Petersen and Ray Stedman. I'm also going to pull in other information about the Book of Revelation in the context of the seven churches, and some geography (you will have to suffer me on this).
We want to learn about the setting in which this scripture takes place.
We want to learn something about the Apostle John.
We want to learn about the proper interpretation of this scripture.
We want to learn how to apply the insights given in scripture to our lives today.
The Book of Revelation:
Although many may have said, "I just can't understand the Book of Revelation", it actually is a very orderly book. Not that it doesn't have it's mysteries, but it is orderly. The portion that we will be looking at, however, is not difficult to understand. It is a gold mine of information for the Church. It is Christ's message to the Church, His Church. So, we must regard it as extremely important.
What is the order of the book? John is told to put down the instructions given to him by Christ: "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter", i.e. Past (the visions of the glorified Christ in heaven that John has just seen in Chapter 1), the Present (Chapters 2 and 3), and Future (the balance of the book). Then each section of the book is further broken down into a series of sevens, each division as orderly as it possibly can be (hence 7 churches). You won't find any other book in the Bible so well organized.
Why Seven?
The number seven has a special meaning in Scripture. You need to understand that numbers, and even writing itself, held special meaning to people of these early cultures. The number seven denotes completion. It may denote perfection, but not always. The major emphasis of the number is completeness and fullness, or `full representative of something'. Can you think of other examples? Nathan dipped in the Jordan (?) times; they walked around Jericho (?) times. Sabbath is the (?) day. How may years of plenty in Egypt? There are many many other examples of this.
The interpretation of the book should be literal. Where symbology is used, the book will indicate it. In the section dealing with the "present", the book carries a literal meaning for the Church in that time, and also a prophetic meaning for the Church today.
The Church of Jesus Christ is set before us in the figure of seven churches of Chapters 2 and 3, which were real churches in existence in John's day. I hope that you have access to a map showing these churches. They are in the core area of the early gentile church. How did they get there? Largely, they are the result of the missionary work of Paul, John, and their helpers. Although John was speaking to local situations found in each church, he also was speaking to the Church as a whole, and to individuals who, after all, make up the Church. There are at least three levels of interpretation for this section, 1) the Contemporary (direct message to the church in existence at that time), 2) the Composite (each church is a composite picture of the churches of all ages, and it's members , i.e. US, and 3) Chronological (the panoramic history of the church is given in these seven stages from the upper room to the church of the parousia. This is awesome.
The Church is not mentioned after Chapter 3 in the book. After that, it is mentioned only as the `Bride of Christ'.
The name of the book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". As it's name implies, it reveals Christ to us 1) in His Glory in heaven, 2) Christ in the world, and 3) Christ in the future. The greek word used for the book is apokalupsis, that is, the uncovering, unveiling, or revelation of Jesus Christ.
Christ as the Head of the Church
Christ works in His Church today. He is alive! If it seems that the contemporary church is in confusion and disunity, then it just may be that the church has been decapitated! The Church must look to the Head of the Church for direction and guidance. We are the body. We are to carry out the work given us by the Head. We cannot survive without the Head. That is what I especially like about Promise Keepers. They are working toward the unity that Christ prayed so earnestly for.
The Greating through John the Apostle
Jesus addresses the churches through John with `grace' and `peace' (Rev 1:4):
The trinity is implicit here in this greeting as well.
To the seven churches of Asia (Asia Minor)
Why These Seven?
There were many churches in Asia at this time. Right next to Laodicea, for example, was the city of Hierapolis. This was an important city at that time, and there are magnificent ruins there today, and even an existing settlement. There were four christian communities at Hierapolis and it was an important center of Christian evangelism. But, at Laodicea, you find just an oat field today. Why did Christ address this lesser community? Because, it mirrored the overall picture of the Church. The seven churches selected represent 1) the Contemporary Situation in AD 95, 2) the Whole of Chrisianity in every age, and 3) the chronological development of the Church as well. These things are marvellous evidences of the inspiration of the Book of Revelation and of the Bible as a whole.
The reference to Asia, really only pertains to a small part of what later is called Asia Minor, the provinces of Mysia, Lydia, Caria, and part of Phrygia (refer to a map). Mainly, the area covers the Western Coastal Area of Turkey and the upper reaches of several river valleys.
The Apostle John, the Writer of the Book
I John, who also am your brother and companiion in tribulation... (Rev 1:9)
John had been the pastor at Ephesus, and as such, he had supervision over many churches in the hinterland of Ephesus, as well. Now, John was in trouble. The Church was in trouble. The first persecution of the Church had just occurred under Domitian in AD 95, the Roman emperor. The emperor had put John in prison on the Isle of Patmos in AD 86. The island is rugged volcanic island about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. John was exiled there about 11 years. It was a lonely place, and the prisoners had to `fend for themselves', growing vegetables to support themselves at subsistence levels. Surely Jesus would not subject his `beloved' disciple to this? Yes, it was in God's plan and purpose that John would have those years on Patmos at a time when his direction of the Church seemed all important. Can't you hear the murmurs now? Why would God permit this to happen to our pastor, John. Such hardship, and he an old man now. John was on Patmos because he preached and taught the Word of God. John and the Church were well acquainted with persecution for the Gospel's sake.
Then Jesus, the risen, incarnate Christ, spoke to him in a vision (Rev 1:10,11). He first heard a `great voice, as of a trumpet'. Why a trumpet? He is describing the sound to us. This is the closest thing that he has words for to describe it. A trumpet is loud, but also sweet and clear. We heard a concert soloist trumpeter last year at the Meyerhoff, Hardeneger(sp). His trumpet was custom made in Japan and tuned to the key of C. Really a great and pure sound, and it filled the entire auditorium. Everyone there was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to hear what marvellous sound would come from that instrument next. I like to think of the voice of Jesus coming as that trumpet, joyful, clear, unmistakable. "and every ear will hear him".
He is the Beginning and the Last (the Alpha and Omega). Here again, we see a message of `completeness'. All creation is completed in Him. And he says to John, write what you see down in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia; namely, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The meaning here in the greek is of urgency. Write it promptly! Then John turned, and he saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of them, one like unto the Son of man (like Jesus), clothed with a garment, reaching to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The garment that He wears is the garment of a high priest, a garment of inherent righteousness. The girdle about the breast indicates that He comes with judgement. The high priests wore such a girdle. This ministry of Christ isn't as popular as His minstries of intercession, intervention , and advocate. This is the ministry of inspection.
Inspection Time!
Jesus walks in the midst of the lampstands and inspects those lampstands. We don't like to be inspected, but in Revelation, that is what Jesus is doing to us. What is more, He has the power to snuff out the lamp, as He clearly states. This should give us sober thought. You can be put aside. Are you a fit vessel for the Master's use? He walks among us, and it is His desire that we produce light! Human nature resents criticism. We rebel when we are judged. We like a convenient list of little rules that we can keep. When we get challenged to change things in our lives that need changing, sometimes we rebel. We get angry, or we push it back into that special room that is reserved for things that are unpleasant to think about.
I am going to end it here. Next, God willing, we will take a look at the Church at Ephesus, probably tomorrow soas not to burden you with too much at once.
Shalom
Lee |
