Practical lessons from the seven churches of revelation. Randolph richards walnut ridge, arkansas the early christian predilection for the codex may be a major key to under standing how pauls letters were collected. Viewing the letters to the seven churches as apocalyptic and applicable until the end opens the possibility of their being treated not only as historical but also as prophetic. They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea were literal churches that existed in asia minor modern turkey during the first century a.
How do the letters to the seven churches also apply to the. These personal copies were often kept in codex notebooks. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. I believe this series seven churches of revelation has the potential to revolutionize your faith. This means that their message, with the primary purpose of predictive prophecy to strengthen faith, becomes especially relevant for the end time john. Praise i know thy works warning admonition he that shame overcometh 2.
Oct 07, 2006 yes, there were these historical churches, and as the word of god is living heb 4 it is for time and eternity matt 24. The letters to the seven churches of asia and their place in the plan of the apocalypse. Seven letters to seven churches you are here revelation 2 and 3 introduction a cartoon in an old readers digest showed a confused looking hunter, obviously lost in the woods, puzzling over a sign with an x marking a spot. 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. Sep 10, 2010 the letters to the seven churches ramsay, william m.
Comparing the seven letters with church history grace. First he told them what they were doing that pleased him. And so, for the remainder of our time this morning i want to do two things as we look at the letter to the seven churches. Click download or read online button to get understanding the seven churches of revelation book now. The letters to the church video series walks with this generation, showing what it can look like to be the church god desires. To him who overcomes, these two phrases are repeated seven times in the seven letters.
A detailed study of these seven letters exceeds the scope of this brief glimpse. The letters to the seven churches overview1 the basic building block of the revelation is a setting followed by a series of seven. See in any church, there are those believers, that fit the patterns of those 7 churches. Seven churchesintroduction page 1 seven churches of asia introduction introduction. Perennially in that the conditions and issues addressed with these churches have always existed and will continue in some measure until the lord returns. Is it merely coincidence that ephesus to laodicea is clearly established by history as seven stages on a firstcentury mail route. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Oct 27, 2015 what is the overwhelming message that christ has for all christians and churches. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. This study will explore the seven letters by jesus christ to actual historical churches and the church ages they represent. Join francis as he takes you on a journey through the chapters of letters to the church, hear his heart for the bride of christ, and join him as he leans in to gods desire for the church. 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.
Comparison chart s letters to the seven churches of revelation. The second section is johns present, the things which are. Then come a commendation, a criticism, an admonition, a call, a challenge, and a promise. The letters to the seven churches deception in the church. Pergamum contributed on nov, 2009 based on 14 ratings 7,949 views. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen. The seven churches of revelation, as described in chapters two and three of that book, have intrigued bible expositors down through the age. The seven letters to the seven churches koinonia house. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches in revelation. The number 7 is the number of divine completeness, showing that these lessons are for all churches of all ages.
Letters to the seven churches church of the great god. In the apostle johns day the seven cities were located in a. Were the messages to these churches intended mainly for the congregations to which they were sent during the apostolic period. These messages of divine revelation and exhortation are pertinent to christians today. Chart lists fourteen occurrences of the number seven in revelation. He testified to their faithfulness in certain areas to encourage them. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Two of the seven letters, sardis and laodicea, contain no commendation, and in two, smyrna and philadelphia, no criticism is given.
Understanding the book of revelation 15 understanding the seven churches of revelation 10 i was in the spirit on the lords day, and i heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book and s end. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2. As one looks at the seven letters written to the churches one can see there are certain similarities that can be found. Although each letter is directed to a specific church, we must realize that those lessons are for us today.
The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Well study the context of the messages, what they meant for the original churches, and what they mean for us today what are the seven churches in revelation. Works, labor, patience, cannot bear those who are evil, judged the false apostles, hates the deeds of the. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. Hardy seven letters historicism corrected reprint page 2 no. Even though the messages are addressed to these seven specific, historical churches of john s day, they are intended for all churches across all the earth and across all time. A briefing package on the seven letters to the seven churches by chuck missler, which also views the seven churches as representing seven periods of church history, can be obtained by contacting koinonia house, po box d, coeur dalene, id 83816 1800khouse1 while all of these works are to. This seven week small group sermon series takes us on a voyage into the book of revelation, and the seven letters to seven churches. A study that gets to the brasstacks of what we need to address right now.
This morning were going to begin a brief series of studies of the first three chapters of the last book in the bible the book o f revelation. An introduction to the letters to the seven churches revelation. The things that were going on in the churches was the present at that time and has continued to apply to the present day all throughout the church age. This is evident from the fact that each message includes the phrase. The codex and the early collection of pauls letters e.
Church of ephesus the loveless church when jesus addressed the churches in the book of revelation, he ministered to them with a 4point communication. The gospel is the central theme in the letters to all seven churches and many christians completely miss this. This was only discovered with hindsight, but the specific churches the lord chose to address and the order in which he did so was unusual enough to arouse the curiosity of scholars. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting. These seven represent the entire church for the period covered by the prophecies. Why not choose corinth, rome, philippi, antioch, pella, derbe and jerusalem, or any other seven churches. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts.
Letters to the seven churches to the angel of the church in ephesus write the letters to the seven churches. This modern classic by colin hemer explores the seven letters in the book of revelation against the historical background of the churches to which they were addressed. The letters to the seven churches unsealed world news. Letters to the seven churches of asia minor revelation 2 and 3. We begin by reading some verses from the beginning of the book and then from the close of the book. Why these seven churches commentary a testimony of. Nov 16, 2000 the letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series colin j. Letters to the seven churches shared by scott bayles. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches. The seven churches of revelation bible student archives.
Thus, in each case we find, to the angel of the church in. David allens the letters to the seven churches lecture at the 20 advanced expository preaching workshop preaching the book of revelation. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series colin j. One example of the use of the number seven in the revelation given to john is the seven churches the text is addressed to. These seven cities in the roman province of asia, in modernday western turkey, were the most important of western anatolia. Mention johns book of revelation and the images that commonly come to mind are the four horsemen of the apocalypse and. Named for their geographical locations, the churches were. The codex and the early collection of pauls letters.
Understanding the seven churches of revelation download. As high priest, christ is putting his people through the paces, tailoring the trials and experiences needed for sanctification and ultimate glorification. Structural characteristics of the letters to the seven. Each letter is directed to a particular church, and yet in a larger sense, the seven letters are directed to all seven churches. Letters to the seven churches of asia minor revelation 2 and 3 vs audience. Each of the letters has seven sections to them with the exception of smyrna and philadelphia where there are no sections of condemnation and laodicea where there is an obvious absence of commendation. The book of revelation is the only book in the new testament that begins by spe cifically stating its source, the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave to himand signified it by his angel to his servant john rev. The letters to the 7churches july, 2004 in looking at the letters to the 7 churches, we see the lord speaking directlyto the 7 churches that existed in the holy land at the time john lived. John the baptist heralding the messiah and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom matthew. To each of the seven churches it is said that the one who overcomes will obtain the promised reward revelation 2. However, the passage itself does not define what it means to overcome. The letters to the seven churches are prophetic letters. Printed sermons the seven churches of revelation series. Revelation 23 7 letters to 7 churches, part 1 grace thru.
An introduction to the letters to the seven churches. Jan 01, 2018 the second section is johns present, the things which are. The letters to the seven churches of asia minor take on new force as we listen to the son of man speaking through them to the church of the present day. After the setting provided by the vision of the lord in ch. This ellipse is shown in each section for the letters to the seven churches indicating where that particular church is on this larger map, the areas of other new testament churches are. If we heed these lessons, we will gain a reward from jesus christ. The letters to the seven churches of asia and their place in the plan of the apocalypse by ramsay, william mitchell, sir, 18511939. Locations of the seven churches the red stars indicate the locations of the seven churches. Introduction some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation cover the next 2,000. Our purpose in this talk is to introduce to our thinking the topic of our lords letters to the seven churches of asia minor, as we find them in the book of revelation. This clip is from our series entitled, step by step through the book of revelations. We alsosee the lords opinion of those churches, and what they were doing at thetime. The fact that what our lord said comprises nearly oneeighth of the book of the revelation serves to emphasize the importance god places on these encouragements and warnings.
This is an expository, alliterated sermon with practical application based on the. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. We see it in early jewish literature, including 2 bar. What should we learn from the letters to the seven. However, in chapters two and three the lord has some very specific and very personal things to say to each of these seven churches or congregations. A survey of hebrews and the general epistles jobes, karen h. A series of lessons examining how the tongue is abused and is to be used. The letters to the seven churches contain a road map that is particularly important today as we approach the end of the age. Prophetically that these conditions would mark certain periods of. These seven churches really existed, and each was experiencing the particular problem to which the lord referred as he dictated the letters to john. The opinion that each of the 7 churches represents a phase in church history came from comparing what the letters say with actual events in the life of the church. Wilson pdf youll find all sorts of theories of how revelation fits together. This is what is found in the letters to the seven churches in revelation 23.
Revelation as a whole is addressed john to the seven churches that are in asia. Ancient letterwriters routinely kept personal copies of their letters. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches revelation 3. We see it elsewhere in the bible, such as 2 chronicles 21. 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.
In the midst of the storm, jesus speaks through the pen of the apostle john, with urgent and practical wordswords that remain full of application for us today. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series. So then, in the thinking of most fundamentalist expositors, there appears to be no reason to reject this general assumption that the letters apply to christians during some seven stages of this whole church age in which we are presently living. Commit to attend liquid every week to experience the sunday sermon read gods word yourself specifically, the first 3 chapters of revelation. The letters to the seven churchesand the seven church eras they representcontain important lessons. Heres what you can do to maximize the next 7 weeks. Revelation 23 7 letters to 7 churches, part 1 grace. In revelation 23, we find these churches included ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. Practical lessons from the seven churches of revelation revelation 2 and 3 contain messages from the risen christ to the seven churches of asia. The beginning of each letter addresses a particular church through the angel the person in charge. Based on literary, epigraphical, and archaeological sources and informed by hemers firsthand knowledge of the biblical sites, this superb study presents in the clearest way possible a picture of the new testament world in the. John the apostle addressed seven letters to seven real churches that existed during the time he wrote the book of revelation.
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