Seven Churches 1-4 Revelation 2
What is the condition of God’s church in the Christian era?
Enclosing Revelation like two bookends, Rev. 1:3 and 22:18, 19, we find John declaring this book is a prophecy, including the narrative of the seven churches, seals and trumpets. Concealed in the prophetic imagery of the seven churches, seals and trumpets we find the story of Christianity as it is moved by the Holy Spirit to the grand climax of the Second Coming.
We see in the story of the seven churches a prophecy to the church in every age, described in the symbolic language of the Bible. The “letter” to each church describes the conditions of the seven churches throughout the Christian era. We spoke about some of the reasons we see the seven churches illustrative of seven time periods in the Christian era, which being a prophecy of the same, tell us what is happening to the church in time. If chapters 2 & 3 are a prophecy, then they would have something to say to more than just the 1
st century church, as some commentators suggest. The cross-connections with the seals and churches are numerous and likewise suggest time periods are involved. The seals are opened sequentially, one after the other, suggesting time is involved. And, it is quite easy to identify many of the symbols in real church history upon looking at the history of the church. All in all, this is a wonderful road map that Jesus has left us to see what the spirit saith unto the churches.” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)
Chapters 2 & 3 reveal details about each church time period. We see revealed their successes, their spiritual failures, and we read of the remedy they can obtain from Jesus to be overcomers. Each 1
st century church has characteristics that are revealed in the church through the Christian era, as defined by the suggested dates in an earlier lesson. Christ’s church has gone through six phases. We are in the last or seventh or Laodicean Church phase right now.
Church Name Definition Characteristic Jesus’ Gift to Each
Ephesus Desirable Pure Holds the seven stars
Smyrna Fragrant Persecuted The first and the last
Pergamos Exalted Popular Sharp two-edged sword
Thyatira Sacrificial Politic Eyes of fire; feet of brass
Sardis Jubilant Pretentious Seven spirits and seven stars
Philadelphia Loving Propagandist The Holy One, the True One
Laodicea Judged Proud Faithful and True Witness
What is your diagnosis? Jesus, the Great Physician, knows where you are. He wants to make you aware of your diagnosis and suggest a remedy for you. While Jesus said good things about the first six churches, He has nothing good to commend His last church, the Laodicean Church. In fact, He says we are so completely unaware of our need for Him and enjoying our own righteousness that he wants to throw up. (Rev. 3:16) The Good News here, is Jesus will NOT give up on us!
Jesus has some things against His churches. They have lost their first love (Ephesus); they love the Nicolaitans (Pergamos); they love the doctrine of Balaam (Pergamos); they love having Jezebel in their church (Thyatira); they believe they are spiritually alive, but are spiritually dead (Sardis); and are rich and increased in good and have need of nothing Jesus has to offer (Laodicea). These are truly sad spiritual conditions.
Jesus calls five of the churches to repent: Ephesus 2:5; Pergamos 2:16; Thyatira 2:22; Sardis 3:3; and Laodicea 3:19. Two churches are only commended; Smyrna for suffering through persecution and Philadelphia for being strong for the gospel. Laodicea receives no commendations from Jesus. This is tough love!
We live in the last church and the last time period, from October 22, 1844 to the Close of Probation. Despite our varied walk with Jesus, despite where we might be on our growth in Him, or despite whatever our failings and sins may be, we are in the last era of the church before Jesus comes. We must take a closer look at this shortly.
There are no prophetic time periods associated with the seven churches, the following dates of the seven churches are commentators’ best suggestion on the time periods. The beginning and ending dates tend to fall on dates and events of importance to that church time period, as the commentators see their relative importance to any other event.
Haskell SS Lesson
Ephesus 31-100 31-100
Smyrna 100-323 100-313 ?323 Council of Nicaea
?313 End of Persecution
Pergamum 323-538 313-538 ?beginning of the 1260 yrs.
Thyatira 538-1798 538-1565 ?Council of Trent/Counterreformation
Sardis 1798-1833 1565-1740 ?1740 Great Awakening
?1798 end of the 1260 year prophecy
Philadelphia 1833-1844 1740-1844 ?1833 last heavenly sign “stars fall”
Laodicea 1844-End 1844-End
- Jesus wants to establish a relationship with us.
Jesus stands among the candlesticks; his churches (Rev. 1:20). He wants to be close to us. He longs to have us with Him forever. Ever since God formed man “of the dust of the ground,” (Gen. 2:7), He has been communing with His creation. Sin has placed an impassable, though temporary gulf between God and us. Through Jesus, He has made every provision to rescue us if we are willing.
When John saw Jesus in His vision, whom he had not seen for some 70 years, he fell at his “feet as dead,” (Rev. 1:17) in worship and adoration. What is compelling for me is that Jesus reached out and laid His right hand on John and said those familiar words, “fear not.” John, who, in this verse, symbolizes all Christians, finds Jesus laying his right hand of power on him, just as He wishes to lay his right hand of power and fellowship on you and me today. He says to us, “Fear not.” What a precious promise. Jesus, who is “Emmanuel, meaning God with us,” (Matt. 1:23) is among His people today. “…One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation—that the connection between God and His people is close and decided.”
[1] Can you realize the closeness of Jesus to you right now?
Jesus “knows our works.” He knows what we do and knows everything we need in this life. Jesus tells every church in Asia Minor that He “knows their works.” There is nothing that Jesus does not know about us. Every word, every thought, every action of the human heart and being is known to Jesus because it is contained in the scroll with the seven seals. We do not know ourselves like Jesus knows us. Jesus knows what we need.
For the penitent sinner who sees his great need, he falls at Jesus’ feet and confesses his sins and Jesus gives him grace and pardon. Are we ever in need of His grace! Remember that wonderful description of Jesus in Chapter 1? This ageless and all-wise Jesus has every remedy you need to overcome. His eyes pierce the gloom of your life. He calls you to repent or turn away from your sins and your selfishness. He is our High Priest in heaven who ever lives to make intercession for us. (Heb. 7:25). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) Jesus will give us a new character, His own, and a new name. He knocks at the door (3:20), asking to come in and have a wonderful and intimate relationship with you.
Most exciting of all is the promise that everyone in every church period can be an overcomer, or victorious in this life and in the life to come! Every single church is promised they can be overcomers if they follow His will for their lives. Jesus proclaims you will be victorious if you submit your life to Him. He promises you will sit with him on His throne in His coming kingdom. I would make haste to bow my face to the ground with John and listen to that melodious voice of Jesus as He lays His right hand on your shoulder and bids you walk with Him.
Ephesus: “to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life…” (2:7)
Smyrna: “he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death…” (2:11)
Pergamum: “to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
And a white stone and a new name written on it…” (2:17)
Thyatira: “and he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give
Power over the nations…” (2:26)
Sardis: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not
Blot his name out of the book of life,…” (3:5)
Philadelphia: “he that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,…write
Upon him the name of my God…” (3:12)
Laodicea: “to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
Also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (3:21)
Rev. 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he
Shall be my son.”
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
- Brief description of the seven churches
1
st church Ephesus, the church of the white horse,
(AD 31-100) rode forth to conquer the Roman Empire for Jesus. Ephesus, which conquered the Roman World with the bow (Hab. 3:9), the Word of Jesus; lost its “first love,” or “compassion and tenderness” for the people.
[2] It was in danger of being removed by Jesus. They did hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, who were anti-nomian. They believed that once they were saved, keeping the law was not important. Nicolaitanism is still found in the end-time church. “The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect; that by ‘believing’ we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which Christ so unsparingly condemned”
[3]
2
nd Church Those in Smyrna and the persecuted church of this time period
(AD 100-323) experienced crushing burdens, no livelihood, and nothing of this world’s comfort or goods. Yet they had Jesus, the First and Last, and they were spiritually rich. Those who gave their lives for Jesus gained the comforting knowledge that they would live again, just as He did. No reproof or rebuke came from the One who stood among the Candlesticks. The Faithful of Smyrna endured all. Nothing more was expected of them. Ten years of particularly severe persecution took place under Diocletian from A.D. 303–313. “Diocletian, urged by his Caesar, Galerius, returned to the harassment of Christians, which had been in abeyance for four decades—although his own wife Prisca belonged to the faith. As never before, the motive of the Great Persecution, which began in A.D. 303, was the total extirpation of Christianity—a struggle to the death between the old and new orders.”
[4] This persecution by Diocletian fulfills the time prophecy exactly, as mentioned in this verse.
3
rd Church Constantine brought the pagan world into the church and it was never the same again. As the church gained authority it began to persecute those who did not agree with it. The Pergamum time period
(AD 323-538) was characterized by arrogance and persecution. Those who did not accept the truths of Scripture were weighed in the balance beam of judgment. This sword Jesus holds is the Word of God. The Word of God was there to confront all the doctrinal changes in the church. What meets human pride and human knowledge and cuts it down to size in the Revelation of the Word of God. The Balaamite heresy is so dangerous: covetousness and licentiousness. The church coveted the material things that came with their new status, and became licentious in the process.
4
th Church The time period of Thyatira
(AD 538-1798) is the longest in the Christian era. Some of the people in this period were faithful through during the Dark Ages and the terrible persecution that occurred. Jesus promised them He would put no other burden on them. Unfortunately, most of the world took to Jezebel, the medieval Catholic Church, and apostatized from the truth. John foretells of the sick bed they will be laid on and her children killed with death at the Final Judgment. This is a most painful picture of the church, ridden by death, but thankfully, still controlled by Him who has the “keys of hell and death” and will not allow a single soul to be forgotten.
Parallels between Jezebel and the Medieval Papacy*
Old Testament Jezebel Medieval Papacy
Introduced paganism to Israel and a Introduced mass, priesthood, and union of
State-run priesthood church and state
Ahab marries outside his faith Allied itself with secular rulers
Jezebel means “chaste” Calls herself the true church
Instigates persecution against the Instigates persecution of the Bible believers
Hebrew religion
Kills the prophets of God Kills the Waldenses, Albigenses, etc.
Did the most of any king Changed the truths of God
to provoke God
Refused to repent Cast onto a sick bed
She came to an untimely end Demise of church predicted in Rev. 18:1–8.
- Seven Churches 5-7 Chapter 3
- Brief description of the last three churches
5
th Church Despite the Reformation, the re-energized Sardis church was subverted by Satan once again. Theologians during this time period
(1798-1833) developed the concepts of rationalism and historical criticism to combat the faith of Jesus as revived by the Reformation. They looked “alive” but they were “dead.” People claimed to be spiritually alive, but they were spiritually dead and didn’t know it.
The onslaught of historical criticism against the Scriptures continues even until today. With its supremacy in the theological world, it has stripped away the time prophecies in Revelation. The biblical text and how it is written is all important than knowing what the text means for the Christian life. Reason is paramount over faith. Let us read what Martin Luther wrote about faith.
“Martin Luther clung mightily to faith. He clung to faith that believes against reason. He wrote, ‘it is a quality of faith that it wrings the neck of reason and strangles the beast, which else the whole world, with all its creatures could not strangle. Abraham did take his reason captive and slay it, inasmuch as he believed God’s word, wherein was promised him that from his unfruitful wife, Sarah, God would give him seed. Luther knew the enemy, but overcame it; his faith triumphed over doubt.’” For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (
1 John 5:4).” Statement by Martin Luther.
A few Sardian Christians have not defiled (stained or soiled) their garments. In the sign language of Scripture, they have not stained or soiled their character with the human philosophy of the world and still stand pure in the garment of Christ’s righteousness before Him. As with those who came out of the great tribulation in 7:14, they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. After Jesus takes the scroll and sits on His throne, He is able to cleanse the sin of His people and give them new garments or characters.
6
th Church Only during the Great Awakening in the world did the Philadelphian church
(1833-1844) begin to faithfully preach the 1
st and 2
nd Angel’s message and speak of Jesus’ second coming. He (Jesus) that is holy and true meets his faithful believers in the Philadelphia time period. The Holy One of Israel meets the little church of Philadelphia at one of the climactic moments in history—the close of the 2300-year prophecy of Daniel 8. He has no condemnation for this church—they have fulfilled every duty assigned. He will make them pillars in His kingdom.
The Key of David represents the power and authority of Jesus Christ. This idea comes from
Isaiah 22:20–22. Eliakim was a faithful steward of Hezekiah and was entrusted with the keys of the house of David. Eliakim is a type of Christ. Like Eliakim, Jesus will be invested with power and authority—the robe, sash, and the key—and will control His Father’s house. But Jesus is also the Davidic Messiah who controls the entrance to God’s kingdom. In Jesus these two functions of Eliakim and David merge into one: Jesus. In
1:18, Jesus holds the keys to death and hades. In
3:7, He holds the key of David. In
1:18, He claims sovereignty over death and the grave. And in
3:7, Jesus claims authority over those entering the kingdom.
There are two doors that open in Revelation, the door to the holy place in 4:1 and the vail to the Most Holy Place in 11:19. We know it is another door, because when it opens, it reveals the “ark of his testament” in the Most Holy Place. Jesus has opened the door to the Most Holy Place and has begun His pre-advent judgment, and not even Satan can stop this final phase of His ministry now. The Philadelphian church, in its prophetic time, lives at one of the pivot points of church history. The time prophecies are complete. Jesus begins His work of investigating who stays in the Book of Life and who is taken out of the Book of Life. They have the privilege of witnessing to the world of this astounding change in the work of Jesus.
“They have little strength.” This phrase refers to the fact that the church was small in size and standing in the community and was looked down upon and persecuted. They had little authority or influence. But they were faithful, and that has always been the test of divine blessing, rather than success. Unlike the majority of Sardians, the Philadelphians refused to “deny” Jesus. The small group of advent believers “shook the world” with their message in 1833–1844 and beyond.
Is the “hour of trial” the great tribulation or the seven last plagues? “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” “
In this scripture is brought to view the hour of temptation that is to try them that dwell upon the earth. We are now living in this trying hour. There is no escape for any from this conflict. If in your life there are defective traits of character that you are not striving to overcome, you may be assured that the enemy will endeavor to take advantage of them; for he is watching vigilantly, seeking to spoil the faith of every one. In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves.”
[5]
- The call to the Laodiceans
The very name,
Λαοδίκεια, meaning “the people judged” gives us a clue to the time period,
(1844-Close of Probation). On October 22, 1844, the end of the 2300 year prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Jesus moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place (Daniel 7:13, 14; Rev. 11:15) and began the Investigative Judgment, to see who would remain in the Book of Life. (Rev. 3:5)
John writes down the evidences of Jesus’ sovereignty to this church: The Amen, The Faithful and True Witness, and the Beginning of the Creation of God.” In the Age of Lyell and Darwin and their evolutionary theories (1830-1865), Jesus lets the church know He is the origin of all that God has created. He is the creator, there is no evolution to be believed here! Here is another clue to the time period of this church. Jesus’ words are faithful and true. We need no other evidence than what has been prophesied in the book and what has occurred in history that fulfills these prophecies.
Laodicea was literally rich and famous. After an earthquake in AD 60 that completely destroyed the city they declined Roman Imperial assistance and rebuilt the city themselves. They prided themselves in their treatment of the diseases of the eye with their “Phrygian powder.” They made expensive woolen garments from sheep’s wool. They had it all!
Jesus, the Great Physician, looked at them and they had a problem. The diagnosis was painful. They were lukewarm Christians. Have you ever tasted water that was neither hot nor cold but lukewarm? What did you do? You spit it out! Why are they spiritually lukewarm? Because they say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Jesus says, don’t you know that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked? (Rev 3:17) He is speaking of their spiritual condition, of course! Jesus says their condition is so bad it makes him want to throw up. (3:16) But, Jesus does not give up on his Last Day Church!
“The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.”
[6] The Good news is, we do not have to remain “foolish virgins.” Jesus offers the best of remedies! He will offer you eye salve that you may see your condition. He will try your gold (faith and love) in the fire and purify you. He will offer you white raiment, a new garment of righteousness, in place of your own. Can you say no to such an offer? I hope not! Would you like to join Isaiah in 61:10 and say, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth
herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)”
This garment is most precious. The bride of Christ (19:8) is clothed in these extraordinary garments. Jesus wants to clothe us with His garments, which is His righteousness. “This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us.”
[7] 1 John 3:5, 4.
We are reminded of the consequences of failing to have the “garment.” See
Matthew 22:11–13.
- Open the door for a relationship
This seventh church is in the worst condition of all the churches. The people of Laodicea, you and me, are in the worst spiritual condition in the entire Christian era! Jesus wants to throw up, it is in such bad shape. But the Great Physician, who lovingly and accurately makes the diagnosis of your condition, stands by to make you better.
EGW—The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state. The True Witness declares, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in the throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” {RH, August 19, 1890 par. 10}
Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20) There is no latch or handle on the outside of the door. He knocks. Only you can open the door. He wants to eat a meal with you. In true Oriental fashion, when Jesus eats a meal with you, He is developing a relationship with you. That is what Jesus wants to do. “You will then draw divine strength from Jesus, and you will grow up in him, and be able with holy triumph to say, blessed be God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
[8] Are you too busy to open the door?
Failure to open the door will result in eternal loss to you personally. “With every knock unheeded, the disposition to open becomes weaker. The impressions of the Holy Spirit if disregarded today, will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of life, and of the great eternity beyond. Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.” {DA 489.5}
Jesus proclaims to each church they can be overcomers. Isn’t that good news! Salvation is not impossible, it is ever so real and possible. To overcome is to conquer. Notice the Psalmist’s claim. Through God we shall do valiantly: for
He it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Psalm 60:12)
Notice Paul’s comment. “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of
his good pleasure.” (Phi 2:12-13) This is like the children coming home excitedly and telling their mother, “We killed the bear, but daddy shot him.” Notice WHO is doing the work, God will do the work, we simply place our will in His hands and He does the work. We make the task difficult and become wretched because we want to control our will.
Have you “come to yourself,” (Luke 15:17) as did the Prodigal Son sitting in the pig pen, and see that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked? The Bible speaks of “wretched” in one other place, Romans 7:24. A Christian in the condition that Paul describes there is truly wretched. Come out of the darkness of your own sinful desires and find peace with the Son of Righteousness (Rom. 5:1; 8:1) Do not grope about in the blindness of your own spirituality. Do not continue naked and destitute of the divine covering of Jesus’ garment of salvation. Like the high priest, Joshua (Zech. 3:3), stand before your Lord, and let him take those filthy garments off you (your own righteousness of works) and let Jesus “cloth you with a change of raiment,” a new garment!
Paul is confident
“…that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Phil. 1:6)
[1] Ellen G. White,
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (Boise, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association,
1962), 112–114.
[2] Ellen G. White,
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7 (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald
Publishing Association, 1957), 956.
[3] Ellen G. White, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 957.
[4] Michael Grant,
The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to The Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31 BC–AD476. (New York, NY: Barnes & Noble, 1985), 208.
[5] Ellen G. White, “Conflict and Victory,”
Review and Herald, vol. 85, no. 28, July 9, 1908, 8.
[6] {RH, August 19, 1890 par. 10}
[7] {COL 311.4}
[8] Ellen G. White. 2SG Spiritual Gifts Vol. 2 pg. 227.
Special thanks to Ken Mathews, MD
