Revelation was written to seven firstcentury churches as a spiritual wakeup call because of events that were about to take place upon the whole world oikoumene rev. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had. The seven churches of revelation sermon by larry cockerham. It serves as an inset, not following a linear time sequence of the book of revelation.
Revelation 7 new international version niv 144,000 sealed. The seven churches of revelation 23 the american vision. The use of oikoumene instead of kosmos indicates that the events that were about to unfold were confined to the roman empire. The seven churches are representative of the church as a whole. The church that has abandoned its love for christ and his teachings revelation 2. All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. See more ideas about the seven, revelation bible and ephesus. When john wrote the book of revelation under divine inspiration, he was imprisoned on the island of patmos, which is about 50 miles o.
Revelation is one of the most intriguing and misunderstood. John, who was exiled there by the romans as punishment for his ministry. In these letters, jesus addresses the spiritual health of each church. Revelation 10 and the churchs history feast of tabernacles sermon by john w. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are letters to seven literal churches in johns day. But jesus clearly tells us that the prophetic events which he describes would begin to take. Very good research into the history of the book of revelation. While the story is history for the most part, it was prophetic, written in advance to prepare the saints for their trials. Uncovering evidence that the book of revelation was written prior to the destruction of jerusalem in 70 ad is only of secondary concern. However, the seven churches in revelation also have spiritual significance for churches and believers today. Revelation 10 contains the seven thunders and the little book. The seven churches of revelation life in a dying world. Works is one of several main factors jesus uses to make his judgment whether or not a believer overcomes or conquers.
The seven churches in revelation are literal churches from the first century ad. Were glad youre all here, and we just appreciate the fact that you all bring your bible, because believe it or not, this is what people notice. Therefore they tend to skip over chapters two and three in the book of revelation without realizing their importance. Izmir, turkey bp not long ago, i didnt know that the seven churches of revelation were all located in modernday turkey. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of endtime events leading up to the return of jesus christ. Revelation is the only book in the bible that promises a special blessing to the reader. The church and the book of revelation commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. What happened to those churches and are there believers there today. These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of god, and the seven stars. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. The immediate audience for the revelation recorded by john is the seven churches which are in asia rev. Jesus had warnings and encouragements for the seven churches in the book of revelation.
However, the theme of the book is still the exaltation of jesus. Jesus had made that clear 35 years before in the olivet discourse. Therefore, i would expect to find in these addresses of our lord to the seven churches revelation 2. Here is a short overview of each of the 7 churches of revelation, plus a description of patmos, the place john actually received the book of revelation. I believe this series seven churches of revelation has the potential to revolutionize. John addressed the book of revelation to the seven churches 1. The book of revelation contains the story of the seven churches.
This system is world wide and infiltrates many religions under the guise of religion. Jacob prasch an introduction to the 7 churches of revelation part 1. The apostle john penned the revelation at the age of 92 while exiled as a prisoner of rome on the remote isle of patmos. Yet this does not prove that the church is present at that time because saints is a generic term which describes believers of all ages. John recorded letters to the seven churches in asia, as part of revelation, the last book of the bible. After all, this is the theme of the entire word of god. Lets uncover the secret invitation to a heavenly mindset disclosed in chapters two and three.
Many prophecies of scripture have more than one fulfillment. He was the last of the original 12 apostles alive at this time. These churches were planted and cultivated by the apostle paul, with the church at ephesus being the lead church. This revelation timeline decoded bible study will show you how the 7 churches of revelation represent seven church eras that have spanned throughout history, and end when the lord returns most pastors teach that jesus was just addressing the churches that existed at the time it was written in 95 a. The seven churches of revelation, as described in chapters two and three of that book, have intrigued bible expositors down through the age.
May 29, 2015 the 7 churches of the book of the revelation. The very first five words of revelation chapter 1 is the revelation of jesus christ. Also known as the seven churches of asia modern turkey. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. The seven jewish churches in revelation lesson 1 part. Who are the seven churches in the book of revelation. In this article, we will analyze each church in revelation, the old testament, and as a prophetic age. The primary focus of this article is to convey who comprised the membership of the seven churches of asia, to whom the book of revelation was written, and to which dispensation they belong.
Enjoy having an easytounderstand overview on the seven churches in revelationpacked with quickreference charts, simple summaries, and a fullcolor map, this quickreference pamphlet explains jesus message to each of the seven churches and shows key information at a glance. We designed this custom study guide to help you understand gods word, engage with the sunday sermons, and spark. Works is one of several main factors jesus uses to make his judgment whether or not a. As a book intended for the end time, the primary instruction in revelation 2 and 3 concerns the endtime church. Certainly all 7 churches exist in the church today, as does the harlot church and the bride church. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. What the bible says about the 7 churches of revelation. Gain insights into gods love for the world, his warning and correction for the churches, and his hope and encouragement for the future. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of. Were the messages to these churches intended mainly for the congregations to which they were sent during the apostolic period. A study on the 7 churches in revelation churchleaders.
The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered. Not established until the mid100s bc, the city of philadelphia was the newest of churches jesus addressed in revelation. Perfect for personal use, small groups, or to add depth to any revelation bible study. When revelation was written at the end of the first century, all seven churches existed at the same time, therefore the seven conditionsthe messages described. These churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. Asia is not the asia of our day which is the worlds largest continent stretching from the pacific ocean on its eastern border to the ural mountains in the west. But, the belief that revelation was completely fulfilled in 70 a.
Thus, a third purpose of the letters is to convey universal lessons that describe and deal with universal human tendencies. Are the angels of the churches in revelation real. The 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience. You have to look carefully to find any signs of the citys former life. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. Only one book has the audacity to say, in effect, read me. John in the book of revelation saw the mark while he was in the spirit. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Indeed, the primary purpose for john writing his letters to the seven churches was to deliver christs report card for the churches of that time. Because revelation can feel mysterious and somewhat cryptic to read, its important to remember that these were real churches with real people who lived in real time. To the unbeliever this book is considered an apocalypse, an impending vision of doom and gloom.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are. Well be exploring the 7 letters sent to 7 churches in the late first century. Revelation 7 144,000 sealed after this i saw four bible. For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven. The book of revelation is a book of prophecy about what is to come. The 7 churches not in the book of revelation john perry, gene mims on. The seven churches of revelation may include at least three fulfillments. To the believer however, it is a revelation and culmination of gods plan for those that have chosen to spend eternity with jesus.
Revelation was delivered to seven churches made up of christians as a wakeup call. Apr 12, 20 this view also blatantly overlooks the clear declaration of the first verses and the last verses of revelation, which clearly state that the book of revelation is a book of prophecy, not history. Are the angels of the churches in revelation real angels, or are they human messengers. Seven churches of revelation map artwork by kelly cunningham. They mirror seven churches in the old testament as well as seven church ages. Asia minor was part of the byzantine empire, with its. Seven churches of revelation church of the great god. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. The lord jesus knew the experiences each stage of the church would have. To visit these 7 churches and the island of patmos, join us on.
In revelation 1, john the apostle sees the glorified christ in a vision. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. They would suffer the same fate as israel if they followed in the theological moral footsteps of israel. Books of the bible revelation seven churches of revelation. Then a coworker and i made a threeday trip to the region, flying. Do the seven churches in revelation predict seven eras of church history. He praised, encouraged, challenged, and warned each church so that they may be faithful to the end. The seven churches of revelation 2 and 3 are 7 historical. Christ commended them for their good works, for their perseverance, and for their church discipline that guarded against false teaching revelation 2. Sep 30, 2011 john is responsible for writing the gospel of john, the 3 epistles, and the book of revelation. Exiled on the island of patmos as he saw visions and recorded them, he must have longed to be able to visit the churches in person to deliver his message.
Travel to the land of the bible with host joe stowell to visit the ancient sites of the seven churches described in revelation. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in todays church age. The book of revelation contains seven letters from jesus to 7 churches in asia minor. John is responsible for writing the gospel of john, the 3 epistles, and the book of revelation. Some note that although the term church ekklesia is not found in chapters 618 of the book of revelation, saints hagion, rev. Nov 27, 2019 lesson 1 part 1 book 59 the seven jewish churches in revelation. He sent a message to the angel of each church to prepare the saints. The seven churches of revelation bible student archives. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. Through the bible with les feldick lesson 1 part 1 book 59 the seven jewish churches in revelation. At the time of john, the region refers to the peninsula know as asia minor.
Jesus christ, himself, spoke to the apostle john, who delivered those words to those churches in this letter revelation 1. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. The authors carry out the noble task of encouraging pastors to stop wishing for the perfect church and offer them realistic strategies on how to effectively minister where god has placed them. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. The church and the book of revelation commentary a. Believe that all the prophecies of revelation have been fulfilled sometime during the last 2,000 years. The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. Feb 19, 20 the book of revelation is not a warning to what was going to happen to israel.
Theres a symbolic language used in the book of revelation and throughout much of the bible. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ to john in visions. All of these seven churches mentioned in revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal churches that were located in asia minor. The modern city of alasehir stands on top of philadelphia. Seven churches of revelation, well look at the unique characteristics of one of the 7 churches. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. The seven churches of revelation ernest angley ministries. Jun 01, 2001 the 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus is on things that shall be. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived.
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