What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Do the seven churches in revelation predict seven eras of church history. Some of polycarps last words were, for eightysix years i have been his. And, shockingly, this cycle will unfold againresulting in the punishment detailed in revelation. As such, the rapture doesnt come after the 7 th church, as previous pretribs believe. Revelation was written in the last decade of the first century ca. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen.
After the exordium, and the seven epistles to the seven churches of asia minor, to whose angels or bishops the book seems to be dedicated, revelation 1. Both testaments can be divided into history instruction prophecy revelation is the only book of prophecy in the new testament. Theres actually evidence of all seven churches in the world today. Eastern christians became skeptical of the book as doubts concerning its authorship and unusual style were reinforced by aversion to its acceptance by montanists and other groups considered to be heretical. Complete prophecy of the seven churches, from revelation 23, past and present, with charts showing good and bad qualities. For a more indepth study of all the seven churches, click here. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The book is also written to all believers everywhere.
Recognize that, since the church stands on the words of the prophets, christians are to understand prophecy. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. 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. Is the book of revelation canonical in the orthodox church. These churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. All through the old testament there are scattered references to things which are to come to pass in the last days. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven. A possible third purpose is to use the seven churches to foreshadow seven different periods in the history of the church. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture.
Doug batchelor book of revelation study part 1 of 7. Oct 05, 2017 i was wondering if the 7 churches that were addressed in revelation correlated to 7 denominations of faith of today and if so which ones. All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. May 10, 2016 the book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes.
Ashish amos of the indian society for promoting christian knowledge ispck, post box 1585, 1654, madarsa road. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube. In the first century, ephesus was home to a growing church led by the apostle john, once the young disciple of jesus christ. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning.
It is the most important and valuable prophetic book in the bible. The apostle of jesus and the author of the gospel of john and the three letters of nt. Oct 26, 2016 this is an introductory message in a series on the seven churches of revelation. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. The writings to the seven congregations and all the things john was shown and told to write in a book has literal, spiritual, symbolical, and prophetic meaning. Some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1. The key to the interpretation of the book of revelation is its threefold division. As with all prophecies the revelation also is not easily understood. What the bible says about the 7 churches of revelation.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. The seven churches revelation 23 past and present church prophecy introduction although the seven churches are not used for proving pretribulation, they are extremely important nonetheless. The last book of the new testament is also called the prophecy book and the revelation of jesus christ. The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. 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. Various characteristics of the seven churches of revelation are shown in a table. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
But today i want to take you through a 7 fold chronological journey through the book of revelation. These seven churches are apostate and are destroyed. Summary table for the seven churches r 03c characteristics of the churches help us identify the times they symbolize 0111. The seven churches of revelation revelation 23 bible. The apostle paul explained that the new testament church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets eph. The book therefore is a divinely given book, and is the revelation of jesus christ and not of john. Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. Steve moutria is still with and has not returned to. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. In revelation 1, we find the apostle john in exile on the tiny island of patmos. Jun 01, 2001 the 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience. Category assignments are somewhat arbitrary in some cases. In letters to seven churches of revelation, the apostle john lists warnings and praise for. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of.
There were therefore, without doubt, local churches in which revelation was read as scripture from the early to mid second century. The messages to the seven churches of revelation 23 have continuing relevance for us today. Over the next 7 weeks, our church is going to examine jesus words to these 7 churches and consider what he is saying to ours. Such parallels are noted at relevant points in the commentary, but one of. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. The immediate audience for the revelation recorded by john is the seven churches which are in asia rev. The versebyverse commentary on revelation introduction this commentary on revelation will prove, contrary to what most people think, that the revelation, the last book of the bible, is not difficult to understand if we will take a simple, facevalue, commonsense approach to interpreting it. How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of revelation according to archaeology and history. And by this time in history, 95 ad, it has been only 62 years sense the death of christ, and already these churches are beginning to fall away from the truth. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. With further study you can match the descriptions of christ with those in chapter 1. The church that has abandoned its love for christ and his teachings revelation 2.
There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church. Very important we note this and realize we cannot study revelation in the same way we study the book of romans. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The book of revelation starts with a warning to the seven churches scattered throughout the known world at that time. Revelation the last book of the bible contains jesus final words to his church through 7 letters to 7 churches. Apr 19, 2017 this teaching has been reuploaded with a modification to the opening graphics.
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. Revelation 4, johns transformation in the spirit was just for him to visit heaven and record the visions, as he did. The book of revelation is arranged in this threepart structure. This means that jesus wanted john to write about the things that would happen after the things regarding the seven churches, the things of the last days. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. The seven churches of revelation revelation 23 bible commentary produced by tow project the messages to the seven churches emphasize the importance of works in the christian life, and thus indirectly contribute to a proper understanding of work in general. For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the.
Aug 02, 2001 what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. The 333page book, titled the apocalypseletter by letter. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. The seven churches of revelation bible study ministry. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation.
That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of god. They are for each of the seven churches that existed in johns time. Click download or read online button to get understanding the 7 churches of revelation book now. 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. Apparently, they were singled out because john had ministered in them. A literary analysis of the book of revelation, is a compilation of notes and letters written by the late steven paul, a catholic scholar who died of cancer in 2000. As i read jesuss words to the seven churches and learned about each.
Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. Also known as the seven churches of asia modern turkey. What created the controversy over the book of revelation, which would last for centuries, was not that there were other local churches in which it was not read. The seven churches of revelation 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. If you want to better understand the book of revelation. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Do you remember each of the 7 churches of revelation. The book of revelation begins with the end of the church age. The short letters are addressed to these specific seven churches of revelation.
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. The seven churches also represent the seven spiritual church ages from the new testament church, right through to the last church before jesus returns at the second coming. 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. The seven churches described in the book of revelation w hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The tone of the letters to the seven churches rev 1.
John describes of a voice talking to him while he was on the island of patmos and he was told to write to the seven churches evaluating the churches and telling them to become interested and passionate about the christ. The 7 churches of revelation ephesus its background youtube. If god commands men to live by every word of god matt. It has been put together by pauls brotherinlaw, steve bowler, of hudson, mass. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts. The book was penned down around 65 to 95ad as a letter from john to the seven churches around asia minor in what is today turkey. The vision which opens the book and the verse that organizes it. Feb 26, 2020 coronavirus is preventing churches in china from honouring the christian sabbath, something the book of revelation predicted before the end of the world, according to a religious publication. Understanding the 7 churches of revelation download. The study of the seven churches can be very large and in depth. Feb 07, 2009 the seven churches of revelation were seven actual churches, the early churches of asia minor in the cities of ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia and laodicea. Some of polycarps last words were, for eightysix years i have. From a prophetic perspective, laodicea is a picture of the church in the last days. The seven parable suggestions, seven church suggestions and seven epistles above are from the book of revelation, supplemental notes page 60, koinonia house inc.
For more information on these churches, check out this great commentary from. The 7 churches to who the letters were addressed were existing churches in asia minor modern turkey. Jan 02, 2020 so, although there may be some truth to the seven churches representing seven eras, there is far too much speculation in this regard. Modern relevance of the messages to the seven churches of revelation. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation.
The seven successively span the church s 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. A map of modern day turkey with seven churches marked on map. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The author of the book of revelation, saint john the divine, offers a transcription of seven letters and later describes strange beasts, visions of judgments, governments, demonic battles, heaven, and a new world order a prophetic vision for the end of the world. The seven churches of revelation described in revelation chapters 2 through chapter 3 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. They show us that the church of god and its members were destined to face many trials throughout the centuries before jesus christ would return. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. Books of the bible revelation seven churches of revelation. The letters to the seven churches have a fourfold application. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. Some translations of the bible, such as the king james version and youngs literal translation, use the word vial instead of bowl in this passage and in revelation 16. He was a first cousin of jesus and was exiled to the greek island of patmos because of his faith.
The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in todays church age. But after generations of reaping these blessings, vast numbers will choose their own way, turning their backs on god. Revelation was the last book accepted into the christian biblical canon, and to the present day some churches that derive from the church of the east reject it. These are the words of him who is the first and the last. They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. The seven churches of revelation may include at least three fulfillments. Our focus should be on what message god is giving us through the seven churches.