6.16 The Seven Churches                                            

 

1. What title is given the last book of the Bible?
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

 

2. To whom do these things belong, which have been revealed?
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

3. For what purpose was the Revelation given?
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

 

4. What great event is imminent according to this book?
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Note: This book begins and ends not only with the subject of the Second Coming of Christ, but its eight series of prophecies all reach to this greatest of all events for the church and the world.

 

5. What encouragement is given to study this book?
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

 

6. To whom was the book dedicated?
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;

 

7. What were the names of these seven churches?
Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Note: The seven churches and the messages addressed to them apply to seven periods or states of the church, extending from the first coming of Christ to His second coming. Under this symbolic representation of the seven churches of Asia, the Holy Spirit has described seven different states of the Christian church, which are to be seen in order extending to the second coming of our Lord and the end of all things. Their good qualities and their shortcomings are indicated with reprimands, admonitions, and warnings, which fit each one in particular and which also all apply to personal Christian experiences.

 

8. By what name is the first state of the church distinguished?
Revelation 2:1-2
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Note: The meaning of Ephesus is desirable and aptly describes the character and condition of the church in its first state, when its members received the doctrine of Christ in its purity and enjoyed the benefits and blessings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit This applies to the first century or during the life of the apostles. This period lasted approximately from 31 CE to 100. This period is also called the Age of Apostolic Purity

 

9. After commending this church for their good works, what charge did the Lord bring against them?
Revelation 2:4-5
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy First Love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Note: The first love is the love for the truth and the desire to make it known to others. The first works are the fruits of this love.

 

10. What name is given to the second state of the church?
Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;
Note: The meaning of Smyrna is myrrh or fragrant scent and applies to the era in which many of God's saints suffered martyrdom under pagan Rome.

 

11. How is reference made to the closing period of tribulation of the church during this time?
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Note: The most severe of what is commonly known as the ten persecutions under pagan Rome began under Emperor Diocletian and lasted from 303 AD to 313 AD, a period of ten prophetic days.

 

12. What name is given to the third state of the church?
Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Note: The meaning of Pergamum is height or exaltation and aptly represents that era of the Christian church, which begins with the reign of Emperor Constantine in 313 AD, when the power that had put the Christians to death took up the cause of the church. By means of rewards, edicts, promised promotion, and the receiving of positions in the government, it attempted to persuade people to become Christians, and in this way a flood of worldliness and corruption entered the church. Many of the pagan church customs and ceremonies, which had previously been introduced into the Christian church, including the pagan feast day Sunday (Day of the Sun), were established by law, and the consequence of this was that the first day of the week took the place of the Sabbath of the Bible.

 

13. How is the faithfulness of this church commended?
Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Note: Antipas comes from two Latin words, anti, against, and papas, father or pope, and denotes a class of people who were opposed to papal rule.

 

14. What name was given to the fourth state of the church?
Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;
Note: Thyatira means song of labor or sacrifice of repentance and indicates the condition of God's people during the long, dark period of 1260 years, beginning with the establishment of papal supremacy in 538 AD and ending with the downfall of that power in 1798. During that time, millions of God's saints were put to death in the cruelest ways that godless people and devils could devise. Christ referred to that time in His wondrous prophecy, recorded in Matthew 24:21-22: 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be again.22 And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
The tribulation of the 1260 years was shortened by the influence of the Reformation.

 

15. What promise did God leave for these persecuted ones?
Revelation 2:25-27
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.

 

16. By what name is the fifth state of the church designated?
Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Note: Sardis means song of joy, or that which remains. A reason for joy at that time was the fact that the great tribulation of the people of God had come to an end. It was as a result of the Reformation that some of God's people remained. The Sardis Church continued to exist from the end of papal rule in 1798 until the beginning of the great Advent movement in 1833, which was marked by the falling of the stars on November 13 of that year, as foretold by Christ in Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 

17. What endearing name has been given to the sixth church?
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Note: Philadelphia means brotherly love and applies to the church during the proclamation of the message of the hour of judgment. For hour of judgment see study 10.

 

18. Which words, addressed to this church, show that the Second Coming is near?
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

 

19. What is Christ's message to the last church?
Revelation 3:14-19
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
17 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:
18 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Note: Laodicea means the people judging, or a justified people. The church exists in the time of judgment and of the proclamation of the final warning messages, which precede the Second Coming of Christ. This is a time of much profession, with but little actual godliness and true piety.

 

20. What encouragement is given to pay attention to this message?
Revelation 3:20 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.