Revelation Chapters Two And Three - The Things Which Are, Introduction To The The Seven Churches

Revelation Chapters 2-3 - The Things Which Are, Introduction To The Seven Churches

In the book of Revelation, we seven distinct judgements:

1) Chapters 2-3 - the churches

2) Chapters 6-16 - the unsaved nations

3) Chapters 17-18 - Mystery Babylon

4) Chapter 19 - Armies at Armageddon, Antichrist, false prophet

5) Chapter 20:1-3, 7-10 - Satan

6) Chapter 20:4-6 - the world (Jesus’ millennial reign)

7) Chapter 20:11-15 - the wicked dead (Great White Throne Judgement)

In chapters 2-3, we see God judging His own people first, before judging the world. This is often the case we find in the Scriptures - first God judges or corrects His people, then the nations surrounding them. We can see that clearly in the book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-12 are the Lord's correction of the nation of Israel (both the Southern and the Northern Kingdoms), then in chapters 13-23, we see God judging all the nations surrounding His people in the Promised Land; then lastly, in chapters 24-27, we see the Lord judging the whole world during the tribulation period and the days leading up to the battle of Armageddon. Consider 1 Peter 4:17. We also find this same principle in the book of Revelation. God deals with His people, as found in the various churches (and church ages) depicted in chapters 2-3, then in the remainder of the book (chapters 6-16) we see Him dealing with the rest of the world.

The seven churches in Revelation 2-3 represent a complete overview of church history throughout the centuries from God’s perspective.

These periods are as follows (these dates are approximate):

1. Ephesus: 32 – 100 A.D. The Backslidden (Loveless) Church

2. Smyrna: 100 – 312 A.D. The (Persecuted) Suffering Church

3. Pergamos: 312 – 590 A.D. The Compromising Church

4. Thyatira: 590 – 1517 A.D. The Corrupt Church

5. Sardis: 1517 – 1735 A.D. The Dead Church

6. Philadelphia: 1735 – 1881 (or 1900) A.D. The Missionary Church

7. Laodicea: 1881 (or 1900) A.D. – the Tribulation. The Lukewarm Church

1. Ephesus - meaning “Desirable” and “To Let Go, Relax.” Signifying the exalted position of the church (in His right hand), which later became backslidden.

This is the Apostolic Church - AD 32-100.

Ephesus was destroyed in 252 AD by the Goths. Prior to this, their harbour had filled in with silt, killing the marine trade of this city.

2. Smyrna - Myrrh, from root meaning “Bitter.”

This is the church period in which there were ten persecutions by the Roman Caesars. AD 100-312. Two of the ten persecutions were in the first century: Nero, Domitian.

This is the Devil trying to destroy the church from without.

3. Pergamos - meaning “Elevated By Marriage.”

This represents the church under Constantine, in which he elevated “Christianity” by uniting it with Paganism to create a carnal peace in his realm. AD 312-590. The Catholic Church developed out of this mixture of Babylonian Paganism and “Christianity.”

This is the Devil trying to destroy the church from within.

4. Thyatira - meaning “Unweary (or Endless) Sacrifice.”

This is the church during the Dark Ages in which the Roman Catholic Church dominated. The doctrine of the Mass was brought into the church during this time, hence the name. AD 590-1517.

5. Sardis - meaning “Escaping One” or “Those Who Come Out,” signifying the Reformation Period. Unfortunately, these churches soon adopted an outward form of Christianity, resulting in dead orthodoxy and ritualism. AD 1517-1735.

6. Philadelphia - meaning “Brotherly Love.” This was the Missionary Era, a period of revivals and the Great Awakening. God’s Word was exalted and brought to many nations as Jesus Christ opened the doors for the Gospel. AD 1735-1881 (1900).

7. Laodicea - meaning “Righteousness or Judgement Of The People.” This is a period of increasing apostasy, where unsaved, unregenerate professing “Christendom,” having a form of godliness but denying its power, in their own self-righteousness deny their own sinfulness and need of a Saviour, deny the Scriptures themselves and their testimony - which is Jesus Christ. These are perilous (fierce) times indeed, in which the whole world is throwing off the restraints of the LORD and His Anointed, and are being prepared for a one-world economic, political, and religious system which will control the whole world when the true church is raptured out at the return of Jesus Christ. The Tribulation comes immediately after this church period. AD 1881 (1900) - the Tribulation.

Taken from Revelation by M. R. DeHaan:

In spite of the rosy promises of the idealistic dreamers who prate that the world will be converted through a social gospel, and the talk of a golden age and lasting peace, the Bible declares that there will be increasing corruption and wickedness until Jesus comes. That is apparent in the seven churches of the Revelation. Today, in the age typified by the Church of Laodicea, Christ is locked out, and infidelity, evolution and the new psychology have been given His place. We find the same teaching in Matthew 13 in the seven parables of our Lord Jesus.

First is the parable of the sower, corresponding to the Ephesian Church, the great age of missionary sowing.

Then we read the parable of the tares and the wheat, corresponding to the Church of Smyrna, when the first seeds of evil were sown among the true wheat and resulted in the age of persecution.

Then follows the parable of the mustard seed, typifying the abnormal, unnatural growth of the nominal Church, represented by Pergamos, the "state-subsidized" Church of Constantine's days.

Then follows the parable of the leaven, which speaks of the age of corruption, typified by Thyatira, when the leaven of evil doctrine and practices are introduced into the Church with its superstitions and paganism, for in the Bible leaven always symbolizes evil, never good.

Next we find the parable of the treasure hid in the field, corresponding to Sardis, the Reformation Church, with its discoveries of hidden truth and treasure, and especially the rediscovery of God's plan and purpose for the nation of Israel, His peculiar treasure.

Then follows the parable of the pearl of great price, the Philadelphian church, the true Church of the Lord Jesus.

The last parable in Matthew 13 is that of the dragnet, a picture of the judgment at the end of the age when God will separate the just from the unjust and the wicked from the saved. Laodicea and its final denial of Christ, will be followed by the coming of the Lord.

From John Phillips' commentary on Revelation (Exploring Revelation):

In each letter, distinctive features of His glory, as described in chapter 1, are chosen by the Lord and are applied to the spiritual condition of the church addressed.

Ephesus, the formal church, is reminded of the presence of the Lord (he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, 2:1).

Smyrna, the fearful church, is reminded of the position of the Lord (He is the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive, v. 8). Pergamos, the faltering church, is reminded of the possession of the Lord (He has the sharp sword with two edges, v. 12). Thyatira, the false church, is reminded of the perception of the Lord (He has eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass, v. 18).

Sardis, the fruitless church, is reminded of the power of the Lord (He is the one with the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, 3:1). Philadelphia, the feeble church, is reminded of the prerogative of the Lord (He openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth, v. 7). Laodicea, the fashionable church, is reminded of the Person of the Lord (He is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, v. 14).

The messages to the churches have a threefold meaning:

Firstly, each letter has a primary association, having a local and direct bearing upon the church to which it was written. Each letter was a measuring rod by which each church could know its standing in the sight of the risen Lord.

Secondly, each letter has a personal application. Even though Christ addresses each church as a whole, the message to overcome is addressed to the individual.

Thirdly, each church individually, and the seven churches combined, set forth prophetic anticipation. We see in them seven eras of the life of the church on earth. Seven in the Bible is the number of perfection, completion, fullness. In these letters we have a prophetic picture of the church's complete history on earth.

Each of the seven letters follows the same general format:
1) Name (of the church that particular letter is addressed to)
2) Its Description of Christ.
3) Commendation - What that church is praised for.
4) Warning - What that church is rebuked for.
5) Promise. (Not applicable to this letter.)
6) To The Overcomers.
7) Prophetic Application. (As revealed in church history, found throughout the letter.)