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Who are they? Were they actual churches?
Q. The Book of Revelation talks about seven churches. Who are they? Were they actual churches? What are we to learn from these churches?
(Submitted by: S. H.)
A. The seven churches in Revelation refer to churches the apostles traveled to and visited when they were in those areas. These seven church areas were also along the mail route in Asia Minor.
View Map Showing Location of Seven Churches in Book of Revelation
See Map Showing where Last World War will take place
The characteristics described in Revelation 2 and 3 would also exist in God’s true church from the first century and down through the ages in one form or another. What we can learn from them today is an attitude or frame of mind. Some of the churches refer to a character not to emulate. Others refer to an integrity of overcoming into the kind of person God would have us be.
Consider the character not to emulate based upon what Jesus said to the churches mentioned in Revelation.
Jesus' message to the church at Ephesus:
" But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Revelation 2:4-5, Revised Standard Version (RSV))
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Jesus' message to the church at Pergamos: " But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth." (Revelation 2:14-16, RSV) Jesus' message to the church at Thyatira: " But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come." (Revelation 2:20-25, RSV) Jesus' message to the church at Sardis : " And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. " ' " (Rev 3:1-3, RSV) Jesus' message to the church at Laodicea : "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:15-19, NIV) Consider the integrity of an overcomer, which is mentioned seven times: To the church at Ephesus: " But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:6-7, KJV) To the church at Smyrna: " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Revelation 2:11, KJV) To the church at Pergamos: " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:17, KJV) To the church at Thyatira: " And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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." (Revelation 2:26-27, KJV) To the church at Sardis: " He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." (Revelation 3:5, KJV) To the church at Philadelphia: " Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. " (Revelation 3:12, KJV) To the church at 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:21-22, KJV) The attitude that exists the most today is that of Laodicea, especially among those who consider themselves to be part of professing Christianity. They are the most lukewarm of all! But, you can avoid these Laodicean attitudes by putting God "FIRST" in your life each day. Trust Him and obey what He instructs you to do, from His word in the Bible as opposed to following men. Do this daily by reading and studying the Bible and making it part of who you are. Let God talk to you this way. You will have the peace that Jesus Christ talked about: " Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. " (Psalm 9:10, NIV) Other Recommended Bible Study Materials:
Answer Given By: Rick/Eileen Beltz |
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