The Seven Churches.

[NR90]

Hello, how are you all doing?

I wanted to ask a question. I have not looked into this but what are the seven churches?

 

[Isatis]

The seven churches were congregations in Asia Minor in John's day.

1) Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)
Commendation: Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience
Criticism: love for Christ no longer fervent
Instruction: Do the works you did at first
Promise: The tree of life

2) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)
Commendation: gracefully bears suffering
Criticism: none
Instruction: be faithful until death
Promise: the crown of life

3) Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17)
Commendation: keeps the faith of Christ
Criticism: tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies
Instruction: repent
Promise: hidden manna and a stone with a new name

4) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)
Commendation: love, service, faith, patience are greater than at first
Criticism: tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality
Instruction: judgment coming; keep the faith
Promise: rule over nations and receive morning star

5) Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
Commendation: some have kept the faith
Criticism: a dead church
Instruction:repent; strengthen what remains
Promise: faithful honored and clothed in white

6) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)
Commendation: perseveres in the faith, keeps the word of Christ, honors His name
Criticism: None
Instruction: keep the faith
Promise: a place in God's presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem

7) Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
Commendation: None
Criticism: Indifferent
Instruction: be zealous and repent
Promise: share Christ's throne

 

[John Stefanyszyn]

Throughout the words of Christ, He instructed the apostles to be on guard for the deceptions that will come to separate the followers from the Truth. The apostles also warned and rebuked many churches concerning the same thing, because many followers quickly embraced and integrated another belief as part of the teachings of Christ, therefore twisting and denying the True Way.

In Revelations, Christ, Our Only King and Savior, again gives serious warnings to the churches. It is clear that He considers each of the 7 seven churches (or types of Christians) as part of the flock at this time as He identifies them as golden lampstands. However, He also makes it clear that many are at risk of falling away. He identifies their error to them and offers forgiveness if they repent and overcome.

Identifying the errors:

Ephesus: Left their first love...replaced it by another.
Also, they do not detest the deeds of the Nicolaitians (use grace as a way out for continued sin).

Smyrna: Consider themselves to be poor and are afraid to stand for Christ.

Pergamos: Put self-gain before the service to God. They also embrace another belief alongside Christ.
Use grace as a way out for continued sin / self indulgence.[/font]

Thyatira: Embrace a false belief (way of life, woman Jezebel) above that of Christ.
They embrace the way of Satan.

Sardis: Works are not perfect and many are spiritually dying.

Philadelphia: Have strength and are true to Christ. ...not allow their crown to be taken away...will have to stand and die for Christ. Therefore, will not be part of the wrath of God on man and unfaithful “Christians”.

Laodiciea: Neither spiritually cold nor hot. Christians in name who believe themselves to be self righteous and who believe that they have no need for any correction or repentance.Who believe that their system of belief is rich in truth and goodness. He tells all to overcome and to be true to Him and Only Him.

During the times of the apostles, many “Christians” embraced either the traditions of the Jews, and therefore submitting themselves to living by physical laws and justifications, or the beliefs of other man made “religions” which twisted the Truth to give to man everything that he wants for himself...forgiveness / reconciliation, eternal life, and freedom of self-will / self-indulgence.

Today, the same exists.

Today, there is also a belief, way of life, a “Jezebel”, the way of Satan which many Christians believe to be good and righteous. Many churches and heads of churches use this belief to justify their existence. Many, if not all, defend this belief and promote it.

Under the Roman empire, all “religions” were tolerated as long as the people recognized, acknowledged, and included Caesar as a divinity, as god, in their activities.

Today, the same worshipped “god” exists and is embraced by mankind and many Christians.
This way is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The way of choosing for oneself what is right in one’s own eyes. Today, this belief has been embraced on a global level, promoted by a nation and supported by many others as the true and good way, the belief in universal values, the belief in freedom of rights and freedom of religion.

This belief places itself above the True God and makes Him into a religion among other religions thus blaspheming His Name and the First Teaching, that to love Our Father with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This means that there is no other way to live by.

There is only One true Way and One true God, and Jesus Christ is the One and Only Way to Him. Let us not be deceived. Let us have the faith to stand for Christ and live today by the Only True Way.

 

[SDAdude]

The seven churches are the different generations of Christians starting in John's time and continuing until now. The final church, the Church of Laodiciea, is the church from 1844 until Jesus' return. Be careful not to be spewed out.

 

[Hentenza]

The seven churches are the different generations of Christians starting in John's time and continuing until now. The final church, the Church of Laodiciea, is the church from 1844 until Jesus' return. Be careful not to be spewed out.

The problem with this interpretation is that it is foreign to the text. I've heard many variations of generations applied to each church with a plethora of different times. It is speculative at best.

 

[josephearl]

It is speculative at best.

AMEN. Very speculative.
I think the intent of the Lord for each of us living in a time beyond these specific and real churches times, is to reveal a full spectrum analysis of His views on all churches exhibiting their strengths and weaknesses. We find that He is generous with commendation and encouragement and honest with criticism and warnings. In these 7 episltes to 7 different grouops we are provided with enough information to discern our own alignment with the truest path of the faith and are thus equipped to make the necessary corrections in the here and now that we might escape the finality of judgment in the hereafter for straying from the path of righteousness and excellent service. and... I suppose I could express all that just a bit better if I spent more time on it but hope this short note will succeed in promoting dialogue that will bring about change that pleases Jesus if change is necessary.
love ya, JE

 

[John Stefanyszyn]

Mr. SDAdude,

These 7 assemblies or types of "Christians" exist today in all "churches" and also in the SDA church. They all speak of Christ but , in their real lives, have replaced their love for Christ by another first love....the love for self-rights, freedom of rights, freedom of religion.

Did not God command, via the first three commandments, the Israelis, who were a people who did not love God, not to accept any other “belief/god”?
Did not Christ teach the disciples to love the One and Only God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength? This means that we are not to embrace any other belief, as Christ did not compromise with any other belief, not even with the Jews who claimed to serve the God of Abraham.

What is disconcerting is that the 7th Day Adventist Church believes in, advocates, and promotes the belief in the freedom of religion, via PARL and IRLA.

<...Since 1901, the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) has represented the Seventh-day Adventist Church to governments, religious bodies, and international organizations. By supporting, protecting and defending religious freedom and human rights for all people everywhere, PARL speaks for the church on public affairs and shares Adventist values of freedom of worship and belief. In addition to its function at the General Conference, PARL operates offices on Capitol Hill for representative work to the U.S. Congress, and also in New York City for United Nations liaison.

Conducting congresses, conferences, and other events worldwide to promote religious freedom, inter-faith dialogue, and human rights, PARL helps develop crucial understanding between government officials and religious leaders of all persuasions.

PARL also sponsors, on behalf of the church, the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), a non-sectarian organization dedicated to the cause of religious freedom. Seventh-day Adventist leaders were the first to organize such an association, which serves as an umbrella for many regional and national religious liberty affiliates around the world. These connections bring involvement from Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Baptist, Mormon and many other religious persuasions, working together for the religious freedom of all.

The Adventist church is committed to the principle meaning of religious freedom: The differences in religions, throughout the world, should be respected. What we choose to believe and how we choose to worship should be according to the dictates of our conscience. The IRLA continues to defend the right to religious freedom worldwide, by helping all religions find a common ground.>

If one embraces the core belief that we are to love Our Father, and Him Only, how can one accept or promote a belief that dictates that it is right to worship other beliefs/gods as per one&#8217;s choice? Is this not what Adam and Eve did when they embraced the tree of knowledge of good and evil and determined, in their own eyes, that its fruit was pleasant and &#8220;good&#8221;?

I believe that there is One True Way and that Christ is the Only Way to Our Father and Creator. There is no compromise on this. This is a real True Way of life, to be lived as a witness to mankind and against man&#8217;s way and belief, which is the way of Satan. Our Father is not to be categorized into a religion among religions, not to be made subject to man&#8217;s belief. He does not need to be protected beneath the umbrella belief of freedom of rights and freedom of religion, for when Christ returns as King of kings it will be God&#8217;s Way and Only His Way that will be way of life.

Some Christians say that it will be that way when the kingdom is set up....this is a man&#8217;s justification...however the Holy Spirit is here now and therefore the true Christians are to live according to the True Way now!

 

[redeemedbychrist]

Why These Seven Churches?​

1) Local: actual churches; valid needs.​

2) Admonitory: "hear...churches" ...all seven letters apply to all seven churches.​

3) Homiletic; personal: "He that hath an ear...." It applies to you and me personally.​

4) Prophetic: In their particular order, they lay out the entire history of the church. [They fill the gap implied in Daniel 9:26, and between Rev 12:5 and 6, etc.] Whereas the Book of Acts covered the first 30 years of the church, the Book of Revelation takes it from Acts to His Second Coming (covering about 2000 years). Cf. Matthew 13; Pauline letters...Any other order--it doesn&#8217;t fit!


1) Ephesus (Rev 2v 1-7) - the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4).

(2) Smyrna (Rev 2v 8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution (2:10).

(3) Pergamum (Rev 2v 12-17) - the church that needed to repent (2:16).

(4) Thyatira (Rev 2v 18-29) - the church that had a false prophetess (2:20).

(5) Sardis (Rev 3v 1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep (3:2).

(6) Philadelphia (Rev 3v 7-13) - the church that had endured patiently (3:10).

(7) Laodicea (Rev 3v14-22) - the church with the lukewarm faith (3:16).


And I do hold to the believe that each church represents an age in church history. We are currently in age 6/7
​

 

[mark kennedy]

Ephesus was a church in Asia Minor (between the Middle East and Europe) that Paul founded and pastured for 3 1/2 years. This became the hub of the early Gentile church, the other churches were close by. The seeds of those churches grew to become what we call the Church today. The seven churches in are represented in the opening chapters of the Revelation by the Menorah, it's a seven pronged candlestick, actually hollowed out and filled with oil. This was in the Holy Place in the Temple and illuminated the Shew Bread, the analogy of the Word of God being the bread of life comes to mind.

To cut it a little short and get right to the point, the 7 churches are the Church. You can see most Christian ministries represented in the words of Jesus to those ministries. You can see it in other Christians, most importantly, you can see Jesus' words of encouragement and admonishment in you. That would appear to be the heart of the message.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[AHJE]

Peace be to all,

The number "seven" in the book of the Apocalypse is symbolic for wholeness or completeness.

So, ... the "7 Churches" signifies essentially the whole Church. There is but one Church. Let him who has ears to hear ... hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the whole Church.

The book of Revelation needs to be deciphered.

"horns" represent power and "eyes" represent wisdom or knowledge.

God bless you.

 

[susanbb]

Let's try this. The 7 churches are actual Jewish assemblies through the ministry of Jesus disciples. Paul was forbidden to preach in these areas while they were being formed by the Jewish disciples. They disappeared after Israel was cast away, but will return again after the rapture. Their doctrine is found in Hebrews thru Revelation.

 

[Radagast]

Let's try this. The 7 churches are actual Jewish assemblies through the ministry of Jesus disciples. Paul was forbidden to preach in these areas while they were being formed by the Jewish disciples. They disappeared after Israel was cast away, but will return again after the rapture. Their doctrine is found in Hebrews thru Revelation.

Where did you get that from? None of that is true.

 

[susanbb]

I get it from the bible.

First of all, the body of Christ was a mystery. Prophesy is to Israel. John declares his words to be prophesy. The words in Revelation are directed to Israel.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophesy ... Rev 1:3

 

[Radagast]

Prophesy is to Israel.

Not so. See Acts 13:1, Acts 19:6, Acts 21:8, etc.

The words in Revelation are directed to Israel.

No, they are directed to the Church.

 

[Knee V]

It is my understanding that the seven churches, although being actual churches at that time, represent seven different conditions in which any church can find itself at any time in its life.

And no, those churches did not disappear after Israel was cast away. Most of them stuck around for centuries, and were later crushed by Islam. For example, the church of Ephesus was still a highly influential church up until the 15th century (see St Mark of Ephesus; he's pretty cool).

 

[ebedmelech]

Hello, how are you all doing?

I wanted to ask a question. I have not looked into this but what are the seven churches?

Do a clear reading of the passage with no presupposition and you will find they are 7 existent churches at the time that John write Revelation.

Each church is given a message by John from Jesus. Many think these are "church ages" but that wouldn't be correct either because there are churches today that could fit either category spiritually.

I submit these are just 7 churches that were about to be persecuted by Rome, and they were...and they no longer exist.

When someone tells you these are "church ages" ask them to show you from scripture why...they can't...they've been taught that, so they believe it.

 

[Rev Randy]

Identifying the errors:


Also, they do not detest the deeds of the Nicolaitians (use grace as a way out for continued sin).

OK John, you have my attention . Please explain where you came up with this. I'm neither agreeing or disagreeing just wondering where you found your facts to come up with that conclusion.