Revelation: The 7 Churches Part 1 - Revelation 2

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Revelation: Four Views 1. The Historicist Approach: Revelation Surveys the Whole of Church History

THE HISTORICIST APPROACH: REVELATION SURVEYS THE WHOLE OF CHURCH HISTORY

Revelation: Four Views 1. The Historicist Approach: Revelation Surveys the Whole of Church History

Those who teach this view believe that God revealed the entire church age in advance through the symbolic visions of the Apocalypse. For example, the breaking of the seven seals (chs. 6–7) is often said to be the barbarian invasions that sacked the western Roman Empire. The scorpion/locusts that come out of the bottomless pit (ch. 9) are the Arab hordes attacking the eastern Roman Empire, followed by the Turks, represented as the horses with serpents for tails and flame-throwers for mouths. “The beast” (ch. 13) represents the Roman papacy.

A unique characteristic of this line of interpretation is its advocacy of what is called the “year-for-a-day principle” when dealing with designations of time in Revelation. It is believed that God revealed literal and exact time periods, but cast them in a symbolism that represents a year as a day. On this principle, five months (150 days) is taken to designate 150 years.

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Revelation: Four Views 2. The Preterist Approach: Fulfillment Is in the past, Shortly after the Time of Writing

2. THE PRETERIST APPROACH: FULFILLMENT IS IN THE PAST, SHORTLY AFTER THE TIME OF WRITING

Among those identifying themselves as preterists, there are two types:

1. Many exegetes whose method is actually literary-critical have chosen to label their approach as preterist or, alternately, as contemporary-historical. The writers to whom I refer are not preterist in the evangelical sense. They are referred to by Pieters as “Left Wing” of preterism. They apply the term to themselves because they believe that contemporary elements of John’s own day can be identified in the symbolic language he uses.

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Revelation: Four Views 3. The Futurist Approach: Everything after Chapter Three Awaits Fulfillment in the Future

THE FUTURIST APPROACH: EVERYTHING AFTER CHAPTER THREE AWAITS FULFILLMENT IN THE FUTURE

The futurist approach is held by the majority of the most popular contemporary evangelical writers and Bible teachers. It has so dominated the Christian media, in fact, that many Christians and virtually all non-Christians are unaware even of the existence of other approaches. The best-known version of futurism today is that of dispensational theology. This is the camp of J. N. Darby, C. I. Scofield, Clarence Larkin, Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord, Hal Lindsey, and many others. The principal difference between the dispensationalist view and other futurist views of Revelation would be the fact that the former places the rapture of the church at Revelation 4:1, while other futurists would place it later (e.g., in chapter 19).

According to this view, Revelation divides into three sections, defined in 1:19, where John is told to write “the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these things.” Following this outline, chapter 1 describes the first division, or the things John had seen, which was the vision of the glorified Christ on Patmos. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the things “which are,” that is, the present realities of the churches (or the church age), and everything after chapter 3 describes events, which were not only future at the time of writing, but are still future from our own standpoint. The majority of the material (chapters 6–19) is thought to describe a seven-year (or, alternatively, a three-and-a-half-year) Tribulation period, followed by the return of Christ (chapter 19), a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth (chapter 20), and the new creation (chapters 21–22). Futurists, like historicists, often understand Revelation to be chronologically continuous, though some futurists see two parallel sections of Revelation (chapters 4–11 and chapters 12–19), both of which describe a future time of tribulation.

Belief in the futurist approach frees the reader to take a more literal view of the visions, reducing the difficulties of interpreting the symbols.

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Revelation: Four Views 4. The Spiritual Approach: No Single Fulfillment; Only Transcendent Principles and Recurrent Themes

4. THE SPIRITUAL APPROACH: NO SINGLE FULFILLMENT; ONLY TRANSCENDENT PRINCIPLES AND RECURRENT THEMES

I am using the label spiritual approach to include all approaches that do not look for individual or specific fulfillments of the prophecies of Revelation in the natural sense, but which believe only that spiritual lessons and principles (which may find recurrent expression in history) are depicted symbolically in the visions. Though this kind of approach is sometimes associated with theological liberalism, it is entirely consistent with a high view of inspiration of Scripture, and there are many commentaries by theological conservatives who believe that John had the visions revealed to him exactly as he claims, but who believe that their meaning is to be spiritually understood in a sense that would be edifying to believers of any age.

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Intro: What Do You Think of When I Say 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back?

*I think of how life generally works.
-Often, we will have successes, then we will have set backs that we have to deal with...
-Rarely is it smooth sailing all the way!
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Considerations regarding the 7 Churches
*As we consider the messages that Jesus has for these 7 churches only two have all good things said to them...
-5 churches have positive and negative messages from Christ.
Take heart! If you feel like the struggle is real and your fighting for every step forward that you are taking, God is with you, He will help you!
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Interpreters of the preterist, and the spiritual schools, and many futurists as well, understand the letters to be addressed to the actual, historic churches named in them, and by extension to any churches that may find themselves in similar circumstances to theirs. Beyond this, they seek no additional, hidden meaning behind them.
However, those of the historicist school, and some of the futurist school, have called attention to certain parallels between the individual letters and successive periods of church history, from John’s day until the end. They conclude that the seven letters present a panorama of the age of the church.
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Revelation 2:1–7 CSB
1 “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Point #1: The Church at Ephesus Has a Wonderful Testimony, But They Have Lost Focus!

This is Jesus talking: He is the one with the 7 stars in his right hand, He is the one that walks among the 7 golden lampstands!
Jesus knows!
Jesus knows their works, their labor, their endurance!
Jesus knows that they will not tolerate evil people!
Jesus knows that they have spiritual discernment!
They have tested those who claimed to be Apostles, yet were not… they discerned that they were liars.
Jesus knows that they have persevered and endured hardship...
They have not grown weary!
But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Jesus calls them to take responsibility!
5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
Jesus tells them that there are consequences to poor decisions!
Otherwise, I will come to you[b] and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Then Jesus shares another positive in their favor...
6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Jesus gives a message of hope to all who believe and follow Him!
7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in[c] the paradise of God.
There is reward for those who live in obedience!!!
Thus the promise to the overcomer translates into a guarantee of eternal life in heaven. Among historicists and some futurists, Ephesus is said to represent the condition of the church of the apostolic age, until the end of the first century.
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CONTINUING IN REV 2:8
Revelation 2:8–11 CSB
8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

Point #2: Jesus Reminds the Church of Smyrna of God’s Backwards Economy!

We learn that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. We learn that Jesus is without begin or ending!
We lean that Jesus is the one who was dead but then came back to life...
Jesus then tells them that He knows what they are going through:
He knows of their affliction!
He knows of their poverty!
But then Jesus pronounces them as rich!
Revelation 2:8–11 (R:FV): It is sometimes necessary to be reminded of this in times of suffering, since God may seem distant at such times. Though they are poor in material things, He testifies on their behalf, but you are rich. James, in his epistle states that God has “chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom” (James 2:5)
Jesus identifies their enemies: Those who are alleged to Jews, but rather are a synagogue of Satan...
They say they are serving God but in reality they are serving the devil.
Jesus encourages them in the midst of what they are about to suffer…telling them do not be afraid.
The Christians should not fear any of those things which [they] are about to suffer (v. 10), even as Jesus had previously taught His disciples not to fear those who can “kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do” (Luke 12:4). Fearlessness, however, may not necessarily mean the total absence of dread, but rather the refusal to succumb to intimidation, so that threats of harm do not turn them back from their duty to Christ.
Satan is about to test them and afflict them...
Jesus calls them to remain faithful even to the point of death...
Jesus does not promise that He will protect His people from martyrdom, but that, if they remain faithful until death, they shall receive the crown of life (v. 10). Though this may refer to an actual crown to be worn upon the head, it may simply be a symbol of eternal life itself.
Again Jesus gives hope: There is a second death, but those who are faithful to God will not experience it!
a. To be crowned with eternal life is to be exempted from the second death (v. 11), which is later equated with the lake of
fire (20:14).
Among historicists and some futurists, Smyrna is believed to represent the church during the period of persecution under the Roman emperors. This began with the brief but severe persecution under Nero in a.d. 64, but became more focused and deliberate under Domitian and many of his successors, from about 95 till 313.
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CONTINUING IN REV 2:12
Revelation 2:12–17 CSB
12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: 13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Point #3: The Church at Pergamum Live in Difficult Circumstances!

We learn that Jesus is the one that have the sharp, double edged sword...
Rev 1:6 reminds us that Jesus has a double edges sword coming from his mouth…this is the Word of God!
Hebrews 4:12 CSB
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Jesus responds to their circumstances...
13 I know[f] where you live—where Satan’s throne is.
Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me,[g] even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.
14 But I have a few things against you...
You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block[h] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.[i]
What is evident is that sexual immorality and compromise with idolatry were being tolerated and even advocated by some in the church. In the second century, these same issues would be principal features of the gnostic heretics. Whereas the Ephesian church had no tolerance for the “deeds of the Nicolaitans” (2:6), this church was seeing the encroachment of an actual “doctrine” of the same group (see comments at 2:6).
16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
5. Again Jesus gives hope!
a. 17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
i. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna.[j]
There was a tradition among the Jews that Jeremiah had taken the ark of the covenant, containing a golden pot of manna, with him when he fled to Egypt before the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. Some taught that, at the initiation of the kingdom age, Jeremiah would return, bringing the ark with him, and would serve a feast of the manna that had been hidden for centuries in the ark. Some Jews of Jesus’ day thought He might be Jeremiah (Matt. 16:14). When He fed the multitudes with a few loaves, the people began to say, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). Jesus responded that He was the true manna that came down to give life to the world (John 6:32–33). The Pergamos overcomers are promised that they will commune with Him at His feast in the kingdom, since they refuse to commune with demons at the idolatrous meals (see 1 Cor. 10:14–22).
ii. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
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Among the historicists and some futurists, Pergamos is seen as representing the imperial church after Constantine (313–606), wherein the church ceased to be officially persecuted and obtained access to the portals of political power. Pergamos, it is alleged, means “married to power.” It was during this time that the institution of the papacy had its inception.
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CONTINUING IN REV 2:18
Revelation 2:18–29 CSB
18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze: 19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works, 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets of Satan”—as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you. 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations— 27 and he will rule them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery— 28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. 29 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Point #4: The Church at Thyatira Was Faithful but Not Perfect!

Again we see Jesus described:
Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:
Christ reveals himself to this church as the Son of God and informs them that His eyes are like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass (v. 18). Both of these characteristics suggest impending judgment. His piercing vision sees all and can therefore not fail to judge rightly, whereas His feet, with which He will tread upon the wicked in the winepress of God’s wrath (14:19f; Isa. 63:1–4), are of irresistible strength, like brass. Jesus will judge the wicked in the church (vv. 22f) with a judgment none can thwart or resist.
Again we see that Jesus knows what we are going through!
19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness,[k] service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.
But here comes the one step back!
20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.
There arose in the church a self-professed prophetess, symbolically called Jezebel (v. 20) due to the similarity of her influence upon the church to that of the original Jezebel upon Israel. This woman apparently taught that idolatrous practices were permissible, encouraged fornication, and indulged in the same herself with members of the church.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction.
Jesus warns the church:
Unless they repent of her[l] works, 23 I will strike her children dead.[m]
Her “children” maybe her followers or her natural offspring. In any case, even at this late date the consequences can yet be averted if they repent of their deeds (v. 22).
Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets[n] of Satan” —as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you.
Then Jesus encourages them:
25 Only hold on to what you have until I come.
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—
27 and he will rule[o] them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery[p] —
The fulfillment of this promise has been variously applied: (a) to reigning with Christ over the unsaved nations during a future millennium (20:4), (b) to participating in the reign of the saints with Christ after death in heaven (another way of understanding 20:4), or (c) to reigning over Christians of lower rank in the new earth, assuming there will be varying degrees of authority awarded to various saints (see Matt. 25:21, 23; Luke 19:17, 19; 1 Cor. 15:41f).
28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.( Rev 22:16)
This message is for everyone!
29 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
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In the view of historicists and some futurists, Thyatira represents the church of the period of papal triumph and persecution (606–1517). “It is the middle church of the seven, and likewise covers the Middle Ages.”
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