Joseph stowell, this 7part dvd takes a closer look at the letters written by the apostle john to the churches in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum. Copy of information the church of ephesus era occurred from 33100 a. Each city where a particular fellowship resided had its own unique characteristics, some of which offered challenges and temptations to those who were believers. They didnt have a mail system like we do so they would send the letter by messenger to the first town.
The revelation according to the book of john, specifically indicated that the image like unto the son of man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, was the divine of the oracle for the seven churches. These churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. Were the seven churches of revelation a prophecy for today. The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches jesus walked among. I am convinced that there is a prophetical interpretation here that shows a consecutive fulfillment in church history. The seven churches found in the book of revelation were literal first century christian fellowships that existed along a roman mail route. How were they read and understood in the first century. But jesus clearly tells us that the prophetic events which he describes would begin to take. Ephesus was the fourth largest city of the roman empire in the first century. Even if this verse were not a specific allusion to zechariah 4. He praised, encouraged, challenged, and warned each church so that they may be faithful to the end. Seventhday adventists teach that the book of revelation covers the entire history of christianity, starting with johns era and proceeding through christian history up to the present time. Map shows the approximate locations of the cities with the seven churches that are mentioned in the bibles book of revelation. Works is one of several main factors jesus uses to make his judgment whether or not a.
John, in turn, passed the message along to the seven churches which are in asia 1. Travel to the land of the bible with host joe stowell to visit. These were real churches in real towns and cities at that time. Certainly all 7 churches exist in the church today, as does the harlot church and the bride church. Dec 09, 2019 the seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. First, revelation was not only relevant for the firstcentury churches to give them hope to withstand persecution, but also relevant to the church in the 21st century to continue our hope and build our faith in god and the book of revelation.
Exiled on the island of patmos as he saw visions and recorded them, he must have longed to be able to visit the churches in person to deliver his message. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse, the seven churches of asia and the seven churches of asia minor referring to the roman province of asia, modern day asia minorturkey are seven of the major churches of early christianity, dating from the first century ad, as indicated in the book of revelation, chapters 2 and 3, of the new testament. I know your works and tribulation and poverty but you are rich, and the. This revelation timeline decoded bible study will show you how the 7 churches of revelation represent seven church eras that have spanned throughout history, and end when the lord returns most pastors teach that jesus was just addressing the churches that existed at the time it was written in 95 a. Bible teachings the seven churches of revelation, also known as the. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. The seven churches of revelation described in revelation chapters 2 through chapter 3 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. The seven churches of the apocalypse the church of god.
The 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. Interactive map of the seven churches in revelation. Many prophecies of scripture have more than one fulfillment. Perfect for personal use, small groups, or to add depth to any revelation bible study. What you see, write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in asia, to ephesus, to smyrna, to pergamos, to thyatira, to sardis, to philadelphia, and to laodicea 1.
The first church on the list is the church at ephesus, the city that would have been closest. These churches were planted and cultivated by the apostle paul, with the church at ephesus being the lead church. In the apostle johns day the seven cities were located in a. The first of these visions concerned seven churches located in asia minor.
All of these seven churches mentioned in revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal churches that were located in asia minor. The seven churches of revelation life in a dying world. May 31, 2017 lastly, the 7 churches named in the book of revelation were all situated along a major roman road. The 7 churches of revelation, their struggles and strengths.
The authors carry out the noble task of encouraging pastors to stop wishing for the perfect church and offer them realistic strategies on how to effectively minister where god has placed them. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. Nevertheless, the latter view seems to receive particular emphasis from the widely held belief that the book of revelation is a forecast of unfolding church history, both good and bad, of the false church as well as the true, from. So that conforms with what we have in the book of revelation seven out of which comes. In the letters he applauds and chastises each church and he offers them advice on how to get back on track. The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered to these cities, so these letters may have less to do with seven different church ages as some scholars believe, but rather real churches that.
What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Only one of the churches is in another part of the bible. He was told to write the things which he saw and heard. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2.
In these letters, jesus addresses the spiritual health of each church. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church. Lacking in every way, it was compromising, conceited, and christless. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that can lure us away from our faith. But, the belief that revelation was completely fulfilled in 70 a.
The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. Seven churches of revelation bible meaning explained. These churches are located in asia, modern turkey, some believe they represent seven church ages, while others argue they represent seven church. The seven churches of revelation 2 and 3 are 7 historical. Here is a short overview of each of the 7 churches of revelation, plus a description of patmos, the place john actually received the book of revelation.
Bible truth versus adventist truth seven churches of revelation. This should not surprise us since revelation is a prophetical book. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up. Ephesusselcuk smyrnaizmir pergamumbergama thyatiraakhisar sardissart.
Jesus refers to his attributes described in chapter 1. Its been almost 2,000 years since the apostle john was instructed by jesus to write letters to the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation. There are seven churches, seven lamp holders, seven stars, seven angels, seven spirits of god and seven letters. The seven churchesthe book of revelation morningstar. Secondly, revelation is written chronologically covering events from the. It is the most important and valuable prophetic book in the bible. The seven churches of revelation bible student archives.
What was jesus message to the church in laodicea in. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Its been almost 2000 years since the apostle john was instructed by jesus to write letters to the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation. Studies from the seven churches of revelation explores christs warnings to the seven most prominent churches in asia minor in the book of revelation. Jesus has only good things to say about 2 of the 7 churches, smyrna and philadelphia. Grace to you, and peace, from him that is, and that was, and is to come. The seven churches of revelation bible study ministry. Get a fresh perspective on the book of revelation and jesus message to churches in all times. Its been almost 2000 years since the apostle john was instructed by jesus to write letters to the seven churches mentioned in the book of. Works is one of several main factors jesus uses to make his judgment whether or not a believer overcomes or conquers. The church at ephesus received a letter, the book of ephesians, from the apostle paul. The seven churches are the primary focus of the first three chapters of revelation. The seven churches of revelation in turkey made in turkey tours. The disciple john, who wrote down the book of revelation, was told to write to the seven churches.
The prophetic visions god would give him would become the book of revelation. Map of the 7 churches of revelation seven churches of asia. May 15, 2019 the book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor. The order in which the letters are enumerated is the order in which the mail courier would have traversed them. Enjoy having an easytounderstand overview on the seven churches in revelationpacked with quickreference charts, simple summaries, and a fullcolor map, this quickreference pamphlet explains jesus message to each of the seven churches and shows key information at a glance.
They are represented by seven golden lampstands, and the. The seven churches of the revelation are ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. The seven churches 18 some of these issues are addressed in this revelation. The book of revelation contains seven letters from jesus to 7 churches in asia minor. Barclay describes the situation in each of the seven cities its religious, geography, politics, and most important of all, its. W hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. The rest of the story demonstrates that the key to understanding the message of revelation is found in this intricate relationship between the seven letters and the rest of the book, with the visions of revelation 422 building on, fleshing out, and driving home each of the messages to the seven churches in revelation 23. Book of revelation letters to the seven churches bible teaching brad stroup seven churches. He was following the instruction jesus christ had given him in a vision while he was on the island called patmos. Each of the seven letters is a prophetic word from jesus, through the spirit, who is inspiring john to write. The very first verse of the book provides an appropriate title, and reveals both the source and destination of the message. The seven churches the book of revelation was written in a.
Seven churches, god was pleased with only two churches. Comparison chart s letters to the seven churches of revelation. The book therefore is a divinely given book, and is the revelation of jesus christ and not of john. Christs messages in revela tion 23 are addressed to seven individual churches in the roman province of asia in that day. Read download the seven churches of the book of revelation.
In these letters, jesus addresses the spiritual health of each church he praised, encouraged, challenged, and warned each church so that they may be faithful to the end. Jesus says, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Very good research into the history of the book of revelation. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. In their revelation seminars sdas teach that the seven churches of revelation chapters 2 and 3 represent long periods of christian history. Revelation 6 7 trumpets revelation 89, 11 7 bowls revelation 16. The message contained in revelation is a message that spoke straight into the hearts of the first hearers and still. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2.
Jesus says, i know jesus praises positive qualities. Dec 12, 2014 these churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered. John recorded letters to the seven churches in asia, as part of revelation, the last book of the bible. Heres a link to a onepage summary of the seven church eras, the little book and the two witnesses of revelation. They are represented by seven golden lampstands, and the seven angels or messengers of the churches, represented by seven stars in the right hand of jesus. Those people would read it and then send it on to the next town or city. For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. The message contained in revelation is a message that spoke straight into the hearts of. Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea were literal churches that existed in asia.
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