John the apostle addressed seven letters to seven real churches that existed during the time he wrote the book of revelation. We see it in early jewish literature, including 2 bar. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1. In a society flooded with temptation, they bring the christian back to the first commandment. Revelation 1 discusses how christ is the almighty god and the heart of the book of revelation. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before. Joseph prince what about the 7 churches in revelations. The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven churches. People there evidently did things right, and we can learn a lot from their faithfulness. The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven. 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. Seven churches of revelation map artwork by kelly cunningham. Then come a commendation, a criticism, an admonition, a call, a challenge, and a promise.
The seven churches described in the book of revelation. The seven letters to the seven churches revelation 2 and 3. Bible a commentary on the book of revelation chapter 2. Revelation 3 commentary names of christ in revelation. Two of the seven letters, sardis and laodicea, contain no commendation, and in two, smyrna and philadelphia, no criticism is given.
In letters to seven churches of revelation, the apostle john lists warnings and praise for historic and. Heres what you can do to maximize the next 7 weeks. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. There were not seven books written, but one book in which these seven epistles were, out of which each church, or the church in it several periods, might learn what concerned it. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and through these letters, when jesus speaks to the angels of the seven churches, he speaks not to one individual, but to the entire church through that individual. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for.
How did the lord choose the seven churches in revelation. Letters of the revelation bible study book lifeway. As we look at these seven letters in the book of revelation, it is helpful to remember two things about them. Why these seven churches commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. Standing among them was one like the son of man verse. These are sobering dictates, and they are meant to be listened to by every christian citizen on earth. Blue letter bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the bible easy and rewarding. Were the messages to these churches intended mainly for the congregations to which they were sent. We have no means whatever of ascertaining the size of the church when john wrote the book of revelation.
The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven churches the bibles book of revelation part 1 letters to the seven churches exploring the prophecies of scripture this is the revelation given by god to jesus christ so that he in turn could tell his servants about the things which are now very soon to take place. They are for each of the seven churches that existed in johns time. Nov 16, 2000 the letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series colin j. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in. The book is addressed to the seven churches which are in asia. All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. Dotted with words of encouragement and correction, the lords messages offer a. A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. In all cases, the person speaking to the churches is. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches.
As in ancient times, backsliding continues to be a danger for people who believe in jesus christ, but reading these short letters to the seven churches of revelation serves as a stern reminder. By asia is not meant the great continent of asia, or even the whole of asia minor, but only its western end. 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, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. Revelation 23 7 letters to 7 churches, part 1 grace thru. Why these seven churches commentary a testimony of. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. The seven churches of revelation, as described in chapters two and three of that book, have intrigued bible expositors down through the age. The seven parable suggestions, seven church suggestions and seven epistles above are from the book of revelation, supplemental notes page 60, koinonia house inc. They gave promises for those in each church who obeyed. The bible study book, a vital component of a group members discipleship experience, includes optional personalstudy activities that can be adapted to the individuals specific. Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons. The reformation produced the protestant state churches of europe churches that had a reputation for being alive but were really dead because of their union with the state.
They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. Understanding the book of revelation 15 understanding the seven churches of revelation 10 i was in the spirit on the lords day, and i heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the churches in todays church age. Letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting hemer, colin j. The first purpose of the letters was to communicate with. By ed stevens then and now podcast may 12, 20 introduction. In prophecy, the number 7 means complete or the whole number. These cities stood along one of the ancient postal roman roads of that day, and, beginning at ephesus, would have been visited in the order in which they are named. The temple and city of jerusalem had been destroyed, and the jews dispersed 26 years before, and johns attention was called to the condition of the seven representative churches of asia. A detailed study of these seven letters exceeds the scope of this brief glimpse.
Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle johns time in asia minor modernday turkey. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are letters to seven literal churches in johns day. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. In this session, we will be looking at what happened to the seven churches of turkey after the neronic persecution. Its the church that existed at the time that the book of revelation was written. They deal with seven specific churches in asia minor, although the issues that those churches were dealing with can also be found in the christian church today. The lord instructed john to write these letters to the seven churches in the province of asia rev 1. The church at smyrna represents the persecuted church or the martyr church that existed from 95 a. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series. The messages to the seven churches introduction to the messages christians who read revelation for the first time may wonder why this book, which is primarily about end times prophecy, should first include these messages to seven specific historical churches in chapters 2 and 3. Join us in the bible study as we look at christs personal, heartfelt messages to his bride the church.
Revelation overview matthew henrys complete commentary on. John had to send the whole book to each of these churches. Organized by chapter, this panorama of bible prophecy will let you catch a. Letters of the revelation bible study book includes six smallgroup sessions, applicable scripture, how to use this study, and tips for leading a group. First, they are a picture of seven kinds of churches that you find in any age, in any period of history. It appears to be a deliberate choice, like the many other occurrences of seven in the book of revelation, to signify that these seven churches typify all churches in every age. The seven churches of revelation bible study ministry. The church where faith was costly we are to be faithful to christ, even unto death. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus is on things that shall be. For 2,000 years, scholars have wondered why such an important message would be sent to these churches since they werent even the most important of their day, let alone now. John was not far from 100 years old, and the only remaining apostle. We see it elsewhere in the bible, such as 2 chronicles 21. And even though the seven angels participated in the letters flow into the world, they also stand in the direct path of its injunctions, its blessings and its warnings.
I believe this series seven churches of revelation has the potential to revolutionize your faith. Sardis had, at one time, been considered to be impregnable because of its ideal physical arrangement and topography for defense. Some of these seven churches kept closer to the gospel than others. Each receives a description of its present condition with a necessary warning and a call to the overcomers to persevere. A map of modern day turkey with seven churches marked on map. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local. A messenger carrying letters to the seven churches from the apostle john on the island of patmos, which is about 30 miles off the coast of turkey and opposite the nearest port of the ancient city of miletus, would land at miletus and proceed northward about 25 miles to ephesus. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey.
An interpretation of the book of revelation hendriksen, william. Seven letters to seven churches christian bible studies. When revelation was written at the end of the first century, all seven churches existed at the same time, therefore the seven conditionsthe messages. 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 described in the book of revelation 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.
For the purposes of this article, i share a summary of the seven churches in the book of revelation. Church at sardis so the church of sardis, the dead church, with the reputation for being alive, represents the postreformation period from 1517 to about 1750. In the book, there was a letter to each of the churches. We know the seven stars represent the churches because of what jesus said in revelation 1. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of endtime events leading up to the return of jesus christ. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. Chapter two the seven churches, part 1 revelation commentary. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church. In this book, although what john saw were mostly visions, we should not attempt to spiritualise these seven churches and interpret them as visions. Category assignments are somewhat arbitrary in some cases.
Then we have the liberal church of pergamum representing the apostate church that existed from 312 to 590. Revelation letters to the seven churches southern by gods grace. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2. Letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting. Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches in revelation. Blue letter bible is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Watch seven churches on adtv for more information in 155 ad, polycarp, bishop of smyrna and a close friend of ignatius, was killed by the sword, his body burned at the stake in smyrna. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come. Such parallels are noted at relevant points in the commentary, but one of. Were the messages to these churches intended mainly for the congregations to which they were sent during the apostolic period.
As a book intended for the end time, the primary instruction in revelation 2 and 3 concerns the endtime church. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series colin j. Revelation the last book of the bible contains jesus final words to his church through 7 letters to 7 churches. What should we learn from the letters to the seven. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. God intends the book of revelation to be a disclosure of vital. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus.
The seven churches to which the letters were addressed were ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. They mirror seven churches in the old testament as well as seven church ages. In revelation 23, we find these churches included ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. Revelation overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the bible. These letters were written to seven christian churches that sprang up throughout asia minor, which is presentday turkey. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in. Commit to attend liquid every week to experience the sunday sermon read gods word yourself specifically, the first 3 chapters of revelation. Although the letters differ in length in accord with the needs of each community, all conclude. The study of the seven churches can be very large and in depth.
Each of the seven letters is a prophetic word from jesus, through the spirit. Seiss writes, the churches of all time are comprehended in seven, and quotes many modern and ancient. What the bible says about revelation, seven churches of. Many believe seven churches were chosen because in the bible, the number seven often represents completeness, and these letters and all of the book of revelation are written to the complete church, not only these seven churches. This letter is from john to the seven churches in the province of asia. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 2. Deadness in the church the city and the assembly 3. Explore jesus letters to the churches in revelation and how his words apply to the church today.
The letters to the seven churches have a fourfold application. The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven churches christ. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation bible tools. The messages to the seven churches revelation commentary. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts. Of these we may safely set aside all those which make the seven letters to be pictures of successive periods in the history of the church. The seven churches of revelation bible student archives.
David guzik commentary on revelation 2, which includes jesus letters to the churches in ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, and thyatira. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen. Revelation 23 7 letters to 7 churches, part 1 grace. Over the next 7 weeks, our church is going to examine jesus words to these 7 churches and consider what he is. In this article, we will analyze each church in revelation, the old testament, and as a prophetic age. The letters to the seven churches revelation lamb and. A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 2 letters.