Seven Churches

Literal Ancient Churches, but representation till the end.

Pre-tribulation Doctrine

• Also believe ancient churches as well as linear sequencing throughout church history.

• Ephesus being the first church age, and Laodicea the last and current age.

• Why would Jesus return to rescue a church that he would rather vomit out of His mouth? (See Rev. 3:16.)

Reference to 2nd Coming

6/7 Churches in Revelation

The Church References

• Ephesus-Rev. 2:5b, “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

• Pergamum-Rev. 2:16, “I will soon come to you and fight them with the sword of my mouth”. Reference to Nicolaitan judgment. See Rev. 19:15 to Armageddon/Sword.

• Thyatira-Rev. 2:28, “I will also give them the morning star.” (See Rev. 22:16.)

More Church References

• Sardis-Rev. 3:3, “If you do not repent, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what time I come to you.” (Lk. 12:35-46.)

• Laodicea-Rev. 3:20, “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.” (He knocks with tribulation prophecies and if they are ready they will eat heavenly feast)

Smyrna

• Only church in Revelation not referenced with second coming/Armageddon.

• They, like all 7 churches, will go into the tribulation period, but suffer the most.

• Most will be martyred, so will not be living at the time of the second coming, which may explain the lack of symbolism.

Philadelphia Spared “Hour”

• Philadelphia-Rev. 3:10, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial… to test those who live on the earth.”

• Many pre-tribulation rapture proponents claim this is support for The Church being spared the tribulation, yet Laodicea is last church age and 7 years is not an “hour”.

• So will true believers in all 7 churches.

The “Hour”

• Rev. 14:7, “He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.’”

• Rev. 18:17, “In one hour, such great wealth has been brought to ruin!”

• Rev 18:19b, “In one hour she has been brought to ruin! Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice saints, and apostles, and prophets! God has judged her…”

Expect Tribulation

• Rev. 1:9 (KJV), “I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.

• Wouldn’t it be ironic that The Church is called to endure tribulation, yet not one representative is present for the actual tribulation period? Doesn’t hardships purify The Church? Has history showed this?

Overcomers

• Multiple references to The Church in Revelation to “overcome”. See Rev. 2:7, 2:11b, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, and 3:21.

• Rev. 21:7, “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (He enduring the tribulation.)

• 1 Jn. 2:14-16, “I write to you young men because you are strong… you have overcome the evil one.”

Churches Not There?

• Why even mention the churches if not indeed there for the tribulation period?

• Are not the churches to experience the “unveiling of Christ”, which Revelation is?

• Rev. 22:16, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright morning star.” The testimony would not be for the churches if not there.

Why Double Blessing?

• Rev. 1:2, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart?”

• To “take to heart” involves making changes in life decisions based on such prophecy. If The Church was not there then their would be no double blessing.

“Come Up Here”

• Pre-tribulation rapture proponents say no references to the church after Rev. 4:1b, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

• ‘Come up’ is supposed to be the rapture, but the same terminology is used in other visions that John was given about the revelation, like seals, prostitute, and bride.

• Rev. 6:1,17:1, 21:9 +22:17-similar terms.

Church-Later Revelation?

• Direct references are not needed after 2nd and 3rd Chapters, as the individual churches have been clearly delineated.

• Church members collectively “great multitude”, “saints”, “He that has an ear let him hear”, “bride of Christ”, those with “seal of God” on foreheads, “offspring” of the women.

Jews- 2 Churches

• Messianic Jews in Smyrna and Philadelphia are turned in by other Jews.

• Rev. 2:9, “I know your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan”.

• Rev. 3:9, “I will make those who are a synagogue of Satan...fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”

Jesus Said So

• Matt. 10:17+21-23, “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues …Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child... All men will hate you because of me…When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another…You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Jews/Gentile-One

• One Spirit, one bride, and one body.• Eph. 3:6, “This mystery is that through the

gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

• Gal. 3:28,“there is neither Jew nor Greek …for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

• 1 Cor. 12:13, “For we were all baptized by one spirit into one body -whether Jews or Greeks.”

Israel-The Bride

• Isa. 54:5, “For your Maker is your husband- the Lord Almighty is his name- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

• Jer. 3:14-17, “Return, faithless people, declares the Lord, declares the Lord, for I am your husband…At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord.”

• Hosea 2:19, “I will betroth you to me forever…you will acknowledge the Lord.”

Fruitful Bride-Israel

• Isa. 54:1+3, “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband…your descendants will dispossess the nations and settle in their desolate cities.”

• Isa. 27:6+13, “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the earth with fruit…will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.”

The True Church

• Not respecter of denominations

• Jews and Gentiles. Rom. 9:7, “it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s Offspring.”

• Will be there through most of tribulation, except the “hour of testing” or bowl judg.

• Raptured at the 2nd Coming of Chirst.