All conservative scholars agree that Revelation is the last book to be added to the canon of sixty six inspired books and that the apostle John is the author.\u00a0 John is given his three-fold division of the book as, \u201cthe things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter\u201d (1:19).\u00a0 The first division contains only chapter one, the things which John was presently seeing.\u00a0 The second division must be chapters two and three concerning the seven churches of Asia, because the third division is obviously what follows in chapters four to the end, \u201cI will show thee things which must be hereafter\u201d (4:1).<\/p>\n
The description of the seven churches of chapters two and three, \u201cthe things which are,\u201d constitute the last revelation concerning the New Testament church.\u00a0 This comprises the church age which will last until the tribulation, described in chapters four to twenty two, begins.\u00a0 The appearing of Jesus Christ to John on the Isle of Patmos (vs. 9) happens more than sixty years after Christ\u2019s resurrection and ascension back to heaven.\u00a0 There were many other things happening at that time to which the Lord might have turned John\u2019s attention, but the Lord was supremely interested in seven small local churches in Asia.<\/p>\n
The order in which the churches are mentioned has been the source of many interpretations.\u00a0 The historicists see seven periods within the church age ending with the apostasy of the Laodicean age.\u00a0 But it is better to see the seven churches as the \u201cthings which are\u201d in John\u2019s time.\u00a0 The order they are mentioned simply corresponds to the circle in which John would have traveled when delivering the letters, starting in Ephesus and ending in Laodicea.<\/p>\n
The letters to the seven churches become uniquely important to us because they represent the final form of the local church, churches that were planted most likely by the apostle Paul\u2019s efforts and were now under the direct influence of the apostle John.\u00a0 Not that there is contradiction in the New Testament but rather a solidification of the doctrines, a settling of the foundation into concrete form.\u00a0 There are many significant components to the churches in these two chapters.\u00a0 Here are five which are very important.<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus is doing the speaking, that is, the revealing to John.\u00a0 Red letter editions of the Bible use a lot of red ink in these chapters.\u00a0 In chapter one, verse one, we see that God the Father gave this revelation to Jesus Christ Who gave it to His angel who gave it to John who is now giving it to God\u2019s servants.\u00a0 John sees Jesus as He is in His post-ascension, glorified body.\u00a0 Paul confessed earlier that \u201cthough we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more\u201d (2 Cor. 5:16).\u00a0 From now on Jesus will be in the form that flesh takes when it is resurrected and glorified, even as John testified, \u201cwhen he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is\u201d (1 John 3:2).<\/p>\n John describes our Lord in this fashion:<\/p>\n 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;\u00a0 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.\u00a0 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;\u00a0 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.\u00a0 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (1:12-16)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jesus is walking among the candlesticks which are the seven churches.\u00a0 He has the angels (pastors) in His right hand.\u00a0 He says to every church, \u201cI know thy works.\u201d\u00a0 Each description of Him is applied to one of the churches as it relates to their spiritual condition.\u00a0 He is the Head of the church; resurrected, glorified, eternal, omnipotent, and Owner of the scroll, the deed to the whole earth.\u00a0 One by one He will peel off the seals and claim the rightful ownership of His own creation.<\/p>\n The Apostle John<\/span><\/p>\n John is the last of the apostles and the last of the inspired writers of Scripture.\u00a0 There will be many who claim the title: Muhammad, Joseph Smith, and still today we have groups like the New Apostolic Reformation with such well-known men as C. Peter Wagner and Rafael Cruz.1<\/sup>\u00a0 But they are false apostles about whom John often spoke (1 John 4:1).\u00a0 No man since John was baptized by John the Baptist or walked with Jesus during His life on earth, nor have they seen Christ after His resurrection as Peter declares, \u201cwhom, having not seen, ye love\u201d (1 Pet. 1:8).\u00a0 True apostles like John suffer and die.\u00a0 Preachers may make pulpits famous, but apostles and prophets made prisons famous.<\/p>\n John declares himself as the last biblical writer:<\/p>\n 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:\u00a0 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (22:18-19)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Bible is a canonized collection of 66 books of which Revelation is the last.\u00a0 To a train of 66 cars, one can only take the last one off or put one more on.\u00a0 That is why this statement is properly placed here.\u00a0 This is the last one to be put on.\u00a0 Matthew Henry so eloquently said, \u201cThis sanction is like a flaming sword, to guard the canon of the scripture from profane hands.\u00a0 Such a fence as this God set about the law (Deut. 4:2), and the whole Old Testament (Mal. 4:2), and now in the most solemn manner about the whole Bible, assuring us that it is a book of the most sacred nature, divine authority, and of the last importance, and therefore the peculiar care of the great God.\u201d2 <\/sup>\u00a0No one ought to assume himself a Bible writer, or even claim that \u201cGod told me,\u201d who does not also claim for himself the wrath of God mentioned in these verses.<\/p>\n The Seven Churches<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus stood in the midst of seven golden lamp stands and declared, \u201cthe seven candlesticks are the seven churches\u201d (1:20).\u00a0 They are golden because they are most precious in His sight.\u00a0 Jesus could have appeared in Jerusalem and instructed the scattered Jewish nation or in Rome and corrected the great world power.\u00a0 But \u201cthe things which are\u201d concern God\u2019s primary agency in this age of grace, the New Testament local church.\u00a0 He walks among them and holds their messengers in His right hand.\u00a0 He knows them intimately, encouraging or correcting where necessary.<\/p>\n Churches aren\u2019t perfect as these seven churches demonstrate and serve as examples for all churches to come.\u00a0 Five of the seven receive severe reprimand but all hear words such as, \u201cI know thy works,\u201d and \u201cnevertheless I have somewhat against thee,\u201d and \u201cbe thou faithful unto death,\u201d and \u201cthat which ye have already, hold fast till I come.\u201d\u00a0 The command to \u201crepent\u201d is given to five of the seven churches and the admonition to \u201covercome\u201d to all.\u00a0 The same could be and should be said to all churches throughout the age.<\/p>\n The letters to the churches are natural and interesting to read.\u00a0 The New Testament was largely written to churches, even though those churches may have had apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers in them.\u00a0 These seven letters, like the earlier epistles, were addressed to believers at specific locales.\u00a0 Though believers today comprise the universal church, or body of Christ, every believer ought to be a baptized member of a local church.\u00a0 This is the organization that Christ loves and to which He writes letters.\u00a0 As Paul finished his first epistle to the Thessalonians he wrote, \u201cI charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren\u201d (1 Thes. 5:27).\u00a0 As he finished his epistle to the Colossians he wrote, \u201cAnd when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea\u201d (Col. 4:16).\u00a0 This is most natural because that is where the believers would be.\u00a0 As John was finishing this book of Revelation, the Lord said, \u201cI Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches\u201d (22:16).\u00a0 John would faithfully make the circle from Ephesus to Laodicea, delivering the letters and later the whole book to seven local churches.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because that is where the \u201choly brethren\u201d would be gathered.\u00a0 John also received this revelation on \u201cthe Lord\u2019s day\u201d (1:10), \u201cthe first day of the week\u201d (1 Cor. 16:2), as in Troas, \u201cwhen the disciples came together\u201d (Acts 20:7).<\/p>\n The Holy Spirit<\/span><\/p>\n The Holy Spirit baptized the believers into the body of Christ on the day of Pentecost.\u00a0 When Jesus ascended back to the Father\u2019s right hand, the Holy Spirit descended and began His office work in the age of grace, the church age.\u00a0 He is the Baptizer, the Sealer, the Withholder, the Convicter, the Empowerer, the Inspirer.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit dwells on the earth only through regenerate people.\u00a0 \u201cKnow ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?\u201d (1 Cor. 3:16).\u00a0 \u201cIn whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit\u201d (Eph. 2:22).\u00a0 Some may build a habitat for humanity, but we are a habitat for divinity!<\/p>\n The book of Revelation contains one of the most unusual descriptions of the Holy Spirit in all of Scripture.\u00a0 In 1:4 He is described as the \u201cseven Spirits which are before His throne.\u201d\u00a0 In 3:1, \u201cThese things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God.\u201d\u00a0 In 4:5 John sees, \u201cseven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.\u201d\u00a0 Then in 5:6 John sees the Lamb slain Who has \u201cseven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Some see this as a reference back to Isaiah 11:2 where the Spirit is described with seven attributes. Walter Scott says of John\u2019s description, \u201cThe plenitude of His power and diversified activity are expressed in the term of \u2018seven Spirits,\u2019 the fullness of spiritual activity.\u201d3<\/sup> Joseph Weiss wrote, \u201cSeven is the number of dispensational fullness and perfection, and as there are seven churches, making the one Church, so there are \u2018the seven Spirits of God,\u2019 making up the completeness of the one gracious administration of the Holy Ghost.\u201d4<\/sup>\u00a0 It would be safe to say that the Holy Spirit does a mighty and complete work in every believer, hence every church, throughout this age.\u00a0 He will be removed only when the church herself is removed (2 Thes. 2:6-7.<\/p>\n The Angels of the Churches<\/span><\/p>\n Pastors described as angels is also a unique but not unheard of description in the Scripture.\u00a0 We know that the word angelos <\/i>means a messenger, and that is what pastors are to their churches.\u00a0 It is not unusual either for demons to be called \u201cangels\u201d or \u201cstars\u201d (see 12:4, 7, 9).\u00a0 David was said to be \u201cas an angel of God\u201d to Achish (1 Sam. 29:9) and Mephibosheth said to David, \u201cMy lord the king is an angel of God\u201d (2 Sam. 19:27).\u00a0 Old Testament priests were \u201cmessengers of the Lord of hosts\u201d (Mal. 2:7).\u00a0 In the New Testament John the Baptist was \u201cmy messenger\u201d (Mk. 1:2) and his disciples were called \u201cmessengers\u201d (Lk. 7:24).\u00a0 Paul\u2019s thorn in the flesh was a \u201cmessenger of Satan\u201d (2 Cor. 12:7).\u00a0 All these are translations of angelos<\/i>.\u00a0 In 19:10 an angel will say to John, \u201cI am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren\u201d meaning that angels and church leaders have very similar functions as messengers.<\/p>\n The angels, or messengers, of the churches were seen in the Lord\u2019s right hand, as if He walked with them through their church saying \u201cI know thy works . . .\u201d\u00a0 It is not out of order to notice the singularity of pastors in these churches.\u00a0 Though a church may have more than one pastor serving the church, it cannot have less than one.\u00a0 And in these cases that one is uniquely important.\u00a0 Whereas, however, each letter starts out with Jesus addressing the pastor and walking and talking with him, each letter also gives way to the Holy Spirit working in the entire congregation with the repeated phrase, \u201cHe that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\u201d\u00a0 The pastoral responsibility gives way to the congregational responsibility.<\/p>\n And so . . . .<\/b><\/p>\n The local churches in various cities and countries are seen to be the primary focus of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, the pastors, and the congregations in this age of grace.\u00a0 The world will never understand how such seemingly powerless entities can affect great things for God.\u00a0 But we should never despise the day of small things (Zech. 4:10).\u00a0 \u201cGod hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty\u201d (1 Cor. 1:27).\u00a0 It was to the poor and little church of Smyrna that the Lord said, \u201cI know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)\u201d (2:9). \u201cHath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?\u201d (Jas. 2:5).<\/p>\n Our reward is in heaven.\u00a0 The book of Revelation doesn\u2019t end with chapter three.\u00a0 The church is raptured out during the seven terrible years of tribulation, never to be seen or mentioned as on the earth.\u00a0 During the first scene in heaven (chapter 4) the saints receive their crowns and cast them down at Jesus\u2019 feet.\u00a0 Then (chapter 5) the saints from every kindred and tribe sing upon the crystal sea, \u201cThou art worthy\u201d to the Lamb.\u00a0 In chapter 19 the church returns from heaven with Christ on white horses and then reigns with Him for a thousand years.\u00a0 The last two chapters, 21 & 22, describe the beautiful city, which is our abode eternally, coming down out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband, as the church, the bride of Christ, is adorned for her husband, the Son of God.<\/p>\n Until then, let us be doing what John writes, \u201cThe Spirit and the bride say, Come.\u00a0 And let him that heareth say, Come.\u00a0 And let him that is athirst come.\u00a0 And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely\u201d (22:17).\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0 Even so, come , Lord Jesus.<\/p>\n Notes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" All conservative scholars agree that Revelation is the last book to be added to the canon of sixty six inspired books and that the apostle John is the author.\u00a0 John is given his three-fold division of the book as, \u201cthe things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[143,172],"class_list":["post-7110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-church","tag-doctrine-theology"],"yoast_head":"\n\n