What??? Writing about Revelation and the seven churches? Yeah, let’s do this! Why not? Time is short. 😊 These reflections have never been meant to show how much I know, but rather to document what He reveals to me on this journey as I invite Him into my life, to take my hand, and to show me His kingdom.
A few months ago, I ran across a radio series, Thru the Bible, by Dr. J. Version McGee, (1904 – 1988), that apparently cycles through his 5-Year Through-The-Bible series, continually, on radio stations across the world. He was speaking on the book of Revelation. I had meant to tune in and catch up, but that intention got away from me until recently. (I think the series originally aired when I was in high school!🙄 )
There are some key ideas which Dr. McGee shares that ring true. Why? Because (1) they align with how other prophetic and apocalyptic scripture have been interpreted and (2) they are supported by New Testament scripture from both the Gospels and the Epistles.
The main part that struck me was his review of the letters to the Seven Churches. Yes, these were all actual churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey, and the letters had specific and meaningful directives to the body of believers in each of those churches. But like the rest of scripture, when you take a step back, there is always MORE.
His exposition of these letters as the history of the church… from Pentecost, through time to include present day, and ending with the rapture… was fascinating, for anyone who enjoys history. Here are the highlights, with approximate dates.
To the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) represents the church at its best, the apostolic church – from Pentecost until 100 A.D. The Lord Jesus tells us and them, that it is He who holds the church in his hand – He controls the church. He has both commendation and condemnation for this church
To the Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) represents the martyr church or the suffering church – 100 A.D to 314 A.D. Coinciding with the death of the apostle John to the Edict of Milan, by Constantine. This effectively ended the persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. Jesus has no words of condemnation for this church only commendation.
He tells them they will suffer persecution for ten days – perhaps coinciding with the persecutions by ten Roman emperors: Nero (64-68), Domitian (95-96), Trajan (104-117), Marcus Aurelius (161-180), Severus (200-211), Maximinius (235-237), Decius (250-253), Valerian (257-260), Aurelian (270-275) and Diocletian (303-313)
To the Church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) represents church history from 314 A.D. to 590 A.D. McGee calls this period, paganism unlimited. The ‘world’ entered into the church and it began to move away from the person of Christ. There were ‘giants’ of the faith during this time, Athanasius and Augustine, who stood up to the Arian heresy and the Pelagian heresy, respectfully. The Council of Nicea was during this time. There are aspects of this church that Jesus both commends and condemns. He calls them to repentance.
To the Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) represents Romanism and takes us into the Dark Ages – 590 A.D. to 1000 A.D. Both paganism and idolatry are intermingled with Christian works and worship during this time. The papacy was elevated to a place of secular power under Gregory I, 590 A.D., and again by Gregory VII, 1073-1085. The introduction of rituals and church doctrine supplanted personal faith in Jesus Christ. Worship of the Virgin and Child and the Mass were made a definite part of the church service. Purgatory became a positive doctrine and Mass was said for the dead. Spurious documents labeled Donation of Constantine and Decretals of Isidore were circulated to give power and rulership to the pope. The Roman church instituted the Inquisition during this period.
Jesus has a strong warning to this church, for their toleration of this type of teaching. He compares them with the teachings of Jezebel who led the Israelites astray and killed the prophets.
To the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) represents the Protestant church from 1517 A.D. to 1800 A.D. beginning with Martin Luther nailing his Ninety-Five Theses onto the chapel door of the church at Wittenburg, Germany. It is the era which started with the Reformation and takes us into the beginning of the great missionary movement in the history of the church. This is the era in which Europeans fled to a new country – America. This is the era where the Puritans influenced the foundation of Harvard University, 1636, for the training of clergy for the new commonwealth. (Yale was later established, 1701, in the hope that it would maintain the Puritan religious orthodoxy in a way that Harvard had not.)
Jesus commends the works of this church but notes they have a reputation of being alive but are dead. He warns them, ‘Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die…’
And here we are at the final two churches. If you’re paying attention to the timeline, this is where the mall directory would place a giant star to indicate: You Are Here. ⭐
To the Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) represents the revived church, from 1800 until the rapture. This is the church that has turned back to the Word of God. There are multitudes of people worldwide, both in Protestantism and in the Roman Catholic Church, who are turning to the Word – they are hungry for scripture. Regardless of any denominational alignment, these churches, i.e. people – not buildings, remain true to the Word of God. The Lord Jesus commends this church for many things: their deeds, not for salvation, but as evidence of their faith (James 2:18), their perseverance through fatigue, and their patience.
Like the martyr church of Smyrna, Jesus has no condemnation for this church only encouragement.
To the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) represents the compromised church, during this same time period. This is that church that is neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm and Jesus is about to spit them out! This church had an easy life, didn’t really need a thing. They are the apostate church – those turning away from the Word of God and leading others to do the same.
The city had wealth, commerce, culture, science, literature, and a clothing industry. (And natural resources used as an ancient eye-salve that was shipped all over the Roman Empire. Today the chemical analysis reveals that there is nothing healing in that clay at all, but somebody made good money with it in that day!) Jesus counsels them to buy from Him, gold refined in the fire; white clothing; and salve to put on their eyes, so they can see. Ouch!
He adds the tender words… those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with me.
Fun facts: in the NIV, by chapter, the number of references to the word ‘church’, excluding any section titles, in Revelation, are as follows: Ch 1 (4), Ch 2 (9), Ch 3 (6)… but from Ch 4 through Ch 21 (ZERO)! We have reached the end of the Church age.
The epilogue in Revelation 22:16 is the only other reference to the word ‘church’. (Other than where John sees the bride, the wife of the Lamb, descending from heaven in Rev 21:9-11.)
This seems to support the notion that the faithful church is gone by chapter 4 and will miss all the scary stuff outlined in the next chapters of Revelation. (The unfaithful ‘church’ goes through the Great Tribulation and is called by another name. Whatever this ‘religion’ looks like in that day, it is destroyed along with other worldly powers.)
This is scripture that I don’t want to rush through in another ‘Bible in One Year’ plan. That appears to be a bit lukewarm to me. There is too much at stake – not just for my eternity, but the eternal lives of my loved ones! I can not be like the Laodiceans who are satisfied with what they have now, in their earthly lives.
After six seals are opened… Rev 6:15-17 – The kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty… try to hide from the wrath of the Lamb!
When the seventh seal is opened… Rev 8:1 – There is silence in heaven for about half an hour. 😭 This is an incredibly somber moment. Heavenly inhabitants are constantly praising God, but not during this time. This is the time when Jesus is no longer sitting at the right hand of God as our intercessor but with His crown firmly in place, He has moved into His rightful authoritative position of Judge. God cannot be in the presence of sin – He will judge those whose sin remains – those who have not washed their robes in His blood. My dear loved ones… if you are still on the earth at this time, fall to your knees, admit that you’ve been a fool to trust in anyone or anything other than the Lord Jesus. Turn to him, ask for forgiveness, and expect to persevere through the Great Tribulation to come… even unto death. There ARE multitudes that survive these end days. (Rev 7:9-17)
We are fools to believe that man will ever overcome the problems on this earth by our own merits. We live in a time that seems more divided than ever. Well guess what? There are some tough scriptures to think about. Luke 12:51 – Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. It looks like, to me, we are at that point of division now – we are either with Jesus or against Him. Luke 11:23 – Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
As Easter approaches, we remember that the cross ✝ was a symbol of God’s grace – a division in time, where mankind was invited to confess his sinfulness, repent, and trust in the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. Every day since, Jesus is working through His church to build His kingdom. His Word has been in existence every day since. Many have tried to obliterate it, but all have failed. There will come a day, where there is silence in heaven for half an hour – when Jesus ends time as we know it. His judgment is executed and our eternal disposition is determined. I, for one, am looking forward to Revelation 21:1-4 – Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Wow! Amen