Revelation's Seven Churches

 Revelation's Seven Churches

Introduction

The Apostle John introduces the Book of Revelation as having been passed to him from God in Heaven in the following manner:

• The message originated from God the Father who gave it to;
• Jesus Christ, who then owned it as "The Revelation".  He then gave it to;
• His Angel, who gave it to;
• John.

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" - Rev 1:1

The overall message is aimed at informing God's people throughout the ages about events in the future that conclude at the destruction of the Earth by fire (2 Peter 3:7); followed by the creation of the New Heavens and the New Earth (2 Peter 3:13).

Every Christian who reads, studies and applies to their Christian life the lessons contained in this book, God then offers "blessings" to them - as seen at both the beginning and at the end of the book:

"BLESSED IS HE that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." - Rev 1:3

"Behold, I come quickly: BLESSED IS HE that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." - Rev 22:7

The message here is that for Christians to be "blessed" by God, they are required to:

• Read (and continually study) the Book of Revelation, and to
  
• Keep (or retain with a full understanding) the sayings within this book.  

 

Christ's Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor

The beginning of Christ's letter to Christians commences at chapters 2 and 3.  These are known as Christ's assessment of the Seven Churches of Asia.  The image below depicts their general location some 2000-years ago in the region known as Turkey today.

In these two chapters, Jesus Christ gives both His approval and His condemnation of these churches.

Christ also issued commands for congregations to repent (or turn completely) from their sinful ways.  He issued warnings of judgment to come if they failed to act upon His words. One such warning is this - and it should put fear in every Christian who reads it:

Revelation 2:5

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK out of his place, except thou repent."

The removal of Christ's "candlestick" from a church indicates that where they had spiritual "light" coming from truth originating from the scriptures and confirmed from the church's assigned angel (Rev 1:20).  Once the angel is removed (Rev 2:5), that church will then dwell in spiritual darkness.  This means that God is no longer present in that church once the spiritual "light" has been withdrawn.  It also means another False Christ; a False Gospel and a False Spirit have replaced to True and Living God:

2 Corinthians 11:4

"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

 Many churches throughout the world today have embraced an alternative 'godhead' in the same manner as the Church at Corinth did.  These spirits encourage the congregation to sin (1 Cor 5:1).  Once Paul informed the church about its offense to God, it repented and was restored with the "light" it needed to overcome Satan's lies and deceptions.

Also included in the Revelation are Christ's promises to the "Overcomers" - those Christians who are able to discern both "good and evil" (Heb 5:14), and are able to overcome Satan's deceptions and lies - many of which are running rampant throughout most of Christianity today because Christians are "ignorant of his devices" or ways in which he deceives and manipulates his victims.

2 Corinthians 2:11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Jesus Christ also pronounces 18 blessings to those of His people who achieve "Overcomer" status.

To learn more about these important issues that every Christian should be concerned about, go to My Gospel Blog at https://mygospel.info/revelations-seven-churches/

Blessings!



Alan Manson