Jesus had warnings and encouragements for the seven churches in the book of revelation. The seven churches of the apocalypse the church of god. The chapters of revelation present a series of events, full of imagery and metaphor, which detail the chronology of gods judgment on the world. Nov 16, 2000 this is a scholarly book for those interested in the seven churches of revelation. Mention the book of revelation and most christians throw up their hands, shake their heads, and say its too complicated.
Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. He praised, encouraged, challenged, and warned each church so that they may be faithful to the end. John, in turn, passed the message along to the seven churches which are in asia 1. Category assignments are somewhat arbitrary in some cases. The problem with this view is that each of the seven churches describes issues that could fit the church in any time in its history. Apr 19, 2015 the book of revelation was originally addressed to seven churches in asia minor, todays western turkey. Richard chenevix trench, commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia eugene, or. The island, named patmos, is located in the aegean sea. Studies from the seven churches of revelation explores christs warnings to the seven most prominent churches in asia minor in. As the first chapter of the book of revelation explains, the apostle john was given a vision of.
Seven churches of asia referring to the roman province of asia. The opening paragraph of revelation presents the book as a record of a vision received by john of patmos. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse, the seven churches of asia and the seven churches of asia minor referring to the roman province of asia, modern day asia minorturkey are seven of the major churches of early christianity, dating from the first century ad, as indicated in the book of revelation, chapters 2 and 3, of the. Jan 02, 2020 the problem with this view is that each of the seven churches describes issues that could fit the church in any time in its history.
What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. If you can count to three you can learn the book of revelation. Also known as the seven churches of asia modern turkey 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. He revealed faroff future events, and he gave john messages for each of the seven churches in asia minor. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. It covers both the settings, archaeology, geography and history of the churches as well interpretations. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. The seven churches of asia, also known as the seven churches of the.
The book is addressed to the seven churches which are in asia. Asia is not the asia of our day which is the worlds largest continent stretching from the pacific ocean on its eastern border to the ural mountains in the west. Smyrna, the home of homer and the temple of athena, was a beautiful, bustling seaport. Seven churches of asia commentary bible study tools. While on patmos, john received a long and complicated vision from jesus christ verses 12, 1020 with the instructions. Book of revelation biblical asia minor meander travel. Pergamos, the location of romes provincial capital, was a major cultural hub. As a book intended for the end time, the primary instruction in revelation 2 and 3 concerns the endtime church. Its contents are labeled the prophecy, singular, and. He then describes a series of prophetic visions, including figures such as the seven headed dragon, the serpent and the beast. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. The seven churches of revelation may include at least three fulfillments.
The lord told the seven churches in asia in the first century he was coming quickly in their time. Our focus should be on what message god is giving us through the seven churches. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse, the seven churches of asia and the seven churches of asia minor referring to the roman province of asia, modern day asia minorturkey are seven of the major churches of early christianity, dating from the first century ad, as indicated in the book of.
The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. It is a study of the seven churches of the revelation as they are related to the seven periods of church christian history and the spiritual meaning. This is a scholarly book for those interested in the seven churches of revelation. In these letters, jesus addresses the spiritual health of each church. Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle johns time in asia minor modernday turkey. The first of these visions concerned seven churches located in asia minor. Jews were scattered into asia during the 60s next we will discuss the theory that the seven churches, to which the book of revelation is addressed, were composed of jews who believed in jesus christ who were scattered into asia from judea during the 60s. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. The seven spirits of god are mentioned in the book of revelation. Ephesus, the gateway to asia minor, was located at a major harbor on the aegean sea. Jesus christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23.
The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. These jews were not natives of asia who had received. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. In the apostle johns day the seven cities were located in a. We all understand that the book of revelation is an endtime book, and its primary focus is on things that shall be. Smyrna was home to a large jewish community hostile to christians. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in. Mar, 20 the seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia referring to the roman province of asia, not the entire continent, are seven. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local. Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven.
Ephesus was the prominent commercial and cultural center of asia. With further study you can match the descriptions of christ with those in chapter 1. A historical and spiritual view of the seven churches of the revelation of jesus christ preprint pdf available april 2018 with 14,871 reads how we measure reads. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the. What you see, write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in asia, to ephesus, to smyrna, to pergamos, to thyatira, to sardis, to philadelphia, and to laodicea 1. By asia is not meant the great continent of asia, or even the whole of asia minor, but only its western end. In these two chapters the lord gives seven messages to the churches. The immediate audience for the revelation recorded by john is the seven churches which are in asia rev. 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 view is known as the historicalprophetical view.
All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. Jesus sends letters to churches under johns care in asia minor to commend, rebuke and encourage them as they await. Revelation the last book of the bible contains jesus final words to his church through 7 letters to 7 churches. Jesus christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia referring to the roman province of asia, not the entire continent, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation and written to by ignatius of antioch. The revelation begins with letters to the seven churches of asia minor, though they were literal churches in that time, th. The church whose false prophetess was leading people. Revelation is divided into seven cycles of events, with the number seven also appearing frequently as a symbol within the book of revelation.
The number seven, the bible numeric, this is the number of perfection. The romans exiled john to a tiny island due to his belief in jesus christ and his preaching of the word of god revelation 1. Studies from the seven churches of revelation explores christs warnings to the seven most prominent churches in asia minor in the book of revelation. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The book of revelation is addressed to seven actual churches in the province of asia in the first century a. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. Each of the churches represented a condition of christian fellowship in crisis, as each. To the seven churches which are in asia that part of the lesser asia which was then a roman province. In the apostle johns vision of revelation, jesus spoke to the. So, although there may be some truth to the seven churches representing seven eras, there is far too much speculation in this regard. Summary table for the seven churches r 03c characteristics of the churches help us identify the times they symbolize 0111. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities.
All of these seven churches mentioned in revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal churches that were located in asia minor. It begins with john, on the island of patmos in the aegean sea, addressing a letter to the seven churches of asia. The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. At the time of john, the region refers to the peninsula know as asia minor.
The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons applicable to our own lives today. Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from jesus christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. I believe this series seven churches of revelation has the potential to revolutionize. The apostle john saw a vision of the future and was commanded to send it to the seven churches in asia minor. The book of revelation contains seven letters from jesus to 7 churches in asia minor. 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. The seven churches mentioned here are literally seven churches that existed at the time of the writing of the book and were located in asia.
Also known as the seven churches of asia modern turkey. The 7 churches of revelation ephesus its background youtube. These churches were planted and cultivated by the apostle paul, with the church at ephesus being the lead church. Map of the 7 churches of revelation seven churches of asia. 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. God himself has given us the three point outline in chapter 1. Featured article taking revelations target audience seriously synopsis. He was following the instruction jesus christ had given him in a vision while he was on the island called patmos. Smyrna had been one of the most important cities in asia minor. The seven churches were located in asia minor or the country that is now called turkey. A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. The seven churches of revelation life in a dying world. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey.
The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia referring to the roman province of asia, not the entire continent, are seven. I pray that you will be blessed with kindness and peace from god, who is and was and is coming. Pdf a historical and spiritual view of the seven churches. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. In the first century, ephesus was home to a growing church led by the apostle john, once the young disciple of jesus christ. Neither were the seven churches named the only churches in that district, for there were at least three other churches. Seven churches, god was pleased with only two churches. Letters to the seven churches of asia minor home facebook. The prophetic visions god would give him would become the book of revelation. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today.