The Seven Churches of Revelation – Part 1 – Overview

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The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 1

Overview From Above

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11)

The Identity of the Sovereign, the Alpha, the Omega, and the Last Priest

   Before we delve into Ephesus, the first church in the list of seven churches in Revelation 1:11, we must first identify the Sovereign who reigns over all seven churches. John sees Him as the Son of man walking between the candlesticks.  He is the Great High Priest of Hebrews 3 and 4. His priesthood is confirmed with an oath, and He ministers that priesthood under the divine order of Melchisedec. One comparison that man leaves out of this early appearance of Melchisedec with Abraham is that Melchisedec was a priest of grace.

   Melchisedec met Abraham (as documented in Genesis 14) with bread and wine to talk about the Lord’s death that was to be accomplished at a future time. In figure, Abraham understood the Lord’s Day, and rejoiced in it. (John 8) There was no altar, there was no sacrifice, for Christ (as Melchisedec) was in accordance with the divine counsels of God. He was both the altar and the sacrifice which would come in the fullness of time. (Galatians 4) If Melchisedec had been but just a mere man, after this great victory that Abraham had received from the Lord, they would have offered a sacrifice to God for this supernatural victory that came from the hand of God. But that was not necessary, for God in the Person of Jesus Christ (after the order of Melchisedec) stood before Abraham with the bread and wine of grace.

   We turn to the seven churches: it is this Melchisedec who walked between the candlesticks. We know the genealogy of the man Jesus Christ, this is not the issue, He is Melchisedec; for Melchisedec is the glorified Son of man, and Son of God. In this position He is a Priest without father, without mother, and without descent. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:3) There was no descent (no genealogy) needed for a heavenly Priest. The oath was given and declared in eternity past before the foundations of the world. (Hebrews 7) As the Son of God, He has neither beginning of days, nor end of life. He is the eternal existence of the One true God. He is the express image of His Person. (Hebrews 1) In this position the Lord Jesus is worthy to unfold all the determinate counsels of God, and this will be unfolded throughout the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

   Melchisedec (like unto the Son of God) abideth forever, for He is One and the same. He is the High Priest of all covenants, whether it is the covenant with Abraham, or with David, or the covenant of grace that He has made with us. He has declared and made and anointed all these covenants with His own blood. He is the Alpha and the Omega, and in His station to the seven churches He is the first Priest of the most high God established before the world was. He is the last Priest of the most high God, and will take His ransomed bride into the new heaven and the new earth where He will dwell, and be with the redeemed throughout all eternity.

    It is with this divine authority of Christ that Christ rules His church. He trims the wicks; He pours in the oil (His own oil of gladness) which reflects the seven Spirits of God. This is the purist oil and can only be used by Him for He is both light and life to those He loves. He sends His holy angels as the stars of heaven to minister to all seven churches. He is ministering to them who will be heirs of salvation. (Hebrews 1:14) And God the Holy Spirit (who has been sent by the Son) broods over all seven churches showering them with the word of God, and the gifts of divine love. The Holy Spirit has been sent down from heaven as a mighty wind to whisper to the hearts of men, to whisper grace and truth in Jesus Christ: that Christ is the power of God, that He is the wisdom of God, that He is the Creator of all things, and upholds all things by the word of His power, and He upholds all who believe in Him. Through His divine power every child of God will be conformed to the very image of the Son of God. (Romans 8:29)

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20) It is the Lord Jesus in the light of His divine authority who unfolds the mystery of the seven stars, and the seven golden candlesticks.

The Door Opens

   The beginning of the vision to John on the isle of Patmos took him beyond the heavens, what began in the realm of earth (time and matter) expanded into the realm of space and eternity. While on Patmos the Lord Jesus instructed him in the mystery of the stars and the mystery of the candlesticks. John saw the wonderful vision of the eternal Priest and proclaimed Him as the Son of man. This first vision continues all the way to Chapter 4, verse 1. This distinct departure from earth is described as an open door in heaven, and then, we pass with John from the isle of Patmos into the heavens above. We behold the throne of God, and the lightning and thundering of His divine power. In the ministry to the seven churches, we are reminded that the words spoken to John were on earth, however, the Lord Jesus gave John a heavenly mind.

The Parallels of Ministry: The Source, the Journey, the Message

There are two apostles who ascended up into the heavens. In Paul’s journey to Arabia (2 Corinthians 12, and Galatians 1:17) he journeyed into Arabia, and he ascended into the third heaven. The apostle John ascends into heaven after the third Chapter of Revelation, and at the beginning of Chapter 4 of the heavenly vision. There are many parallels between both ascensions of John and Paul: both John and Paul were direct ministers to the church of God. In the epistles of Paul, he prepares the saints for heaven by the divine revelation and the instructions that he received while in the third heaven. In the vision of John (concerning the entire book of Revelation) John takes the saints to heaven. (Revelation 4:1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. These seven churches are intertwined with both the ministry of John and the ministry of Paul. As an overview of these seven churches, we can understand how each church not only formed in the day of Paul and John, but we can comprehend its spiritual and physical flow throughout church history as seven distinct church ages from the conception of the church to the point in time when all the children who belong to the church will hear the words, Come up hither. If we are to understand the time periods of the actual churches, we must have a full understanding of the Pauline epistles. To understand the historical value, we must allow the Lord Jesus to unlock the mystery of the angels and the seven churches in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Our Host of divine interpretation is the Son of God Himself. He is the living oracle of God, and He continually opens the word of God to those who love Him, and no man can shut this door.

Overcomers or Overwhelmed

   This is a good place to ask ourselves this question, Are we (you and this writer) overcomers? If you can answer in a positive way, and are prepared to receive the ministry of Christ, then we (as overcomers) will see wonderful things through the divine mind of Christ. The world does not want you to be an overcomer. The world church does not want you to be an overcomer. Your family (most likely) does not want you to be an overcomer. But Christ, He with His divine power, wants you to be an overcomer. The overcomer is shunned by the world. The professing church wants nothing to do with the overcomer. The world and the professing church are guided by faulty logic that if you are not with them, then God is not with you. Don’t ever accept this false premise! Don’t ever surrender or be overwhelmed by their unscriptural reasoning! for God is never through with His own. Always remember, and never forget the day that Christ brought you out of darkness when He gave you a divine nature in Himself. No man can take that from you. He is the Alpha and the Omega; all things exist from Him from the beginning. All things will end with Him in the new heavens and the new earth. He will make sure that you receive the good fruit of the vine in His most holy word. The Holy Spirit will teach you with the mind of Christ, and the love and gentleness of God the Father. We are dear children, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. This should confirm in our hearts and beings every word that John penned for us in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ; the shadows and the visions become real to the heart and mind as John was transported from the seen to the unseen.

Write — Write — Write — Write — Write — Write — Write — Write

   God the Son told John to write in a book. (Fourteen verses in the book of Revelation we have the word ‘write,’ twelve times God commanded John to ‘write.’) It is strange that many only see the Bible as just a book, they do not see the divine authority within its pages. They do not feel the breath from the Living Divine Oracle who is the Son of God. The book of God collects dust on many shelves; consequently, it remains just a mere book to empty hearts and troubled minds.

   The Bible is a massive collection of books, and divinely inspired, all divinely breathed of God. The Bible itself is a witness of its divine origin, however, when the covers remain closed, the hearts and minds of men also remain closed, and will never see the light within its divine pages. In the Book of the Revelation, we have the last book in the canon of Scripture. (It is the 66th book, simply stated, it is the last witness of God to mankind). It is truly God’s Final Call to man, and it reveals the final judgment upon mankind, and upon this world. Even Satan is finally judged and cast into the lake of fire. In the final chapters we see the breath of life finally taken from Adam. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) Adam is totally removed and judged, and all his descendants without the Redeemer Christ are judged and cast into the lake of fire. We also have a warning by the Spirit of God, yes, the Spirit speaketh expressly, He informs us that no man should take away or add to The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This writer respects the wishes of the Holy Spirit of God, I respect it with godly reverence and fear. Notice that in verse 7 of Chapter 1, Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. This verse ends with Even so, Amen. This is the finality of this brief introduction, but it also transports us to the end of the book and the finality of the judgment of God on mankind. The doors of heaven will open for the Lord of glory, and the Lord of glory will come to do battle. He will receive in His victory the acclamation of His people as Lord of lords, and Kings of kings, for He will be the Lord of glory among them.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7) Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8) Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9) Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

  These everlasting doors will open for He who is mighty in battle. I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. (Isaiah 63:7)

   In Psalm 24 and Isaiah 63 we have two different aspects of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first is the great glory and majesty in which He arrives to take His throne as in Psalm 24. The second is in how He is received by the nation of Israel. He will come to be their loving kindness and to deliver them from all their sorrows. In Revelation, Chapter 1, verse 7 we see the nation of Israel and the nations of the world wailing because of what they had done to God’s dear Son. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7) This coincides with the words from the Lord Jesus Christ when He proclaimed that the Son of man would come as lightning from the east, and that He would come in the clouds.

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27)

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

   Truly, we can say in our hearts as in verse 7 of Revelation 1, Even so, Amen. From verse 8 to verse 20, and Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, we have a parenthesis of thought from the Spirit of God. First, Christ reveals Himself to John, then in the seven letters Christ reveals Himself in seven different characters to the seven individual churches. At the end of Chapter 3, the church is not seen again until she descends from heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ as noted in Chapter 19. Chapter 3 ends with a man from heaven knocking on the door of the heart of a man on earth. The Lord asks this man to open the door, the Lord comes in and sups with the overcomer, next we see the overcomer sat down with Christ in His throne represented as a single individual (and I believe this is the collective body of Christ). Chapter 4 of Revelation begins with a man on earth, and a door opened in heaven. He is translated in the Spirit to the throne room of God. This is the last we see of this particular door. I believe this is a symbol of the eternal door of grace; figuratively to accept His bride, the church into heaven’s glory. In Chapters 4 and 5, we have the scene of the throne, and a magnification and exaltation of the Lamb who was slain before the foundations of the world and gave Himself for the sin of the world: He is to receive glory, and honor, and power. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) This is a scene of worship; they worship Him who liveth forever and ever. Now to the seven churches . . . . . .

   We will name them and then try to give a meaning of their names, for remember that each name in Scripture is given for a reason; it is part of the revelation of God to mankind. Remember Jabez in 1st Chronicles, Chapter 4, verses 9 and 10: And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. The mother of Jabez called him ‘sorrowful,’ yet, he was more honorable than all his brethren, for he had a heart for God. Consider the list of names in this early section of 1st Chronicles, and God decides to tell us of this honorable man who was called ‘sorrowful.’ God made sure that this man of honor would be honored throughout the pages of time. God desires that we understand that whoever honors God, God will honor. So Jabez is recorded for our learning. This also is recorded for our learning, the name of the first church: Ephesus.

EPHESUS

(Ephesians – first 100 years approximate)

   The meaning of the name of Ephesus sends us in many different directions. One meaning is ‘desirable,’ however, the Lord had a different meaning for this church. It was a definition of her character, not a definition of her name. She had left her first love, on the harshest point, one that leaves their spouse for another commit’s adultery. This is the picture that the Lord Jesus presents to us concerning this first church. What a place to begin in church history! But man is man, yes as Israel failed at the beginning, so too, the church also followed in the footsteps of sin. They left their first love for a place of whoredoms. They turned from the Spirit of God to the evil spirits of this world. Ephesus was hard ground for the apostle Paul. Ephesus was given over to the worship of Diana, who was the goddess of immorality, a Greek goddess with a temple and priesthood of the occult, but Diana was not the only pagan deity in Ephesus. Because of the many wars through the previous centuries, each victorious nation conqueror had contributed their own occult influence in Ephesus, and brought their effigies, and established their own worship and priesthood order. So our definition of Ephesus would be a ‘woman of idolatry’ that had turned from the Lord who bought her with His blood to run after other gods.

SMYRNA

(100 A.D. – 310 A.D. approximate)

   ‘Myrrh’ is from the apothecary; it is a sweet-smelling spice mixed with ointment. It is used in burials, as it was used in the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. (John 19:39) Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. (John 19:40)

   Myrrh sets before us the symbol of death, for their trials in Smyrna were unto death. In their deaths they were myrrh to God, they were a sweet odor ascending up to God. And because of their trial God would put no other burden upon them. This period of church history was known as the suffering years, and the Lord Jesus promised them a crown of life in regard to their sufferings. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

PERGAMOS

(310 A.D. – 425 A.D. approximate)

   Pergamos means ‘much married.’ We see the traits of Solomon, for Solomon took many wives, and built temples for them, and his heart was turned from the Lord. So also, in Pergamos, the church took many husbands, and they worshiped many gods. They became married to the world of the occult. This took place under the reign of Constantine. The church had already lost her first love, and now she went deeper into spiritual adultery by taking on many lovers. They had rejected the persecution and the cross of Christ for a fictional claim by the controversial Constantine of seeing a divine vision. It became too hard for professing Christians to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ, and many turned to the world and followed after the Roman Emperor (Pontifex Maximus, the ancient priesthood title dating before Babylon) god Constantine. For he declared himself to be deity (Sol Invictus) his early coins bore the imagined image of Mars, and through his later coins Constantine associated himself with Apollo. Therefore, Pergamos the church took the fruit of the tree of good and evil. They joined with the pagan world, and the Lord Jesus verified this by proclaiming that Satan’s seat was in their midst in Pergamos. Satan used his world power from Constantinople under the reign of Constantine (who claimed to be a Christian and at the same time followed pagan gods and rituals). Pergamos became the center of idolatry, and this became Satan’s seat. This was the time period when the world church developed. It became a church without Christ, and without God in this world. It became a church of idols, idolatry, and the traditions of men which overrode the truth of the word of God, and a priesthood that would usurp the authority of God. But suffering for the truth was not removed, we have the first named martyr, and he is the only martyr named in the seven churches. His name (like Jabez) is very important, Antipas means ‘against all,’ and/or ‘against fatherland.’ Think of this, he stood up against man’s rule in the church, against man’s priesthood, against the false doctrines of men, against the idolatrous practices, and against world leaders who have claimed deity; and lastly, Antipas stood against his family. He was a man alone in the world, and the only One who he could embrace was the Lord Jesus Christ; because of his faithfulness unto death, the Lord Jesus made sure that history would remember Antipas. It is sad to think that all through church history there are more pagan names mentioned then the names of the faithful unto death. However, we know that they existed, and we know that they were all a sweet savor unto God. Antipas (like Stephen) knew who he had trusted; and as Paul affirmed in 2 Timothy 1:12, For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

THYATIRA

(425 A.D. – 590A.D. approximate)

The spirit of Jezebel and the corruption of idolatry in Thyatira remained in all of the following churches except for the Church in Philadelphia 

   Thyatira ‘the castle of Thya’ from the ancient ruins there was a castle of Thyatira. The city had also been named earlier as Pelopia, and Semiramis. At one time it had been a proud city and ruled over Asia. She had been conquered by many nations and was encumbered like Pergamos with many idols. If there had been a competition of idolatry, Thyatira would have taken first place.

   To establish the idolatry, we find the name of Jezebel blazoned across the pages of Thyatira. Jezebel was a notorious idolater of Israel, and the wife and ruler (and manipulator) of king Ahab, and she established the priesthood of Baal worship. She was a Zidonian princess and was well versed in all the occult rituals. She was also the mother of Athaliah who nearly destroyed Judah and the line of the kings from the house of David. (CLICK HERE to learn of Jezebel in idolatry. CLICK HERE to read of Jezebel in the church age. CLICK HERE to understand how Jezebel was part of an evil alliance in the Old Testament.)

  These are some of the notable violent figures of idolatry that were in Thyatira. There was a temple built to Semarimus, the wife of the idolatrous king of Shinar who had come from the line of Ham (Noah’s son) named Nimrod; the planner and builder of the first grand idol, the tower of Babel. Also, in Thyatira there is a temple to the ancient Lydian sun god called Tyrimnos. This was just another name for the fire god Molech, in which the children of Israel sacrificed their children by casting them alive into the fires of Molech. Scores of temples existed in the city of Thyatira dedicated to the gods of the nations: Boreatene, Sambethe, and of course, Semarimus. As God had a great cloud of witnesses, so also the devil had a great cloud of idolaters. They clouded the truth of God. It was here in Thyatira that the writings of man became more important than the oracles of God in this respect: it was here that the seeds were sown for what we term The Dark Ages. A dark time period indeed, when the kings of the earth would not have the skills of written education, and the religious body would usurp all the knowledge of man and God. In this church at Thyatira (for the first time in these seven churches) the Lord Jesus presents the ultimate judgment against the church: death. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23) For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

SARDIS

(590 A.D. – 1521 A.D. approximate)

   Sardis means ‘prince of joy.’ Sardis fared no better than Thyatira, we should remember that all seven churches were encumbered by gross darkness that surrounded all in Asia. At best, they (the church) were a cluster of lights dimly burning in gross spiritual darkness. Again, Sardis was full of idolatry, yet, out of Sardis there were a few names who had not surrendered to the darkness of idolatry, they held to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As in the other cities, war and changing times had brought idols from distance lands. All these merged into a religious center, and each one was represented by an amalgamation of different orders of priesthood; all claiming to have the power of God. This is why the Lord Jesus made this declaration in verse 4 of Chapter 3 of Revelation. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. As to the others in Sardis, the Lord Jesus was looking for a spot of faith, however, they had a name only, and no life within. There were those who had not denied the faith and had held to Jesus only. With Sardis we should remember the opening words of the Lord Jesus Christ, Chapter 3, verse 1, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

PHILADELPHIA

(1521A.D. – to current age)

Philadelphia – ‘brotherly love.’

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

   God’s love is His Being, for God is love. The sinful mind of man cannot understand this concept of love; for mankind is not a loving deity. Man is a created being that has been created by a loving Deity. There is no question that God’s love surmounts all the love that man has to offer. The quality that the Lord is looking for in us is His own love within us. He wants us not only to love but be part of His love. His love should control our being, and every step of our life. As He has brought us into His family of love through the Lord Jesus Christ then we should acknowledge the wonderful love that He has bestowed upon us, and made us a part of: Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16) The Lord Jesus expressed this love to us in every way. He also laid down the results of this wonderful love that Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (Luke 10:27)

    Philadelphia is recognized by these qualities, and therefore, Philadelphia contends for the truth; for Philadelphia truth and grace are their marching orders. The word of God is opened by the Savior Himself, and He has opened, and no man can shut it. I compare Philadelphia with the age of Josiah in the Old Testament. A boy king with little strength, yet the Lord exalted him through His word and gave him strength to overcome the enemies of God. Philadelphia is a church of similar character, she has little strength, but she has the eternal word. The Lord Jesus Himself has pledged (as the Living Word) to open the written word of God to those who love Him. In every child of God there dwells the love of God. With the love of God comes God’s gift of His eternal word both Living and written. God uses the eternal Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God) to direct us, guide us, and mold us according to the Word of God. To love one’s brother as oneself was the first trespass recorded outside of the garden. Cain had no love for his brother Abel, and in his enmity, took the life of Abel. Love is tempered by the word of God, and God’s love is trampled underfoot by the evil and enmity of mankind. The further that man goes away from God, the less he loves, and the less he understands the very aspect of love. Through the wicked heart of mankind, he defines love in a multi humanistic way: all love has to revolve around humanistic will and thought. The saints of the Philadelphia church are just the opposite their love is not centered in themselves, but it is a result of the manifested Being within their spirit. For they have the divine nature, and part of that nature is the love of God. They are controlled by God and His love, and they are held by that love. In the Lord’s statement of the first commandment, He proclaims it to a world that will soon crucify Him. He is well aware where He is going, and what He must accomplish on the cross of Calvary; yet He proclaims the love of God to the present evil world. In Philadelphia He takes the initiative, and He opens the door to them. This is the open door of His word, and only He can bring this testimony of the word of God to a close. He will hold the word of God opened in spite of mankind. The religions of the world, and world power will not be able to close the book. They will not be able to discredit nor malign the eternal word of God for Christ has opened the book for us, and the Holy Spirit will guide us through every word. Christ approaches Philadelphia as the power, or the Word of His power, so that they may rest in their faith when they proclaim the eternal word and the love of God which is within its pages. The encouragement to the Philadelphia believers is found in three words: I come quickly. He is revealing to them that we are approaching the end of church history, but soon He will come in the air and take His beloved church to their eternal home to ever dwell with Him in His eternal love.

LAODICEA

(1700 A.D. approximate – current age)

  This is the only church from the seven that the Lord refers to them as the possessors of the church: of the church of the Laodiceans. Compared to all six of the other churches as of the church in Philadelphia, in Sardis, etc. Why this particular designation of the church of the Laodiceans? The reason is that they had become the world church, and not God’s Church, not the body of Christ. What are the characteristics of these Laodiceans? (Notice the tense used: ‘are’ and not ‘were,’ for Laodicea continues on into our age). They belong to the world, they indulge themselves with sin, they flaunt themselves with wealth, they attempt (like Nimrod) to build their own kingdom and not the kingdom of God. They have no room for the Christ of the cross; in fact, many hold the image of Christ still on the cross. They have not experienced, nor admit to the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ. As they deny the Lord Jesus Christ, they also deny the Holy Spirit of God, and they attempt to discredit the word of God. They are freelancers of a mystical faith that has its roots in wealth and the world. They refuse the sovereignty and power of God. And so, the Lord Jesus condemns them with these words: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17) Their faith becomes a state of humanism, the Scriptures for them read thus: for what must I do for myself to be saved? connecting their worldliness with their very salvation. All must be centered around the world removing Christ and His word from all their thoughts and actions. And this is the very day in which we live. We have merely given an overview of these seven churches from the conception of the church at Pentecost to this very day. Now in our next articles we will venture to take each church in an in-depth study so that we may increase our knowledge and understand the mind of the Spirit of Christ in each of these seven churches. I look forward to this study, and I pray that the Lord will bless you as He has blessed me thus far. Amen.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

© Copyright 2017, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)