INTRODUCING
The 7 Churches Exploring the spiritual conditions of the human race. By Evelyn C. Pointer
The 7 Churches Exploring the spiritual conditions of the human race.
By Evelyn C. Pointer
This will be a brief summary over the seven churches. In order to better understand this deep mystery and prophecy please read over Revelations chapters 1-3. The seven churches in Asia are symbolic. They represent the spiritual conditions of God’s children throughout the world. They are not churches in the physical sense that we think of as “a church”. If you have the spiritual condition of a church (and we all have a spiritual condition of at least one of the churches) then you are part of that church even if someone worshiping next to you have a different spiritual condition and are therefore part of a different church.
INTRODUCTION Seven is a number that means complete. The division of seven is used throughout the Bible. This is a pattern of the kingdom of heaven. There are seven spirits of God. There are seven angels that blow trumpets in judgment and that pour out the seven last plagues. The seven churches point to how God divided his goodness and likeness into the church. Because of the work of the devil, wickedness and sin was found in the conditions of five of the churches. Christ’s spirit walks through the churches to assess their condition and to warn them to repent, to prepare them for his judgment. Many prophecies in the Bible tell us about things that may not happen for many years, but the warning to the seven churches is happening now. Revelations is a very difficult book to understand. Much of it is hidden and will not be revealed until the coming of Christ. But God opens our eyes and our understanding to many things. It is good to look at these things and understand what we can, even if we can’t understand everything. But that is the same way it is with the Bible as a whole. We see through a glass darkly, we know in part and we prophesy in part. The symbol of the church of God is a candlestick. Revelations 1:20. The prophecy of the seven churches are in Revelations chapters 2 and 3, but read chapter one too because the symbols that described Christ in chapter one, are divided up among the prophecies of each church. They are used as introductions of himself to each church and in his investigation, in his warning of judgment as well as the glory they will receive if they overcome. 3
EPHESUS
E
phesus means Desirable.
Christ referenced
himself to Ephesus with the seven stars and candlesticks. Ephesus has many good works and have labored and has patience. They do not have false doctrine and hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which is a form of false doctrine, and works that Christ hates. But Ephesus left her first love and first works. The bible does not define exactly what the first love and first works are, but love is the fulfilling of the law and works are obedience and righteousness. Ephesus is a characteristic of people in the truth, who have many good works, faith and patience, but they are failing in some part of the law, whether that is brotherly love, having grudges or hatred or envy and not getting over it or even pinching off the Sabbath, or breaking any of the other laws of God. Christ tells Ephesus to repent and do the first works or he will remove their candlestick. If they repent and overcome they will eat of the tree of life in the midst of Paradise. 4
SMYRNA Smyrna means Myrrh Christ referenced himself to Smyrna as the First and the Last, which was dead and is now alive. Smyrna has all good works. They have poverty and tribulation. He tells them not to fear the things they will go through. They will have tribulation for ten days. Here, ten means to the fullest extent. It says some of them will be cast into prison and tried. Smyrna is the group where the martyrs are found.Those who die for the word of God are a sweet savor to the Lord, like Myrrh. Many of the prophets in the Bible, and all of the apostles were martyrs. He tells them to be faithful unto death and he will give them a crown of life and they will not be hurt by the second death, which is the lake of fire.
PERGAMUS Pergamus means Height Christ speaks of himself to this church as he which has the sharp two edged sword, which we know is his word. He said that he knows Pergamus’s work and that they dwell where Satan’s seat is. Satan’s seat can be in the minds of man. Most of us can resist the devil and he will flee from us but some people have a bondage in their minds by an evil force. For example Mary Magdalene had seven devils cast out of her. She was dwelling at Satan’s seat. There were also martyrs in Pergamus. Some people are martyred as they are purged for their sins. This is not like Smyrna who are 5
martyred in pureness like Christ. Pergamus has false doctrine, and they eat things sacrificed by idols. They have the doctrine of the Nicolatains. The doctrine of Balaam is an evil spirit that causes people to leave the truth and take on the things of the world. To better understand this read 2 Peter Ch 2. To fully understand read the entire chapter, it's just 22 verses. Verse 15 says, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” Note that the church of Pergamus sounds similar to the church of Thyatira with false doctrine and teachers. The difference is that Pergamus knew the truth, and then fell into false doctrine. Christ advises them to repent or he will fight them with that same sword that he spoke to them about. He that overcometh will eat of the hidden manna. You know manna also represents God’s word, and Christ the Word of God. They will be given a white stone with a new name written that no one will know but who receives it.
THYATIRA Thyatira means Sweet Savor of Love Christ referred to himself to Thyatira as having eyes like a flame of fire and feet like brass. He spoke about their good works, charity, faith and patience and their last works were more than their first. He had somewhat against them because they had Jezebel, a false prophet to seduce them to commit fornication and eat foods sacrificed to idols. Jezebel is the symbol of Mystery Babylon. The false doctrine includes Sunday worship, Christmas, Easter, eating unclean 6
things, watering down the truth. This is spiritual fornication. But all of us know people in the false churches who we consider very good people who sincerely believe that they are doing right and are doing everything they know to be good. They have good works, faith, charity and patience. These people do not know or understand the real truth. God has given Mystery Babylon a lot of time to repent and she has not. He said he would cast her into great tribulation and kill her children with death if they do not repent. He searches the inward person, nothing can hide from his eyes like flames of fire! For those who come out of false doctrine, and are not in the depths of sin, he says that he won’t put any other burden on them, they must hold fast to those good things that they already have. If they overcome he will give them power over the nations, to rule them with a rod of iron and he will give them the Morning Star.
SARDIS Sardis means Song of Joy Christ refers to himself as having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. He said he knows Sardis’ work. They have a name that they are living but are dead. He tells them to strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die. He does not find their works perfect. Sardis are people who are flat out in sin. He said remember the things that they heard and repent. Every one knows the difference between good and evil and how to do good. But Sardis is just in sin. But there are a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their 7
garments and will walk in white. These are people who are n o t a b l e to c o n t ro l t h e i r b e h av i o r b e c au s e o f developmental disabilities, mental illness, or some other reason like the men in the tombs that had the legion. For those who overcome, and there are people who are flat out sinners that will repent, God will give them white garments, and not blot out their names from the book of life and will confess their names before the Father.
PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia means Brotherly Love Christ tells them that he is holy and true with the key of David who opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens. Christ knows their works that they kept his word and has not denied his name. He said the fake Jews will worship at their feet. Because they kept the word of his patience he would also keep them from the hour of temptation that will come upon the world. Patience means to be able to wait on the Lord without losing faith and falling into sin. Here we find people with great faith who obey God even going through many troubles. They hold on to the light even when the world is dark. A good description is found in 2 Esdras 1:35-37. It is from the church of Philadelphia that we find the first fruit, the 144,000. Many of the saints in the Bible has the characteristics of Philadelphia. In the last days this is found in the 144,000. A great example of someone who had faith and patience is Abraham. He was not a martyr but he walked in faith and perfect righteousness and had the patience to wait on God to fulfill his promise of 8
a child. What is the hour of temptation that will come on the whole world that he will keep them from? Temptation means trouble and adversity. There will be a time of trouble that comes on the whole world in the last days. Read about it in Daniel 11:1. Christ warns Philadelphia to hold fast to what they have so no one takes their crown. You can lose a crown! Those who overcome will become pillars in God’s temple. These are leaders in God’s house. He will write on them the name of God, his new name and the name of the city of God, heavenly Jerusalem.
LAODICEA Laodicea means Just People Christ referenced himself to this church as the Amen, the Faithful and True witness and the beginning of the creation of God. Laodicea works were not cold or hot. God wants her to be cold or hot. Being cold or hot is comparing God’s word and righteousness to food and drink. When hot food, for example soup, is hot it tastes good and satisfying. When food or drink that should be cold are cold, it is refreshing. No one wants to drink lukewarm water on a hot day. You also don’t want to eat lukewarm beef stew. You would heat it up. What this means is that Laodicea’s work was not satisfying or pleasing to God. Because they are lukewarm Christ said he would spit them out. If Christ spits you out you are not part of his kingdom! Here we see people who are rich or have wealth and all the comforts in life so they think they are doing fine. Because things are going well for them they are not interested in changing their lives and 9
seeking God. They are spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. They don’t have any of the true goodness and righteous works. But they think they have it made. Some of these people are doing common good things but they are not making sacrifices. They may be full of pride and think that they are doing everything right because things are going well for them. They will not inconvenience themselves seek for God or to help their poor brother. There are many people like this around the world. They think only of themselves. They are covetous. There are some of God’s children like this too! Christ told them to buy of him gold tried in fire which are the true riches, and white clothes and ointment for their eyes so that they can see. He said he would rebuke and chasten those he loves. Those who overcome will sit with him in his throne, even as he sits at his Father’s throne.
I thought it would help us understand these seven churches if we look at people in the Bible who had similar characteristics. Some repent, and some don’t. I’ve chosen seven as examples that I’ll tell you. But then I will pass out names to the rest of you so you can think about and share what church the other ones are from. 1.Ephesus: King Jehosophat 2. Smyrna: John the Baptist 3. Pergamus: King Jeroboam 4. Thyatira: Ruth. 5. Sardis: King Manasses. 6. Philadelphia: Queen Esther. 7. Laodicea: The Pharisees 10