A Prophetic
History of the Church
The Message of
Revelation
What title is given
the last book of the Bible?
“The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave him to show his servants
what must soon take place. He made it
known by sending his angel to his
servant John.” Revelation 1:1.
To whom do those
things which are revealed belong?
“The secret
things belong to the Lord our God, but
the things revealed belong to us and
to our children forever, that we
may follow all the words of this
law.” Deuteronomy 29:29.
For what purpose
was the Revelation given?
‘Which God gave to
show his servants what must soon take
place.” Revelation 1:1.
What great event,
according to this book, is imminent?
“Look, he is
coming with the clouds, and every
eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of
the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.”
Verse 7.
Note – This book
not only opens and closes with the
subject of Christ’s Second
Coming, but its various prophecies
reach down to this as the great
culminating event to the church and
the world.
What encouragement
is given to study this book?
“Blessed is
the one who reads the words of this
prophecy, and blessed are
those who hear it and take to
heart what is written in it, because
the time is near.” Verse 3.
The
Seven Churches
To whom was the
book dedicated?
“To the seven
churches in the province of
Asia.” Verse 4.
What
were the names of these seven
churches?
“Write on a
scroll what you see and send it to
the seven churches: to Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Verse 11.
Note –
John’s letters to ‘the
seven churches which are in
Asia” were addressed to actual
groups of Christian believers in the
Roman province of Asia. These
messages describe conditions existing
in these churches in John’s day
and provide counsel appropriate to
their particular needs. But
because there were actually more
churches in “Asia” than the
seven named, and because the number seven
recurs repeatedly in the Revelation
in what is evidently a symbolic
sense, these seven particular
churches are to be understood as
representatives of the church as a
whole and the messages addressed to
them as applicable also the seven
time periods or states of the church
reaching from the first advent of
Christ to the second. Throughout
Scripture the number seven,
when used symbolically, is generally
understood to indicate completeness.
A study of history reveals that these
messages are indeed applicable in a
special way to seven successful
periods that cover the entire history
of the Christian church. The good
qualities and defeats of these
churches are pointed out, with
admonitions, exhortations, and
warnings suitable for each, all of
which are also applicable to
individual Christian experience.
By
what title is the first state of the
church distinguished?
“To the angel
of the church in Ephesus write.”
Revelation 2:1.
Note – Ephesus
fitly symbolizes the character and
condition of the church in its first
state, when its members received the
doctrine of Christ in its purity, and
enjoyed the benefits and blessings of
the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This
message may be thought of as
applicable to the first century, or
approximately the lifetime of the
apostles.
After commending this
church for their good works, what
charge did the Lord bring against
them?
“Yet I hold
this against you: You have
forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you
have fallen! Repent and do
the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come
to you and remove your lampstand from
its place.” Verses
4,5.
Note – The
“first love” is the love
for the truth, and the desire of
making it known to others. The
“first works” are the fruit
of this love.
What
name is given to the second state of
the church?
“To the angel
of the church in Smyrna
write.” Verse 8.
Note – The name Smyrna
is thought by some to mean
“myrrh” or sweet-smelling
incense.” The message addressed
to Smyrna may be thought of as
applicable to the period of time when
many of the saints of God suffered
martyrdom under pagan Rome during the
second, third, and early fourth
centuries.
How
is the closing period of tribulation
of the church during this time
referred to?
“Do not be
afraid of what you are about to
suffer. I tell you, the
devil will put some of you in prison
to test you, and you will suffer
persecution for ten days.
Be faithful, even to the point of
death, and I will give you the crown
of life.” Verse 10.
Note – The most
severe of the persecutions under
pagan Rome was under the emperor
Diocletian, from A.D. 303 to 313.
What name is given
to the third state of the church?
“To the angel
of the church in Pergamum.”
Verse 12.
Note – Pergamum,
which was built on a lofty hill,
fitly represents the period following
Constantine’s conversion to the
setting up of the Papacy with its
seat of authority in Rome. During
this period the church, which
formerly “had not where to lay
its head, is raised to sovereign
authority in the state, enters into
the prerogatives of the papal
priesthood, grows rich and
powerful.” But at the same
time, “received in her bosom
vast deposits of foreign material
from the world and from
heathenism.” – Philip
Schaff, History of the Christian
Church, Vol. 3 (Scribners, 1902
ed.), p. 5.
Among the heathen
rites and ceremonies previously
introduced into the Christian
religion was the heathen festival, Sunday
(sun’s day). Then
established by law, resulting in the
first day of the week taking the
place of the Seventh day Sabbath of
the Bible.
How
was the faithfulness of the church
commended?
“I know where
you live – where Satan has his
throne. Yet you remain true
to my name. You did not renounce your
faith in me, even in the
days of Antipas, my faithful witness,
who was put to death in your city
– where Satan lives.” Verse
13.
Note – There is a
good reason to believe that
“Antipas” refers to a class
of persons rather as an individual;
for no reliable information
concerning such a person is now to be
found in any authentic early church
histories.
What title is given
to the fourth state of the church?
“To the angel
of the church in Thyatira
write.” Verse 18.
Note – Thyatira
symbolizes the conditions of
God’s people during the long,
dark period of the papal supremacy
and persecution connected with the
1,260-year prophecy. During that time
millions of saints of God were put to
death in the cruelest manner that
wicked men and demons could invent.
Christ referred to this time in His
wonderful prophecy recorded in
Matthew 24, in these words: “For
then there will be great distress,
unequaled from the beginning of the
world until now - and never to be
equaled again. If those days had not
been cut short, no one would survive,
but for the sake of the elect those
days will be shortened.” The
tribulation of the 1,260 years was
cut short through the influence of
the Reformation.
What promise did
God leave for those persecuted ones?
“Only hold on
to what you have until I come. To him
who overcomes and does my will to the
end. I will give authority
over the nations - He will
rule them with an iron scepter; he
will dash them to pieces like pottery
– just as I have received
authority from my Father.” Revelation
2:25-27.
By what name is the
fifth state of the church addressed?
“To the angel
of the church in Sardis
write.” Revelation 3:1.
Note - Sardis was
admonished to “be watchful, and
strengthen the things which
remain.” (Verse 2.) At that time
the great tribulation of the people
of God was at an end, but it was only
as a result of the Reformation that
any of God’s people were left remaining.
The Sardis church may be thought
of as representing the reformed
churches during the time of the
Reformation and onward.
What endearing
title is given the sixth church?
“To the angel
of the church in Philadelphia
write.” Revelation 3:7.
Note – Philadelphia
means ‘brotherly love.” The
message addressed to it may be
thought of as applying to the church
during the Advent awakening, from the
late eighteenth century to the
opening of “the hour of his
judgment” in 1844.
What words to this
church show the Second Advent near?
“I
am coming soon. Hold on to
what you have, so no one will take
your crown.”
Verse 11.
What is the message
to the last church?
“To the angel
of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the ruler
of God’s creation. I know
your deeds, that you are neither cold
nor hot. I wish you were either one
or the other! So, because you are
lukewarm – neither hot nor cold
– I am going to spit you out of
my mouth. You say, ‘I am
rich; I have acquired wealth and do
not need a thing.’ But you do
not realize that you are wretched,
pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I
counsel you to buy from me gold
refined in the fire; and white
clothes to wear, so you can cover
your shameful nakedness; and slave to
put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and
discipline. So be earnest, and
repent.” Verses 14-19.
Note – Some think
that the word Laodicea
signifies “the judging of the
people,” or, according to
Cruden, “a just people.”
This church exists in the time of
judgment and the proclamation of the
final warning messages during the
seven trumpets and preceding
Christ’s Second Coming.
The Savior’s
Invitation
What encouragement
is given to heed this message?
“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
him, and he with me.” Revelation
3;20.
Note – The
pointed, searching messages to the
seven churches contain most important
lessons of admonition, encouragement,
and warning for all Christians in all
ages. The seven promises to the over
comer found in this line of prophecy
(Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5,
12, 21), with the eighth or universal
promise recorded in Revelation 21:7,
form a galaxy of promises as
precious, as comforting, and
inspiring as any recorded in the
Scriptures.
