7 Churches - Prophecy

Format of the Messages1. Address – Angel (messenger) in the church

in_______2. The words of …

– Description of Jesus Christ3. Appraisal of the church4. Words of counsel5. Listen to what the Spirit says6. Promise to the overcomer

Ephesus

3rd wealthiest city in Roman Empire

Temple of Diana– Treasury of safe deposit– Wonders of ancient world– Temple prostitutes– Right of asylum

Magical arts, Acts 19:19

Ephesus

31-100 ADNew Testament church persevered, did

good works, and preached the gospel in many new places

Rejected false teachersModel for all reform movementsHowever, abandoned first love

Ephesus

Ephesus Library

Amphitheater at Ephesus

Paul in Ephesus

Nicolaitans

Irenaus – 2nd Century minister near EphesusClaimed to be Christians, but they

considered it “a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.”

Christians that don’t obey 10 commandments

Smyrna - Izmir

– Seaport– Cultural center for science, medicine,

politics, religion– Wealthy and beautiful– Center of emperor worship

Smyrna

100-313 AD Main thing Christ commended Smyrna for was

their endurance under persecution Rev. 2:9 – Jews “who say they are…but are not” –

during that time there were many Christians known as ‘Gnostics’ that rejected many Bible truths

Ten days – 303-313 AD, Diocletian persecution Persecution sporadic during this time

Smyrna - Izmir

Smyrna Port

Christianity 100-313 AD

Expressed Christianity in Greek philosophical terms

Centers of Christianity developed – Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Rome

Works of “church fathers” respectedGradual usage of images in worshipTheological disagreements began to arise

Pergamum

Compromise, church and state (Jesus has double-edged sword)

313-538Capital of Roman province in Asia

– Religious center, 4 temples to pagan gods– Government, cultural center– Imperial cult of emperor worship– Center of healing

Altar of Zeus – Berlin Museum

Asclepius – God of Healing

Asclepion – Place of Healing

Pergamum

Vs. 13 Throne of Satan– Zeus – king of the gods– Asclepius represented by a serpent– Rev. 12:9 Satan the ancient serpent

Vs 13 Antipas my faithful witness– Christian martyr– Tradition - burned to death– You remained true-holding the teachings

Pergamum (313-538)

Christ is pictured as having a “two-edged” sword – Bible (Eph. 6:17)

During this time the church began to stray from the teachings of the Bible

Pergamum (313-538)

Balaam (Numbers 25:1-9, 31:16)

Was going to curse Israel for a bribe from king of Moabites

Led the Israelites into sin Got involved in politics

and business

Pergamum (313-538)

Constantine became a Christian and made the Roman Empire “Christian”

Became political – example: Sabbath to Sunday for political convenience

Pergamum (313-538)

God calls them to repent

Otherwise He will come and fight against them with “the sword of my mouth”

Reward: Manna, white stone with new name

ThyatiraMiddle ages to 1500’sNon-biblical religious practicesSmallest, least important of 7 churches

– Trade guilds, not wealthy city– Royal purple and woolen goods– Lydia from Thyatira, Acts 16:14

Thyatira

This church did do many good works – better at the end than at the beginningMost hospitals, orphanages and schools at the time were sponsored by the church

Thyatira (538-1560)

However, Christ has eyes “like a flame of fire” and is walking among the churches

He knows the true condition of the church

Thyatira (538-1560)

Church tolerated Jezebel (1 Kings 16-21)

Pagan queen that married Ahab and became queen of Israel – brought her own priests and led the Israelites to practice pagan rituals

Thyatira (538-1560) Christian church during this time:

1. Made pope “God on Earth”

2. Changed Sabbath to Sunday

3. Legalized worship of images

4. Gave indulgences for forgiveness of sin

5. Taught eternally burning hell and purgatory

6. Didn’t publish Bibles for common people

7. Got seriously involved in politics

8. Sanctioned torture as legitimate tool of church

Thyatira (538-1560) 2:21 – “time to repent” – 1260

years of Daniel 7 Calls for reformation were made

through general councils, monasteries, Francis of Assisi, Huss, Waldenses, and finally Martin Luther

Council of Trent (1545-1563) – some changes made, but basically same theology remained as in Middle Ages

Thyatira (538-1560) 2:22 – “sickbed” 1320 – biggest famine of

Middle Ages in Europe Black death – 1350’s – 40% of

Europe died 100 year War – 14th-15th

England – France – introduced modern weaponry

1618-1648 – 30 Year’s War – Catholics and Lutherans – 10 out of 18 million people in Germany alone died!

Thyatira (538-1560)

2:23 – Jesus talks about the judgment – which is soon to start

2:24 – Not all held to these doctrines – they needed to just remain firm (Huss, Wycliffe, Milic, Waldenses, etc.)

Fight Against With “Sword of Mouth”

Contributions of Muslims – Middle Ages

1. Called Christians to return to simple act of worshipping God – “spirit of compassion” – said some were “apostate”

2. Saved ancient Greek and Hebrew: Bible3. Provided refuge for dissident Christian

groups4. Aided Protestant movement5. Had culture of learning, education

Thyatira (538-1560)

Reward: the people that overcome during this time will RULE with Christ – they will have power over those who persecuted them

Sardis

Sardis

Sardis

Sardis 3:1-6

Protestant reformation to loss of fervor– 1500-1700s

Lifeless church550 BCE Sardis had been a great

city – King Croesus “as rich as Croesus…”– Vitality, a force in the world– Now living in the past, not the present

Sardis

– Temple dedicated to Cybele– Restore the dead to life– Oracle of Cybele – answers to questions

No commendation for Sardis Vs 2 Wake up, strengthen what remains

– Spiritually dead, Holy Spirit is absent– Church with no answers– Your works are not complete

Sardis

1560-1740 From 1520-1560 – there

was a huge renewal of knowledge of the Bible in Germany and all over Europe that stemmed from the ministry of Martin Luther

Sardis (1560-1740)

However, after Luther’s death they became lifeless and stagnant and mainly argued about theology

Melancthon, Luther’s closest friend, was glad to meet death to escape the “rage of the theologians” - 1560

Sardis (1560-1740)

They had a “name” but were largely “dead”They needed the Holy Spirit (3:1)People only attended church and emphasis

was on the ‘correctness’ of belief, not on practical Christianity

Sardis (1560-1740)

Example: England in early 1700’s – amusements were vile, illiteracy widespread, law savage in it’s enforcement, jails were centers of disease and iniquity and drunkenness was more widespread than at any other period in its history.

Sardis (1560-1740)

3:3; If they don’t repent, Jesus will come like a thief – sign of the approaching of the second coming and judgment

Sardis (1560-1740)

3:4 – There are some that have not soiled their clothes

John Calvin and his followers

-Reformed Christians (Central Europe)

-Huguenots (France)

-Puritans (England and America)

Sardis (1560-1740)

3:5 – Is a picture of the approaching judgment – Christ will give us His righteousness and be our advocate in the judgment

Philadelphia Rev. 3: 7-13

Late 1700s through 1900sProtestant awakeningYoungest of 7 churches

– Prosperous city on the imperial road– Gateway to the east– Exported Greek culture and language

Philadelphia

3:8-10 Church with great opportunity– Open door for preaching the gospel– Little power (of yourself)

Zech. 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit

– Kept my word, did not deny my name No compromise or apostasy Vs 10 patient endurance, Rev. 14:12

Philadelphia

1740-1850 ADHave kept God’s Word, not denied the faith,

and have endured patientlyThis was a time of religious revival in

England, parts of Europe and America

Philadelphia (1740-1850)

John and Charles Wesley – MethodistsGeorge Whitefield – Great Awakening –

BaptistsFrance reacted against French RevolutionWilliam Carey – missionary to IndiaMost mission and Bible societies were

started during this periodWilliam Miller, James and Ellen White

Philadelphia (1740-1850)

3:8 - Open door which no one can shut

1844 – Daniel 8:14 – Jesus went into the Heavenly sanctuary to begin the investigative judgment

Philadelphia (1740-1850)

3:9 – False “Jews” – it was during this time that the 1260 day prophecy ended and the Catholic church turned into an almost extinct church

Protestantism had won

Philadelphia (1740-1850)

3:10 – They will be kept from the hour of trial – Jesus is coming soon

This period would end right before the very end of time and the second coming

Market in Laodicea

Heirapolis across the Lycus River Valley

White Cliffs at Heirapolis

Sacred Pool

Terraced Pools

Plutonium – entrance to Hades

Water pipes from Heiraplois

Laodicea Rev. 3:14-22

End time churchCommercial and financial center

– Black wool in garments and carpets– 60 CE city devastated by earthquake– City refused help and rebuilt itself– Medical school – treatment of eye

diseases Eye slave

LaodiceaJesus is a faithful witness and he won’t lieThere is nothing good about this church!They think everything is fine – but it is actually just the opposite – they are about to die

Laodicea

Vs. 15 Neither cold (icy) nor (hot) – Hierapolis mineral hot springs 6 miles

away Used for sick

– Aqueduct to Laodicea – lukewarm Bath in it, not good to drink or for the sick

Vs 16 Spit (vomit) you out of my mouth– Vs 15 I wish you were hot or cold!

Laodicea

Not condemned for apostasy or heresy– No serious sin– No compromise– No persecution

Vs. 17 I am rich, wealthy, need of nothing– Self-satisfied

Laodicea

God’s view - wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked

Vs 18 Remedy – Buy!– Isa. 55:1 Buy without money– Give up their self-sufficiency and

pride Gold refined by fire White garments Eye salve

Laodicea (1850-present)

During this time period – the zeal of the original reformers faded

Materialism crept inBible knowledge decreasedStrange new doctrines about 2nd comingHostility to 7th day SabbathEvolution was half-hearted accepted

Laodicea

Gold refined by fire – 1 Peter 1:7 Faith which has been tested and

purified White garments

– Rev. 19:8 Righteous deeds of the saints– Rev. 7:14 Robes washed in the blood of the

Lamb– Isa. 61:10 He has wrapped us with a robe of

righteousness– Christ’s saving righteousness

Eye Salve

Eye salve to see– Ps 119:18 Open my eyes that I may

behold– See true condition– John 16:8-11 Holy Spirit convicts of

sin, righteousness, and judgment– Luke 11:13 Holy Spirit given to those

who ask– Gal. 5: 22, 23 fruit of the Spirit

Discipline and InvitationVs 19 Those whom I

love I reprove and discipline

Vs 20 I stand at the door and knock– Open our lives and eat

a companion meal– Develop a relationship – Laodicea had put Christ

outside of their lives and the church

To Rule With Christ

Vs 21 May sit with Christ on his throne– Eph. 2:6 God has seated us with Him

in the heavenly places with Christ

Laodicea (1850-present)

2 Tim. 3:1,5 – “last days” there would be people “having the form of godliness, but denying the power of it”

Matt. 25:1-13 – ten virgins

Laodicea (1850-present)

Luke 18:8 – When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Do you want to sit on the throne with God in His new kingdom?