The Seven Churches

As I was reading The Lawe of Thinking, written by Master Prophet Elijah Bernard Jordan. It caused me to THINK!

God gave me a revelation to go to the Book of Revelations and read about the seven churches.

The Book of Revelation is apocalyptic(meaning uncovered, unveiled, or revealed) in style. Jesus gave his message to John in a revelation (or vision), allowing John to see and record certain future events so they could be an encouragement to all believers. The vision includes many signs and symbols that convey the essence of what is to happen. What John saw, in most cases, was indescribable, so he used illustrations to show what it was like.

The book of Revelation reveals future events, but there is not the gloomy pessimism we might expect. The drama of these unfolding events is spectacular, but there is nothing to fear if you are on the winning side. When you think about the future, walk with confidence because Christ, the victor, walks with you.

Revelation is a book of prophecy that is both prediction (foretelling future events) and proclamation (preaching about who God is and what he will do ). Prophecy is more than telling the future. Behind the predictions are important principles about God's character and promises.

Jesus told John to write to seven churches that knew and trusted him and had read his earlier letters. The"sevenfold Spirit" is another name for the Holy Spirit. The number seven is used throughout Revelation to symbolize completeness and perfection.

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Lord is the beginning and the end. God the Father is the eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present, and future.. Without him you have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change your life, nothing that can save from sin. Honor the one who is the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom and power. (Revelation 1:1-8)

VISION OF THE SON OF MAN

I am John, your bother. In Jesus we are partners in suffering and in the Kingdom and in patient endurance. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and speaking about Jesus. It was the Lord's Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast. It said, "Write down what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadephia, and Laodicea." When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance.

(Revelation 1:9-16 NLT)

The seven gold lampstands are the seven churches in Asia, and Jesus stands among them.No matter what the churches face, Jesus protects them with his all-encompassing love and reassuring power. Through his Spirit, Jesus Christ is still among the churches today. When a church faces persecution, it should remember Christ's deep love and compassion. When a church is troubled by internal strife and conflict, it should remember Christ's concern for purity and his intolerance of sin. (Revelation 1: 12,13 NLT)

The sword in Jesus' mouth symbolizes the power and force foe his message. His words of judgment are as sharp as swords (Isaiah 49:2; Hebrew 4:12)

The message to the Church in Ephesus

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: " I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But there is this about you that is good: You hate the deeds of the immoral Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:1-7 NLT)

For Jesus to "remove your lampstand from its place" would mean the church would cease to be an effective church church is to give light to their surrounding communities. Jesus himself would extinguish any light that did not fulfill its purpose. The church needed to repent of its sins.

Through John, Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for hating the wicked practices of the Nicolaitans. Note that they didn't hate the people, just their sinful actions. We should accept and love all people and refuse to tolerate any evil. God cannot tolerate sin, and he expects us to stand against it. The world needs Christians who will stand for God's truth and point people toward right living. We are victorious by believing in Christ, persevering, remaining faithful, and living as one who follows Christ. Such a life brings great rewards. (21:7)

The message to the Church of Smyrna

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who died and is alive.: "I know about your suffering and your poverty-but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren't because theirs is a synagogue of Satan. Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will throw some of you into prison and put you to the test. You will be persecuted for "ten days". Remain faithful even when facing death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11 NLT)

Message to the Church in Pergamum

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. "This is the message from the one who has a sharp two-edged sword:"I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located and yet you have remained loyal to me. And you refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you by Satan's followers. And yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam, who show Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you-people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins. Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:13-17 NLT)

As the center for four idoltrous cults (Zeus, Dionysius, Asclepius, and Athene). Pergamum was called the city "where that great throne of Satan is located. The sword is God's judgment against rebellious nations and all forms of sin.

The Message to the Church in Thyatira

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: "I know all the things you do--your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching 'deeper truth, as they call them--depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 2:18-29 NLT)

Jezebel was more concerned about her own selfish pleasure and freedom than about the needs and concerns of fellow believers. Jezebel was unwilling to repent. We can't hide from Christ; he knows what is in our heart and mind, and still loves us. The sins we try to hide from God need to be confessed to him or you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Christ is also called the morning star in 22:16. A morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is coldest and darkest. When the world is at the blackest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bringing his promised reward.

The Message to the Church in Philadelphia

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them. "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look! I will force those who belong to Satan--those liars who say they are Jew but are not--to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. "Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. Look, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victoriou will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God's name on them, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And they will have my new name inscribed upon them. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to churches. (Revelation 3:7-13 NLT)

The "key of David" represents Christ's authority to open the door into his future Kingdom. After the door is opened, no one can close it-salvation is assured. Once it is closed, no one can open it-judgment is certain. The new Jerusalem is the future dwelling of the people of God. We will have a new citizenship in God's future Kingdom. Everything will be new, pure and secure.

The Message to the Church in Laodicea

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea . This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation: I know all things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!" And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 3:14-22 NLT)

Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produces eye ointment. Lukewarm makes a disgusting drink. The church in Ladodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugant. The believers didn't stand for anything. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.