To jerry and sherry roberts thank you for your faithful friendship and love for our lord and my family. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered to these cities, so these letters may have less to do with seven different church ages as some scholars believe, but rather real churches that. The book of revelation often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. What reader of the apostle johns revelation has not been stirred by the comments of the lord concerning seven branches of the church in the ancient province. How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of revelation according to archaeology and history. Witness lee teaches about the local churches in revelation. Every student of the letters of paul, the acts of the apostles, and the book of revelation will find much of value in new testament cities in western asia minor.
Wycliffe commentary of all the symbolic numbers in the book of revelation, the number 7 receives prominence. Mention johns book of revelation and the images that commonly come to mind are the four horsemen of the apocalypse and earths last great. All seven existed as church congregations in physical cities in the first century. The cities of the seven churches, cities had relationship with rome, temples to gods and.
Map shows the approximate locations of the cities with the seven churches that are mentioned in the bibles book of revelation. Dinah dye and ryan white as we bring some sanity into the discussion about the book of revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Churches in this context refers to the community or local congregations of christians living in each city, and not merely to the building or buildings in which they. The seven churches of revelation may include at least three fulfillments. Along with smyrna and pergamum, it was one of the three great cities in asia. David desilva provides a visual tour of the local contexts of the seven cities addressed in revelation. In how to read the bible for all it is worth the authors write, when turning. The list of sevens in revelation new testament charts list scripture study guide. The seven cities of the book of revelation, their present appearance, their history, their significance, and their message to the church of today classic reprint clark, francis e.
It appears to be a deliberate choice, like the many other occurrences of seven in the book of revelation, to signify that these seven churches typify all churches in every age. Part 14 from a study through the revelation of jesus christ. Seven is the second perfect number signifying fullness and perfection, especially spiritual perfection. In testament of levi 8 levi sees seven men clothed in white who prepare him to be a priest. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. Rather than attempting to set a new end date, we will investigate the culture and context in which the book was written.
The book of revelation is the ending to the greatest story ever. Izzet keribar getty images abrahamic middle eastern. After today which will include our introduction and revelation chapter 1 we will look at the seven 7 cities and seven 7 churches in revelation 23. The church in philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches who received a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ. What the bible says about seven churches of revelation. The seven cities of the book of revelation, their present appearance, their history. Although a christian work, the apocalypse belongs to a class of literature dealing with eschatological subjects and much in vogue among the jews of the first century before, and after, christ.
The seven successively span the churchs 2,000year history, culminating with the last three eras extant in the last hundred years. The original recipients of revelation were the believers in these seven churches. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. In the book of revelation, there is displayed a throne room scene. This is his report concerning the message from god and the truth revealed by jesus christ. Uriel, raphael, raguel, michael, sariel, gabriel, and remeiel missing in the ethiopic text, see otp 1. While reference is always made to the seven churches of revelation by name, the actual churches referred to were places of worship, rather than actual church buildings. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Light from archaeology on cities of paul and the seven churches of revelation edwin m. To understand the book of revelation better, one must understand the world in which its first audience lived. And to the angel of the church in philadelphia, write. The book of revelation is the story of the church of god, the body of christ on earth, as it faces the challenges of a world filled with sin, as well as the attacks of satan and his followers. These things says the holy one, the one who is true. The secret of the sevensealed book of revelation loud. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
You and your family are a blessing beyond description to us and so many others. This is an excerpt from the free online version of my book whore of babylon in bible prophecy. Why these seven churches commentary a testimony of. No other seven hills have this history and parallel with the word of god more precisely than the seven hills of rome, identifying the city of revelation 17 as rome. This will serve to develop a better home page read more. The book next contains seven short letters of exhortation to the christian churches in the seven leading cities of asia minor ephesus 2. The book of revelation is saturated with symbolic language. Revelation chapters two and three consist of messages to the seven churches which are in asia revelation 1. The tradition of seven archangels is present in the apocryphal book of tobit.
Yet you have a few people in sardis who have not soiled their clothes. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. A woman, a dragon, and two beasts with seven seals opened and seven trumpets sounded, john launches into another set of seven visions. These are not explicitly numbered as were the previous sequences, but they are all introduced with a reference to the seers vision. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. The meaning of the 7 churches of revelation the seven churches of revelation represent report cards for christians.
Horrible, painful sores appeared on the people who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue. Many people get caught up in the visions and forget that, from beginning to end, revelation had to make good sense to christians in asia minor toward the end of. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. The book was penned by a christian named john, who had visions on the island of patmos near the end of the first century a. From sunday, june 2nd, 2019, at calvary chapel tricities, kennewick, wa. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. Map of the cities with the seven churches in revelation. Three, seven, ten, and twelve are known as the perfect numbers. Revelation was first written for christians living in seven cities in asia minor, in what today is the country of turkey. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. We all know the book of revelation can be challenging to understand. The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning.
Best commentaries and books on revelation logos bible. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up. This website is a brief presentation concerning the local churches in the book of revelation based on the ministry of christian writers watchman nee and witness lee. The condition of each church and specific facts about each city are reflected in the content of each letter. According to hebrew tradition every number has a symbolic significance.
The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. In revelation, the final, consummating book of the bible, the first vision seen by the apostle john is that of seven golden lampstands, symbolizing seven local churches. God gave him this revelation in order to show his servants what must happen very soon. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Revelation 16 gw the seven angels pour out their bowls. This principle is basic to the interpretation of any new testament letter, but its easy to forget when reading revelation. Revelation, of course, is written to the seven cities of asia modern turkeyephesus. Home the seven cities and seven churches of revelation. Apocalypse, from the verb apokalypto, to reveal, is the name given to the last book in the bible.
Those seven churches were planted by the apostles in the seven principle cities in the lesser asia, here named, and hence each particular church denominated, as appears in the second and third chapters of this book, revelation 2. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. Revelation 16 gods word translation gw the seven angels pour out their bowls. Christ made these things known to his servant john by sending his angel to him, 2 and john has told all that he has seen. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Cities of the seven churches bible study biblewise. The list of sevens in revelation agape bible study. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia and laodicea 1.
I will never blot out his name from the book of life. Today, we begin an eight 8 part series on the book of revelation. John was told to write down what he saw in a book and to send it to seven churches in the province of asia western asia minor. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. Interactive map of the seven churches in revelation. Ar271 the seven cities of revelation 2 hour course in this course, dr.
The number 7 and the book of revelation a heart for god. Print laodicea, home of one of the 7 churches of revelation, ancient city in denizli, turkey. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Upon the throne is seated the father, to whom seraphim and cherubim bow themselves, crying holy, holy, holy, lord god almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Here is my map of the cities in the book of revelation. Virtually all attention these days is focused on the coming antichrist but he is only half the story.
406 670 1665 1147 472 943 1261 850 701 595 687 831 1194 71 787 1506 1370 674 1278 1340 511 1297 790 1163 34 982 873 1104 269 700 1103 752