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The Seven Churches Of Revelation
Revelation 1:10-11 KJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
In Revelation 1, we are told the book is about a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is in seven branches of a candlestick.
The book begins by having John seeing this and falling in fear as though he died.
Jesus takes a different trait of Himself from the vision in Rev 1 and introduces HImself to each church. And I also noticed one day that the seven seals are related to the seven churches. We will show how they add to the thought of what Jesus is saying as we go along. CHURCH 1 Rev 2:1-7 Rev 1:(13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. This church had a problem with having departed from their first love.
Jer 2:2 Jesus shows himself to this church as the one in the midst of the candlesticks, because He was THE MIDST OF THEIR LOVE beforehand.
Ephesus had to overcome and eat of the tree of life in the MIDST OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Notice how the introduction of Jesus is associated with their accommodation for overcoming.
The idea of SEVEN candlesticks and SEVEN stars seems to imply FULL LIGHT.
1 John 1:5-7 KJV Jesus is the greatest of all truths we could know.
They had to walk in ALL Light as Jesus did!
Revelation 6:1-2 KJV I saw how the seals and Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 perfectly lined up, which helps us to see that the first seal of the white horse represents FALSE DOCTRINE.
Matthew 24:4-5 KJV But they had to overcome the lack of love for Christ, Himself.
Apply what is true of Him, and walk in the midst of the Garden WITH HIM.
CHURCH 2 Revelation 2:8-11 KJV Revelation 1:11 KJV Revelation 1:17-18 KJV Same issue John was dealt with. Death was threatening Smyrnaean church believers.
The second seal was war. Revelation 6:3-4 KJV Matthew’s second listed event was war. Matthew 24:6-7 KJV We can hold on despite warfare against our souls, since Jesus died and resurrected from death.
They would not be hurt of the second death if they overcome.
Revelation 20:14 KJV I would rather die a natural death and wind up with resurrection life and a crown of life, than flee natural death and be cats into the lake of fire, the second death, from which there is NO RESURRECTION. CHURCH 3 Revelation 2:12-17 KJV Revelation 1:16 KJV From His mouth, means it is the WORD OF GOD. Hebrews 4:12 KJV This church was where Satan’s seat stood.
One man gave his life for the faith, named Antipas. But they had a problem with false doctrine.
They were not actually a sect, but were professing Christians who, like Balaam of old. tried to introduce into the Church a false freedom, that is, licentiousness; this was a reaction in the opposite direction from Judaism, the first danger to the Church combated in the council of Jerusalem, and by Paul in the Epistle to Galatians. These symbolical Nicolaitanes, or followers of Balaam, abused Paul’s doctrine of the grace of God into a plea for lasciviousness (2Pe_2:15-16, 2Pe_2:19; Jud_1:4, Jud_1:11 who both describe the same sort of seducers as followers of Balaam). The difficulty that they should appropriate a name branded with infamy in Scripture is met by TRENCH: The Antinomian Gnostics were so opposed to John as a Judaizing apostle that they would assume as a name of chiefest honor one which John branded with dishonor. The third seal was as follows: Revelation 6:5-6 KJV FAMINE. We know there are famines of the WORD OF GOD.
Matthew 24:7 KJV Some feel like going back to Egypt where Garlics and onions are.
Revelation 2:17 KJV Manna is the truth! John 6:31-35 KJV John 6:49-51 KJV The truths of the cross. John 6:55-56 KJV Since the last supper bread and wine spoke of Jesus body and blood on the cross in death, then eating bread and wine is TRUTHS OF THE CROSS. UNION truths. They must apply what is true of Christ to themselves, having the sword of God’s word, and destroy those false doctrines, or he would destroy them with the doctrines. Manna is true doctrine. CHURCH 4 Revelation 2:18-29 KJV Revelation 1:14-15 KJV They suffered Jezebel to teach fornication. Whoever this person was, she was like Jezebel was to Ahab.
God would kill her and her children with death. FOURTH SEAL. Revelation 6:7-8 KJV Matthew 24:9-10 KJV Notice that JESUS SEARCHES REINS AND HEARTS Revelation 2:23 KJV EYES OF FIRE. Some did not have that problem in the church. Revelation 2:24-25 KJV So the EYES OF FIRE apply to the SEEING OF THEIR WICKEDNESS, while the FEET LIKE FINE BRASS apply to those who withstood against her error, and were encouraged to HOLD FAST AND KEEP STANDING. They all had to apply his eyes of fire and feet like brass to SEE the wickedness there and STAND FAST in truth. (26) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Power over nations is implied in feet like brass: Revelation 10:1 KJV Standing on land and see as though CLAIMING IT AS HIS OWN, and roaring like a lion in challenge for anyone to defy Him. Revelation 22:16 KJV Jesus GIVE HIMSELF.. they share HIS DOMINION. CHURCH 5 Revelation 3:1-6 KJV Revelation 1:16 KJV Revelation 1:4 KJV These are also mentioned here: Revelation 5:6 KJV Notice he says HE KNOWS their works….. SEVEN EYES ARE SEVEN SPIRITS. 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 KJV HE SEES ALL. SEVEN EYES. Seven spirits means HE KNOWS ALL. Isaiah 11:1-4 KJV John 7:24 KJV John 8:15-16 KJV Jesus had the seven spirits because He had what the seven spirits would give the BRANCH. Rev 3:(2) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. FULL OF WATCHING.
Works are not PERFECT.
(3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. How did they receive?
He would come like a thief, which is also mentioned in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:42-43 KJV 5th seal: Revelation 6:9-11 KJV Compare with: Rev 3:(4) Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. Holding on and wearing white! Notice: (1) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. They had a name of death, they must have a name of LIFE in the BOOK OF LIFE. They must apply what is true of JESUS SEVEN EYES AND WATCH! CHURCH 6 Revelation 3:7-13 KJV Revelation 1:18 KJV Key of David is key of death and hell in chapter 1. He has power over both.
Possesses the gates of his enemies. Genesis 22:17 KJV This church had no problem. To overcome they had to hold fast what they had so none takes their crown. In lieu of keys of David, we read of TEMPLE HOUSING.
Speaks of a KINGDOM! 6th seal. Revelation 6:12-17 KJV Sun , moon and stars losing light speaks of kingdoms falling.
His kingdom overcomes all other kingdoms. Daniel 2:44-45 KJV God’s NAME was on these overcoming people! HIS TEMPLE SPEAKS OF HIS NAME.
His name on the foreheads means HIS MIND IS IN THEM.
Apply His hold of the key of David over death and the grave to themselves.
6th Seal agrees with Matthew Matthew 24:29-31 KJV In order to understand gathering together, we must read in chapter 23 about what Israel WOULD have known in being gathered, which 24 says the church will know instead. Matthew 23:35-38 KJV Gathered in SAFETY.
Isaiah 22:22-24 KJV Like being in temple and temple resting on the pillars, the one with key of David has all glory of Father’s house hanging on Him. SEVENTH CHURCH Revelation 3:14-22 KJV Revelation 1:5 KJV Their error was lukewarmness.
Apply His faithfulness to themselves!
7 always depicts rest.
SIT ON THRONE.
We apply what is true of Him to ourselves. Every problem these churches faced, Jesus was their answer.
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