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1
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2
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3
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4
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- “How should the Seven Churches be understood? Should the Seven Churches be read in a
preterist way?...I think the answer is clearly ‘yes’… Should it be read
in Idealist form?...I think very clearly the book says, ‘yes’…But let me
ask another question. Should
these letters to the Seven Churches be read in historicist fashion?...I
don’t believe that that is the primary intention of these seven letters. Having said that, however, I would not
entirely rule out an historical reading of the book of Revelation. It is just possible that…these letters
may in some way be representative of the course of Christian history as
it would move along.
- – Dr. Jon Pauline: Seven Churches and a Heavenly Vision, Tape 3, Seven
Letters to Seven Churches
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5
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- “It is reasonable to conclude that the characterization of, and
admonition to, the church at Ephesus was particularly appropriate to the
needs of that church at the time the message was written. It is similarly appropriate to the
needs of the entire Christian church in the apostolic age, and thus, in
brief, represents the experience of that period in the history of the
church. It was recorded for the
inspiration and encouragement of believers in every age, for under
similar circumstances the same principles apply. By analogy, the same is true of the
messages to the other churches.
In view of the fact that the focus of each of the four major
lines of prophecy is on the closing scenes of earth’s history, the
messages of the book of Revelation have particular import for the church
today.
- “That a single prophetic passage may embrace more than one fulfillment
is evident (see on Deut. 18:15).
Some such prophecies have both an immediate and a more remote
fulfillment, and in addition contain principles that are generally
applicable at all times…”
- – Introduction to the Book of Revelation, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol 7,
pp. 725-726.
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6
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- What did that just say?
- Valid preterist (historical /
typical) application
- Valid historicist application
- Valid idealist application
- Valid eschatological application
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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- What is meant by an
- “Eschatological Application”?
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12
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- Isn’t an eschatological application contrary to Adventist theology?
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13
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- “Revelation says that seven trumpets blow before we take possession of
the Promised Land. Now, I’m
really going to get myself out on a limb. I believe that not only do the prophecies
of Revelation have a historical [historicist] application…I think that
there is a literal last day application of these things, when you read
them in their context. And I
think that there might be a rapid repeating of these things, of the
seven trumpets, just before Jesus comes…Those trumpets are getting ready
to blow.”
- – Doug Batchelor: Through the
Wilderness – Into the Promised Land, Tape 7, The Red Rope of Rahab
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14
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- Use Historical-Grammatical methods
- Identify key terms, phrases and imagery in Revelation
- Identify OT and NT background passages and cross references
- Determine whether background passages have an eschatological
application
- Identify OT prophecies to literal Israel which will be fulfilled in the
last days in relation to Spiritual Israel
- Interpret the terms, phrases and imagery as literal, symbolic, or both
based on context and on cross references (e.g. 12 Apostles)
- Adopt a “Great Controversy” perspective
- Favor universal/global over literal/local application of passages in
Revelation and in cross references
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15
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- Though the prophet looked at events about him, he also could see far
beyond his day. …the prophets words were sometimes to meet their
fulfillment in the far distant future.
At times they had an import, not only for the age in which the
prophet lived, but also for a day far future; in other words, they had a
dual application. Similarly, the
ways in which God dealt with men in crises of the past are often cited
as examples of the manner in which He will deal with the world in the
last day. For example, Sodom and
Gomorrah…
- The student of the Bible who hopes to secure from it the greatest help
will first proceed to reconstruct the historical context of each
passage. He will listen to the
prophet speaking to Israel of old and endeavor to understand what his
words meant to the people who originally heard them. But he will listen also for the
further import the prophet’s words may have for latter times,
particularly, our time. Indeed
this secondary application is for us today the more significant. – SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, pp.
37. “The Role of Israel in OT Prophecy”
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16
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17
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18
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- “Babylon” - Background Passages
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19
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- Has this prophecy reached its final fulfillment?
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20
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21
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22
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- “Israel” and “Jews”
- “…beginning of birth pangs” or “like a woman in labor”
- “living beings”
- “Balaam”
- “eat things sacrificed to idols”
- “commit acts of immorality”
- “Egypt” or “Sodom” – maybe also “Tyre” or “Edom”
- “trumpets”
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23
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- Most come to an understanding of the eschatological through the Seven
Trumpets or through Daniel 12
- There are few, if any, existing expositions of the eschatological
application of Seven Churches
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24
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25
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26
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- Introduces each major section of Revelation
- Provides contextual backdrop for the section
- Provides chronological backdrop for the section
- e.g. – Seven Seals occur between the “taking of the scroll” and the
final “song of praise of the great multitude in heaven”
- Is not part of the chronological sequence of the events of the section
- e.g. – The “throwing down of the censor” does not precede the sounding
of the first Trumpet
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27
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28
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- The eschatological “Day of the Lord”
- The language and themes of the great “Day of the Lord” passages match
the language and themes of the book of Revelation
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29
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30
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- “Pour out My Spirit” – Latter Rain (Rev 18:1-4)
- “Display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, columns of
smoke” –Trumpets 1-4 (Rev 9:7-12); 7 Last Plagues (Rev 16)
- “Sun to darkness, moon into blood” – 6th Seal (Rev 6:12); 4th
Trumpet (Rev 8:12); 5th Plague (Rev 16:10)
- “I will gather all nations and bring them to the valley of Jehoshaphat
(i.e. Yahweh judges) – Armageddon (Rev 16:12-16)
- “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” – Second
Coming
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31
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- The Sabbath and the Eschatological “Day of the Lord” – A Link Between
the Two
- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time”
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32
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time”
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33
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time”
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34
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time – The Prophecy – Why Israel
went into captivity in Babylon
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35
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time – The Prophecy – Why Israel
went into captivity in Babylon
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36
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time – The Prophecy – Why Israel
went into captivity in Babylon
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37
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- The “Sabbath” of the great “Week of Time – The Fulfillment – Why Israel
went into captivity in Babylon
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38
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- The Antitypical Jubilee
- Occurred after seven “Sabbath’s of Years”
- Represented the final release from captivity (in spiritual Babylon) and
restoration of the inheritance in the Promised Land
- Began as the trumpet was blown on the Day of Atonement (Lev 25:9)
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39
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- The Sabbath
- The Eschatological Day of the Lord
- The Sabbath of the Great “Week of Time”
- The Antitypical Jubilee
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40
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- All seven messages in one book
- Symbolism of “Seven” – Complete
- One message to the collective, but divided church
- God picked the symbols, the imagery, and the sequence of the vision
- The whole section of the “Messages to the Seven Churches” is completely
devoid of any sequential language
- None of the churches is identified by number
- No sequential language is used
- No specific events are described
- Compare with Rev 8:13 (from Seven Trumpets) – “…because of the
remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to
sound.”
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41
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- The scene is a general scene
- Jesus is not tending the lamps; He is merely among the lampstands
- Note that the churches are described as “lampstands” – not lamps
- The only event associated with this scene is Jesus giving John the
messages for the Seven Churches
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42
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43
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- Jesus, our High Priest, is in the garb of an ordinary priest
- No ephod
- Parallels with Daniel 10 (robe is bad not shesh)
- The uses of bad in the OT – 23 times in 11 passages
- 5 passages – the garments of ordinary priests
- 1 passage – the garments of the high priest on the Day of Atonement
- 2 passages – the garments David wore when he brought the Ark of the
Covenant back to Jerusalem
- 2 passages – Daniel’s vision of Jesus in chapters 10 & 12
- 1 passage – Ezekiel’s vision of the sealing angel in chapters 9 &
10
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44
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- In Revelation, we never see Jesus performing taymid, or daily, services
- Jesus is among the lampstands, not tending the lamps (Rev 1:12, 2:1)
- No mention of the Table of Shewbread
- Jesus burns incense on the golden Altar of Incense (Rev 8:3-5)
- No mention of any veil
- We see God’s throne (i.e. the Ark), seven Lamps, and Sea of Glass
(i.e. Laver) all in the same scene – with no veils mentioned (Rev 4)
- Jesus stands before God’s throne (i.e. Ark of the Covenant) (Rev 4-5)
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45
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- Golden Girdle
- Parallel to “belt of pure gold of Uphaz” in Daniel 10
- Represents purity of faith – purified by the fire of tribulation
- “Gold of Uphaz” – represents distinction between Creator God and false
idols (Jer 10:1-13 - Read)
- Feet like burnished bronze
- In sanctuary “bronze” associated with the courtyard (i.e. earth)
- Jesus walked through the fires of tribulation on earth as a man
- Head and hair like white wool
- Parallels white turban of ordinary priests
- Denotes intrinsic righteousness of Jesus
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46
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- Voice like the sound of many waters
- Jesus speaks with the authority of the Father and in the name of His
people
- Parallel to “great multitude” (Rev 19:6-7) & 144,000 (Rev 14:2-3)
- Parallel to God the Father (Ezek 43:2) – Context of God entering the
restored temple
- Uses natural elements as tools of influence (Jer 10:12-13; 51:15-16
[Identical], and to distinguish between true God and false Gods)
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47
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- Face like the sun shining in its strength
- Light of truth and righteousness – “I am the light of the world” (John
8:12)
- Light of the new earth (Isaiah 60:19-20; Rev 21:23-24)
- Commissioning of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 26:12-15)
- Elijah message & Commissioning of 144,000
- Elijah prophecy – “sun of righteousness will rise” (Mal 4:1-6)
- Mount of Transfiguration – “His face shone like the sun” (Matt
17:1-13)
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48
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- Represents the Word of God & the standard of judgment
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49
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- Eyes – Discernment & Judgment (Eschatological)
- “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He
may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” – 2 Chr 16:9
- “…a Lamb…having…seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent
out into all the earth” – Rev 5:6
- Replacing Joshua’s filthy robes with robes of righteousness – “the
stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes…I will
remove the iniquity of the land in one day” (see Zech 3:1-10)
- “the plumb line…these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro
throughout the earth” (see Zech 4:2-14)
- Compare plumb line with the measuring of the temple in Rev 11
- Two olive trees and two lampstands – Two witnesses of Rev 11
- Four colored horses “sent to patrol the earth” – Zech 1, 6
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50
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51
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52
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- Right Hand
- Power or strength, honor, salvation, judgment, ownership
- Consecration of priests (blood on right earlobe, thumb and toe)
- The blessing of the firstborn
- Angels
- Leaders of the churches (messages addressed to them)
- Jesus
- “Firstborn of the dead” – Col 1:18
- “Firstfruits of those who are asleep” – 1 Cor 15:20, 23
- 144,000
- “Firstfruits to God and the Lamb” – Rev 14:4
- Sealed before the Little Time of Trouble – Rev 7:3
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53
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- The Seven Churches describe the “things which are” – i.e. the state of
the collective church on the verge of end-time events
- The Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, and Seven Last Plagues, etc. describe
the “things which will take place after these things” – i.e. events
which God will initiate in order to bring the history of the earth to a
close.
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54
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55
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56
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- The messages are to the church, not the “world”
- The messages represent an investigative judgment of the state of the
church
- Jesus says, “I know your…” to every church
- The condemnations do not represent Jesus’ final judgment
- Every church is given an opportunity to repent
- Every church is instructed to listen to the Spirit
- Compare with the parable of the ten virgins (lamps without oil)
- Some people from every “church” respond to the messages
- Every promise has a fulfillment in the chiastic counterpart (Rev 21 –
22)
- The problematic, divided church becomes a pure united bride
- Promises made to separate churches are all realized by the one united
collective church in the chiastic counterpart (Rev 21 – 22)
- The “things which must take place after these things” cause the change
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57
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- “I will come” is never used in Scripture to denote anything except the
literal Second Coming of Jesus
- Jesus says this, in one form or another, to every church except Smyrna
- Smyrna represents the martyrs of the Little Time of Trouble - “Be
faithful unto death…[and you] shall not be hurt by the second death”
- The “coming” is to deliver a reward or punishment – Compare with Rev
22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render
to every man according to what he has done.”
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58
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- To Ephesus – Rev 2:5
- Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the
deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove
your lampstand out of its place-- unless you repent.
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59
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- To Pergamum – Rev 2:16
- “Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make
war against them with the sword of My mouth” – Rev 2:16
- Compare with – Rev 19:11-16
- And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon
it {is} called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and
wages war.
- And His eyes {are} a flame of fire, and upon His head {are} many
diadems; and He has a name written {upon Him} which no one knows except
Himself.
- 13 And {He is} clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is
called The Word of God.
- 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white
{and} clean, were following Him on white horses.
- 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite
the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads
the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
- 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.“
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60
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61
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- Also to Thyatira – Rev 2:25-26
- 25 Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
- 26 And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to
him I will give authority over the nations.
- “Hold fast until I come.” – What else could this possibly refer to
except Jesus’ Second Coming???
- This particular counsel from Jesus only makes sense in an eschatological
application
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62
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- To Sardis – Rev 3:3
- Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and
repent. If therefore you will
not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what
hour I will come upon you.
- The phrase “like a thief” occurs five other times in the New
Testament (Matt 24:42-44; Luke
12:39-40; 1 Thes 5:2-4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 16:15). In every one of those cases, even the
other one in Revelation, the phrase refers to the literal Second Coming
of Jesus!
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63
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- To Philadelphia – Rev 3:10-11
- 10 Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep
you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole
world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
- 26 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one
take your crown.
- Compare with
- Rev 18:10 (also Rev 18:1-4)
- 10 … “Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one
hour your judgment has come.”
- Rev 7:14
- 14 These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and
they have washed their robes an made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.
- Psalms 91:5-13
- …You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that
flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or of the
destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your
right hand, but it shall not approach you…No evil will befall you nor
any plague come near your tent.
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64
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65
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- “…those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of
Satan.”
- To Smyrna and Philadelphia (Chiastic Pairs)
- “…those who call themselves apostles and are not...”
- Matt 24:11
- And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.
- Matt 24:24
- For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great
signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
- 2 Tim 3:1-5
- 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
- 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant,
revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
- 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control,
brutal, haters of good,
- 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God;
- 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…
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66
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- To Smyrna: (Rev 2:10)
- 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about
to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will
have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you
the crown of life.
- Compare with the “Signs of the Times” chapters
- Matt 24:9
- Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you
will be hated by all nations on account of My name.
- Luke 21:12-19
- 12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you
and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons,
bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake.
- 13 "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
- 14 "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend
yourselves;
- 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents
will be able to resist or refute.
- 16 "But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,
- 17 and you will be hated by all on account of My name.
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67
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- …hold to the teaching of Balaam
- The journey of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land parallels the
journey of the Church from the cross to the Second Coming
- Moses represents the Law – Joshua is a type of Jesus
- The Law could lead them through the desert of sin, but only “Yeshua”
could carry them into the Promised Land
- Moses’ last action on behalf of Israel was to take vengeance upon the
Midianites for the sins that they caused the Israelites to commit based
upon Balaam’s guidnce
- Balaam’s counsel was designed to entice God’s people to sin
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68
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- …hold to the teaching of Balaam
- The book of II Peter gives special counsel to the church in the last
days
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69
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- …Jezebel
- A false prophetess (i.e. false church) who allied with the king (i.e.
political power) to lead God’s lukewarm people into idolatry.
- Persecuted (issued a death decree) Elijah after he proclaimed the
“Elijah Message” to God’s people
- Enticed the king to steal Naboth’s vineyard by murder and deceit
- The descriptions of Jezebel and end-time Babylon are nearly identical
- Babylon’s judgments and plagues (Rev 18) are the same as Jezebel’s
“tribulation”
- The church of Thyatira “tolerated” Jezebel (See II Thes 2:8-12)
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70
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- …eat foods sacrificed to idols
- Common to teachings of Balaam and Jezebel in messages to Pergamum &
Thyatira
- Represents false scriptures & false doctrines
- Paul tells us that eating literal food sacrificed to idols is
meaningless (I Cor 8:4-8)
- Both Ezekiel and John were instructed to eat scrolls and then to
prophesy
- Book of Mormon and the Doctrine of Covenants
- Papal dogma in the form of Bulls, Encyclicals, and Apostolic Letters
- Parallel to the “gold cup of abominations” and the “wine” of Babylon
- Parallel to “food” in Daniel 11:26
- Contrasted with the bread from heaven that God strengthened Elijah with
when he fled from Jezebel
- Elijah proclaims his message, flees from Jezebel, is strengthened with
bread from heaven for forty days, discovers the presence of God in a
gentle breeze on Mount Sinai, and then is commissioned by God to anoint
a new king and a new prophet over Israel, and later is taken up to
heaven.
- In the last days, God commissions the 144,000 to proclaim the Elijah
message, then pours out the 7 Last Plagues on the wicked. This enrages “Babylon” against God’s
people who flee into the wilderness to confront their faith (Time of
Jacob’s Trouble), await the coming of their Prophet, Priest & King,
and are taken up into heaven.
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71
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- …commit immorality
- Common to teachings of Balaam and Jezebel in messages to Pergamum &
Thyatira
- Represents following after false Gods – i.e. spiritual immorality
- Parallel to the “immorality” of spiritual Babylon
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72
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73
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74
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- A Proper Eschatological Application is Uniquely Adventist !!
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75
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- Individual Christians
- Local Churches
- The Church in a Particular Geographical Region
- Denominations, Movements or Sects
- Other General Groupings of Christians
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76
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- Key Characteristics
- Performs many good works for the Lord
- Is doctrinally sound and rejects false teachers
- Nicolaitans – “victorious over the people” – the spirit of Satan
- Affects many of the churches with false teachings which lead to bad
deeds
- Could represent the Pentecostal Movement
- Has lost their first love – Works result from sense of “duty”
- Possible Group Application Today
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- There are signs that Adventists are beginning to re-embrace the Gospel
and to once again “love His appearing” (II Tim 4:8)
- “First” of the Seven Churches – SDA Church has a special role of
leadership in the worldwide church
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77
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78
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- Key Characteristics
- No admonishment – Only Praise
- Materially poor but spiritually rich
- Persecuted by nominal Christians
- “Those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of
Satan”
- Jesus only counsel is to stay firm in their faith through the increased
persecution and martyrdoms to come in the Little Time of Trouble
- Possible Group Application Today
- Martyrs of the Little Time of Trouble
- Persecuted Christians in the world today, particularly in the 10/40
window
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79
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- Key Characteristics
- Strong in the faith experience – even in the face of persecution
- Antipas (the faithful witness) – “Anti Pater”, i.e. Against the Pope
- Live where Satan’s throne is
- Weak in doctrinal purity
- Teachings of Balaam – Lead true Christians astray
- “Eat things sacrificed to idols” – False Doctrines
- “Commit acts of immorality” – Spiritual unfaithfulness to God
- Accept teachings of the Nicolaitans
- Possible Group Application Today
- True Christians in the Catholic Church
- Christians living in geographic areas dominated by the Catholic Church
- Note - “Teachings of Balaam” è Charismatic Catholic Renewal
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80
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- Key Characteristics
- At the apex of the chiasm
- Strong and growing in deeds of faith, love, service & perseverance
- Severe doctrinal problems
- Tolerate the Teachings of Jezebel – Lead true Christians astray
- “Eat things sacrificed to idols” – False Doctrines
- “Commit acts of immorality” – Worship a “different Jesus” (2 Cor
11:4)
- Some do not hold to these false teachings
- Possible Group Application Today
- Non-denominational churches and the Ecumenical Movement
- Fastest growing church group in the world – Excel in works of charity
- Doctrinally neutral – Have no strong core beliefs
- Sacrifice doctrinal purity for the sake of “unity”
- Ecumenical movement was fostered by the Vatican and predicted by Ellen
White
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81
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- In many ways, Thyatira represents a composite of the whole world just
before probation closes
- Babylon and her daughters who know the “deep things of Satan” are warned
of being thrown into “great tribulation” unless they repent
- The faithful few in Thyatira are counseled only to “hold fast what they
have” until Jesus comes
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82
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- Key Characteristics
- Have a name of being alive, but are spiritually dead
- Call themselves “Christians” but “lack the power” of true
Godliness (2 Tim 3:1)
- Once had true faith and teachings, but are now asleep
- They must wake up or Jesus will come “like a thief”
- Compare 1 Thes 5:1-11 – Christians will not be caught unaware
- Refutes idea of “once saved - always saved”
- Some have not “soiled their robes”
- Possible Group Application Today
- Evangelical Churches
- Christian Church in Western Europe – The birthplace of the Reformation
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83
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- Key Characteristics
- No admonition from Jesus – Only praise
- City of “Brotherly Love” – Doctrinal purity is implied
- Jesus has “key of David” – Cross reference to Eliakim in Is 22:20-25
- Jesus will keep them from the “hour of testing” – i.e. the Great
Tribulation
- They will be made “pillars in the temple of God”
- Possible Group Application Today
- A group of individual Christians – Not a denomination
- No denomination or even local church displays this kind of purity
- Could represent the 144,000
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- Key Characteristics
- Laodicea – “The judging of the people”
- Materially rich, but spiritually poor
- Lukewarm – Unaware of their condition
- Message to the “church” – Probation is not yet closed
- They need true faith, the righteousness of Christ, and the Holy Spirit
- Possible Group Application Today
- Geographically – the collective church in the United States
- The Charismatic Movement
- Prosperity preaching and positive thinking
- Spiritual pride – “Speaking in tongues” is the sign of the Holy Spirit
- Applies to many local churches and some other denominations
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85
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86
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Notes