Revelation Lesson #2 Series

I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. DISCLAIMER: I am not a university trained Theologian. I do not believe one must have a college degree to understand the prophecy of Jesus Christ through the Apostle John. Furthermore, I beg you to not take my word as concrete and the perfect absolute truth. Truth comes only from God. [But,] let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:24) My duty is to provoke unto love and good works. The comprehension of this book is not accomplished unprovoked.

Let us pick up where we left off.

Revelation 1:4-6. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John, the author or scribe, directs this letter to ‘the seven churches which are in Asia’: vs. 4.

Are these literal, physical churches? ANSWER: Unknown! It is not clear if these ‘churches’ are literal, physical churches. Some believe they are; others are identifying with; this is a letter of a spirit nature, and believe that they are only representatives of the ‘Church’ (One Church) of which Christ died. In naming these ‘churches’, humans can identify similarities and differences in each ‘church’. MORE ON THAT LATER!

This introduction by John, identifies to whom he is addressing; and a location. He includes the true author, Jesus, and from wince comes those accompanying him–Spirits from before his throne.

With all authority from Jesus, this letter is witnessed by Spirits to seven churches. In this it verifies all that is seen and heard.

Having been verified, knowing all written is true, let us examine closely the symbolic literature.

Seven (vs 4)

Is this a literal number or a symbolic figure?

Let us ask ourselves, “How many Churches are there?”

Ephesians 4:4-6. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

If there is one faith and one hope, there is one ‘church’

Not seven (the number)

Should this therefore, represent ‘congregations’ of the ‘one church’?

In the passages following, seven (7) represents most often: whole, entire, complete amount, etc. which also represents ‘perfection’

Strong’s Lexicon, number G2023, translated ‘seven’ added with Strong’s G1577, translated ‘churches’ or ‘assemblies’

Thus we can identify it meaning seven assemblies or seven congregations.

In the literal realm, the number 7

In the Spiritual realm, whole, entire, complete amount, perfection

Here in Rev. 1:4, meaning a company of Christians (assemblies; congregations)

Therefore, it is one of seven congregations or assemblies literally, AND, one of the whole, or entire, or complete amount–number– of Congregations or assemblies of Christians.

This would represent the ‘Church’ world wide.

Seven churches (vs 4)

Different locations of congregations

If it is meant to represent literal physical congregations, each is identified for the human‘s ability to distinguish an identity

In the Spiritual realm there is still one church with the same faith–Christian Faith

Thus it represents all congregations

The complete amount of congregations worldwide

Literally, these perhaps are seven individual congregations of which are assigned to release this Revelation of Jesus Christ to all other congregations around the world; including us today

Spiritually, it represents all congregations worldwide and their differing, but complete possible attitudes or personalities that will be found within any single congregation

Seven Spirits (vs 4)

The entire group of Spirits before the throne

Angels are spirits

Those who come before the throne of God are spirits; each fulfilling their assigned duty

‘Seven’, therefore meaning whole, entire, complete amount, all who are doing their assigned duty, going back and forth before the throne.

Powerful Concept–Seven

Seven is unique. To represent its perfection, complete amount, entire, whole representation, take seven circles of the same size–circumference. Place them together, each touching its neighbor and the one in the middle. They each are tangent one to another and touching the middle circle. Now with them all completely filling their place, they make one combined, perfect circle with a larger proportion. Add another equal circle or take one away and the outer circle is not complete, nor the same proportion. It is not perfect, whole, entire, complete. The number is a perfect number representing a perfect, whole unit.