Dr. Bradford Reaves
CrossWay Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
Watch this sermon at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/93685
Introduction
We’ve spend the last couple of months covering 7 letters from Jesus to 7 Churches in Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. These were 7 real churches with real congregations in real cities with real struggles. These letters from Jesus are part of the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation.
What I want to do tonight is a bit of a review of the opening chapters of Revelation, including the letters to these churches. The reason for this is because we are about to enter into a major transition in our study of Revelation. That transition in this portion of Scripture is the transition the entire world is about to experience: the rapture of the church and the start of the 7 year tribulation.
Revelation Background
The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse) which means “a revealing, an unveiling.”
This is the revelation of who? Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1)
"To show the things that must soon take place” (Rev 1:1): This describes when the events of this book will take place – they will happen shortly; can also include the translation suddenly. Revelation is a prophetic book.
It joins the rest of the Bible’s prophetic writings. The Bible is over 305 prophetic in nature.
There are 8,362 prophetic verses contributing to 1,817 prophecies about 737 subjects. (Missler).
Every verse in Revelation has a OT Reference
“The New Testament in in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed
Written by the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos
John appears in each of the lists of disciples in the New Testament (Matt 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:13–16; Acts 1:13). He was part of Jesus’ inner circle (along with Peter and James) that followed Him on important occasions, including:
The raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37)
The transfiguration (Mark 9:2)
The agony in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37)
The entrustment of Mary to John at the Cross
There is a Divine Outline that we must pay attention to, especially in our transition: (Rev 1:19 “19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.”)
Write the things which you have seen (Rev 1)
The Things which are (the 7 Churches) (Rev 2-3)
The things which are to come (the post-church period) (Rev 4-22)
Revelation is a fascinating book with a promise (Rev 1:3 “3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” )
This is the first of seven beatitudes of Revelation (Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, and 22:14).
The people in Berea. Acts 17:11 “11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
10 Major Prophetic Themes
The Rapture of the Church
Israel/Jerusalem
The return of the Temple
The return of Babylon
Russia
China
One-world Government & the Rise of the Anti-Christ
One-world Religion
One-world Economy
The triumphant return of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords
The Prevalence of the Number 7
Seven Churches (1:4, 11, 20, 2; 3)
Seven Seals (5 ;6)
Seven Trumpets (8, 9)
Seven Bowls (15:1-17:1; 21:9)
Seven Lampstands (1:12, 13, 20; 2:1)
Seven angels (of the 7 churches) represented by
Seven stars Revelation 1:20.
Seven lamps of fire (not the same as the lampstands)
Seven Spirits of God Revelation 4:5.
Seven seals on the Scroll Revelation 5:1.
Seven horns and Seven eyes on the Lamb who had been slain
which are the Seven Spirits of God who go out in to the whole earth Revelation 5:6.
Seven angels who “stand before God” with Seven trumpets Revelation 8:2.
Seven thunders who sounded their voices, when the mighty angel spoke out when he was above the waters Revelation 10:3-4.
Seven thousand people die at the earthquake within the hour that the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead Revelation 11:13.
Seven heads on the dragon with Seven diadems (crowns) Revelation 12:2.
Seven angels with the last
Seven plagues which are transported in
Seven bowls Revelation 16:1,21:9.
Seven heads of the beast Revelation 17:7
Seven mountains of the beast with
Seven kings Revelation 17: 9-10.
Seven Beatitudes (Rev 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14)
The Seven Churches Review
Each letter in chapters 2 & 3 are letters from Jesus to the churches. These letters were to be read aloud in the
church and I believe that all the churches were each to read all the churches. Each letter concludes in some manner with Jesus’s words “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). In other words, these were public letter meant to edify every believer of every church.
Each church was situated in and under the rule of pagan government rule. The Roman Emperor Domitian (a.d. 81-96) was the first to demand worship under the title “Lord” from the people of the Roman Empire as a test of political loyalty. Every citizen was required to burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty. Many Christians refused to do this, including Polycarp.
It would stand for us to be reminded that the world today hates Christ Jesus as much as before. All over the world, Christians face persecution, especially in Asia, Eastern Europe, and in the Muslim world. Some people estimate that more Christians have suffered and died for their faith in the 20th Century than in all previous centuries combined.
Each of the Seven Churches received a letter that was generally formatted the same way with seven parts. (See Chart)
Identity of Christ
Commendation to the Church (except for Laodicea)
Rebuke (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia)
Exhortation
Consequences
Promise
Declaration
Ephesus – The desirable church that left its first love (Revelation 2:1-7). Ephesus was the influential capital city of Asia Minor on the Aegean Sea. Ephesus is now known for its huge metropolis of ancient streets, arches and ruins.
Smyrna – The persecuted church that suffered poverty and martyrdom (Revelation 2:8- 11). Smyrna was located north of Ephesus in a powerful trading position on the Aegean Sea known for its harbors, commerce, and marketplaces. The primary ruins of Smyrna are located in the modern Turkish city of Izmir.
Pergamum – The worldly church that mixed doctrines and needed to repent (Rev 2:12- 17). Pergamum is located on the plains and foothills along the Caicus River in Western Turkey. It was considered a major city in Asia Minor since the 3rd century BC, and became a Greek and Roman hub for temple worship.
Thyatira – The false church that followed a seductive prophetess (Rev 2:18-29). Thyatira is located in western Asia Minor about 42 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. The ancient city was known for its textiles and dyeing trade, and is now known as the Turkish city of Akhisar.
Sardis – The "dead" church that fell asleep (Revelation 3:1-6). Sardis is located on the banks of the Pactolus River in western Asia Minor, 60 miles inland from Ephesus and Smyrna. Popular ruins include the decadent temples and bath house complexes.
Philadelphia – The church of brotherly love that endures patiently (Revelation 3:7-13). Philadelphia is located on the Cogamis River in western Asia Minor, about 80 miles east of Smyrna. Philadelphia was known for its variety of temples and worship centers.
Laodicea – The "lukewarm" church with a faith that’s neither hot nor cold (Rev 3:14- 22). Laodicea is located in the Lycus River Valley of western Asia Minor, a primary trade route between the cultures of the West and East. Laodicea was known as a primary hub for the Roman aqueduct system.
The Church Triumphant
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Revelation 4:1 ESV
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Revelation is organized into seven sections, these seven cycles become increasingly intense as they advance, and they increasingly narrow their focus toward the end of history. The key to identifying the sections is to note where Christ’s return and the final judgment are described. From this point on in the book of Revelation the word church is not used, nor is the focus on the church, but instead the world. We -those who overcome- have a blessed hope!
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1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 ESV
9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Some have said that the church will experience the tribulation like the rest of the world. The church will not suffer the wrath of God!
What the world is experiencing now is not the righteous wrath of God to man, but rather the rebellious wrath of man to God. There is a distinction between wrath and tribulation. The two words are also two separate words in the original Greek. Both words involve the suffering of the effected parties. However, the source of the suffering is quite different. Tribulation is the unrighteous persecution of believers by unbelievers. Wrath is the righteous punishment of God poured out on those who reject Him.
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1 Thessalonians 5:9 ESV
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
There are those who are teaching there is no rapture. This is a travesty and stands in contrasts to the promises of the promises of Jesus, the Old Testament, and the New Testament Epistles. What we are going to do next week is begin to unpack why we know the Rapture will occur and will imminently occur. If we understand Scripture clearly on this topic, then the rest of Scripture, especially Revelation will be clear. Not only that, you will begin to see the world and world events in a different light.
