Write a running verse by verse commentary of a chapter of your choice of the book of revelation should be at least 3 pages 3. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. The vision which opens the book and the verse that organizes it. W hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. In the letters he applauds and chastises each church and he offers them advice on how to get back on track. The letter to thyatira is the longest letter to any of the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation. We designed this custom study guide to help you understand gods word, engage with the sunday sermons, and spark. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Churches in this context refers to the community or local congregations of christians living in each city, and not merely to the. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. John s authorship is affirmed by justin, irenaeus, clement of alexandria, tertullian and the muratori fragment really by the entire tradition of the church. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea were literal churches that existed in asia minor modern turkey during the first century a.
The meaning of the 7 churches of revelation the seven churches of revelation represent report cards for christians. Read through the book of the revelatuion twice by the end of the semester 2. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. The primary focus of this article is to convey who comprised the membership of the seven churches of asia, to whom the book of revelation was written, and to which dispensation they belong. The date of the book in its present form is probably near the end of the reign of domitian a. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 3,493,872 views 58. The trip of a lifetime landed in my lapvisiting the seven churches of revelation. While the history of the canonization process of the old and new testaments took place over several centuries and is neither neat nor tidy, it is an issue, particularly in the case of the new testament, which has been settled for more than a.
Revelation, written by john toward the end of the reign of emperor domitian a. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. First of all, the word church greek ekklesia simply. The book next contains seven short letters of exhortation to the christian churches in the seven leading cities of asia minor ephesus 2. The church and the book of revelation commentary a. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. The beginning chapters of the book of revelation contain 7 letters to the 7 churches. Revelation depicts the current battle between satan and gods people. The churches are represented by seven golden lampstands. The roman state had declared christianity its enemy.
A commentary on revelation, 22 revelation has important things to say for the perseverance and encouragement of christians and the church throughout the ages that are vital for the churchs life in this age. Until recently, i didnt even know all seven churches were located in modernday turkey. 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. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The last book in the biblical canon of the new testament is the book of the apocalypse a. Do you remember each of the 7 churches of revelation. The principal divisions of the book of revelation are the following. Named for their geographical locations, the churches were. Thomas uses a powerpoint presentation for each of his lessons. Is the book of revelation canonical in the orthodox church. Here is a short overview of each of the 7 churches of revelation, plus a description of patmos, the place john actually received the book of revelation. The book of revelation often called the 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. While these revelation letters are not as strongly prophetic as other parts of that book, they warn todays drifting churches that discipline will come to those who do not repent. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today.
The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. The 7 churches not in the book of revelation offers a wealth of information from the authors personal experience. To ask in the present day whether or not any book of the new testament is truly canonical in the orthodox church may seem odd. A friend and i flew to izmir, turkey, where we rented a car and drove to all seven churches in a quick, threeday trip. It was a difficult issue that threatened the health of the church. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. But jesus clearly tells us that the prophetic events which he describes. These churches mentioned in revelation chapter 2 and 3 represent different struggles and strengths of the christian church today. How does the church in ephesus compare with our church. Wonderful positive complements are paid to the members, yet they had a major problem. The authors carry out the noble task of encouraging pastors to stop wishing for the perfect church and offer them realistic strategies on how to effectively minister where god has placed them.
Rodney thomas teaches through the book of revelation on sunday mornings with the anchors class at broadway. Revelation chapter 7 explained book of revelation each. More specifically, the letters are addressed to the 7 stars, representing the 7 angels of the churches. To the church in ephesus in this series on the seven churches of revelation, we will be examining the commendation and condemnation of each of the seven churches and learning the lessons that is meant for our church. Yet this does not prove that the church is present at that time because saints is a generic term which describes believers of all ages. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. These presentations have been converted to pdf so that you may download and follow. This revelation timeline decoded bible study will show you how the 7 churches of revelation represent seven church eras that have spanned throughout history, and end when the lord returns most pastors teach that jesus was just addressing the churches that existed at the time it was written in 95 a. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity. Eusebius speaks of john being the bishop of the churches in asia minor and actually gives some interesting stories about john in his history of the church. 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. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches.
So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. In the book of revelation, jesus christ instructed john to write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. While on patmos, john received a long and complicated vision from jesus christ verses 12, 1020 with the instructions. Well study the context of the messages, what they meant for the original churches, and what they mean for us today what are the seven churches in revelation. Some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. 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. Physically attend at least 80% of all classes unless given special permission by the teacher for an absence 4. Revelation s mark of the beast exposed 22 revelation s ancient discoveries duration.
What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Understanding the book of revelation 15 understanding the seven churches of revelation 10 i was in the spirit on the lords day, and i heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church. Some note that although the term church ekklesia is not found in chapters 618 of the book of revelation, saints hagion, rev.
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