Think back to what your relationship with Christ was like when you were first saved. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen” (Revelation 2:5). His messages to the seven churches serve as a warning of the judgment to come while extending hope and encouragement to all who will listen.Ĭhrist provided a three-part solution for the church’s lovelessness. No longer meek and mild, Christ will put all evil and all enemies under His feet when He returns. Abraham (Genesis 17:3), Moses (Exodus 3:6), Balaam (Numbers 22:31), Joshua (Joshua 5:14), Gideon (Judges 6:22-23), and others all demonstrated terror in the presence of pure holiness and righteousness. He was not the first person to respond to God’s presence in this way. This vision of Christ was so awe-inspiring that John “fell at feet as dead” (verse 17). I believe the stars stand for the pastors of the seven churches who received authority from Christ to lead their churches-not their authority, but Christ’s authority. In His right hand, Christ held “seven stars,” representing His authority (Matthew 28:18 Ephesians 1:20). When Christ returns, He will slay His enemies by His Word (Revelation 2:16 19:15, 21). Piercing soul and spirit, the sword represented the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17 Hebrews 4:12). Drowning out all other voices, His voice evoked thoughts of roaring waterfalls. John described two features of Christ’s mouth: the sound and the sword. His feet “were like fine brass,” another symbol of judgment in Scripture. His eyes were “like a flame of fire”-eyes from whom nothing is hidden, eyes that will judge all mankind (Psalm 11:4 Hebrews 4:13). He had striking white hair that suggested the age, wisdom, and dignity befitting a judge. The resurrected Christ appeared much different to John. Isaiah described His appearance as average, not conspicuous in any way (Isaiah 53:2). The book of Isaiah contains the only reference to His appearance-more than seven hundred years before the Nativity. If you have ever wondered what Jesus of Nazareth looked like, you’re not alone. John’s Vision of Christ (Revelation 1:13-20) Christ is the light.īearing His light in the world is the Church’s primary purpose. The churches do not create the light they reflect it. Christ was standing in His rightful place amid the churches.Įvery church-then and now-has the opportunity to be a lampstand shining forth Christ’s light in a dark world. John’s vision was a physical representation of this imagery. Jesus came as the “light of the world” (John 1:9 8:12) and then commissioned us to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Standing among them was “One like the Son of Man” (verse 13). When Christ appeared to John, he saw seven lampstands representing the seven churches. In this context of persecution, John received the most detailed vision of things to come given to any apostle. Exile was a horrible sentence, second only to the death penalty. Having been the overseer of the churches in Asia Minor, he was banished from society by the Romans to reduce his religious influence (verse 9). In Revelation 1, we find the apostle John in exile on the tiny island of Patmos. 1 The Role of the Churches (Revelation 1:9-13) Estimates place the current number of Christians at about two percent of Turkey’s population. Persecution has been an ongoing threat to Christianity in Asia Minor, particularly since Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453. It was also known for its medical school and costly fabrics. Laodicea, the ancient capital of Phrygia, gained wealth through trade and banking. Philadelphia, the “Gateway to the East,” was renowned for its grapes, textiles, and leather goods.ħ. Sardis, the ancient capital of the Lydian kingdom, was situated atop a plateau and sustained a series of foreign conquests.Ħ. Lydia, one of Paul’s converts, came from this region (Acts 16:14).ĥ. Thyatira, founded under Alexander the Great, was noted for its trade, particularly purple dye. Pergamos, the location of Rome’s provincial capital, was a major cultural hub that housed a library rivaling the famed Alexandrian library.Ĥ. In the second century A.D., Rome martyred Polycarp, its bishop.ģ. Smyrna, the home of Homer and the temple of Athena, was a beautiful, bustling seaport. Founded by Paul, this was the most prominent church in Asia Minor.Ģ. Ephesus, the loveless church, was located at a major harbor on the Aegean Sea and housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (a temple to Artemis). Named for their geographical locations, the churches were strategically located along a major Roman road.ġ. What Are the Seven Churches of Revelation?Įphesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea were literal churches that existed in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) during the first century A.D.
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