The book of Revelation is meant to do just that: reveal. Its a shame that so many Christians today disregard the book of Revelation. What has happened, it seems, is that there have been many false interpretations and loose readings of this book, with a lot of crazy ideas, and from that has risen a reactionary caution towards the book of Revelation that dismisses all interpretations of the book. One thing is clear, the book of Revelation does need to be interpreted because of its many metaphors and figurative language. Many people have judged this to be a hard thing to do, but they make that judgment before ever really trying to understand Revelation. They see the wild interpretations and immediately think that this is dangerous ground. But like I said, the book of Revelation is meant to reveal things. Its not meant to keep things secret or be hard to understand, but meant to reveal things.
Its should be noted that the book of Revelation is the only book of the Bible that comes with an explicit blessing to the reader (1:3). It cannot be denied that Revelation is an important book of the Bible. And it cannot be denied that the person who reads Revelation and understands Revelation is blessed, because John himself says the person is blessed. You see, knowing and understanding the book of Revelation is the last piece of the puzzle; its the piece that makes everything else make sense. It is particularly important for the people living in the end times, increasingly important as we get closer to the day Jesus returns. The person who knows and understands the book of Revelation will know exactly what is going on when those events unfold, and he will know what comes next. He will be well prepared. But the person who does not know the book of Revelation, or does not understand it, is not going to be prepared. He is going into the future blind. You see, the book of Revelation is explicitly (1:3) a book of prophecy. The things recorded in this book foretell of future events from the time that John wrote it (about ad95). If a person knows and understands Revelation, then he can know of at least some things that will happen in the future. He can know a good bit of future events, in fact, even things that are happening currently.
This is why I'm talking about the increasing importance of Revelation. As we get closer and closer to the second coming of Christ, the things recorded in Revelation become more and more relevant. And in one specific way, which I want to focus on.
Over the years many wholehearted Christians have found it really difficult to find a church to be part of. The Roman Catholic Church teaches many things contrary to Scripture, and the many Protestant churches are so divided, as well as being largely superficial. It seems there really is no perfect church. At this point, of course some people will say that perfection is impossible and we should just settle for the best there is, but I completely disagree with that. All the different denominations have left sincere Christians with little to be satisfied with. And there is now people who hold to the idea that there is only one true church, and of course its the church that they have started or are part of. The one true church mentality has an exclusive flare (some would say cult) to it. "If you don't belong to us, then you are not part of Christ's church and are therefore not saved." That doesn't sit well with sincere Christians either. So how does a sincere Christian make sense of the church situation that we find ourselves in? The answer is found in Revelation.
I shouldn't have to remind any Christian that there are seven churches described in Revelation. On the surface these are seven physical churches located in seven cities in Asia Minor in John's day. But if you read carefully what John sees in his first vision (1:12-16) and what Jesus says about this vision (1:19), you can see that these seven churches are definitely more than just the seven physical churches of John's time. Jesus said in 1:19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." Again, if you go back to verses 12-16, you see what John has seen, and Jesus among the seven angels (stars) and seven churches (lampstands) is all that John has seen up until this point. This is "what is now and what will take place later." And those seven physical churches in John's day no longer exist, so its clear that there is a foretelling message in the seven churches.
If you look at church history, you can see the first five churches (possibly 6) in the history. The first three churches (Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum) describe Christianity up until about the 6th or 7th century. Ephesus is the most difficult to distinguish because it is the most distant in time, but it does describe a lot of how the apostle's generation of Christians were, along with the next generation. The Smyrna letter describes a persecuted church, and that's exactly what you see from about ad50 to ad313. There is, however, some overlap with these churches; there is no definite time in which one church ceased to exist and another church came into existence, but there are times when each church was the most prominent. The church in Pergamum, the mixed church, perfectly describes the church from about 313 (the edict of Milan) till about the 6th century or so. These are the early churches. I would encourage anyone interested to really take a closer look at these churches described in Revelation and the early church history. I can't go into all the detail with this note.
The next church, the church in Thyatira, I believe is the Roman Catholic Church, which was most prominent from the 6th century (or around then) till the Reformation (16th century). Consider for yourself what Jezebel might be (here's a hint: many Protestants consider him, or this office, to be the antichrist). But you can see for yourself that Roman Catholics have a history of hard work and perseverance, and that's exactly what Jesus commends the church in Thyatira for. The church after that, the church in Sardis, I believe is the Protestant churches as a whole. We all know what a reputation the reformers have (3:1), but if you take a close look at Protestant churches from the time of the Reformation, you'll see that the churches do not live up to their reputation. Jesus says that He has not found their deeds complete in the sight of God, and we all know how much Protestants go on and on about being saved by "faith alone". If you take an objective look (because there's a good chance that you, the reader, come from a Protestant church), you will find that Protestant churches have done very little over the years, as far obeying the commands of Christ, in proportion to the opportunity given them.
Now that gets us to where we are today, which I believe is nearing the end of the Sardis (Protestant) age and the rise of the church in Philadelphia. The church of Philadelphia really cannot be described outside of what's written in 3:7-13, because this church is just now emerging. I don't think there is an official church or Christian name (like there is with Protestants, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics) for the church of Philadelphia. Its an invisible church. I believe there are some Christians that have the Philadelphia spirit - they have kept the word and have not denied Jesus' name - but for at least some of these Christians a home has not yet been found. I believe some of them are in churches where they feel like a fish in the wrong pond. As time progresses this church should unite and become more visible and more prevalent in the Christian world. Some people may think I'm crazy, and they may think this is a weird interpretation of Revelation, but it is an interpretation that makes sense with church history, and it gives a reason for the many different Christian churches that we see. If what I'm saying is wrong, then there must be one true church out there somewhere, and every sincere Christian must continue his search for that true church. But if what I'm saying is right, then it is clear that there are some Christian churches that truly are Christian, but they have problems that Jesus rebukes them for. If what I'm saying is wrong, then it will become apparent over time, and there really isn't all that much importance in knowing Revelation, particularly the letters to the seven churches. But if what I'm saying is right, then that too will become apparent over time, and it is true that knowing and understanding Revelation will become more and more important as it is the final piece of the puzzle to make sense of all the rest. I ask simply that you consider it objectively.
By the way, if you're wondering what the open door is that Jesus speaks about, you're using it.
This is why I'm talking about the increasing importance of Revelation. As we get closer and closer to the second coming of Christ, the things recorded in Revelation become more and more relevant. And in one specific way, which I want to focus on.
Over the years many wholehearted Christians have found it really difficult to find a church to be part of. The Roman Catholic Church teaches many things contrary to Scripture, and the many Protestant churches are so divided, as well as being largely superficial. It seems there really is no perfect church. At this point, of course some people will say that perfection is impossible and we should just settle for the best there is, but I completely disagree with that. All the different denominations have left sincere Christians with little to be satisfied with. And there is now people who hold to the idea that there is only one true church, and of course its the church that they have started or are part of. The one true church mentality has an exclusive flare (some would say cult) to it. "If you don't belong to us, then you are not part of Christ's church and are therefore not saved." That doesn't sit well with sincere Christians either. So how does a sincere Christian make sense of the church situation that we find ourselves in? The answer is found in Revelation.
I shouldn't have to remind any Christian that there are seven churches described in Revelation. On the surface these are seven physical churches located in seven cities in Asia Minor in John's day. But if you read carefully what John sees in his first vision (1:12-16) and what Jesus says about this vision (1:19), you can see that these seven churches are definitely more than just the seven physical churches of John's time. Jesus said in 1:19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." Again, if you go back to verses 12-16, you see what John has seen, and Jesus among the seven angels (stars) and seven churches (lampstands) is all that John has seen up until this point. This is "what is now and what will take place later." And those seven physical churches in John's day no longer exist, so its clear that there is a foretelling message in the seven churches.
If you look at church history, you can see the first five churches (possibly 6) in the history. The first three churches (Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum) describe Christianity up until about the 6th or 7th century. Ephesus is the most difficult to distinguish because it is the most distant in time, but it does describe a lot of how the apostle's generation of Christians were, along with the next generation. The Smyrna letter describes a persecuted church, and that's exactly what you see from about ad50 to ad313. There is, however, some overlap with these churches; there is no definite time in which one church ceased to exist and another church came into existence, but there are times when each church was the most prominent. The church in Pergamum, the mixed church, perfectly describes the church from about 313 (the edict of Milan) till about the 6th century or so. These are the early churches. I would encourage anyone interested to really take a closer look at these churches described in Revelation and the early church history. I can't go into all the detail with this note.
The next church, the church in Thyatira, I believe is the Roman Catholic Church, which was most prominent from the 6th century (or around then) till the Reformation (16th century). Consider for yourself what Jezebel might be (here's a hint: many Protestants consider him, or this office, to be the antichrist). But you can see for yourself that Roman Catholics have a history of hard work and perseverance, and that's exactly what Jesus commends the church in Thyatira for. The church after that, the church in Sardis, I believe is the Protestant churches as a whole. We all know what a reputation the reformers have (3:1), but if you take a close look at Protestant churches from the time of the Reformation, you'll see that the churches do not live up to their reputation. Jesus says that He has not found their deeds complete in the sight of God, and we all know how much Protestants go on and on about being saved by "faith alone". If you take an objective look (because there's a good chance that you, the reader, come from a Protestant church), you will find that Protestant churches have done very little over the years, as far obeying the commands of Christ, in proportion to the opportunity given them.
Now that gets us to where we are today, which I believe is nearing the end of the Sardis (Protestant) age and the rise of the church in Philadelphia. The church of Philadelphia really cannot be described outside of what's written in 3:7-13, because this church is just now emerging. I don't think there is an official church or Christian name (like there is with Protestants, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics) for the church of Philadelphia. Its an invisible church. I believe there are some Christians that have the Philadelphia spirit - they have kept the word and have not denied Jesus' name - but for at least some of these Christians a home has not yet been found. I believe some of them are in churches where they feel like a fish in the wrong pond. As time progresses this church should unite and become more visible and more prevalent in the Christian world. Some people may think I'm crazy, and they may think this is a weird interpretation of Revelation, but it is an interpretation that makes sense with church history, and it gives a reason for the many different Christian churches that we see. If what I'm saying is wrong, then there must be one true church out there somewhere, and every sincere Christian must continue his search for that true church. But if what I'm saying is right, then it is clear that there are some Christian churches that truly are Christian, but they have problems that Jesus rebukes them for. If what I'm saying is wrong, then it will become apparent over time, and there really isn't all that much importance in knowing Revelation, particularly the letters to the seven churches. But if what I'm saying is right, then that too will become apparent over time, and it is true that knowing and understanding Revelation will become more and more important as it is the final piece of the puzzle to make sense of all the rest. I ask simply that you consider it objectively.
By the way, if you're wondering what the open door is that Jesus speaks about, you're using it.
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