Revelation 2 and 3, the letters to the angels of the seven churches. In the literal sense these are seven churches that existed in seven cities in Asia Minor at the time John wrote Revelation. However, there is very good reason to believe that the seven churches are figurative for seven churches throughout church history, aslo known as church ages. I'll go ahead and share those reasons with you.
Among the first of my reasoning is the simple fact that it is seven churches we are talking about. In the Bible seven represent completion. The number seven appears in the Bible 481 times, more than any other number. A few of the main examples are: there is seven days in the creation account, seven lamps of the Menorah, seven years to build the first temple, and Pauline letters to seven churches. Seven also occurs several times in Revelation: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls, along with the seven churches. So it is reasonable to think that the seven churches represent the complete Church of Christ. If that is the case, then it would have to be more than just seven local churches that no longer exist. Also, verse 19 of chapter one gives a clear indication that what he has seen, which up until this point is only Jesus with the stars and lamps (angels and churches), is now and into the future. Jesus tells John: "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." Since John has not seen anything more than the metaphors for the seven angels and the seven churches, it seems quite obvious that these must be what Jesus is referring to when he says "now and what will take place later".
The other reason to believe that the churches represent seven church ages is simply because they align very well with church history.
The Church in Ephesus
This is the church that did well but lost their first love. As for the age, it would be sometime from Jesus to 100ad. Of all the church ages this one is the most obscure. The simple fact is that we don't know alot about the character of the church in the first century, apart from the apostles letters. However, if you read the letter, you can see some correlation. For example: we know they endured hardships, and we know that they tested their teachers.
The Church in Smyrna
This is the persecuted church. We know that for alittle over two centuries, from about 100ad to 300ad, the Roman Empire heavily persecuted the Christian Church. During this time the Church grew rapidly. The letter matches this period in church history perfectly.
The Church in Pergamum
This is the faithful but worldly church. The edict of Milan in 313 ended the vast majority of persecution for Christians, and even gave Christianity power in the Empire at times. This is also the time when heresies and worldly teachings gained influence in the Church. You can see in the letter that the Pergamum church is commended for not renouncing faith during the hardships, which were still lingering from the days of persecution, but is admonished for having some believe false teachings. There were two main groups of heretics at this time: the Gnostics and the Manichees. The letter also makes reference to two sets of false teachings, symbolized by Balaam and the Nicolaitans.
The Church in Thyatira
This church is hardworking, which they are commended for, but they are plagued by evil leadership. The church age would be commonly known as the age of the Roman Catholic Church, from around 600ad to around 1600ad. The Catholic Church at this time, and even today, was full of many hardworking Christians. One of the things that Protestants protested was that they perceived Catholics to believe in salvation from works. Right or wrong, the Catholic Church was hardworking. The papacy, however, has led the church into some evil practices. This would make sense as the "prophetess Jezebel" is clearly a metaphor for something else (the real Jezebel was long dead). Indulgences is one clear example of some of the evil that the papacy has caused. I wouldn't say that every pope has been evil, but the office as a whole has done much evil. The Presbytarian Church even went so far as to call the pope the anti-christ at one time. Also, the verse that says "you are now doing more than you did at first" makes alot of sense when considering that the Church did do more and more as the middle ages progressed.
The Church in Sardis
This is the church that seems to be alive and well but is actually dead. The church age would be from around the time of the reformers (1500-1600) to sometime close to the present. This church is commonly known as the Protestant Church. Just like what was mentioned before, the Protestants had some kind of problem with the works of the Catholics, and the church was based on a strong belief in grace. The letter makes clear that this church has a reputation of being alive; that many would think this church is healthy and well, just like many have thought about the Protestant Church. But the letter also makes clear that their deeds are not sufficient in the sight of God. The Protestants tendency to pay much attention to grace and ignore works would easily explain that. The letter also says that there are a few "who have not soiled their clothes", which can be said about the Protestant Church. There are some throughout the age that have been active.
The Church in Philadelphia
This is the church that is weak but is blessed by the Lord. The church age is unclear, because we are most likely in it. Actually, we are probably somewhere between the Sardis church age and the Philadelphia church age. The only thing that we can say about this church, other than what is written in the letter, is that there is an emergence of Christians all throughout the world that keep the word of God and do not deny the name of Jesus. More practically speaking, these are Christians that do not assign to any denomination, thus splitting the Church, and they look directly to Scripture for answers. The letter tells us that God has opened a door for the church. An open door is broadly figurative for an opportunity. More specificly, I believe the open door is a metaphor for the internet, without which you wouldn't be reading this. If you just take a moment to think about it, you can see that the internet gives massive potential for Christians to gain souls and influence in the world. Quite simply, its an open door.
The Church in Laodicea
This is the lukewarm church. Though I don't think we have reached this church age quite yet, you can see the beginnings of it, particularly in the US and Europe. Since it is not here yet, I won't really bother attempting to describe this church, but I recommend you read the letter.
Now to add to this addition. I call this 'Addition Theory'. What I mean by this is that I believe each church age adds to the previous churches. In each church age one church may dominate, but all the previous churches still have some presence. And it makes sense, doesn't it? As the Chruch of Christ gets bigger, the Church of Christ gets more complex, right? Just as Jesus added Gentiles to the plan of God, so might the churches be added onto one another. In the first century you wouldn't have seen Christians like those described in the Laodicea Church or the Sardis Church, right? But now you can see some, though not many, that fit the descriptions of the Ephesus and Smyrna churches. Sardis, Philadelphia, and Thyatira are the dominant churches, and that is clear to see, but there still lingers some from the churches past. And it makes sense given the language that is used in some of the letters. For example: verse 5 and 16 of chapter two.
You may be skeptical about the whole idea that the seven churches represent church ages, and you may be skeptical about my addition theory, but I ask that you read the letters, study church history, and consider the correllations.
Among the first of my reasoning is the simple fact that it is seven churches we are talking about. In the Bible seven represent completion. The number seven appears in the Bible 481 times, more than any other number. A few of the main examples are: there is seven days in the creation account, seven lamps of the Menorah, seven years to build the first temple, and Pauline letters to seven churches. Seven also occurs several times in Revelation: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls, along with the seven churches. So it is reasonable to think that the seven churches represent the complete Church of Christ. If that is the case, then it would have to be more than just seven local churches that no longer exist. Also, verse 19 of chapter one gives a clear indication that what he has seen, which up until this point is only Jesus with the stars and lamps (angels and churches), is now and into the future. Jesus tells John: "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." Since John has not seen anything more than the metaphors for the seven angels and the seven churches, it seems quite obvious that these must be what Jesus is referring to when he says "now and what will take place later".
The other reason to believe that the churches represent seven church ages is simply because they align very well with church history.
The Church in Ephesus
This is the church that did well but lost their first love. As for the age, it would be sometime from Jesus to 100ad. Of all the church ages this one is the most obscure. The simple fact is that we don't know alot about the character of the church in the first century, apart from the apostles letters. However, if you read the letter, you can see some correlation. For example: we know they endured hardships, and we know that they tested their teachers.
The Church in Smyrna
This is the persecuted church. We know that for alittle over two centuries, from about 100ad to 300ad, the Roman Empire heavily persecuted the Christian Church. During this time the Church grew rapidly. The letter matches this period in church history perfectly.
The Church in Pergamum
This is the faithful but worldly church. The edict of Milan in 313 ended the vast majority of persecution for Christians, and even gave Christianity power in the Empire at times. This is also the time when heresies and worldly teachings gained influence in the Church. You can see in the letter that the Pergamum church is commended for not renouncing faith during the hardships, which were still lingering from the days of persecution, but is admonished for having some believe false teachings. There were two main groups of heretics at this time: the Gnostics and the Manichees. The letter also makes reference to two sets of false teachings, symbolized by Balaam and the Nicolaitans.
The Church in Thyatira
This church is hardworking, which they are commended for, but they are plagued by evil leadership. The church age would be commonly known as the age of the Roman Catholic Church, from around 600ad to around 1600ad. The Catholic Church at this time, and even today, was full of many hardworking Christians. One of the things that Protestants protested was that they perceived Catholics to believe in salvation from works. Right or wrong, the Catholic Church was hardworking. The papacy, however, has led the church into some evil practices. This would make sense as the "prophetess Jezebel" is clearly a metaphor for something else (the real Jezebel was long dead). Indulgences is one clear example of some of the evil that the papacy has caused. I wouldn't say that every pope has been evil, but the office as a whole has done much evil. The Presbytarian Church even went so far as to call the pope the anti-christ at one time. Also, the verse that says "you are now doing more than you did at first" makes alot of sense when considering that the Church did do more and more as the middle ages progressed.
The Church in Sardis
This is the church that seems to be alive and well but is actually dead. The church age would be from around the time of the reformers (1500-1600) to sometime close to the present. This church is commonly known as the Protestant Church. Just like what was mentioned before, the Protestants had some kind of problem with the works of the Catholics, and the church was based on a strong belief in grace. The letter makes clear that this church has a reputation of being alive; that many would think this church is healthy and well, just like many have thought about the Protestant Church. But the letter also makes clear that their deeds are not sufficient in the sight of God. The Protestants tendency to pay much attention to grace and ignore works would easily explain that. The letter also says that there are a few "who have not soiled their clothes", which can be said about the Protestant Church. There are some throughout the age that have been active.
The Church in Philadelphia
This is the church that is weak but is blessed by the Lord. The church age is unclear, because we are most likely in it. Actually, we are probably somewhere between the Sardis church age and the Philadelphia church age. The only thing that we can say about this church, other than what is written in the letter, is that there is an emergence of Christians all throughout the world that keep the word of God and do not deny the name of Jesus. More practically speaking, these are Christians that do not assign to any denomination, thus splitting the Church, and they look directly to Scripture for answers. The letter tells us that God has opened a door for the church. An open door is broadly figurative for an opportunity. More specificly, I believe the open door is a metaphor for the internet, without which you wouldn't be reading this. If you just take a moment to think about it, you can see that the internet gives massive potential for Christians to gain souls and influence in the world. Quite simply, its an open door.
The Church in Laodicea
This is the lukewarm church. Though I don't think we have reached this church age quite yet, you can see the beginnings of it, particularly in the US and Europe. Since it is not here yet, I won't really bother attempting to describe this church, but I recommend you read the letter.
Now to add to this addition. I call this 'Addition Theory'. What I mean by this is that I believe each church age adds to the previous churches. In each church age one church may dominate, but all the previous churches still have some presence. And it makes sense, doesn't it? As the Chruch of Christ gets bigger, the Church of Christ gets more complex, right? Just as Jesus added Gentiles to the plan of God, so might the churches be added onto one another. In the first century you wouldn't have seen Christians like those described in the Laodicea Church or the Sardis Church, right? But now you can see some, though not many, that fit the descriptions of the Ephesus and Smyrna churches. Sardis, Philadelphia, and Thyatira are the dominant churches, and that is clear to see, but there still lingers some from the churches past. And it makes sense given the language that is used in some of the letters. For example: verse 5 and 16 of chapter two.
You may be skeptical about the whole idea that the seven churches represent church ages, and you may be skeptical about my addition theory, but I ask that you read the letters, study church history, and consider the correllations.
No comments:
Post a Comment