Tag Archives: REVELATION

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, REVELATION

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CONFUSION ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION? — BOB PRICHARD

There is probably no book of the Bible that is more often misunderstood, misapplied, or abused than the book of Revelation. It has been the “jumping-off” point for cults and wild religious speculation for centuries. Simply understanding the purpose of the book and its nature would end confusion. It begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1). John received the message of the book through the angel of God, and that message was a “Revelation of Jesus Christ” which God gave to show his servants “things which must shortly come to pass.”

Abusers of the book of Revelation often claim that its message has been hidden until now, and that they are the only ones who can explain its message. But the very nature of the book of Revelation, is that it reveals, or makes known the hidden things. Many would try to lead us to believe that no one until the twentieth century could understand what the book meant, and yet God intended for His followers from the beginning to understand and benefit from it. God did not hide His message to believers in Revelation, He disclosed it! God wanted His servants to understand these “things which must shortly come to pass.” If God has waited until the present to let us understand what the book means, then the words “shortly come to pass” have little meaning. The book would have had no meaning to the first readers.

The first century readers of the book of Revelation were literally in a fight for their lives. The rise of emperor worship in the Roman empire was making it harder and harder for Christians to live and maintain their commitment to the understanding that there is one Lord and that Lord was not the Roman emperor. “To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Corinthians 8:6). History shows that Christians were thrown to the lions, burned at the stake, crucified, and martyred for their faith. It even reached the point that “no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17). Only those who had worshipped “the beast,” the Roman emperor, could engage in commerce.

God planned the language of the book of Revelation, with its many symbols, to reveal the message to His people, but prevent the Roman authorities from understanding. The Christians who were working to maintain their faith in the midst of persecution could take strength from knowing that Satan and his followers must lose. Knowing that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15) comforted them. Revelation has comforted Christians down through the centuries with its message of hope in the darkest hour. The key is to see its over-all message, without demanding to explain every symbol.

IN-DEPTH ARTICLES, NEW TESTAMENT, REVELATION

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA — BOB PRICHARD

The seven churches of Asia were blessed by being the first recipients of the revelation given to John on the Lord’s Day on Patmos. The first of the seven beatitudes of the Revelation promised, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3). The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ordered John to write in a book what he would see, and send it to these seven congregations. The Lord’s message was tailored to the specific needs of each congregation, with correction of error and encouragement and blessing for “he that hath an ear to hear.”   

The message to the seven churches was needed then. It dealt with “things which must shortly come to pass” (1:1). Those who overlook the immediate message of the letters to the actual congregations, and try to mold them into an outline of history do violence to the text. The Christians of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea were real people, living in real cities on the subcontinent of Asia Minor, now the nation of Turkey.

Each of the letters has common characteristics. Each is addressed to the “angel of the church,” likely its evangelist. In each letter Christ identifies Himself with characteristics from His description in chapter one. Each letter begins with a commendation of the good He sees in the congregation, with the exception of Laodicea which received no commendation. Each receives a reprimand for its shortcomings, with the exception of Smyrna and Philadelphia, which received no reprimand. Each received a promise for its faithfulness.

These “perfect seven” congregations were not the only congregations in Asia Minor, but likely formed a roughly circular postal route, beginning with Ephesus, the city closest to John on Patmos. The intention was to share all seven letters, as well as the rest of the Revelation with these and the other congregations.  After mentioning Laodicea and Hierapolis, Paul told the Colossians, “when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:16).

These Christians faced a secular world not unlike ours, and the cloud of emperor worship hung over them. The general message is encouragement that the one whose number is 666 will be decisively defeated.

EPHESUS (2:1-7). Ephesus was the foremost city of Asia Minor, commanding the Cayster River basin. It was the home of the temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. On his second missionary journey, Paul came to Ephesus from Corinth, accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla, and reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue (Acts 18:18-21). Returning later, Paul baptized twelve men who knew only the baptism of John and then spoke boldly in the synagogue for about three months (Acts 19:1-9). On his third missionary journey he stayed there for three years (Acts 20:31).  His work hurt the sale of items for Diana, resulting in a riot that forced Paul to leave town.

The Lord who knows well (Hebrews 4:13) commended their diligence in examining and exposing false apostles, and for their tireless labor, but He reprimanded them for leaving their first love, their love for one another and for Christ. He does not accuse them of having no love, but of a less-intense love. Unfortunately many Christians today lose their zeal for the Lord and His work with time. If they could restore that first love, they still might be pleasing to Him. Failure means removal of their lampstand. The overcomer will eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God. 

SMYRNA (2:8-11). Smyrna was about fifty miles north of Ephesus, the busiest seaport of Asia Minor. It boasted many temples, including a temple erected in 23 A.D. in honor of Tiberius Caesar on the citadel overlooking the city. “The first and the last” addressed a church in tribulation and .poverty and persecution by the synagogue of Satan, made up of those not true Jews (Romans 2:28-29). He warned that they would have tribulation “ten days,” a relatively short time. Though they had become poor, likely because of their faithfulness, in the Lord’s eyes they were rich. The Lord encouraged faithfulness unto death (lifelong faithfulness as well as faithfulness unto the point of death) with the promise of a crown of life, a crown of victory. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). He promised the overcomer that he would not be hurt of the second death.

PERGAMUM (2:12-17). Located aboutsixty-five miles northwest of Smyrna,had served as the capital of the kingdom of Mysia, and had boasted a library of 200,000 volumes which was given by Antony as a gift to Cleopatra. The temple of Zeus, the chief of the Greek gods, stood on a hill a thousand feet above the city. It was the home to temples to other Roman emperors, as well as Aesculapius, god of healing, associated with the serpent. The physician and writer Galen worked there in the second century A.D. The One with “the sharp sword with two edges” recognized that the Christians of Pergamum dwelt where Satan’s seat is—possibly referring to the temple of Zeus or the temple of Aesculapius. They had been loyal, even with the martyrdom of Antipas. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Despite their faithfulness, they had compromised with error, allowing the false doctrine of the Nicolaitans and those who followed in the footsteps of the false prophet Balaam (Numbers 25), teaching compromise on the issues of idolatry and fornication, the most abhorrent sins to God’s people. Without repentance, the Lord would fight against them with the sword of His mouth. To the overcomer he offered to eat of the hidden manna (heavenly bread) and to be given a white stone with the new name, likely the white stone of acquittal in court.

THYATIRA (2:18-29). Thyatira was a wealthy merchant city in northern Lydia on the Lycus River. It was the home of Lydia, the seller of purple and the first Christian in Europe (Acts 16:13-15). Many gods were worshipped, especially Aesculapius, Bacchus, Diana, and Apollo. It was dominated by trade guilds, which were closely aligned with pagan worship. “The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass” commended the church because its last works were greater than the first, which should describe all growing Christians. However, they had suffered a Jezebel (1 Kings 16) to seduce Christians with idolatry and fornication. Though the Lord gave her time and opportunity to repent, she and her children would be killed with death, so that all would know the power of God. Those rejecting Jezebel were counseled to hold fast until His coming. He offered the overcomer power and rulership over the nations and the morning star.

SARDIS (3:1-6). Sardis was one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor, noted for its natural defenses because of Mt. Tmolus and the Pactolus River. Destroyed by an earthquake in 17 A.D., it rebuilt with the help of its taxes remitted by Emperor Tiberius. The worship of Cybele, the mother goddess was prominent among its pagan religions. “He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars” knew that Sardis had a name that it was alive but was dead. Its reputation did not square with its actual spiritual condition. Sardis was counseled to remember and hold fast and repent. He warned them to be watchful, a special message since the city had twice fallen to enemies because it was not watchful. The only commendation is that a few had not defiled their garments, so they would walk with Him in white. He promised the overcomer that his name would not be blotted out of the book of life.

Philadelphia (3:7-13). The “city of brotherly love” was founded about 189 B.C. It was renowned for its wines and the beauty of the city. The One that is holy and true, having the key of David, had no censure for this church. An open door of opportunity was before them, and although their strength was weak, they kept His word and did not deny His name. Because of their faithfulness, the Lord promised to keep them from the hour of temptation and to cause the synagogue of Satan to come and worship before them. He promised to make the overcomer a pillar in the temple of God, with the name of God and the New Jerusalem and His new name written upon him.

Laodicea (3:14-22). Laodicea was a wealthy city forty miles east of Ephesus on the Lycus River. It was known for its high grade black wool, banks and medical school which specialized in eye remedies. “The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” found nothing to commend in the church at Laodicea. Its lukewarm spirit, like the lukewarm mineral waters of the area made Him sick. He preferred the honesty of coldness over the insincerity of lukewarmness. They thought themselves as rich, well-clothed and sighted, but were actually poor, naked and blind, and needed the true gold, raiment and eye-salve He offered. He continued to knock at the door of their hearts, but ends the letter still on the outside. Yet to the overcomer He offered to be set down on the throne of the Father with Him.

Recommended for further reading:

Barclay, William. Letters to the Seven Churches. Nashville: Abingdon, 1957.

Tolle, James M. The Seven Churches of Asia. Fullerton, CA: Tolle, 1968.

Yamauchi, Edwin M. New Testament Cities in Western Asia Minor. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.

(published in Gospel Advocate, 2012)