7 ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ Love-Letters to the 7 Churches of Revelation: An Introduction

INTRO: I owe much of the following teaching to insights by Chuck Missler, who was one of my favorite Bible teachers, but in these latter days, his leanings towards Jewish mysticism has led me to remove his ministry link from my TTUF site.

Still, his expositional studies through the Word of God are still in my library and they are a blessing.

The study of these seven letters FROM The MIND of FIRE will be included in a full, in-depth study of the book of REVELATION, in it's entirety on the main site of The TRUTH Under FIRE (www.thetruthunderfire.com).

The BIBLE’S BOOK ENDS: GENESIS and REVELATION:

I reviewed a chart online that makes comparisons between the first and last books of the Bible, GENESIS and REVELATION; the themes found in both books begin in GENESIS and end in REVELATION. Some of these are as follows:

GENESIS – reveals the creation of a temporary world; REVELATION reveals an eternal world.

Division of light and darkness (Gen. 1:4).	No night there (Rev. 21:25).
Division of land and sea (Gen. 1:10).	No more sea (Rev. 21:1).
Rule of sun and moon (Gen. 1:16).	No need of sun or moon (Rev. 21:23).
First heavens and earth are finished (Gen. 2:1-3).	New heaven and earth are forever (Rev. 21:2).
Man is in a prepared garden (Gen. 2:8-9).	Man is in a prepared city (Rev. 21:2).
There is a river flowing out of Eden (Gen. 2:10).	There is a river flowing from God’s throne (Rev. 22:1).
Tree of life is in the midst of the garden (Gen. 2:9).	Tree of life is throughout the city (Rev. 22:2).
God walking in the garden (Gen. 3:8).	God dwelling with His people (Rev. 21:3).
Bride formed for her husband (Gen. 2:21-23).	Bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2).
Garden accessible to the Liar (Gen. 3:1-5).	City closed to all liars (Rev. 21:27).
Man in God’s image (Gen. Gen. 1:27).	Man in God’s presence (Rev. 21:3).
Man is the steward (Gen. Gen. 2:17).	Man is the heir (Rev. 21:7).

THREE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS PROVIDED:

In reading these seven letters to these seven churches, the question is often asked, Why these seven? Where is the church of Jerusalem? Of Antioch? Or Corinth? No, the LORD specifically focused on these seven and for very specific reasons.

1) First of all, these letters were addressed and applicable to these churches that existed back in that day; they were delivered to the pastors (“angels” = messengers) and read to the congregations. It is implied that each of these letters were to be read by the other churches as well.

2) Secondly, It’s interesting that these churches are addressed in the order that they are: Ephesus is addressed first, and then Smyrna, then Pergamos and the other four follows. If they were addressed in any other order, they wouldn’t accurately portray what we know in church history. Over the last 2000 years, the church of Jesus Christ has followed a certain path in history, and these churches represent that history accurately! We can therefore find applicability of these letters to church history.

3) A third application is that any church you might visit today, in some way and to a certain degree, you can identify them as being one (or more) of these seven.
You can also apply the characteristics of one or more of these seven churches to your own walk with the LORD, along with other Christians, as well.

Some churches and individual Christians are as busy in ministry and as discerning as was the church of Ephesus. Others have begun well, but have deteriorated later as did Thyatira. Some seem to go through a lot of hardships, sufferings and trials as did Smyrna, and so on.

A RECURRING PATTERN of SEVEN:

In REVELATION, Chapters 2 and 3 we have listed seven churches that John the apostle is instructed to write letters to (REV 1:11), these letters are dictated to him by none other than the LORD Jesus Christ – no surprise there, since it’s the very Spirit of God that inspired all of the writers of the Bible (2 PET 1:21).

In the Gospels, the LORD Jesus gave many parables, and a certain number of these were specifically regarding “the kingdom of heaven” – how many of these kingdom parables did Jesus give? Seven!

Paul the apostle was commissioned by Christ to be an apostle to the Gentiles – and how many churches did Paul write to? If you do the math, you will find that in all his epistles (if you don't count Hebrews, though I believe it was written by Paul, it is anonymous because it's unsigned), he wrote to . . .  seven churches! Coincidence? “Coincidence is NOT a kosher word!”

For more on the numerical patterns found in REVELATION, visit this link:

For a comparison between these letters in REVELATION, to the epistles of Paul and the Kingdom parables as found in the GOSPELS, consider the following:

1) Ephesus (“desirable, or darling*, one who is greatly beloved” REV 2:1-7) – Apostolic church – busy about exposing false apostles teaching lies – Paul warns the elders of the church of Ephesus about wolves (false teachers) in ACTS 20:17, 29-30.
*- PSALM 22:20; 35:17.

Parable of the Sower parallel: MATT 13:3-23. The fowls of the air that steal away the seed, the Word of God. Thorns and thistles that choke out the Word. Stony, hardened hearts that will not be penetrated by the Word – all dangers that the Ephesus church stood guard against.

*Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.

2) Smyrna (“myrrh” for anointing the dead; REV 2:8-11) – Suffering church – persecuted by Ancient Pagan Rome that martyred Christians by the tens of thousands. Contrast between the saints at Pergamos who receive no correction from the LORD, and the synagogue of Satan (“who say they are Jews, and are not”).

Parable of the wheat and the tares parallel: MATT 13:24-30, 36-43.

*Paul’s epistle to the Philippians (“joy through suffering”).

3) Pergamos (“elevated by marriage” REV 2:12-17) – The perverted church began when it was ‘married’ to the state; persecution and suffering ended, and instead of being salt and light, affecting the world for Christ, the church was affected by the world, elevated, esteemed, befriended by the world and then the church was corrupted by the world.

Parable of the mustard seed parallel: MATT 13:31-32. Fowls of the air, demonic presence, in the church.

*Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians (the carnal church).

4) Thyatira (“perpetual sacrifice” REV 2:18-29) – the church of the Middle Ages; the eucharistic rite signifying in Roman Catholic dogma, the perpetual sacrifice of Christ on the cross. REV 2:20 – Jezebel – leading others into idolatry (spiritual fornication); the worship of the Catholic saints (idols). Admonition to repent – only church promised “great tribulation”

Parable of the leaven parallel: MATT 13:33; LUKE 13:21-30. Leaven of false teaching and doctrines.

*Paul’s epistle to the Galatians (calling out from religious externalism; GAL 5:9).

5) Sardis (sardius stone – deep red color; significant of the atonement, salvation by grace and faith in Christ; REV 3:1-6) – The Reformation church – no praise mentioned by the LORD for this church, though He commends a few that remain faithful.

Parable of the treasure in the field parallel – MATT 13:44. The entire field was purchased, so that the treasure found in it could be claimed. So also among many of the denominational  churches are dead, but within, there are a few that the LORD can claim as His own.

*Paul’s epistle to the Romans (salvation by faith alone; the cry of the Reformation).

6) Philadelphia (“brotherly love” REV 3:7-13) – The fundamentalist church. The early to late 19^th century; no criticism of this church; they have a strength, even if it is just “a little strength” – and they have “not denied [His] name”. They are promised to be spared “from the hour of temptation which will try all those upon the world” the seven-year time of the tribulation; they are also promised an open door that no one can shut – a way of escape (LUKE 21:36).

Parable of the pearl of great price parallel – MATT 13:44. Pearls are the product of a living organism, that steady grows over time, as a result of extreme irritation inside the oyster (from a bit of sand or grit), and is later removed from its temporary dwelling to later become an adornment in beautifying a bride. A wonderful type of the bride of Christ, the church that thrives during persecution and becomes Christ-like through suffering.

*Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians (the rapture of the church, the second coming of Christ).

7) Laodicea (“rule of the people” REV 3:14-19); the apostate church of the last days; from the late 19^th century to present time. No praise or commendation given. Admonition to repent; offering of salve for blindness; gold for poverty, white raiment for nakedness – this church is loved by, though not loving to the LORD, even as He chastens them.

Parable of the net parallel – MATT 13:47-50. Just as the fish are divided, so likewise the LORD divides those who are lukewarm from those that He appeals to personally – and stands at the door of their hearts, knocking, desiring fellowship.

*Paul’s epistle to the Colossians (who were told to exchange letters with Laodicea).

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS from CHAPTER ONE:

Before we examine each of these seven, let’s touch on a few points from Chapter One:

This is not the book of Revelations – but REVELATION: OF Who? Jesus Christ! It was a revelation given TO Jesus as well, given to Him by Who? God the Father (REV 1:1)!

It is a book that reveals the summation of God’s plan for the ages through Christ, Who is Himself the very heart of prophecy (REV 19:10). The very term apocalypsos (an alternate name for this book, the APOCALYPSE of JESUS CHRIST) means to make known, to reveal – not to enshroud and protect a mystery from being discovered.

This is a book that is meant to be read, and understood – and those that do so, receive a very special blessing, above the blessing of reading any portion of God’s Word (REV 1:3). The reason that too many find this book mysteriously unfathomable is because much of what is recorded here, is explained elsewhere in the Scriptures, predominantly in the Old Testament – which too many ignore these days.

These seven churches were located near the western border of Asia (Minor), a province in the Roman Empire that is modern day Turkey.

~ We see the mission of Christ’s redemption of our souls fulfilled by the atonement of His blood (REV 1:5) 

~ Our future destiny as rulers and priests in God’s coming kingdom (REV 1:6). 

~ There is a herald of Christ’s Second Coming (REV 1:7) as well as the declaration of Christ’s Deity (REV 1:8) 

~ His authority as the Head of the church (REV 1:11,16) and the pronouncement of His victorious resurrection (REV 1:17-18).

~ The candlesticks are representative of the church, and their testimony to the world as the light of the world (REV 1:20; MATT 5:14). The stars represent the seven “angels” of the seven churches. I believe these are the actual pastors, who are messengers of God, declaring His Word and will to the people – a ministry often performed by angels themselves (consider DAN 12:3).

So ends this introduction! Next we shall take the first church that the LORD addresses among the seven: Ephesus. May the LORD bless us as we continue steadfastly in the Word, and by the Spirit of grace, yield to Him to live holy lives and thus bring honor to our Father!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE SKIES, AND DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES: JESUS CHRIST RETURNS SOON FROM ON HIGH!