Seven Last Days Churches and Their Believers' Characteristics
John, the representative and ambassador for the Kingdom, received revelation from the Lord and King Jesus the Christ. He told John to write to seven churches that knew and trusted him and had read his earlier letters. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” To each church, the Lord Jesus described Himself in a different manner.
For example: “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands"
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life"
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword"
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass"
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars"
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God" Notice that six of the churches had a different situation or condition.
The question is, where do you measure up in the characteristics of any of these individual 'churches'? Remember, YOU are the temple of the living God. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. Our praises are to go forth from our temple to the Lord Jesus Christ; not from a building made of stone or brick and mortar. Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit are to represent His Kingdom culture through our behavior and our conversation. The Holy Spirit that lives in us will guide us in what to speak and when to speak. The Lord Jesus made it very plain while speaking to His disciples. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you...But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Revelation is a book about the future and the present. It offers future hope to all Kingdom citizens, especially those who have suffered for their faith in the Jesus; by proclaiming the Lord Jesus final victory over all evil and the reality of eternal life with Him. Now that is a thought that should put a smile on your face as well as your very being. It should encourage you in the purpose He has for you. It also gives guidance as it teaches us about our King and Lord Jesus the Christ, and how our lifestyle should reflect the Kingdom culture in every way.
Now through graphic scriptural pictures we learn that 1. The Lord Jesus is coming again 2. Evil will be judged and 3. The dead will be raised to judgment, resulting in eternal life or eternal destruction.
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is your foundation for eternity.
We will be delving into these seven churches more in depth in the coming articles!
Revelation 1:11; 2:1 ,8 ,12 ,18 Revelation 3:1, 7, 14 2 Corinthians 6:16 John 14:15-18, 26
~~W.R. Luchie
For example: “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands"
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life"
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword"
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass"
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars"
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God" Notice that six of the churches had a different situation or condition.
The question is, where do you measure up in the characteristics of any of these individual 'churches'? Remember, YOU are the temple of the living God. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. Our praises are to go forth from our temple to the Lord Jesus Christ; not from a building made of stone or brick and mortar. Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit are to represent His Kingdom culture through our behavior and our conversation. The Holy Spirit that lives in us will guide us in what to speak and when to speak. The Lord Jesus made it very plain while speaking to His disciples. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you...But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Revelation is a book about the future and the present. It offers future hope to all Kingdom citizens, especially those who have suffered for their faith in the Jesus; by proclaiming the Lord Jesus final victory over all evil and the reality of eternal life with Him. Now that is a thought that should put a smile on your face as well as your very being. It should encourage you in the purpose He has for you. It also gives guidance as it teaches us about our King and Lord Jesus the Christ, and how our lifestyle should reflect the Kingdom culture in every way.
Now through graphic scriptural pictures we learn that 1. The Lord Jesus is coming again 2. Evil will be judged and 3. The dead will be raised to judgment, resulting in eternal life or eternal destruction.
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is your foundation for eternity.
We will be delving into these seven churches more in depth in the coming articles!
Revelation 1:11; 2:1 ,8 ,12 ,18 Revelation 3:1, 7, 14 2 Corinthians 6:16 John 14:15-18, 26
~~W.R. Luchie
