Revelations 2-3: The 7 Churches - Intro

Why specifically the 7 churches of Asia?

Ephesus; The backslidden church (70AD - 170AD)

Smyrna; The persecuted church (170Ad - 312AD)

Pergamos; The licentious church (312AD - 606AD)

Thyatira; the church that grew lax (606AD - 1520AD)

Sardis; the dead church (1520AD - 1755AD)

Philadelphia; Brotherly love church (1755AD - 1900AD)

Laodiceans; The materialistic church (1900AD - Date)

What's said of the churches, God says for His church comprehensively! The characteristics and circumstances pointed out by Jesus have repeated themselves in the churches throughout the ages, even to this day.

Revelations is indeed of a prophetic nature and as such the prophetic future of the church is constantly revealed. What is said about these 7 churches has progressively been fulfilled during the past 2000 years and will continue to be fulfilled until time of the coming of Jesus Christ.

The Lord's churches are the light bearers (lampstand) of this given revelation and as such the witness of Jesus Christ.

What is revealed concerns the physical (visible) church rather that the spiritual (unseen) church which is the body of Christ and consist only of believers. The physical / visible church consist of believers AND non-believers.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Rights (C) 2011 Raymond D Lombard