Revelations for the Church
The apostle John was given messages for seven congregations of his time, says David Coltheart.
The biblical book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible and the only prophetic book in the New Testament, although other books are prophetic in places. Revelation is also known as The Apocalypse. Both names mean “to reveal”—for the purpose of the book, according to the apostle John, its author, is to reveal “things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1).
John was the youngest of the 12 apostles and at the time of writing (about 95 AD), and the only one still alive. John was orinally a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, in northern Palestine, when Jesus called him to be His disciple. Because of his close relationship to Jesus, he is remembered as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” For about three years, John accompanied Jesus during His ministry, and after the crucifixion cared for Mary, the mother of Jesus, until her death. John also recorded the life story of Jesus in the gospel that bears his name.
Church tradition recalls that John moved to Ephesus around 65 AD and became the leader of the Christian church in the surrounding Roman province of Asia (western Turkey).
But it was a dangerous time to be a Christian—John was arrested for treason and condemned to death. He was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, but like the three worthies of the Daniel, remained miraculously unharmed. The superstitious emperor Domitian (ruled 81-96 AD) exiled him to the penal colony of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), off the coast of Turkey (see map).
Patmos is a rocky, almost treeless island in the Aegean Sea, 80 km southwest of Ephesus. About 16 km at its longest, the island is shaped like a horseshoe with both ends pointing toward the mainland. Today, freshwater springs, augmented by a desalination plant, support agriculture and livestock for, and about 5000 residents. Most of them live in the bustling little township of Scala, beside the island’s only port.
For centuries the focus of pilgrimages, today Patmos is a popular tourist destination, served by a ferry from Athens. The Monastery of St John the Theologian was built in the 11th century atop the highest mountain. Visitors to the Greek Orthodox church on the hillside below are shown the cave where John is said to have lived. In the ceiling are three cracks through which, the monks claim, the visions from God flashed.
the revealing
Jesus appeared to John in a vision on “the Lord’s day,” or Christian Sabbath. John was commanded to write what he saw and to send the resulting missive—recorded on a scroll—to the Christians living in seven cities of Asia Minor.
The recorded order of the seven messages—to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea—follows a route a messenger may have followed in visiting the cities.
Jesus’ messages outlined the spiritual condition of the Christians at the end of the first century. While there were other Christian churches, these seven may have been selected because they represented a cross-section of Christians throughout the area, and indeed the world, at that time.
The messages to the churches have been applied at various levels:
- The original messages were related to real Christians in the first century AD, in real places, and outlined their real spiritual situations.
- The messages are variously applicable to all other Christians living at the time.
- Christians in all ages—including our own—recognise their own spiritual experience as depicted in the messages.
- The messages to the seven churches also contain a prophecy about the whole Christian church, from the time of John to the end of time. With remarkable accuracy, the experience of the church can be traced through seven great ages—beginning with the era of literal Ephesus (the first century AD)—down to our day—the era of metaphorical Laodicea, shortly before the return of Christ.
After the first introductory chapter, the seven messages follow in chapters two and three. Each is written in a pattern beginning with Jesus saying, “I know your works . . .” then continuing with commendation and correction, and concluding with a promise of victory. The historical and spiritual situation of each church helps us to interpret the details of its message.
John’s exile lasted until the assassination of Domitian in 96 AD. Nerva, the next emperor, freed all Christians imprisoned for religious reasons, including John. According to tradition, his ship was wrecked on leaving Patmos and, swimming on a piece of cork, John landed at Miletus, from where he travelled to Ephesus.
There he continued his ministry for some years before he died at an advanced age. The traditional site of his tomb is in the ruins of a 6th century church on a hill just outside the ancient city of Ephesus.
Messages to the Church
1. EPHESUS (Rev 2:1-7)
PRAISE: I know your deeds, hard work and perseverance—and your refusal to tolerate evil.
CORRECTION: You’ve left your first love for the Lord. Remember the height from which you’ve fallen. Repent, return to your first deeds!
PROMISE: The victor will be given the right to eat from heaven’s tree of life.
2. SMYRNA (Rev 2:8-11)
PRAISE: I know your afflictions and poverty, and how you’ve been misrepresented!
CORRECTION: Don’t be afraid of what you will suffer. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
PROMISE: The victor will not be hurt at all by the second death.
3. PERGAMOS (Rev 2:12-17)
PRAISE: I know where you live, yet you remain true to My name.
CORRECTION: Don’t be enticed by the teaching of Balaam the false prophet, urging people to eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality!
PROMISE: The victor will eat heavenly manna and receive a white stone with a new name.
4. THYATIRA (Rev 2:18-29)
PRAISE: I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance.
CORRECTION: Don’t follow the false prophetess; don’t believe her false teachings, and don’t practise her immorality!
PROMISE: The victor will have authority over the nations and have the “morning star.”
5. SARDIS (Rev 3:1-6)
PRAISE: I know your deeds and your reputation for life; but you are really dead!
CORRECTION: Wake up! Strengthen the good things that remain. Remember the good news that you heard and obey it. Repent.
PROMISE: The victor will be dressed in white and his name will be in the book of life.
6. PHILADELPHIA (Rev 3:7-13)
PRAISE: I know your deeds. You’ve only a little strength, yet you’ve kept My word.
CORRECTION: I am coming soon; hold on to your faith so that no-one will take your crown. I will keep you safe in your hour of trial.
PROMISE: The victor will be a pillar in God’s temple and will have My name on him.
7. LAODICEA (Rev 3:14-22)
PRAISE: I know your deeds—but you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold!
CORRECTION: I will spit you out, because you are rich in your own eyes! Buy My gold, white robe and eyesalve instead! Open the door and let Jesus into your life!
PROMISE: The victor will have the right to sit with Me on My throne.
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