As we study about the seven churches,
we must keep a couple things in mind,
one of these being that when God first
appeared unto John (verses 1 - 10) and
identified Himself, John was not in the
Spirit.
He was preparing John for what He was
about to show him and what He wanted to
talk to him about.
Rev 1:1
¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave unto him, to shew unto his
servants things which must shortly come
to pass;and he sent and signified it by
his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2
Who bare record of the word of God, and
of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and
of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3
¶ 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.
Rev 1:4
John to the seven churches which are in
Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace,
from him which is, and which was, and
which is to come; and from the seven
Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of
the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins
in his own blood,
Rev 1:6
And hath made us kings and priests unto
God and his Father; to him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and
every eye shall see him, and they also
which pierced him: and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,Amen.
Rev 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the ending, saith the Lord, which is,
and which was, and which is to come,
the Almighty.
Rev 1:9
¶ I John, who also am your brother, and
companion in tribulation, and in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos,
for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
Now starting with verse 10 we find John
saying he was in the Spirit, he was
where God wanted him to be in order to
show him some things about what was
going on within the world that He did
not approve of.
Rev 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as
of a trumpet,
Now notice in verse 10 John said he
heard a voice like a trumpet, not that
he heard a trumpet. So this could not
have anything to do with the Rapture.
In verse eleven we see the seven
churches that God is talking to, and
these were seven of the physical
churches that exsisted in John's time
Rev 1:11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first
and the last: and, What thou seest,
write in a book, and send it unto the
seven churches which are in Asia; unto
Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia,and unto
Laodicea.
Now notice what is going on from verse
twelve through the rest of the verses
dealing with the churches.
Rev 1:12
And I turned to see the voice that
spake with me. And being turned, I saw
seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13
And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of
man, clothed with a garment down to the
foot, and girt about the paps with a
golden girdle.
Rev 1:14
His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes
were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15
And his feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace; and his
voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven
stars: and out of his mouth went a
sharp twoedged sword: and his
countenance was as the sun shineth in
his strength.
Rev 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
as dead. And he laid his right hand
upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am
the first and the last:
Rev 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev 1:19
Write the things which thou hast seen,
and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter;
Now in verse 19, God is telling John to
write about the things he has seen in
the past, as well as the things He let
him see there in Heaven, He is also
telling him to write about the things
that are going on right now and finally
He is telling him to write about the
things He is about to reveal to Him
about future events. Now read as God
explains to John about the things he
first saw there in Heaven.
Notice the first thing He explains is
the Seven Stars, the Angels that are
suppose to watch over the Church. (The
PREACHERS)
Rev 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars which
thou sawest in my right hand, and the
seven golden candlesticks. The seven
stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven
churches.
Rev 2:1
¶ Unto the angel of the church of
Ephesus write; These things saith he
that holdeth the seven stars in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of
the seven golden candlesticks;
Now notice God said to write unto the
angel of the Church of Ephesus, if He
had wanted the message to be to a real
angel, He would have told him himself
as the angels are with God and subject
to God not man.
So we can see very plainly that the
message was to the preacher over each of
these differant Churches. So God is
talking to the PREACHERS, not the
CHURCH.
Now notice what He says to this first
Preacher, and this pertains to the
PREACHERS of today also, not just
then. This is to all ANGELS (PREACHERS)
over the Church.
Rev 2:2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and
thy patience, and how thou canst not
bear them which are evil: and thou hast
tried them which say they are apostles,
and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and
for my name's sake hast laboured, and
hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against
thee, because thou hast left thy first
love.
Now God is saying He knows all the good
that these Preachers are doing, but even
so, He has some fault against them.
Rev 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except
thou repent.
Now what God is telling John, is to tell
all those Preachers that have quit
Preaching the Word about Jesus Christ to
repent or turn from their false teaching
and get back to the right relationship
with God.
If these Preachers do not do what God is
telling them, then He will take the
Church from them.
Rev 2:6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest
the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I
also hate.
Now look at what God has to say to these
Churches, not the Preacher, the Church.
Rev 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat
of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God.
He is telling the Church, or congregatio
that if they will overcome the past
teachings of these Preachers and over-
come the world, He will give them ever-
lasting life.
Now when you read the rest of the verses
dealing with the Churches, you can see
the same things being discussed with the
Preachers
Rev 2:8
¶ And unto the angel of the church in
Smyrna write; These things saith the
first and the last, which was dead, and
is alive;
Rev 2:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know
the blasphemy of them which say they
are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan.
Rev 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou
shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
cast some of you into prison, that ye
may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life.
Rev 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; He
that overcometh shall not be hurt of
the second death.
Rev 2:12
¶ And to the angel of the church in
Pergamos write; These things saith he
which hath the sharp sword with two
edges;
Rev 2:13
I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast
not denied my faith, even in those days
wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan
dwelleth.
Rev 2:14
But I have a few things against thee,
because thou hast there them that hold
the doctrine of Balaam, who taught
Balac to cast a stumblingblock before
the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication.
Rev 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which
thing I hate.
Rev 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat
of the hidden manna, and will give him
a white stone, and in the stone a new
name written, which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it.
Rev 2:18
¶ And unto the angel of the church in
Thyatira write; These things saith the
Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto
a flame of fire, and his feet are like
fine brass;
Rev 2:19
I know thy works, and charity, and
service, and faith, and thy patience,
and thy works; and the last to be more
than the first.
Rev 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things
against thee, because thou sufferest
that woman Jezebel, which calleth
herself a prophetess, to teach and to
seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things
sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21
And I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not.
Rev 2:22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and
them that commit adultery with her into
great tribulation, except they repent
of their deeds.
Rev 2:23
And I will kill her children with
death; and all the churches shall know
that I am he which searcheth the reins
and hearts: and I will give unto every
one of you according to your works.
Rev 2:24
But unto you I say, and unto the rest
in Thyatira, as many as have not this
doctrine, and which have not known the
depths of Satan, as they speak; I will
put upon you none other burden.
Rev 2:25
But that which ye have already hold
fast till I come.
Rev 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give
power over the nations:
Rev 2:27
And he shall rule them with a rod of
iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers: even as I
received of my Father.
Rev 2:28
And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:1
¶ And unto the angel of the church in
Sardis write; These things saith he
that hath the seven Spirits of God, and
the seven stars; I know thy works, that
thou hast a name that thou livest, and
art dead.
Rev 3:2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die:
for I have not found thy works perfect
before God.
Rev 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast
received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not
watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I
will come upon thee.
Rev 3:4
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with me in white:
for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment; and I will
not blot out his name out of the book
of life, but I will confess his name
before my Father, and before his
angels.
Rev 3:6
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:7
¶ And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write; These things saith
he that is holy, he that is true, he
that hath the key of David, he that
openeth, and no man shutteth; and
shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set
before thee an open door, and no man
can shut it: for thou hast a little
strength, and hast kept my word, and
hast not denied my name.
Rev 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are
Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold,
I will make them to come and worship
before thy feet, and to know that I
have loved thee.
Rev 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast
which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.
Rev 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of my God, and he
shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the
name of the city of my God, which is
new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of
heaven from my God: and I will write
upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:14
¶ And unto the angel of the church of
the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation
of God;
Rev 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither
cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot.
Rev 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried
in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint
thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
Rev 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
Rev 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Now if you read all of those verses with
and open mind you will see that the
first part of each message was to the
Preacher, not the Church.
When you get to the bottom of each
portion you are able to see what God
Promises each type of Church. Ever
lasting life with Him, if they would
return to Him and worship Him in Spirit
and truth.
Now the nest thing we have to look at is
the somewhat Rapture issue, as most
people look at the fact that this is
the last place the Church is mentioned
and the next part which starts with
Rev. 4:1. I ask you to look at this
verse very closely.
Rev 4:1
¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a
door was opened in heaven: and the
first voice which I heard was as it
were of a trumpet talking with me;
which said, Come up hither, and I will
shew thee things which must be
hereafter.
Most people look that when God told John
to come up hither, while He was talking
to Him about the Churches, that the
Churches were raptured up at this time
also, because of the trumpet.
But look at it very closely, God told
John to come up so He could show him the
things that were going to occur. I
believe John had to be up there on the
higher plain in order to see what God
was talking about not just hear.
Now the next thing we have to look at
is this, based upon other verses of
scripture, the rapture occurs at the
sound of a trumpet. Notice there was no
trumpet blown here, it just said God's
voice sounded like a trumpet and the
voice was talking to him, not the
world, or churches.
Now for you that have been taught a
pre-tribulation rapture, I believe you
have been taught wrong, I myself could
be wrong but don't feel like I am based
upon God's Holy Word the Bible.
