Revelation Chapter 2
The First Church, Seal and Trumpet
Having studied the introductions to the seven Church’s, Seals and Trumpets we are now prepared to begin our look at each particular series.
It is important that we remember what we learned earlier in this study. Evidence shows us that one series DOES NOT FOLLOW another series historically. Rather, the first church, first seal, and first trumpet are all SIMULTANEOUS (and so on throughout the series). This might well have escaped our attention had we not studied the introductions first. Thus we recommend studying the first church, first seal, and first trumpet together. Then do likewise with all the others in sequence.
(See “How to study the book of Revelation, Part 26”)
“In Chapters 2 and 3 Jesus gives messages to the seven churches. The chronological position of these churches is significant.
“These seven churches may be viewed as prophetically describing seven historical time periods, reaching from the beginning of the church up to the harvest time, at this end of the age.”
1. Ephesus: meaning “First” or “desirable” covers the period during the lives of the apostles beginning at Pentecost 33 A.D. to about 100 A.D.
2. Smyrna: meaning “Bitter” covers the time of the Pagan persecution, reaching from 100 A.D. to 313 A.D. and the Edict of Milan.
3. Pergamos: meaning “Earthly Elevation” embraces the transition period during which the Papacy had its rise, this period lasting from 313 A.D. to 1160 A.D. and the appearance of Peter Waldo.
4. Thyatira: meaning “the sweet perfume of sacrifice” the space during which the true church was in the wilderness and the apostate church sat as a queen and lived deliciously with the kings of the earth, lasting from 1160 A.D. to the days of John Wycliffe 1371 A.D.
5. Sardis: meaning “that which remains” including a short interval just before the Reformation dating from 1371 A.D. to 1521 A.D. and Luther’s excommunication.
6. Philadelphia: meaning “brotherly love” the period from the Reformation until recent times 1521 A.D. to 1874 A.D., the date which marked the end of the first 6000 years and the beginning of the millennium, but more importantly the parousia (presence) of our Lord.
7. Laodicea: meaning “justice for the people” the nominal church of today, from 1874 A.D. to…?
The end of Laodicea has not yet been found. It should be marked by that wonderful proclamation from Psa 46: “Be still! And know that I am God.”
The first chapter contained a description of Jesus, the “one like unto the Son of man.” One or more of the features of this description are peculiarly appropriate to Jesus, the giver of the message, in each of the successive stages of the Church. The last part of each message contains a promise that is especially pertinent to the “over-comers” of that particular period; yet it also applies to the over-comers of all seven periods of church history.
In other words, each of the messages was intended to be especially applicable to the period of the Church to which it was addressed as well as generally beneficial to the entire Church down through the Gospel Age.” (The Keys of Revelation, Page 27)
“As we look at the history of the seven periods of the churches, we see a steady decline away from the Lord and the truth. Which is described elsewhere in the bible, as the great falling away that was to come.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” (2 Thess 2:3)
The decline started very early, because even by the end of the first church they were being told that they had left their first love, (Rev 2:5). Many in the church were already beginning to lose the simplicity and the beauty of the truth even during the time of the Apostles. After the Apostles fell asleep the situation became much worse, very quickly, since they weren't there to keep the decline from happening. By the time of the fourth church, we see that the iniquity had reached its greatest height. As we will see later the Lord stepped in after the fourth church, and began to gradually wear the power of the false church system down, preparing for the harvest at the end of the age.” (Revelation Notes Southern Wisconsin, Page 42)
We will begin with Chapter 2 and the First Church, the Church of Ephesus in our next post.
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