Why are the 7 Churches in Revelation each greeted differently...

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Willie T

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So what do you think the purpose is for addressing each church differently in the greeting.
I think they are some examples of these and also MANY other things congregations can fall victim to.... NOT specifically only the seven types of churches that exist. A copy of the very same letter (that's what Revelation was, a single letter) was delivered to each of the churches that all existed in an area about 50 miles x 100 miles, and were even on the same road which formed a long loop, so they all read each of the seven different "greetings."
 
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Heart2Soul

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If you are serious about studying Revelation, be sure to read Before Jerusalem Fell, Paradise Restored, and Days of Vengeance.
(Yes, of course, I have all three on my computer in MS Word format, and can e-mail them if requested to.)
Please do...I will read them!
 

GTW27

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In Chapter 1 all of the characteristics below are used to describe Jesus...but when addressing each church separately only 1 characteristic is used in the greeting to the church....and each church received a different one. WHY? Is there any significance to this?
Refer to Revelation 1:11-20


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

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;

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

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;

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;

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;

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;

I don't believe this was done by mistake or happenstance. I believe there is a reason and am studying it as best I can. Anyone got an answer?

And old greeting to His people from "I Am who I Am", "Tell them" I Am" has sent Me to you". These letters from the new are also written to His people but now the mystery hidden in the old is being revealed in the new. In other words He is revealing the mystery of Himself firstly to His Apostles and Prophets and now to those that have an ear to hear. This is the mystery of Christ Jesus of which Paul talked about.
 
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Heart2Soul

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And old greeting to His people from "I Am who I Am", "Tell them" I Am" has sent Me to you". These letters from the new are also written to His people but now the mystery hidden in the old is being revealed in the new. In other words He is revealing the mystery of Himself firstly to His Apostles and Prophets and now to those that have an ear to hear. This is the mystery of Christ Jesus of which Paul talked about.
Expand on this please...
 
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101G

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And old greeting to His people from "I Am who I Am", "Tell them" I Am" has sent Me to you". These letters from the new are also written to His people but now the mystery hidden in the old is being revealed in the new. In other words He is revealing the mystery of Himself firstly to His Apostles and Prophets and now to those that have an ear to hear. This is the mystery of Christ Jesus of which Paul talked about.
Correct, while reading through some of the posts here, bingo, yours appeared, and you're correct. for it is the revealing of God in a flesh body, his temple. Daniel saw the Lord as the Spirit with a body in a vision, (compare Daniel 10:4-9 with Revelation 1:13-15, it's the same person in both visions), which is the key to the whole book of Revelation. the whole chapter 10 of Daniel is good for your edification.
as the Spirit, yes, the Holy Spirit, the almighty, the diverse one. notice Jesus is the one who address all 7 churches, but notice how each letter ends ..... the same, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches". he might address each one differently as stated, but each letter ends the same way. THIS IS THE GREAT "I AM", who is the head of the churches, his Spiritual body. in each letter he gives a warning of "The danger of Syncretism". his church, as a bride, she is to be without spot or wrinkle.
I don't have all the answer, but some of the post here I have heard before. and many post are good ones. but as said, "LET THE SPIRIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOU.

hope this helped some.

PICJAG.
 

Heart2Soul

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Correct, while reading through some of the posts here, bingo, yours appeared, and you're correct. for it is the revealing of God in a flesh body, his temple. Daniel saw the Lord as the Spirit with a body in a vision, (compare Daniel 10:4-9 with Revelation 1:13-15, it's the same person in both visions), which is the key to the whole book of Revelation. the whole chapter 10 of Daniel is good for your edification.
as the Spirit, yes, the Holy Spirit, the almighty, the diverse one. notice Jesus is the one who address all 7 churches, but notice how each letter ends ..... the same, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches". he might address each one differently as stated, but each letter ends the same way. THIS IS THE GREAT "I AM", who is the head of the churches, his Spiritual body. in each letter he gives a warning of "The danger of Syncretism". his church, as a bride, she is to be without spot or wrinkle.
I don't have all the answer, but some of the post here I have heard before. and many post are good ones. but as said, "LET THE SPIRIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOU.

hope this helped some.

PICJAG.
Thanks...so now to go back and read Daniel...I knew the OT would be involved somewhere...lol.
 

GTW27

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Expand on this please...

In the old(old testament) The Lord told Moses before he was sent, "tell them I AM sent me to you" He also identified Him self as The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. He also stated that, "The Lord is my Name". In the new(new testament) Paul talks about the mystery of Christ Jesus being hid from previous generations. And some at that time, found his new revelations hard to understand. What I was led to write today shows The Lords willingness to reveal Himself more by way of His different greetings to the 7 churches, verses how He did in the old (old testament). When you first read the letters did you not know more about Him then before reading them? So you see, His greetings was not only to the seven churches but to all who would eventually read it and have an ear to hear.
 

Heart2Soul

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In the old(old testament) The Lord told Moses before he was sent, "tell them I AM sent me to you" He also identified Him self as The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. He also stated that, "The Lord is my Name". In the new(new testament) Paul talks about the mystery of Christ Jesus being hid from previous generations. And some at that time, found his new revelations hard to understand. What I was led to write today shows The Lords willingness to reveal Himself more by way of His different greetings to the 7 churches, verses how He did in the old (old testament). When you first read the letters did you not know more about Him then before reading them? So you see, His greetings was not only to the seven churches but to all who would eventually read it and have an ear to hear.
Oh Praise the Lord! I receive that...I have prayed for along time now asking God to show me His Hidden Wisdom....and to learn the Mysteries of God that is meant for an appointed time. Thanks for clarifying!
 
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Heart2Soul

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i'm currently in a town the guy is a farmer and likes tilling his land, got three tillers lol. More Lamb's Quarter than anything else. I am a no-till permaculture type, which is useless for growing for profit, you gotta till if you are going to go soil there, and after all the guy has bills. But we find ourselves of one accord nonetheless, even though we are diametrically opposed, could not be further apart on the farming issue, and this is after all a "farm," bc he does farm tomatoes and...stuff, to sell in local markets (by which i mean 'farmer's markets,' and not the ones with cash registers if you get me).

So, when he looks out in the field he sees tomatoes (somewhere in there under the lambs quarter), and i see lamb's quarter, a sea of lambs quarter, more lambs quarter than i ever seen in one place even, and i herded goats for a year.
Just going through these posts and read this...missed it somehow earlier...anyway what an analogy! Far from where I am trying to get with my understanding. But it is a great analogy in showing how churches differ but yield the same result.
 
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Willie T

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I know we all desire to believe Revelation was written pretty specifically to those of us modern people living today. But, the truth we have to face (no matter how much we don't want to) is that it really was a letter of encouragement that was written to those congregations situated on what is now the Western edge of modern Turkey, and that were specifically named, and that the parchment scrolls were physically delivered to. Certainly there are things it contains that we can learn from, but in reality, we are doing little more than reading someone else's mail.
 

Heart2Soul

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I know we all desire to believe Revelation was written pretty specifically to those of us modern people living today. But, the truth we have to face (no matter how much we don't want to) is that it really was a letter of encouragement that was written to those congregations situated on the Western edge of modern Turkey, and that were specifically named and that the parchment scrolls were physically delivered to. Certainly there are things it contains that we can learn from, but in reality, we are doing little more than reading someone else's mail.
This time I disagree...I haven't had any desire to read and study Revelation. I just finished First and Second Timothy and I asked the Holy Spirit what do YOU want me to study? He said Revelation. So I started and right off the bat I saw something I had never seen before. Which is the topic of this thread. There is hidden wisdom here I am absolutely certain because everytime this happens to me when reading scripture the Holy Spirit reveals a deeper understanding of it to me.....a hidden wisdom. And I am not done yet....everyone who posted something has triggered or caused my eyes to open up and see what He is revealing here.
 

Bobby Jo

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... . In other words He is revealing the mystery of Himself firstly to His Apostles and Prophets and now to those that have an ear to hear. ...

Luke 17:23 And they will say to you, ‘Lo, there!’ or ‘Lo, here!Do not go, do not follow them.

Satan is casting about to see whom he will snare,
Bobby Jo
 

Willie T

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This time I disagree...I haven't had any desire to read and study Revelation. I just finished First and Second Timothy and I asked the Holy Spirit what do YOU want me to study? He said Revelation. So I started and right off the bat I saw something I had never seen before. Which is the topic of this thread. There is hidden wisdom here I am absolutely certain because everytime this happens to me when reading scripture the Holy Spirit reveals a deeper understanding of it to me.....a hidden wisdom. And I am not done yet....everyone who posted something has triggered or caused my eyes to open up and see what He is revealing here.
I did say there were things in that letter to some ancient people that we can learn some lessons from...… but that letter was written to, addressed to, delivered to, and originally read by people who lived in a very different world almost 2,000 years ago. It was not a secret letter with a message hidden for two millennia, the meaning of which was intended to be finally discovered in the year 2019.
 
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Bobby Jo

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I did say there were things in that letter to some ancient people that we can learn...… but that letter was written to, addressed to, and delivered to, and originally read by people who lived in a very different world almost 2,000 years ago. It was not a secret letter with a message hidden for two millennia, the meaning of which was intended to be finally discovered in the year 2019.

Matt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Of such are MANY in this Forum! :)
Bobby Jo
 

Willie T

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Matt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Of such are MANY in this Forum! :)
Bobby Jo
I know. I watch as they read all sorts of wild things into that book of Revelation.
 

amadeus

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@Heart2Soul
you are the churches being addressed, maybe, and the sins outlined in the seven churches are the same sins you will have to overcome in building your temple? "The Revelation of Christ" where is Christ revealed, iyo, from a practical standpoint?
Before I had read down through the thread this far I was going to include a similar explanation...According to the level that each of is at in his walk with God there is a message. The way God addresses each of us is different according to the level and the present circumstances of the person receiving the message. Not every message for all the seven church es is necessarily always a message to you or to me or to the other guy. Each time you read the same verses a different one [or ones] may apply to you in that moment.