Messages to the seven churches of Revelation

Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia

There are seven churches and they all can be found in Asia Minor. There are seven messages, all outlining different problems with these churches and seven solutions to their problems. There are seven angels to carry the messages to the seven churches. But, there are not seven letters written to the seven churches but all of them in one book. It is the book that is taken from church to church by an angel, each time one angel handing it over to the other angel. The amazing thing about these churches is that they are periods that have a terminus ad quo and a terminus ad quem, a starting point in history and an ending point in history. Yet, all of them are to continue until the Second Coming of Christ. That is why the messages were not to a local church in Asia Minor in John’s day. What is expected from one church is expected from all regarding one point at least: sanctification. All are asked to “overcome”.

Ephesus; Smyrna; Pergamum; Thiatre; Sardis; Philadelphia; Laodicea.

The angel of Ephesus opened the book and read their problem for them: they are pure and accepted Jesus and His salvation properly and all the doctrines of the Bible were pure with no contamination from traditions or churchfathers or this person or that cleric. But, they forsake the truth and thus should repent since they have allowed that false doctrines enter the church regarding the baptism, by allowing sprinkling also together with immersion (Didache, 110 A.D. but text-critically much later and that raises questions about the stance of the doctrines in the book). Ephesus is the church from Christ to the death of John around 100 A.D.

The angel of Smyrna took the book from the angel of Ephesus and read to them their problem in their period of history, from 100 A.D. to 325 A.D. the time of Constantine who changed the Sabbath to Sunday to please all parties except the Jews. They would suffer tribulation a lot but they are to overcome as well. Sanctification is expected from them as well. Justification is their status for heaven but Sanctification is their fitness for heaven and glorification is their transformation for heaven. They are to overcome (Revelation 2:11).

The angel of Pergamum then took the book from the angel of Smyrna and read in it the message for the people of the period of Pergamum in history, 325 A.D. to 538 A.D. Their problem was immorality and the ecclesiastical leaders, Justinian and his wife Theodora was very evil and immoral, especially Theodora as the biographer Procopius described (see online). They are to repent (Revelation 2:16) and overcome (Revelation 2:17). Sanctification is also expected from these faithful members.

The angel of Thyatira took over the book from the angel of Pergamum and read to them their message for the period in history 538-1450 A.D. Their characteristic is that they will be immoral (Revelation 2:20) and with Theodora and Justinian overlapping these two periods, no wonder the clerical people were the same. Those who were faithful were to hold fast to what they have (Revelation 2:25). They have to hold fast “until I come” and here is the proof that each church has a continuation role to play until the Second Coming of Christ. They have to “keep My deeds until the end”. It is not just until 1450 A.D. The church was given the Morning Star Wycliffe who brought reformation as transition here in 1450 A.D. The role of sanctification is the same with them than all the other churches: overcome (Revelation 2:26).

The angel of Sardis took over from the angel of Thyatira and read from the book their message to the people of the historical period 1450-1843 A.D. They were to wake up and strengthen the things that remain. Their deeds are completed in the sight of God. These Reformation help that comes here in Revelation 3:2 is the same as that mentioned helping in Daniel 11:34. There is one problem: although they brought Lutheranism and Calvinism to the church they are to keep and repent but very important: wake-up. “Wake-up I will come.” The Advent message with Millerism was about to start and they are to wake-up with them. Sanctification is also expected from them like the others.

The angel of Philadelphia took over the book from the angel of Sardis and read the message to the people of the Great Dissappointment at the end of the 2300 years prophecy of Daniel 8:14 in 1843 A.D. They would be tested and the Great Disappointment was a test (Revelation 3:10). They are to hold fast and overcome (Revelation 3:12).

The angel of Laodicea took over the book from the angel of Philadelphia and read the message for the people of the period after 1843 until today: sleepy. They are in a horrible situation since they have misgivings that they are right but they are not. They need salve to see themselves. Sanctification is also expected from the Victorian Age people, the Aufklarung people, the Modernists, the postmodernists and the digimodernists.