MEM

The Seven Churches of Revelation

"He who has ears to hear…"

"He who Overcomes…"

Part One

John the Baptist came preaching the Kingdom of God

After John Yeshua (Jesus) Preached the Kingdom of God

Rev 1:3 NKJV Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Rev 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes …" '

The Apocalypse - which basically means uncovering.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him… (God’s Revelation)

Rev 1:1 ….And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

(Second century writings attribute the writer to be the Apostle John)

History records that the Roman Emperor Domitian, who ruled from 81 to 96 AD,

placed John there as a political prisoner.

When was it written?

95/96 AD (from 2^nd century writings)

Rev 1:1 … to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place…

Rev 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

These are all the Churches of God; yet there were many other churches even in that area.

As in 1Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth…

It is my opinion that these seven churches are a figure, a symbol or composite of the whole body of Christ. As the Menorah (in the tabernacle) was made of one piece of gold before the throne of The Almighty God so all the churches are herein represented.

Rev 1:20 … the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

1Cor 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Asia Minor - Now present day Turkey

Which was the prominent church? And Why?

Ephesus was a major port city, for the Roman Empire and to Asia Minor. The apostle Paul used this city to be a beachhead for that whole area.

Why the number Seven? (full - fullness - complete, mentioned 54 times in the revelation)

Luke 8:10 And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

Rev 1:20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Therefore it is incumbent upon us to seek to understand what this important message is to the seven churches - it is written for us!

Rev 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will …" '

Acts 3:22 (NAS) "Moses said, 'The Lord God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed in everything He says to you.

Luke 9:35 ESV And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"

Luke 10:16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

Luke 11:28 But He said, "… blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it."

A. To Ephesus (2:1-7):"permitted".

The loveless church; losing their first love

B. To Smyrna myrrh or bitterness (2:8-11): Smyrna = "myrrh"

The persecuted church; Fear of suffering.

C. To Pergamos high tower or thoroughly married (2:12-17) "height or elevation".

The over-tolerant church with doctrinal defection.

D. To Thyatira perpetual sacrifice or continual offering (2:18-29): "odour of affliction"

The compromising church; Moral departure.

E. To Sardis those escaping or renovation or remnant (3:1-6)

The sleeping church; spiritual deadness; a church of lifeless profession.

F. To Philadelphia love for the brethren (3:7-13) "brotherly love".

The church with opportunity; not holding fast. (Little Power)

G. To Laodicea (3:14-22) "justice of the people"

the people ruling or the judgment of the people.

The complacent church; lukewarm-ness.

Yeshua addresses each church with some descriptive part of Him and His authority.

Rev 2:1 "… ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Rev 2:8 "… ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Rev 2:12 "…‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Rev 2:18 "… ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Rev 3:1 "… ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars…

Rev 3:7 "… ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

Rev 3:14 "… ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

The Seven Churches - If they are the only churches that represent the whole body of Messiah to which one do you belong? Have you been deceived into accepting some church leadership and not Yeshua? Do we have the ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches? Are we accepting the grace (power) of Messiah to overcome?

Grace and peace to you as we are admonished to hear, overcome and endure to the end.

Rev 1:3 NKJV Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

For the Church of God - like Israel failed to listen to Moses - do not fail to listen to Yeshua.

Proverbs 4:27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

Proverbs ​​​​​​​​3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.

― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

A study conducted by Swansea University for the British group Faith Matters has found that UK citizens are increasingly interested in Islam, with the number of converts to Islam nearly doubling in 10 years. An estimated total of 100,000 have converted to Islam, 5,200 of them in 2010.

In 2001, it was estimated that 60,000 British citizens had converted to Islam.

Of the most recent converts, two-thirds are women. Most are white and native to Britain. The average age of new converts is 27.

One in four believe there is a "natural conflict" between being devoutly Muslim and being a British citizen. More than half said they had met with a negative response from family regarding their conversion.

When asked what they believe to be the negative aspects of British society, the converts cited alcohol consumption, "sexual permissiveness," and "unrestrained consumerism."

Similar studies in France and Germany found that approximately 4,000 people convert to Islam each year in both countries....

1. You read the Auto Trader with a highlight pen.
2. The Salvation Army declines your mattress.
3. You've ever raked leaves in your kitchen.
4. Birds are attracted to your beard.
5. Your wife's job requires her to wear an orange vest.
6. You have the local taxidermist's number on speed dial.
7. You've ever hit a deer with your car...deliberately.
8. Your school fight song was "Dueling Banjos".
9. You think a chain saw is a musical instrument.
10. You've ever given rat traps as gifts.
11. You clean your fingernails with a stick.
12. Your coffee table used to be a cable spool.

Do you dare to speak for God? For it is a fearful thing to speak for the Living God and represent him to those around you. This is something to be done soberly and carefully, for it is the ultimate subject of conversation and has profound eternal implications. Yet the greater question is whether you dare not speak for Him. For He has given you the great commission to preach the gospel to every creature. This is not for a select few, but for every believer. You should strive for diligence and accuracy, but you can only speak according to your own understanding. Being unable to do this perfectly is not an excuse for not doing it at all. For you have a powerful ally in this task. The Holy Spirit is in favor of this task and will give you the right words and work with them to make them effective in the hearts of those who hear you. Blessed are those who preach the gospel of the good news of His Kingdom.

Do you think of love primarily in romantic terms, and as something based on appearance? To lead a spiritual life you need to adjust your understanding of love to something that includes your Creator, whom having not seen you are still able to love. Beyond romance there is love for your family and friends. True believers worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for he seeks such to worship him. Is this not also an expression of love, and one that is undefiled by the flesh? Sit at Jesus’ feet, and hear His word, and learn of Him, and He will teach you to expand your understanding and expression of love.

(Adopted from a blog post by Dale Cresap)

Psalm 125:5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 80:18 Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.

Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)