The Book of Revelation is a vision given to the Apostle John while he was on the island of Patmos. The 2nd chapter begins seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. Were these seven literal churches? Yes, but they may have been more than just literal churches in Asia Minor. Some believe that they were also seven church periods where each church represented the entire church in a period of time. I don't think so. Others believe that they are seven types of churches in every period of time. It sure seems that way. The first church is Ephesus. It defended doctrinal truth but had left its "first love." A few of these churches are addressing me but none as particularly, as I perceive it, Ephesus. Have I lost my "first love" as a Christian. Has doctrine taken over so much that I cannot express the love of Christ?
The second church is Smyrna. There is no criticism for this church. It suffered tribulation and poverty (which I do not.) The third church is Pergamos. This was a compromising church where idolatry and immorality had entered in. Certainly it speaks to me. The fourth church is Thyatira. The notes of the New Geneva Study Bible label it the "corrupt" church. Many were following a false teacher, some were not. The fifth church was Sardis. They had the reputation of a church that was "alive" but in reality it was a "dead" church. The sixth church was Philadelphia. As with Smyrna, there is no criticism. Smyrna was being persecuted and remained faithful while Philadelphia's attacks were apparently on the truths they held on to.
The seventh church was Laodicea. They were not merely labeled "dead" as was Sardis. They were worse, they simply did not care. They said of themselves "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing." God said quite the opposite "You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." If you are not familiar with these first three chapters in Revelation, please read them for yourself. Apocalyptic (hidden) scripture like this is more than difficult in determining an exact meaning, maybe even impossible. But then, we are told in chapter 1 verse 3 "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophesy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Much of scripture needed to be codified by the church. Others had the gift of doing this but everyone has the ability of understanding the results. Much of scripture, as R. C. Sproul likes say, has perspicuity, in that its meaning is clear even to the unlearned. I highly recommend Sproul's classic book Knowing Scripture. I am confident when I write on the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. On non-essentials, my confidence goes no further than my own mind. I write as to those who are searching or are new in the faith. My advice is to research and study on your own, don't burn bridges until you are sure and have a handle on why some doctrine is false and how easily it is to believe in it. You will come to know the difference between non-essentials and heretical doctrine. Christianity is not esoteric, its truths are not for a few Christians. I will say this, as far as my mortal mind can have confidence, the rewards for the effort are everything. We should continually examine ourselves. We can make two mistakes on choosing a church We can, through pride, refuse to even look into the evidence that we may have made a mistake. We would have to "start all over," to admit to friends that we were wrong, and to put the effort in when we thought we already had. Or, we can remain, all of our days, never satisfied, either because we think we know it all and cannot find that church, or because we doubt our decision making, too much.
The second church is Smyrna. There is no criticism for this church. It suffered tribulation and poverty (which I do not.) The third church is Pergamos. This was a compromising church where idolatry and immorality had entered in. Certainly it speaks to me. The fourth church is Thyatira. The notes of the New Geneva Study Bible label it the "corrupt" church. Many were following a false teacher, some were not. The fifth church was Sardis. They had the reputation of a church that was "alive" but in reality it was a "dead" church. The sixth church was Philadelphia. As with Smyrna, there is no criticism. Smyrna was being persecuted and remained faithful while Philadelphia's attacks were apparently on the truths they held on to.
The seventh church was Laodicea. They were not merely labeled "dead" as was Sardis. They were worse, they simply did not care. They said of themselves "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing." God said quite the opposite "You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." If you are not familiar with these first three chapters in Revelation, please read them for yourself. Apocalyptic (hidden) scripture like this is more than difficult in determining an exact meaning, maybe even impossible. But then, we are told in chapter 1 verse 3 "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophesy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Much of scripture needed to be codified by the church. Others had the gift of doing this but everyone has the ability of understanding the results. Much of scripture, as R. C. Sproul likes say, has perspicuity, in that its meaning is clear even to the unlearned. I highly recommend Sproul's classic book Knowing Scripture. I am confident when I write on the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. On non-essentials, my confidence goes no further than my own mind. I write as to those who are searching or are new in the faith. My advice is to research and study on your own, don't burn bridges until you are sure and have a handle on why some doctrine is false and how easily it is to believe in it. You will come to know the difference between non-essentials and heretical doctrine. Christianity is not esoteric, its truths are not for a few Christians. I will say this, as far as my mortal mind can have confidence, the rewards for the effort are everything. We should continually examine ourselves. We can make two mistakes on choosing a church We can, through pride, refuse to even look into the evidence that we may have made a mistake. We would have to "start all over," to admit to friends that we were wrong, and to put the effort in when we thought we already had. Or, we can remain, all of our days, never satisfied, either because we think we know it all and cannot find that church, or because we doubt our decision making, too much.
