It would make no sense for God to include in the book of Revelation....the letters to the seven churches....(chapters two and three)....as only an historical account. There has to be profound prophetic importance here. As with most of Revelation itself....we still...."see through a glass, darkly." Most of prophecy is like a time-release pill....things will get clearer and clearer to those who will actually experience the last of the last days.....which by the way is most likely us.
Yes....these were obviously seven real cities. That is not in dispute....but who other than the first century churches in Ephesus....Smyrna....Pergamos....Thyatira....Sardis....Philadelphia and Laodicea....is this book of prophecy speaking to? Well it's another obvious answer in that it speaks to all of us in all the ages....but the examination of this portion of Revelation....over the centuries....as it relates to the churches of the day....seems to evidence that in every age....different churches have different strengths....and different weaknesses.I only want to mention the first letter here....and the first city....Ephesus. They had their doctrine down pat....that is for sure. They would spot the false teacher and the false prophet. There is an old joke in Presbyterian circles.....it goes something like this....there is ministerium meeting of some sort of the various denomination churches....and a fire breaks out....a Baptist pastor jumps up and shouts...."Fire!"....next a Methodist pastor jumps up and shout...."Water!".....and a Presbyterian pastor then jumps up and shouts...."Order!" That's us all right....and it is a good thing....but we better also call the fire department and starting throwing some water on the fire.
This church of Ephesus had its share of problems....for it left its first love. The doctrine and the polity were in good shape....probably better than all the other churches. Even after the reprimand....they are given credit for fighting against the Nicolaitans....and no one does that better than us....in systematic theology and precision of doctrine and worship practices....and therefore the defense of sound doctrine....but we had better focus on being meek....and humble....and conscious of the fact that although this church was named first....it does not mean that we are first among equals.
It seems that if the church is not persecuted....then the free time and the easy living leads to error and failings. To complicate matters even more....the Reformed church has also been greatly persecuted in the past....and is persecuted in various places in the world today! So no matter how we try to categorize the seven letters to the seven churches....things seem to overlap....and it might be best to address these issues individually. For instance....I have seen myself under the warnings of more than one church....thus the multiple addresses in the title of this post.
Whether my theories here are generally in the right direction or not....this much is sure....we in evangelicalism....in the church today....had better not ignore or diminish the importance of the seven letters to the seven churches....for they are for us....not just a lead-in for the heavy stuff that follows....and this now more than ever in the church. As in the book of Revelation itself....it might be a good idea to complete our resume questions....current and past addresses.
Note: John Piper's Sermon of the Day today is particularly wonderful on the topic that it addresses. It can easily be Googled at....John Piper, Willing God's Will as a Way of Knowing Christ's Word.
