Grace, Glory, and the Coming King: A Message to the Seven Churches of Revelation
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 4-6) The people of the Roman Empire were a letter writing society. They had no pagers, cellphones or even telephones for that matter. In order to communicate to people across far distances, their only option was to write letters. Twenty-two of the twenty-seven New Testament books were written as letters.
The seven churches of Revelation also relied on letters as a form of communication among the church of believers.
John uses a common letter writing practice of his day by beginning with who the letter is written by. Thus the reason for beginning with his own name.
Then John addresses who the letter is being written to. In this case, John is writing to the seven churches of Revelation located in Asia Minor. This area is known today as Turkey.
Each of the seven churches will have the benefit of not only receiving a divine perspective on their specific church. They will also hear what Jesus has to say to the other six churches. This is a great benefit to each church. They can use Jesus’ divine conviction to make corrections to their own church practices.
How blessed we are today to have a wealth of divine perspective through God’s word. This helps us understand how we can live to please Him and do according to His will.
God spoke to Daniel the prophet, telling him that many people would go here and there in the latter days to increase knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven.
“But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4)
Blessings From the Holy Trinity
Being led by the Holy Spirit, John begins most appropriately with a benediction. It comes from all three persons of the Trinity. First, the Father, “Him who is, and who was, and who is to come.” The Holy Spirit, “the Seven Spirits, (meaning the sevenfold Spirit).” Then, “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”
The Seven Churches of Revelation
| Church of Ephesus | The Loveless Church |
| Church of Smyrna | The Persecuted Church |
| Church of Pergamum | The Compromising Church |
| Church of Thyatira | The Corrupt Church |
| Church of Sardis | The Dead Church |
| Church of Philadelphia | The Faithful Church |
| Church of Laodicea | The Luke Warm Church |
The Seven Churches of Revelation in Church History
Many Bible scholars see more than just local messages in Revelation 2–3. They believe the seven churches of Revelation also outline the prophetic timeline of church history, from the days of the apostles to the present age. Each church represents a spiritual condition but also a distinct era in the unfolding story of Christ’s Church.
| Church | Dates (Approx.) | Historical Period | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephesus (Rev. 2:1–7) | 33–100 AD | The Apostolic Church | This church represents the period of the Pentecost up to when John, the last surviving apostle, died. |
| Smyrna (Rev. 2:8–11) | 100–312 AD | The Persecuted Church | This church covered the period from the end of the apostolic age to when Constantine made Christianity legal in the Roman Empire. |
| Pergamum (Rev. 2:12–17) | 312–606 AD | The Compromised Church | This church represents the period spanning from legalized Christianity by Constantine, which made the church vulnerable to Roman pagan customs and practices, up to the rise of the Roman Catholic Church. |
| Thyatira (Rev. 2:18–29) | 606–1517 AD | The Medieval Church | This church represents the time from the birth of the Roman Catholic Church to the birth of the Protestant Church when Martin Luther nailed his theses to the of Castle Church at Wittenberg, Germany. |
| Sardis (Rev. 3:1–6) | 1517–1750 AD | The Reformation Church | This church represents the period from the Protestant Reformation to the Great Awakening that gave birth to the evangelical church. |
| Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7–13) | 1750–Present Day | The Missionary Church (Faithful Church) | This church represents the faithful church from the time of the Great Awakening up to the present age. It exists alongside the liberal theology of the church of Laodicea. |
| Laodicea (Rev. 3:14–22) | 1750–Present Day | The Lukewarm Church (Liberal Church) | This church symbolizes liberal theology that discounts the claims of Jesus and denies the foundations of the Christian faith. These people will face the wrath of the Tribulation. Not all who claim to know Christ truly know Him. |
Why This Matters
Studying the seven churches of Revelation not only reveals God’s message to real congregations in John’s day but also gives us a prophetic timeline of church history. We are living in the Laodicea (Liberal Church) and Philadelphia (Faithful Church) age, where lukewarm faith and compromise abound. Yet Christ’s invitation is clear—He is still knocking, and He calls His people to watch, be ready, and remain faithful as His return draws near.
The Theme of the Letter to the Seven Churches of Revelation
(Verse 7) Here, John presents the resounding theme of this entire book. The return of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. The judging of the nations that have come against his people and the establishment of his ruling over the kingdom.
John says, “Look, He is coming in the clouds.” The word “coming” is the English translation of the Greek word paruosia (pronounced pair-oo-see-ah). In the original Greek text it is defined as the Second Coming of Christ. This is not to be confused with the coming of Christ to gather His believers and remove them from the world before the tribulation. The Second Coming is when Christ will physically return after the tribulation. This return will be to the same place He ascended after His resurrection on the Mt. of Olives.
Notice, he follows up with “every eye will see Him.” Not just people who live in Israel. Or not just those who live in the Middle East. No! Every eye will see His Second Coming. Jesus had already made this clear when He gave His Olivet Discourse while He was still with us.
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)
When studying the Bible, it’s always best to look at the text that surrounds any description of Jesus’ coming. This helps in order to understand which return the Bible is speaking of.
7 Biblical Proofs of the Pretribulation Rapture
The Second Coming
In this verse, John begins with the same words that Daniel the prophet spoke of thousands of years ago. He described Jesus’ Second Coming to rule His kingdom over 500 years before Christ was born.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
Rapture vs. Second Coming of Christ Comparison Chart
“All Will See Him”: A Profound Message to the Seven Churches of Revelation
Then John says, “every eye will see Him.” This echoes the words of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. They are the very words that Jesus taught on the Mt. of Olives about the events that would take place during the last days. These are now described in Revelation.
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)
The key word here is “visible.” In other words, everyone alive on earth at the time of His return will witness His coming back to the world.
All Will Mourn For Him
Then he says, everyone on earth “will mourn because of Him,” just as Zechariah spoke. Zechariah said this 500 years before the birth of Christ.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)
They will mourn because they will come to realize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has returned just as was spoken by the prophets.
He Is the Beginning and the End
(Verse 8) Jesus describes Himself to the seven churches of Revelation as the Alpha and the Omega. These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. This is meant to describe that His power is all inclusive. He is the beginning and the end as well as the Beginner and the Ender. Christ existed before the creation of this age. He will exist after the end of this age and will usher in the new age. This new age will be experienced by those who have chosen to believe in Him. These are the ones who have put their faith and trust in Him.
What a glorious age it will be. We will live the way God meant for His creation to live, but even greater so. It’ll be in full communion with Him in our presence. “So shall it be, Amen.”
What Is the Book of Revelation About?
If you were to ask a group of Christians what the book of Revelation was about, you’d likely get a number of different answers. They may say things like, “it’s about the end of the world, the really bad things that are going to happen on earth before Jesus returns, or simply, it’s about God dealing with those who’ve sinned and rejected Him during their lives.” All of these answers would be correct.
John is the one putting pen to paper in the writing of this letter to the seven churches of Revelation. The intended recipients of the letter are the seven churches. But, we must always remember that Revelation is all about Jesus Christ. It comes from Him, through Him and is for Him. Jesus Christ is the main theme of this book.
Just as we see in the very first verse of John’s gospel, he wastes no time describing Christ as being fully God present before all of creation. We witness again as John compiles this letter to the seven churches of Revelation. He once again wastes no time in giving the attention to the Rightful One. Only three words into the first verse of the first chapter, there is Jesus Christ. This clearly indicates who is dictating this all so powerful and important book.
There are many subjects covered in this book. These subjects range from the pretribulation rapture, the four horsemen, the Tribulation, Israel, and the battle of Armageddon to the new heaven and earth. The focus and main theme rests firmly on the Lord of lords. He is the King of kings, the Lion of Judah, and the perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions: Wake Up and Listen
- Ephesus – Have I lost my first love for Christ? Do I need to return to Him with passion and devotion?
- Smyrna – Am I willing to suffer faithfully for Jesus, even when the world rejects me?
- Pergamum – Where have I allowed compromise with sin or culture to creep into my faith?
- Thyatira – Do I tolerate false teaching or immorality in my life, or do I stand firm in truth?
- Sardis – Am I alive in name only, or am I truly walking in the Spirit’s power each day?
- Philadelphia – How am I using the open doors God has given me to share the gospel?
- Laodicea – Have I grown lukewarm in my faith? What steps do I need to take to open the door to Jesus and let Him reign fully in my life?
🙏Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
We bow before the One who is, who was, and who is to come—the Alpha and the Omega. Lord Jesus, You are the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Your Word has spoken, and Your return is certain.
Father, we hear Your warning in these opening verses and in the seven churches of Revelation. You are calling Your people to wake up, to repent, to cast aside lukewarm faith, and to stand ready for the day when every eye will see You—even those who pierced You.
Lord, do not let us grow cold. Shake us from our slumber. Burn away our compromise and give us hearts that beat with urgency for Your glory. May we be found faithful, clothed in righteousness, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
We confess that time is short, and the world is not ready. Strengthen us to bear witness with boldness, to love without fear, and to endure with perseverance until the trumpet sounds.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Until that day, keep us faithful. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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