The seven churches are not seven church ages. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John. John was told the things he was going to see were going to happen shortly. Thus, the things in the book were to begin during John’s life.
The Lord gives John seven messages. One for each of the seven churches. All but two of those churches had fallen into some kind of sin. Christ reminds each church of their sin and calls them to repent and return to him. While he didn’t actually use the phrase “come out of Babylon” in these letters, he made it clear that those who didn’t repent (come out of sin) would not eat of the tree of life or be spared of the second death. Only those who were overcomers would be given a new name in the new Jerusalem.
These passages make it clear to us that God’s people can be in sin or in the spiritual Babylon. He makes it clear that they can repent up to the final day when he comes as a thief. They can come out of Babylon (false sinful beliefs that cause sinful actions). They must come away from Satan’s table and return to the Lord’s for no one can serve two masters.
Rev. 2:1 (KJV) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus ………….. Rev. 2:5 (KJV) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Ephesus is warned they will be removed.
Rev. 2:7 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev. 2:8 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna………. Rev. 2:10-11 (KJV) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. [11] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Smyrna is reminded to remain faithful even unto death and she will receive eternal life.
Rev. 2:12 (KJV) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos …………… Rev. 2:14-16 (KJV) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. [15] So hast thou also them that hold the[/b] doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, [/b]which thing I hate. [16][/b] Repent;[/b] or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Pergamos warned to give up false doctrines or the Lord will fight against them. Isn’t this referring to the final battle of Armageddon where the wicked will finally be destroyed?
Rev. 2:17 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev. 2:18 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira ……………..Rev. 2:20 (KJV) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev. 2:22 (KJV) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Thyatira is warned they will receive the same fate as their false prophetess.
Rev. 2:24-25 (KJV) But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. [25] But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Rev. 2:26 (KJV) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev. 3:1 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis …………….
Rev. 3:2-5 (KJV) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. [3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. [4] Thou hast a few names even in Sardiswhich have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. [5] He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Sardis is warned Christ will come on them as a thief referring to the final day of judgment when he comes to separate the sheep from the goats.
Rev. 3:7 (KJV) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia ……………. Rev. 3:8 (KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rev. 3:10-12 (KJV) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. [11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. [12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Philadelphia is reminded she will be kept from that final judgment of the wicked for her faithfulness in keeping the word.
Rev. 3:14 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans ………… .Rev. 3:15-16 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev. 3:18-20 (KJV) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Laodicea is rebuked because Christ loves her. Even so, he is ready to spue her out if she doesn’t repent.
Rev. 3:21-22 (KJV) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
While these letters were written in John’s time to actual churches that existed then, we can see similarities today in the churches that proclaim to belong to Christ. During the first century, we see only 2 of the 7 who claim to be Christ’s actually are. The other 5 need to repent and come out of error, sin, false doctrines of works, paganism, Sunday worship, etc. BTW, Nicolaitanes deals with Sunday worship or sun worship. There was goddess worship as in the goddess Diane and Ashtoreth. Even in those 5 there were a few who didn’t hold to the false and were told to keep faithful.
If you look in the OT you can find examples of various pagan gods and goddesses that were being worshipped by God’s people in the OT and slipping back into God’s church in the NT by those wolves. Some things to read about in scriptures: Tammuz, queen of heaven, Nimrod and tower of babel, groves of trees, decorated trees Jer.10, Diane, Astaroth, Asherah, Ashtoreth, Baal. For a list of the false gods mentioned in scriptures check out “The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary” under “gods, false.” And of course the religion of the Pharisees.
If 2 of 7 needed to come out of Babylon in the first century, how many need to come out today when men keep waxing worse? More deceivers, more lovers of self, more who take pleasure in unrighteousness.
Matthew 16:6 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Could we say take heed and beware of the leaven of the spurious and specious preachers today?
Matthew 24:4 (KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Luke 21:8 (KJV) And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Many are going to deceive. Isn’t this why the many IC are false in one way or another?
Hebrews 3:12 (KJV) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
A heart of unbelief could include those whose belief is in the false teachings as well as those who have no belief in God.
Matthew 24:24 (KJV) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
These false prophest will show signs and wonders as in the RC crying Marys, the Charasmatic slaying in the spirit, and holy laughing, etc.
Jude 1:4 (KJV) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The false men of Babylon creep into the churches. Those of Masonry, witchcraft, new age,& every foul spirit imaginable infiltrate the churches to teach a false unity of man and deny the true God.
Matthew 24:11 (KJV) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Scripture doesn’t say all the churches are going to grow and grow and save many many people. It says many false prophets rise and many will be deceived.
Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The church of God is referred to as a remnant and a little flock----never the many.
Few find it.
Romans 11:5 (KJV) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Luke 12:32 (KJV) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
John 10:14 (KJV) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:26-27 (KJV) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Do the churches today follow Christ? How can they with their false pretentious lying preachers?
Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Luke 13:25-28 (KJV) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: [26] Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. [27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. [28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
How many of the professors crying Lord, Lord are really workers of iniquity? How many are the many deceivers and deceived?
Luke 6:46 (KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Do modern day churches do what Jesus said?
2 Thes. 2:10-12 (KJV) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Why do so many continue in these false organizations? Do they love truth or take pleasure in their unrighteous doctrines and traditions?
Rev. 18:4 (KJV) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Shouldn’t the remnant in these places come out into the light?
I think we can see from the above scriptures that the church has always had trouble with Babylon creeping in. Thus, while the many antichrists and workers of iniquity had already begun working in the young new church during the first century, the warning they were given are even more applicable today as even more deceivers work. Let’s be sure which side we are on: God’s church the new Jerusalem or Satan’s church Babylon.
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
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