Lesson 7 – The Seven Churches in Revelation (1) (Outline)

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written in it, for the time is near.

Revelation 22:7 And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this scroll.

Revelation 2:1 To the messenger of the church in Ephesus write: These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, He who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands

1. Revelation is a book of prophecy
2. The church in Ephesus depicts the end of the stage of the initial church during the last part of the first century ¹, ², ³, 
3. The church in Smyrna prefigures the suffering church under the persecution of the Roman Empire from the last part of the first century to the early part of the fourth century ⁴, 
4. The church in Pergamos pre-symbolizes the worldly church, the church married to the world ⁵, ⁶, ⁷, 
5. The church in Thyatira pre-symbolizes the apostate church from the ordination of the papal system in the latter part of the sixth century to the end of the church age ⁸, 

Bible References:

1. I know your works and your labor and your endurance and that you cannot bear evil men; and you have tried those who call themselves apostles and are not, and have found them to be false; (Revelation 2:2)
2. And you have endurance and have borne all things because of My name and have not grown weary. (Revelation 2:3)
3. But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4)
4. I know your tribulation and poverty (but you are rich) and the slander from those who call themselves Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)
5. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name and have not denied My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (Revelation 2:13)
6. But I have a few things against you, that you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol sacrifices and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)
7. In the same way you also have some who hold in like manner the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (Revelation 2:15)
8. But I have something against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and leads My slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices.(Revelation 2:20)