The Seven Churches of AsiaRevelation 1-3

Triumphs and Tragedies of Assembly Life in

the First and the Twenty-first Centuries

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Today: Western Turkey

The Lord walks in the midst of the churches

Son of man

A. The likeness of the churches (1)1. A church (called-out company); Matthew 18:17, etc.2. A flock; Acts 20:28.3. God’s husbandry (cultivated field); 1 Corinthians

3:9.4. God’s building; 1 Corinthians 3:9.5. A temple of God; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.6. A new lump; 1 Corinthians 5:7.7. A body (a body-like organism); 1 Corinthians 12:27.8. An epistle of Christ; 2 Corinthians 3:3

9. A chaste virgin, 2 Corinthians 11:2.10. Lights; Philippians 2:15.11. A crown of rejoicing; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.12. A house of God (house-like); 1 Timothy 3:15.13. A pillar; 1 Timothy 3:15.14. A ground of the truth; 1 Timothy 3:1515. A golden lampstand; Revelation 1:12, 20.16. A star; Revelation 1:20.

A. The likeness of the churches (2)

The assembly as a lampstand

1. Its preciousness2. Its position3. Its purpose4. Its permanence

B. The likeness of Christ1. Like unto the Son of man (Earth)

2. Garment down to the foot (Priest-Judge)

3. Golden sash about His chest (Emotions)

4. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow (Wisdom, experience)

5. His eyes were as a flame of fire (Searching omniscience)

6. His feet were like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace (Judgment)

7. His voice as the sound as many waters (Preeminence) 8. Had in His right hand seven stars (Possession, authority)

9. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (Penetrating words)

10. His countenance was as the sun shining in his strength (Majesty)

Son of man

He is able to meet the need of every assembly!

1. Ephesus (2:1): He holds the seven stars in his right hand; walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.

2. Smyna (2:8): He is the first and the last, which was dead and is alive.

3. Pergamus (2:12): He has the sharp sword with two edges.

4. Thyatira (2:18): He is the Son of God, has eyes as flame of fire, His feet are like fine brass.

5. Sardis (3:1): He has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.

6. Philadelphia (3:7): He is holy, He is true, He has the key of David, He opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.

7. Laodicea (3:14) : The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God

The Mystery of the Church

The Church Age

The Second

Coming of Christ:

Messiah’sReign

The Fisrt Coming of

Christ:Messiah’s Rejection

From the Cross to the Millennium

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NRE VE L AT IO N

RAPT

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PE NT E CO S T

MillenniumTribulation

Universal Church

Local churches on Earth

ASCENSION

PENTECOST

COMING

IN

GLORY

ETERNITY

MillenniumTribulation

LocalChurch

Local Church

CHRISTENDOM

Christ in glory (The Head)

HELL

Unevangelized

Tribulationsaints(Souls)

Lake ofFire

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5a

5d

6b

8

9a

6a

10b

11

12

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5c10a

Eter

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purp

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9b *

* 132a

3 *

OldTestament

saints(Souls) 2b

* * *

Members ofThe Body-on Earth-

UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Members ofthe Body-in glory-

(Souls)

A Glorious ChurchThe Bride

of the LambGlorified bodies5e

RAPTURE

ETERNITY

C. The Lord looks at the assemblies

1. Ephesus – The fallen church2. Smyrna – The frightened church3. Pergamus – The friendly church4. Thyatira – The filthy church5. Sardis – The formal church6. Philadelphia – The faithful church7. Laodicea – The foolish church

Symmetry of Order

EPHESUS LAODICEA

SMYRNA PHILADELPHIA

PERGAMUS SARDIS

THYATIRA

“THE DEPTHS OF SATAN”

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5

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D. Layout of the Seven Letters

Hell

Sepulchres

Earth

1stHeaven

2ndHeaven

3rd Heaven

UniversalChurch

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2

3

4 5

6

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9

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The Tribulation

Christglorified

Bodies

Souls

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Chr

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Pent

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Rapture ofthe Church

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