The Seven Churchesof Revelation Series

Dr. Michael Erickson

Four principles

of interpretation

for the Seven Churches.

Historical interpretation

Personal application

Spiritual significance

Prophetic purpose

Ephesus

The Apostolic Age

30-100 A.D.

Smyrna

The Persecuted Church

100-312 A.D.

Pergamum

The Indulged Church

312-606 A.D.

Thyatira

The Pagan Church

606 A.D. - Tribulation

Sardis

The Dead Church

1520 A.D. - Tribulation

Philadelphia

The Evangelical Church

1750 A.D. – the Rapture

Laodicea

The Apostate Church

1900 A.D. – Tribulation

The church at Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

Philadelphia

The Evangelical Church

1750 A.D. – the Rapture

No word of criticism

or condemnation for

this church.

Revelation 3:7-8

the “open door”

is evangelism and

world missions.

Since 1750 a.d.

Evangelical and Pentecostal

missions have dominated

world evangelism.

The promise of the rapture

Revelation 3:10

Revelation 3:12

God will write on us,

sealing us with three names.

“the name of my God”

“the new Jerusalem”

Jesus’ “new name”

The church at Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

Laodicea

The Apostate Church

1900 A.D. – Tribulation

Laodicea

Hot, cold or lukewarm.

Leviticus 6:8-13

Revelation 3:17

The problem of self-righteousness

and spiritual pride.

Matthew 23:27-28

Luke 18:9-14

Revelation 3:18

The spiritual essentials

Refined gold

I Peter 1:6-7

White clothes

Revelation 3:4-5

“So you can see”

Personal revelation of the of

the reality our personal

condition.

Revelation 3:19-20

A call to repentance

and an invitation to

fellowship.

Revelation 3:21

The promise to the

“overcomer” in the

book of Revelation.

10 passages

Revelation 2:7,11,17,26

3:5,12,21 / 12:11 / 17:14

21:7

The Seven Churchesof Revelation Series

Dr. Michael Erickson