The Seven Churches Of Revelation 2 And 3 -- By: Larry R. Thornton

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 17:4 (Winter 1974)
Article: The Seven Churches Of Revelation 2 And 3
Author: Larry R. Thornton


The Seven Churches Of Revelation 2 And 3

Larry R. Thornton

Central Baptist Theological Seminary Minneapolis, Minnesota

God gave special divine revelation to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos addressed to seven local churches in the Roman province of Asia Minor. The purpose of this study is to summarize in formation about those seven churches and the seven cities where they were located to aid in interpretation of the messages which all are to hear.

There are various interpretations and applications of the teachings of these seven messages. All recognize the historical circumstances here summarized. As Beckwith writes, “Every great revelation whether Old Testament prophecy or New Testament epistle, is given in view of definite contemporary and local circumstances, but it brings in this form truth of universal significance.” Therefore, the epistles to the seven local churches were given to rouse God’s people to the seriousness of their position before any predictions concerning the future of the nations were given, beginning in chapter four. These epistles directed toward the contemporary circumstances were recorded under inspiration; thus conveying truth for all ages.

John Walvoord writes, “The prophetic interpretation of the messages to the seven churches, to be sure, should not be pressed beyond bounds.

as it is a deduction from the content, not from the explicit statement of the passage.” Expositors need to maintain this distinction between deductions and the plain teaching of Scripture.

Indications

A study of key words and phrases indicates the historical situation of Revelation two and three. The grammatical proof will be dealt with in this section though it is difficult to separate the grammatical from the historical. Davidson writes: “Grammatical and historical interpretation, when rightly understood are synonymous. The special laws of grammar, agreeably to which the sacred writers employed language, were the result of their peculiar circumstances; and history alone throws us back into the circumstances.”

The command given to the Apostle John to write. The command to write is found in Revelation 1:19. There are three divisions: the things which thou hast seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

(1) “The things which thou hast seen.” This refers to the vision of the glorified Christ which John had seen prior to this command. (2)

“The things which are” in the original language refer to the things which were viewed at that time when John wrote. The thing...

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