The Seven Churches of Asia Revelation 1-3 Triumphs and Tragedies of Assembly Life in the First and the Twenty-first Centuries

The Lord walks in the midst of the churches

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, 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: Lights; Philippians 2: A crown of rejoicing; 1 Thessalonians 2: A house of God (house-like); 1 Timothy 3: A pillar; 1 Timothy 3: A ground of the truth; 1 Timothy 3: A golden lampstand; Revelation 1:12, A star; Revelation 1:20. A. The likeness of the churches (2)

The assembly as a lampstand 1.Its preciousness 2.Its position 3.Its purpose 4.Its permanence

B.The likeness of Christ 1.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’s Reign The Fisrt Coming of Christ: Messiah’s Rejection

From the Cross to the Millennium ASCENSION REVELATION RAPTURE PENTECOST MillenniumTribulation Universal Church Local churches on Earth

LocalChurch Local Church CHRISTENDOM Christ in glory (The Head) Tribulationsaints (Souls) 4 5a 5d 6b 8 9a 6a 10b b 5c 10a Eternalpurpose 1 * * * * * * * * 9b * * 13 2a 3 * OldTestamentsaints (Souls) 2b *** Members of The Body -on Earth- UNIVERSAL CHURCH Members of the Body -in glory- (Souls) A Glorious Church The Bride of the Lamb Glorified bodies 5e RAPTURE

C. The Lord looks at the assemblies 1.Ephesus – The fallen church 2.Smyrna – The frightened church 3.Pergamus – The friendly church 4.Thyatira – The filthy church 5.Sardis – The formal church 6.Philadelphia – The faithful church 7.Laodicea – The foolish church

D. Layout of the Seven Letters

2nd Heaven 3rd Heaven Christ glorified Rapture of the Church