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

3. The Lord walks in the midst of the churches

4. 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

5. 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 3:15 15. A golden lampstand; Revelation 1:12, 20. 16. A star; Revelation 1:20. A. The likeness of the churches (2)

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. The Mystery of the Church The Church Age The Second Coming of Christ: Messiah’s Reign The Fisrt Coming of Christ: Messiah’s Rejection

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

11. LocalChurch Local Church CHRISTENDOM Christ in glory (The Head) Tribulationsaints (Souls) 4 5a 5d 6b 8 9a 6a 10b 11 12 7 5b 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

12. 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

13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 D. Layout of the Seven Letters

14. 2nd Heaven 3rd Heaven 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Christ glorified Rapture of the Church