Okay, I promise; this is really the last part of the introduction. I was done, but that old rabbit ran out and I had to chase it. It was no big deal; I just realized I didn’t really know how the seven churches mentioned in Revelation had figured in the rest of Scripture. So, I looked and today I will share what I learned.
Ephesus.
The church at Ephesus figures fairly prominently in the writings of the New Testament. The first mention we see of Ephesus was in Acts Chapter 18, where Paul seemingly planted this church on his second missionary journey.
In Acts 19, we see Paul return to Ephesus where he stayed for another three years. Likely during this time, he sent missionaries out to surrounding areas, perhaps even planting some of the other nearby churches mentioned in the seven letters.
Paul never returned to Ephesus, but at the end of his third journey, while on the island of Miletus, he did summon the elders of the Ephesian Church to give them his final goodbye and exhortation. This is in Acts 20.
We see mentions of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus in 1 Corinthians 15:32 and 16:8.
Paul wrote two of his pastoral Epistles to Timothy while that young man was the pastor at Ephesus in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.
Finally, the Ephesians got their own Epistle from Paul.
Smyrna. Not mentioned outside of Revelation.
Pergamum. Not mentioned outside of Revelation.
Thyatira. The church is not mentioned, but the town is as the place where Lydia in Acts Chapter 16 was from
Sardis. Not mentioned outside of Revelation.
Philadelphia. Not mentioned outside of Revelation.
Laodicea. Mentioned several times in Colossians, as Paul asked that his epistle to Colossae be read in the Laodicean church as well.
Isn’t that interesting. It sure seems that churches who got a personal letter from Jesus would have had a bigger role in scripture, yet overall they had little mention at all. Why these churches then? There were bigger cities and more churches than just these seven.
It seems it is just a matter of simple geography and information dissemination. If we assume that Jesus wanted all of the Asian churches to see and understand His words, then these seven are fairly perfect. Ephesus is the point at which most commerce and such would enter Asia minor, especially something coming from Patmos, and the others lined up on the main trade routes, and through the seven postal districts of Asia Minor at the time. If the spreading of information is the point, then this was perfect.
I’m sort of disappointed, as I was hoping for some deeply symbolic, Revelation type of thing here. Although this does tie in rather nicely with the idea of the number of churches being seven symbolizing God’s completeness, and the idea that the messages were for all churches, of all times!
Okay, really…I promise: Next time we will start the church at Ephesus.
July 26, 2019 at 10:13
Reblogged this on Broken Pieces and commented:
Thank you Wally…
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July 26, 2019 at 11:55
Thank you!
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July 26, 2019 at 13:49
Reblogged this on Logos Speaks.
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July 26, 2019 at 20:45
Thanks Sister
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July 26, 2019 at 20:51
The study is appreciated.:)
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July 26, 2019 at 13:50
I am surprised also. I would have thought they were large.:)
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July 26, 2019 at 15:26
I know. I was too!
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July 26, 2019 at 17:14
Reblogged this on a simple man of God.
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July 26, 2019 at 20:04
Thanks Daniel
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July 26, 2019 at 19:57
You sound like most preachers, “And in closing, for the fifth time…” 🙂
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July 26, 2019 at 20:06
Yeah lol!
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July 27, 2019 at 05:52
I have found your introduction interesting. I certainly won’t object if you add a fifth part to it.
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July 27, 2019 at 06:33
Thanks Clyde. Never know I might get distracted again lol.
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July 27, 2019 at 10:08
I was going to comment earlier on about this; something that I have observed in ministry being led by the Holy Spirit to serve in many different congregations over the decades. I noticed this in the secular world of business and due to human nature it applies to churches as well no matter the denomination.
A church takes on (just like a business) the personality of the leadership. If a leader is very authoritarian, so for the most part is the congregation because that type of leadership draws that type of individual. The same with a church that is known for giving, or for mercy (Love), etc. I have been involved in my years in ministry with a lot of different churches of some differing denominations an I have found that each church has a distinct “personality” though some personalities are very similar. As a side note, the Holy Spirit has ALWAYS taught me with real-world teaching and I have learned from the churches I was involved with, HOW to do things pleasing to the Lord AND HOW NOT to do things pleasing to the Lord!
With that in mind, I just wanted to tell you that over the years of studying not just Revelation, but the letters to the churches as well, one aspect you can detect is the “personality” of each church. It truly does (at least from my perspective) coincide with the churches of today and thus I would “assume” with churches from the beginning. The only reason I say that is because churches are made up of individuals who follow a certain type of leader (even though Jesus IS the Head) and they tend to exemplify that leadership. Human nature, even though we try to put it under the spirit, still shows itself in the nature of groups of people. Just something to ponder and think about.
God bless and looking forward to more Brother Wally!
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July 27, 2019 at 14:22
What you said is so true, Roland, and I can personally attest to it. I have sadly left the church I had been in my entire Christian life(all 12 years,) and that my wife had been in 44 years(her entire life almost.) The pastor had let his concern for peace and protection of his pastorate overshadow the presence of open and even celebrated sin in the congregation. The congregation was only too willing to go along for the same reasons: peace and preserving the church reputation. As only my wife and I, along wth one other family, were willing to speak up it didn’t end well for us and we all left and have found another church home.
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July 27, 2019 at 14:48
I am always so sorry to hear these kinds of things Brother! I don’t care what denomination, the Lord is not pleased with it. Years ago, Sue and I told the Lord, made a vow actually, that if He would use us to His glory, we would go WHEREVER He wanted us to go. Now understand, I was raised Catholic, VERY Catholic until just before my 17th birthday when I was born-again in a little neighborhood Pentecostal church. I was always questioning everything, and many in the Pentecostal church were just satisfied to say that’s just the way it is. I wanted to KNOW why. So the Lord took us at our word but there was a lot of learning and training that went on. As I stated, I learned what was pleasing to the Lord at certain churches and I learned what was NOT pleasing to the Lord all backed by the Holy Spirit leading me into the WHOLE Word of God and not just bits and pieces that so many in power love to use. Anyway, we have been involved in teaching and preaching for a long, long time and yes, we have had to TRY and provide loving correction, not always accepted, but we promised the Lord and He DID use us, it just wasn’t always easy. That is probably why I am so adamant about people studying the Word as the Bereans did, not to find fault, but to CONFIRM within themselves, the truth of what is being preached. Anyway, sorry to abduct your post, one of these days I’ll send you my testimony, but I DO look forward to your continued teaching on the seven churches!! God bless you my friend.
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July 27, 2019 at 15:19
Brother, you feel free to add as much as you want to to any post, at any time. I don’t consider my blog to be the Wally show; it’s there for all, and sometimes the comments are better than the post. Have no fear, I won’t hesitate to say something if you just start posting some crazy stuff LOL.
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July 28, 2019 at 03:37
Wow I can tell labor of love went into this
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July 28, 2019 at 06:10
I am having fun with it!
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July 28, 2019 at 10:55
Glad to hear that!
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