The following exposition is on the address to the seven churches in Revelation. The full article can be viewed at www.wellofoath.com in the Febuary Newsletter.

Bible Study
Revelation

Introduction
If you look at the apostle John's writings, whether it is his Epistles or his Gospel, what he had to share was always the last Word in each category. Take the Gospels, for instance. Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote about the Lord's behavior on earth. The Gospel of John speaks of the One "who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven." In the epistles, John wrote at a time when the Gnostics were confusing the Word of God. To confront this he takes men straight to heaven. John takes us out of the realm of man, to wholly receive the Son of Man. In this way - in seeing God - we begin to view things from His eternal reality. This is another, of the special features, of John's writings - he takes us back - back to the beginning. In his Gospel, we are told that Christ was in the beginning; in his Epistles, it is the Word of Life, which was from the beginning; and here in Revelation, we are again brought to the Christ. Only now it is the One who was, and is, and is to come. Thus, through the eyes of the Eternal One, we have a glimpse into eternity future.

At the time John wrote Revelation the world was in great confusion; it was ruled by Caesars, and Rome was at its worst. Things looked rather bleak. So John takes us on a journey, behind the scenes of what mortal eyes can gaze upon, that we might know how God regards the situation of this world. However, the view presented is not only the condition of the world, but also, the condition of the church. And Revelation provides the whole view; the good and the bad. In other words, it not only indicates what pleases the Lord, but also what the Lord condemns in His own. Furthermore, and precisely because of the fact that the church can be diverted off its chosen path, instructions are provided. Why are these offered? So that he redeemed of each generation would have direction, in order that they might regain the Lord's way for the church, even when the outward appearance of it is extremely confusing.

Notice, there are two groups of seven epistles in God's Word. God used Paul to write the first group, which is made up of Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. God used John to write the second group, addressed to the seven churches. Establishing these groups and the reasons they have been provided yields valuable instruction for the saints throughout the entirety of the Church Age.

The first seven deal with the church in a time of normality; the latter speak of the churches in a time of abnormality. The first three Gospels are normal; they help men to know God. The Gospel of John is God's answer to man's unclearness; that is why it so frequently mentions grace and truth. As stated, John's epistles are also God's reaction to abnormality; that is why they mention light and love more often. The first seven Epistles of Paul deal with what was then, the normal behavior of the church. But soon, the church was not normal; so John wrote the last seven Epistles in Revelation. Revelation 2 and 3 make up God's dealings with the abnormal conditions of the churches. The first seven contain truth the church must know to be properly established; the last seven present the way the church must take for restoration.

John tells us in the Epistles that bear his name, "Young children, it is the last hour; and even as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come; whereby we know that it is the last hour" (1 Jn. 2:18). If Christians only see the light of the first seven Epistles, and overlook, or do not understand, the last seven Epistles, they will have difficulty seeing what is right and wrong with the church, and even greater problems knowing the will of God in this “last hour.”

There are three persons whose ministries particularly stand out in the New Testament: Peter, John, and Paul. Second Peter was the last book written by Peter. In it he brought up the matter of apostasy. Paul tells us in First Timothy that the church is the house of God. But in Second Timothy he also reveals that in this great house there are "vessels unto, and some unto dishonor."(2:20) The problem lay in whether the man within the house will cleanse himself and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the lord out of a pure heart (V21-22). In other words, the normal and the abnormal must be separated.

Today, the outward appearance of the church is desolate. If you have not seen this, then there is no need to read Revelation. Why? The epistles to the churches identify specific abnormal conditions that exist in each one. If there is no awareness of being off the original path, can one reasonably expect to understand the advice offered to return one to the chosen path?

Luther saw how Catholicism was cloaked with the attire of Babylon. Sadly, for the most part, Protestantism remains ignorant of the reality that she also has covered herself with many of the same garments. So then, what should we do in this "last hour"? Accept that the condition of the church is an abnormal one. And be thankful, the Lord has not left us without instruction. Revelation 2 and 3 offer us “the way” to walk, even in the midst of the darkness and confusion. The questions to contemplate are these: Are we willing to accept the warnings and reproofs that have been offered? Have we been wholly seeking before God? Can we admit to the unwillingness within us to follow and serve the Lord without the trappings of religiousity - and Him alone!