The Seven Churches of the book of Revelation (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philidelphia, and Laodicea) were local churches in Asia Minor. The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned the apostle John to write seven letters, one to each of the churches (Revelation 1:19) and these letters are contained in chapter two and three. Apart from letters being written to seven actual churches in John’s day, some see two further applications for them. These are, Seven types of churches existing in the world until Christ returns, and seven church ages - or periods of church history.
[A] Seven types of Churches existing today
(1) Ephesus (2:1-7)
This type of church does worship God and has all its doctrines in accordance
with God’s word. Added to this, they are well aware of the heresies that are
invading the church, but somewhere along the way they have lost sight of Christ.
It seems that they love their church and their ability to stand in the faith,
but like many denominations they have left their first love - a sincere love for
Christ.
(2) Smyrna (2:8-11)
Here is a church that has not got great resources nor are they particularly
sought after. Instead they are ridiculed and persecuted for their faith in
Christ. They could overcome this by following the standards of those who are
successful by compromising the Gospel, but instead they have chosen to be
overcomers by being faithful to the Lord. They have chosen the riches of Christ
rather the riches and fame of this world.
(3) Pergamos (2:12-17)
The Pergamos type of church holds to the fundamentals of the faith. They are
faithful to God and His word, but they have compromised with false prophets and
teachers. Because of this compromise unbiblical practices have become part of
their worship and daily living. We could say that this type of church is
ecumenical.
(4) Thyatira (2:18-29)
This is basically a good church but it has allowed itself to slip into a “works
gospel” mode instead of one that serve the Lord Jesus Christ and stands by
faith alone. They now think that they please God through their good deeds. We
would also call this church ‘Charismatic’ for it no longer questions the
prophecies given in the church. It is both charismatic and ecumenical, for
through these false prophecies they are being led into false religion. There are
some who stay in the church in the hope that it will recover itself.
(5) Sardis (3:1-6)
Here is a congregation that is spiritually dead even though they go through
the outward motions of being alive. It reality it is simply ritualism. They have
a great respectability in society. They are accepted and acceptable to everyone.
The Lord has a few faithful souls even here who are determined to rid their
church of ritualism and spiritual death. Usually they are lone voices in such
places.
(6) Philadelpia (3:7-13)
The “Philadelphian” church is faithful to the Lord. Out of all the
churches they have their priorities in the correct order. They love the Lord and
His word, and they work for the furtherance of the Gospel. They take a strong
stand against all trends that arise to undermine faith in Christ. This type of
church will never be popular in the world or amongst so-called Christians, but
it is effective in preaching the truth in a depraved world.
(7) Laodicea (3:14-22)
This is a church that has completely lost its way. It has compromised on
every possible level so as to be acceptable to the world and false religion. It
has great wealth and claims to be open minded. For some reason they think that
by adding God’s name to all they do that it pleases God. This church has
rejected the Bible for popular religion.
[B] Seven Church Ages
The following details are derived from “Dispensational Truth” by Clarence Larkin, and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” by Peter Ruckman. Both authors give settings and dates for the seven church ages, though the dates differ slightly. I have only given Peter Ruckman’s dating of these ages.
(1) Ephesus Age:
This is otherwise known as the Apostolic Age (33-200 AD).
As the Apostolic Age began to die out the Church became more and more religious.
It was a time when clerical rulership began to arise, but nevertheless this Age
saw the word of God spreading throughout the Roman Empire.
(2) Smyrna Age:
This period in church history (200-325 AD) sees Christians
being persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Some see the “tribulation ten
days” (Revelation 2:10) as ten actual periods of persecution from Nero to
Diocletion.
(3) Pergamos Age:
During this time (325-500 AD) paganism enters the
Church. To a great extent this is because of Constantine’s so-called
conversion to Christianity. The church compromised with Constantine’s paganism
and idolatry and adopted all kinds of unscriptural teachings and practices. It
is here that we see the foundation of what would become the Roman Catholic
Church.
(4) Thyatira Age:
The Dark Ages (500-1000 AD). Paganism in the form of
the Papacy now controls Europe; the Roman Catholic Church being the only
official religion. The Roman Catholic Church systematically persecutes those who
thought differently about her regarding the things of God.
(5) Sardis Age:
The Reformation (1000-1500 AD). This age sees the rise
of the great Reformers such as Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Tyndale. Through
these men the light of the Gospel opened the eyes of Europe to the spiritual
darkness it was in. Through them the Bible began to be placed into the hands of
ordinary people instead of it being under the control of the priests. The Roman
Catholic Church is guilty of millions of deaths through various persecutions,
inquisitions, and massacres.
(6) Philadelphia Age:
Evangelical Christianity (1500-1900 AD). Throughout
these years we see the Gospel reaching the ends of the earth through the great
evangelists and missionaries. For the first time in world history it looks like
every man and woman on earth would hear the good news about the saving power of
God through Christ. This age also saw ‘Great Awakenings’ around the world.
Basically the age saw one of a spirit of revival under such men as Jonathan
Edwards, John Wesley, George Whitefield, D.L. Moody, and Charles Finney.
(7) Laodicea Age:
Corrupt Christianity (1900-? AD). The turn of the
century saw great changes taking place both in the world and in the church. Not
only were there new bibles, new religions, but the Church began to compromise
with paganism again. An ecumenical spirit has invaded the church so that many
desire to reunite with Rome. Biblical standards fall as worldliness also
corrupts the minds of believers. Faith is undermined through Higher Criticism
coming from German Theologians, eventually coming to the “God is Dead”
teaching of the 1960’s. The word of God is replaced with a powerless gospel in
many church, who now rely upon gimmicks rather than the Living Word. This age
also sees the rise of the World Council of Churches, Ecumenism, and Interfaith
organisations. The Laodicean age is one of spiritual lukewarmness and Christless
Christianity.
Conclusion:
There is no Scriptural proof to support the view that the seven churches of
Revelation 2 & 3 correspond to periods of the last two thousand years.
Though there is some valuable insights and significance in this interpretation
it should not be relied upon as being perfect. Anything that is based upon human
understanding and theory should always be left open to question. Though the
argument should not be ruled out as a valid point of view I feel that caution
must always be used when date-setting prophesied events, unless there is an
obvious fulfilment as in the case of “The Budding of the Fig Tree” - Israel
becoming a nation again in 1948. My study of End Time events throughout the
years has led me to adopt the form of interpretation of prophecy which says that
it should be interpreted as literal where obviously literal (i.e. literal New
Heaven and Earth), symbolic where obviously symbolic (i.e. the Ten Horned
Beast), but looking for the literal meaning behind the symbolism rather than
dismissing it as simply being symbolic (i.e. The seven stars being the seven
churches). Such symbolism is usually explained in the text or elsewhere in
Scripture.
Since the seven Churches in Asia Minor were actual local churches, all existing at the same time, it is safer to see the prophetic significance of them as referring to seven types of churches with their spiritual conditions that have always existed, and are very evident in the church world today. While not totally dismissing the Seven Church as symbolising Seven distinct Ages in history, I cannot find any Scriptural reasons for adopting it. In his book entitled “The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook” (page 539), John F. Walvood writes, “Taken as a whole, the message to the seven churches represent the major spiritual problems of the church through the ages”. There is therefore good grounds for seeing the instructions and teaching given to the seven church as simply applying to all believers of all ages until Christ returns, with the added point that, they also represent seven types of church existing today (i.e. Evangelical, Charismatic, Ecumenical, Worldly, Religious, and shades in between).