We know that Revelation reveals what happens in the last seven years before Jesus returns. It is the 70th week of Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27). Could the seven seals relate to what is unfolding in each of the last seven years and what about the churches could they reveal what is unfolding in the church during each of the seven years? For example only one church is told it will be kept from the wrath of God (the Church of Philadelphia) and God said to one church that He would spit them out of His mouth.(the church of Laodicea). What about the other churches? Could the names of the churches be significant (e.g. the fourth church, “Thyatira” means “graveyard on a hill.“ The fourth seal and fourth horse (green) signifies death. Why isn’t this taught by pastors? Watch Nelson Walters video and discover the amazing answer. Each of the seven churches reveal what the church will face in each of the last seven years before Jesus returns. They line up with the seven seals which also reveal what is unfolding in each of the last seven years of Revelation.
Watch this and Nelson’s other recommended teaching on the seven churches and seven seals.
I hope you had a chance to view Nelson Walters’s video on the seven churches of Revelation. You will not only understand the purpose and meaning of the letters to the seven churches but you will understand how they complete the story revealed with the opening of the seven seals.
In the first post, I covered the first church Ephesus which faced deception with false prophets and Messiahs. After the deception of the First Year, the world is about to enter a most difficult time.
The Letter to Church at Smyrna, Smyrna means “myrrh or death.” The spice myrrh, which was primarily used for embalming, was the city’s main export. We know from the model we have been constructing for the 70th Week that the Second Year is a year of bloodshed, war, and chaos. Death is the main export of the Second Year.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS IN THE LETTER TO SMYRNA
Revelation has this to say about Jesus in the Letter to Smyrna: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this (Rev. 2:8) The statement “first and the last” is a paraphrase of Rev. 1:8 where Jesus claims to be the “alpha and the omega” (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). This phrase is highly encouraging to those about to suffer. Jesus created all things and will judge all things in the end; between the two events, he is in control of all things. Nothing will happen to Christians that he does not work for their ultimate good.
The second phrase (“has come to life”) is also encouraging. Jesus has conquered death. It is not what we should fear. Jesus said, “I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him” Luke 12:4-5. Those who have died to Jesus and live in Him have nothing to lose or to fear. We are already “dead” to the old self and to this world and its evil system. We are alive in Him. This should be the attitude of the saints facing the Second Year of the 70th Week as reflected in the attributes of Jesus in the letter to Smyrna.
CONDITION OF THE CHURCH IN THE SECOND YEAR
The condition of the Church in the Second Year is difficult, per the Letter to Smyrna: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev. 2:9)
We observed in the section about Ephesus that worship of the Antichrist’s god may be tied to economic prosperity. In this section, we notice that the Christians are economically poor. Unwillingness to compromise may have led to their poverty. We know from the model we are constructing of the 70th Week of Daniel, that there will be worldwide economic problems in year three.
In the previous section on Ephesus, we also saw a focus on Islam as the spiritual challenge for the Church. In Year Two, from Rev. 2:9 we see that apostate Judaism is added. We know from Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist eliminates sacrifices and offerings at the midpoint of the 70th week. This obviously indicates that prior to that time, sacrifices and offerings were occurring. We know that “ it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). Only Jesus’s eternal blood sacrifice will take away sin. So when the Jews begin the practice of temple sacrifices again, it certainly is at the prompting of Satan to take their eyes off their Messiah.
God wants his Church to know these sacrifices are blasphemy. Jesus then gives the Church an encouragement: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Although the Great Tribulation does not begin until the Fourth Year, the Church experiences tribulation from the Second Year on. In this passage, we are told that many of the faithful will be placed in prison or prison camps. The length of time the Church will have tribulation is curious: ten days. The Days of Awe are ten days from Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) until Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). These are days of repentance. Jewish tradition teaches that those who repent during the Days of Awe will be written into the Book of Life. The meaning of this time seems such a perfect match with the purpose of the imprisonment (“to be tested”). We have also seen a ten-day period in Daniel 1:12. It is the period of testing (note the similarities) when Daniel and his friends refused the Royal food and trusted God.
A major facet of the Second Year of the 70th Week that is not mentioned in the Letter to Smyrna is warfare. Why is that? The Letter to Smyrna is specifically for the Church, so it may be because Jesus has already instructed the Church in his Olivet Discourse to not be scared when the warfare begins: “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened” (Matt. 24:6). Jesus wants us to know that the wars of the Second Year are not wars that lead to the invasion of Israel and the eventual Abomination of Desolation.
This post follows my previous post: Purpose of the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation. It proposes that each of the Seven Churches represents the Church in one of the seven years of the 70th week of Daniel. The first letter is to the Church during the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel, the second letter is to the Church during the Second Year, etc. Scripture provides multiple other “pictures” of these seven years, particularly the seven seals and Jesus Olivet Discourse. Studying these other scriptures provides a stunningly consistent Pattern of Seven Events: 1) Deception by False Messiahs, 2) War and Bloodshed, 3) Famine, 4) Abomination of Desolation, 5) Martyrdom and Apostasy, 6) Celestial/Earthly Disturbance and Rapture, and then the 7) Wrath of God/Day of the Lord.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE LETTERS
Not only do the letters match the seven-year pattern. they also all have a somewhat complex internal structure consistent among each of the seven letters. This internal structure shared by all the letters helps the reader to compare and contrast how the environment surrounding the Church is changing during each year and how the Church reacts to this changing environment. Let’s look at the basic elements of these seven letters. Each of the church names has a symbolic meaning. Each letter is addressed to an angel in the church. John is commanded to write to the angels. Angels who stand before God himself have no need to have a human write to them. Human messengers need divine revelation, so this highly favors an interpretation that the “angels” are human messengers that relay God’s instructions to his churches. According to Nelson Walters the “angels” of each church are those that bring the message of “overcoming” to the Christians during each year of the 70th Week of Daniel. Many will die and be martyred, so the “angels” may differ from year to year in each of the churches. Each of the letters includes a call to listen, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” This call to listen is a favourite phrase of Jesus that he included at the end of many of his parables (Matt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35). The extended Parable of the Sower in Luke 8 seems to give the best understanding of this phrase. I believe this is the primary reference Jesus was giving us when he used this phrase in each of the seven letters. By quoting the reference to this parable in each of the letters, Jesus is telling us that only a portion of the Christians will have a receptive heart (good soil) for his message. Notice those with good soil will hear, retain, and persevere. By quoting from this parable (Luke 8:5-8) in each of the seven letters, Jesus is warning us there will be those in each year of the 70th Week that “fall away,” and for Christians to be mindful of the snares the devil will set. Now that we have examined the two common elements—-they are all addressed to an “angel” and they all have the same “call to hear”—-let’s investigate each of the individual seven letters.
If the letters are prophecy, then the name given to each church may be symbolic of the general condition facing believers during that respective year of the 70th Week of Daniel, and the purpose of all of Revelation is to prepare and equip believers to overcome this time of trial.
Concerning the first letter, Ephesus means “the desired one.” This name is highly reflective of the immense spiritual battle about to take place. God and Satan both desire the souls of believers. All of the 70th Week of Daniel will revolve around this battle. In year one Satan’s counterfeit messiah and False Prophet will burst upon the world scene. The conflict for the souls of believers will be between the false messiahs and the true Messiah, Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The battle lines are drawn for the “desired one.”
The attributes of Jesus’s appearance mentioned in the letter to each church is symbolic. The description of Jesus to the church in Ephesus is: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:” (Rev. 2:1) Jesus himself has defined both of these aspects of his appearance for us. The seven stars are the angels of each church. Human messengers delivering Jesus’s instructions on how to overcome the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus holds these angels in his right hand. The right hand is the hand of blessing. God’s right hand is also a place of power, “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). Jesus will use these angels to help shatter his enemies by the revelation of His Word, and he will bless these human messengers. The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The Seven Churches are all pictures of the one true Church (as there was only one lampstand in the Tabernacle). Also, it says that Jesus walks among the lampstands. Jesus will be right there with us as we endure and overcome.
In all Seven Letters after the address and the description of Jesus’s symbolic appearance, he briefly describes the Church. For most of the seven years, Jesus provides both positive and negative feedback. This is what our Lord says will be the positive aspects of the church in the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evilmen, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:2-3
The primary condition of the world during this First Year will be deception by false messiahs. It appears from this passage that the Church is initially able to test and then recognize the false messiahs and false prophets as liars. Jesus also commends the Church for hating the works of the Nicolaitans: the word “Nicolaitans” means “overcoming the people of God” and it is tied to the actions of the rider of the white horse whose “conquering” in Rev. 6:2 is a spiritual overcoming. By this, we determined the Nicolaitans here are the followers of the Antichrist, most likely Muslims. Jesus also commends the Church for their perseverance. The Greek word for perseverance is HUPOMONE which is also sometimes translated endurance. This is the identical Greek word we just saw in Jesus’s explanation of the Parable of the Sower which is critical to understanding Jesus’s call to hear: But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance (HUPMONE). (Luke 8: 15. Bearing fruit in the coming trial will require endurance. Additionally, the trial will help produce this endurance, “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance (HUPOMNE)” (Romans 5:3, emphasis mine). This is one purpose of Daniel’s 70th Week—refining the Bride of Christ.
Jesus has one rebuke for the Church, and it’s a big one: But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Bringing the Bride of Christ back into a love relationship is the main purpose of the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus is clear that the Church will cease to be the Church if they don’t repent and act accordingly. They will fall away and apostatize.
Entering the trial, the Church will do “works” and will “toil,” for the Lord says, “I know your deeds and your toil” (Rev. 2:2). The Church will be expending effort, but it will not be done through the love of Jesus. Just a few verses later, we learn the Church’s works are not adequate. Jesus wants the Church to “do the deeds you did at first” (Rev. 2:5). Even though Jesus is aware of the effort the Church is expending in “good deeds,” these deeds are not done in the right spirit.
Next post we will look at the church in the second year of tribulation, the church at Smyrna. Nelson Walters’s video is excellent but you will need 2 hours and 51 minutes to watch it.
In the Olivet Discourse Matthew 24:3-30, Jesus gave the disciples the signs of the end of the age prior to His coming to rapture His church and pour out His wrath with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements on unrepentant peoples still on earth.
Jesus also gave John in Revelation confirmation of these signs of the end of the age and confirmation of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years prophecy (Daniel 9:20-27) specifically the last week of years, the last seven years prior to Jesus return.
Revelation provides us with great detail on what God has ordained to happen in those last seven years to prepare and in fact refine His church during this time.
The letters to the seven churches describe the church in each of those last seven years before Jesus returns first to rapture the Saints and then return to earth with the Saints to conquer the Antichrist and destroy his army (Armageddon).
EPHESUS REPRESENTS THE CHURCH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE LAST SEVEN YEARS
The church in Ephesus represents the church when the first seal is removed. The church has laboured, rejected evil, and has endured for Christ’s sake, but has lost its first love and zeal. The love of worshipers has waxed cold, and every worshiper is a lover of himself. God’s agenda was paramount in the past, but now it means nothing (Revelation 2:1-7).
SMYRNA REPRESENTS THE CHURCH IN THE SECOND YEAR
The church in Smyrna, which can also be called the “suffering” or the persecuted church, represents the church in year two after the second seal is broken. The church is poor in the sight of men but rich in the sight of God. It is surprising to note that Jesus did not give them hope of deliverance from persecutions and attacks but encouraged them to stand firm because more attacks were imminent. He only promised them the crown of life when He returns (Revelation 2:8-11). The present-day persecuted churches should be strengthened by this message and should stop fearing those who can only kill the body but fear the one that can kill body and soul.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
PERGAMUM REPRESENTS THE CHURCH IN THE THIRD YEAR
The church in Pergamum in the third year of the last seven years will be an underground church living at a time when it is forbidden to mention the name of Christ. They are still standing even when many of the worshipers have been killed for the sake of the Gospel. Nevertheless, Jesus found the church wanting because they allowed the doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitan in their midst. Churches that release curses during prayers, practice idolatry and immorality, belong to this group. Christ is warning all churches that do these things to stop such activities or face the consequences (Revelation 2:12-17).
THYATIRA REPRESENTS THE CHURCH IN THE FOURTH YEAR
The message to the church in Thyatira is a message to some prophetic churches that are doing well but have been infiltrated by unbelievers. The Jezebel spirit and soothsayers in their midst seduce worshipers to commit fornication and idolatry. Christ is warning all of the churches that belong to this class of their coming damnation if they do not repent (Revelation 2:18-29).
SARDIS REPRESENTS THE CHURCH IN THE FIFTH YEAR
Jesus enjoined the church in Sardis, which is the umbrella of compromised and dead churches that are at the brink of annihilation, to be watchful and strong. It is important to note that in these churches there are a few faithful ones who have not defiled their garments. Jesus warned worshipers in such churches that He would remove their names from the Book of Life if they do not repent. What a tragedy it will be for Christians who will not endure to the end (Revelation 3:1-6).
PHILADELPHIA REPRESENTS THE CHURCH THAT IS RAPTURED
Christ commended the church in Philadelphia for their steadfastness in upholding the Word of God irrespective of their little strength. They have no financial or numerical strength, but they are faithful in all their endeavours. This is the church that will be raptured at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal. Jesus tells them “Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole worldto test those who live on the earth” Revelation 3:10.
LAODICEA REPRESENTS THE CHURCH LEFT BEHIND TO FACE THE WRATH OF GOD
The Laodicea church is the church that is left behind. Sadly, it is the denomination to which many churches aspire to belong to. Members of this group are popular and prosperous but are neither cold nor hot in their service to God. They have numerical strength, are self-sufficient, and boast about their wealth and fame. But Jesus judged these churches to be wretched, miserable, poor, and blind and enjoined them to come and get the true riches from Him. Even though they will experience the wrath of God, Jesus still calls them to repentance. They still have an opportunity to come into the Kingdom of God but they will experience the time God pours out His wrath upon the earth with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. I believe the period will be one year and ten days, the exact time God poured out His wrath upon the earth in Noah’s day.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 