207 seven churches

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The seven churches

Lecture Outline forDVD #207

Amazing Discoveries

Total Onslaughtby Professor Walter Veith



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Te Seven Churches

Amazing Discoveries

Total OnslaughtLecture Outline #207

1.What are the seven churches?

Revelation 1:11, “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the firstand the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, andsend it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto _________, and unto _______, and unto _______, and unto________, and unto ________, and unto ___________,and unto ____________.”

NOTE: These were churches that are located in Asia Minor,in fact the ruins of these churches are in the country of Turkey today.

2.What relevance do these old churches have today?

NOTE: These churches, although they were literal, also when studied carefully, reveal the history of the church

throughout history. From the conception of the early Christian Church, to the consummation of all things at thesecond coming of Christ, the whole gambit is here for usto take lessons we can learn about the history and present



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challenges facing the people of God. So, let’s begin our journey looking at the first church mentioned by Jesus here,

the church of Ephesus.3.What was commendable about the Church of Ephesus?

Revelation 2:1-3, “”Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven starsin his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the sevengolden candlesticks;I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, andhow thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thouhast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not,and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast ______, and for my name’s sake hast ______, and hast not__________.”

NOTE: This church represents the early Christian Church.It was a pure church, with pure motives. They went outand evangelized the world that they knew. They wantedeveryone to hear the good news. So, they went out andtold them. This was the time period of (33 AD – 100 AD) Thechurch in Ephesus had a very high standard of Christianity.They tried those who said they were followers of Christ, but

in the end they were found to be pretenders. They laboredbringing others to Jesus, and they did not grow weary andlose their faith in Christ.

4.For what did Jesus rebuke the church at Ephesus?

Revelation 2:4-5, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against

thee, because thou hast left _____ _____ _____.Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, andrepent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto theequickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,



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except thou repent.”

NOTE: Jesus tells them that they left their first love. Whatdoes this mean? They somehow lost the early fervency and simplicity of their relationship with Jesus. They wereno longer serving Him out of a heart filled with love astheir motivation, but only out of a sense of legality. Thisproblem is still with us today. There is a very subtle danger among Christians today to lose their first love experience

with Jesus.

5.What was the promise made to the overcomer inEphesus?

Revelation 2:6-7 , “But this thou hast, that thou hatest thedeeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto

the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of thetree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

NOTE: Here we see something that at first glance seemsto be contrary to the character of Christ. Here Jesuscommending the church for hating. Not hating thepeople, but hating the deeds. This is the same way Jesus

is. Jesus does not hate anyone He loves everyone, and wants everyone to be saved. (See 2 Peter 2:9) But, He doeshate sin. Jesus also extends the promise for the overcomer,

which is the fruit from the tree of life that will perpetuateeternal life. This was the same tree that was kept from

Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). The next church that is mentioned is the church at

Smyrna.

6.What are some of the most obvious characteristics of theChurch in Smyrna?



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Revelation 2:8-11, “And unto the angel of the church inSmyrna write; These things saith the first and thelast, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and_______, and ________, (but thou art rich) and I know theblasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,but are the synagogue of Satan. ______ none of thosethings which thou shalt _______: behold, the devil shallcast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and yeshall have ________ ___ ____: be thou faithful unto death,and I will give thee a crown of life.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith untothe churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of thesecond death.”

NOTE: One of the most unique characteristics about thischurch is that Jesus had no reproofs for it. There is only

one other church in the seven that had no reproofs. This was a church that was heavily persecuted, and experiencedgreat persecution. The time frame of this church was fromaround 100 AD – 313 AD. The ten days that is mentionedis equated to ten years when you use the day – year principle, and if you look back into the pages of history you

will find that a very heavy persecution did indeed take place

under the leadership of Diocletian. Where countless hordesof Christians were fed to lions, eaten by wild dogs, under the guise of entertainment at the Roman Colosseum. Thecounsel of Jesus is simple, “Be Faithful Unto Death.” Heknew that this church would face incredible trials, and many people of that church took heed to the words of Jesus.

7.What was the next church and what was it known for?

Revelation 2:12-17, “And to the angel of the church inPergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp



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sword with two edges;I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where

Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hastnot denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, whereSatan dwelleth.But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast therethem that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balacto cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat

things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the __________, which thing I hate.Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fightagainst them with the sword of my mouth.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith untothe churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and inthe stone a new name written, which no man knowethsaving he that receiveth it.”

NOTE: Here we see a contrast between especially the churchat Ephesus. Pergamos began to compromise in issues thatthe church before were against. The Ephesians churchhated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, and the Pergamoschurch held to that doctrine. Paganism was making its way into the church and the results would be catastrophic.

8.What happened to the church at Thyatira?

Revelation 2:18-29, “And unto the angel of the church inThyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hathhis eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like finebrass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith,and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be morethan the first.



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Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, becausethou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself aprophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commitfornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And I gave ____ _____ to ______ of her fornication; andshe ________ not.Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commitadultery with her into great tribulation, except they repentof their deeds.

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churchesshall know that I am he which searcheth the reins andhearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to

your works.But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known thedepths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you noneother burden.

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto theend, to him will I give power over the nations:

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I receivedof my Father.

And I will give him the morning star.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith untothe churches.”

NOTE: This time period was from 538 AD – 1517 AD.It was a very sad time in the history of the ChristianChurch. Compromise became so accepted that it wasinstitutionalized. Great systems began under this pagan

philosophy, of letting down the standards that madeChristianity stand out, and was replaced by letting go of those standards in order to bring people into the church.When this is done, in whatever age it might be, the result is



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widespread apostasy.

9.What was the next step in the history of the ChristianChurch?

Revelation 3:1-6, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hasta name that thou livest, and art dead.Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, thatare ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfectbefore God.Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch,I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know

what hour I will come upon thee.Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiledtheir garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are _________.He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in whiteraiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and beforehis angels.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto

the churches.”

NOTE: Praise God, that He did not leave His church inspiritual ruin! During the time of Sardis, God began amovement called the reformation. This was from 1517 AD– 1798 AD. God opened the eyes of many sincere people

who truly wanted to do the will of God. Who were faithful

members of the church that ruled during the middle ages.One of those, was a man by the name of Martin Luther.Luther was a monk, and had no desire to leave his belovedchurch. But, as he studied the Word of God, the contrast



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and contradiction of his own church, seized him withhorror, and he had no other choice than to try to reform it.This movement swelled with when others read his writingsand the reformation gained substantial momentum. Atthe council of Trent however this movement failed for atime. But, the good news is that this reformation, is stillcontinuing, and against all odds it will finally triumph inpower and glory under the direct control of the Holy Spirit.

10.How did the church in Philadelphia respond to thegospel message?

Revelation 3:7-13, “And to the angel of the church inPhiladelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he thatis true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, andno man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open

door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, whichsay they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I willmake them to come and worship before thy feet, and toknow that I have loved thee.Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will

keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall comeupon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.Behold, __ _____ _________: hold that fast which thouhast, that no man take thy crown.Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write uponhim the name of my God, and the name of the city of my

God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto



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To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith untothe churches.”

NOTE: This is the only church that has no commendationfrom Jesus only rebuke. This age of the church is ravagedby secularism and materialism, so much so that the churchis neither hot, nor cold. Hot meaning, emptied of self,filled with the love of God. Cold meaning, never knowingthe truth, devoid of the knowledge of God, this church islukewarm somewhere in the middle. The time frame of Laodicea is from 1844 – till the present time. The word“Laodicea” means a judging of the people. So, this is a timeof Judgment. This is also the final church there are noteight churches, only seven.

MY DECISION FOR JESUS….

I see that God has hand his hand over the church in every succeeding age, and I also realize that God’s church hasencountered tremendous trials and disappointments, as

well as glimpses of the power of Christ.

I decide today to follow Him wherever that path might lead. Yes or No



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