Revelation 2
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The Seven Churches-Literal or Figurative?
Most argue that the seven churches are figurative. Seven represents the divine, perfect number and so this passage is referring to all churches in general. Every church can find its condition within these seven churches is how this is argued. To prove that these churches are figurative many point out that there were more than seven churches in Asia. In particular we know that Colosse and Hieropolis were cities that had churches and yet they are not addressed. But there are many reasons why we should understand these churches to be seven literal churches receiving this prophecy.
If this prophecy was not written specifically to these churches, then why name each church in 1:11 and in chapters 2-3? It does not make sense. Jesus simply could have said the seven churches of Asia and left it at that. If he had, I would have believed this to be figurative. But he named each one. Further, each church is identified by Jesus using something specific to its geographic. For example, Jesus speaks of the eye salve of Laodicea, the earthquakes in Philadelphia, and the surprise attacks that came like a thief in Sardis. These are elements that show us that these churches really existed. We must also remember our rule for interpreting apocalyptic language. We take the text figuratively unless the text demands otherwise. By naming each church, the text is demanding we understand these seven churches to be seven real churches in Asia Minor. Jesus told John to send what he saw to these churches. The prophecy was given to them in symbols, but the churches literally existed and received this letter.
There is nothing in the text for us to understand these churches to represent future church periods. Tim LaHaye, the popular author of the Left Behind fiction novels, suggests that the church of Thyatira represents the papal church from 590-1517 A.D. What in the text possibly causes us to understand these churches in this fashion? No one can rightly think that the Christians in the first century read these letters and believe the words did not apply to them, but to Christians in the future. It is clear that these letters to Christians in various cities, describing the problems and works during the first century.
There is great debate over whether the wrath of God is against 1st century Jerusalem, the first century Roman empire, or a revived Roman empire yet to come. As we read Revelation, we need to be honest with the clues and images contained in the prophecy. We cannot use the book to prove our preconceptions and think we are on sound exegetical ground. We need to honestly read the image and accept the interpretation in its most basic understanding. The seven churches of Asia are the first clue. If this message is going to be solely about the destruction of Jerusalem, why is this book written to Asia? It should have been written to a church or churches in Judea, not Asia. There may not have been church in Jerusalem at the time, we do not know. But surely in the whole region of Judea there were Christians meeting together. Why is the book written to Asia if the book is about the destruction of Jerusalem? We are going to be talking about more than Jerusalem. Jerusalem may be included, but we can eliminate the idea that only Jerusalem is involved.
False Apostles (2:2)
This is a partial clue for us to help date the book of Revelation. For there to be people claiming to be apostles requires for many apostles to be alive. How could anyone go around claiming to be an apostle if the only one still alive was John? No Christian would believe the person because they would know John was the only apostle still living. Many apostles were dead by 70 A.D. It would be more likely that false apostles existed during a time when many apostles were still alive. Therefore, we must consider the book of Revelation to be written earlier than 96 A.D.
Falling Away (2:4-5)
Those who argue for a late dating of the book of Revelation argue that it is not possible for these churches to fall away in such a short amount of time. They suggest that it would have been decades to see this kind of apostasy taking place. Does it take decades for new Christians to fall away? No. Does it take decades for Christians to fall away in the face of tribulations and faith shaking hardships? No. How quickly did Corinth begin to do things wrong? Nearly immediately. How quickly did the churches in Galatia to accept another gospel? Very quickly. We have seen in less than a generation churches go from sound to apostate. Therefore, a long period of time is not required to have a falling away.
False Jews and the Synagogue of Satan (2:9)
The letter to the church at Smyrna records that Christians were suffering from those who claimed to be the true people of God (Jews). However, Jesus says they were not his people but their actions showed them to be followers of Satan. As we read the book of Revelation, we must bear in mind that the Christians in the first century were suffering not only by the persecution of the Romans, but also by the persecutions of the Jews (Acts 8:1; 14:19)
The Great Tribulation (2:22)
The phrase “great tribulation” only occurs three times in the scriptures. Two of those three occasions are found in the book of Revelation (2:22; 7:14). The other instance is in Matthew 24:21. By reading this letter it becomes clear that the great tribulation was not an end of the world event. Rather, the great tribulation was something people in the first century would experience if they did not repent (2:22). We will have more to say about the great tribulation when we come to Revelation 7 and more can be found in the Matthew 24 study.
