Rev 1:11 "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
I can see as I go through the opening of Revelation here that it is one controversy after another.
This time most Adventist teach that the seven churches are seven periods of time beginging with the fist century up until Christ comes.
When looking up videos on this, I learned this goes beyond SDA teaching.
Yes there are many variations of the dates.
The main quote SDA uses to prove as periods of time is this one.
The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the word. (AA 1911 - Chap. 57)
Look at that quote again.
You can just as easily say all 7 messages at any given time extend to the end of time.
One thing this quote does confirm is that these are "condition of the church".
The call to the gospel feast is first to be given in the highways. It must be given to those who claim to be in the highways of Christian experience - to the members of the different churches. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Rev 2:7 In these churches there are true worshipers and there are false worshipers. A work must be done for those who have fallen from their first love, who have lost their first zeal and interest in spiritual things. We must bring the warning before professed Christians who are transgressors of the law of God. To them the message must be given. {6T 76.4}
The problem with the timeline thinking is that it puts all Christians today in the Laodicean Church.
Basically calling all of us Luke Warm, and this leads up right until Jesus comes again.
Does this sound like the church Jesus has been waiting for?
Lets look at some of the problems with calling the Churches a timeline.
- Ephesus - repent...or else I will come unto thee quickly (Rev 2:1-4, Rev 2:5-7)
- Smyrna - ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:8-11)
- Pergamos - Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly (Rev 2:12-14, Rev 2:15-17)
- Thyatira - I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
- Thyatira - hold fast till I come. (Rev 2:18-21, Rev 2:22-25, Rev 2:26-29)
- Sardis - 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. (Rev 3:1-3, Rev 3:4-6)
- Philadelphia - Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Rev 3:7-10, Rev 3:11-13)
- Laodicea - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:14-17, Rev 3:18-21, Rev 3:22)
- Smyrna - be thou faithful unto death
- Philadelphia - I will write upon him the name of my God. (Rev 14:1)
- The years associated with Philadelphia are a very short time
- Laodicea, is then the end time church. Is this the remnant church God is waiting for in the last days?
Problem One - Conditions for a certain time or various conditions that we could all fall into at any time.
The tidings that Christ is our righteousness has brought relief to many, many souls, and God says to His people, "Go forward." The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition
Well there you have it, Ellen White said we are in that condition so that must be where we are at in the timeline right?
You do know that is not the only condition Ellen White spoke of?
The messages that God gave to the churches of Ephesus and Sardis are applicable to those who in this age have had great light but have not opened the door of the heart to the knock of Christ. The Lord has shown plainly that He has a controversy with His people. The fires that have lately raged in New York and other cities were no accident. It was the hand of omnipotent power. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the world because the warnings of heaven have not been heeded. We need to beware; for a similar condition of things is coming in amongst us as a people. {Ms18-1903.6}
I'm not saying there is no timeline here but at this time more than ever I think we need to beware of which condition we are in and to repent like most of the churches say.
Problem Two - The Candlesticks
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man (Rev 1:13,20)
Jesus is in the MIDST of the candlesticks or churches.
He is not walking by them one at a time.
At any time again Jesus is there with that church.
Being in the midst of them, means they were all there at the same time.
Problem Three: The Context Of The Seven Churches
On the Isle of Patmos, Christ revealed Himself to John, enabling His servant to endure the seeing of things of eternal interest. No mortal being can endure the revelation of God. His presence has always been shrouded by a guard of angels. But to John was given the privilege of seeing Christ, not in the burning bush, but amidst the indescribable glory of the holy sanctuary. Never was there a grander meeting than the meeting between John and Christ on the Isle of Patmos. The wonderful vision was accompanied by the words, "Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." [Amos 4:12.] It was no sophistry, but the presence of the divine Being who at the time of His ascension has taken into the heavenly courts a glorified humanity. He announced Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and He came to give John a message for the churches. The instruction given to John at this time is contained in the book of Revelation, and with this instruction every medical missionary should be familiar. This book contains the message that we are to proclaim in these last days. We cannot study the book of Revelation too diligently. We cannot become too familiar with the instruction that it contains. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." [Revelation 1:3.] {Ms168-1907.16}
Are we not to look for a last day message in the churches?
Maybe we should?
There are two main themes spoken of here.
1. The second coming of Jesus.
2. Time to repent.
I believe all these churches have a message to us in these last days.
There are two churches that do not say repent.
Yes I believe some of us will die during the tribulation time.
Problem Four: The last two churches have to reach till Jesus comes
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience." Does this apply to the men who persecute those who conscientiously keep the commandments of God, who refuse to bow down to an idol sabbath and worship an institution of the papacy? Who is keeping the word of God's patience? This is a question of intense interest, a question which none of us can afford to ignore; because God has said of those who do keep the word of his patience, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." {RH June 19, 1900, par. 14}
Ellen White speaks of Philadelphia as going through till Jesus Comes.
If this was just a timeline, you would have to end Philadelphia before moving on to Laodicea.
This does create some confusion, some will keep Philadelphia around the 1844 movement and some will move Philadelphia up till Jesus comes again.
Those that keep Philadelphia around the 1844 movement have two problems.
One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth was found no guile. The Lord has said, "Blessed is the man ... in whose spirit there is no guile" [Psalm 32:2]. They profess to be children of God, and are represented following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience; followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as the flock follows the shepherd
Like he said above in the video above, "this is more than denominationalism". No church can save you.
Please seek out a group of people which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Search out Bible truths.
Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters in Rev 14:7. (The God of the Sabbath)
Seek out the true God in John 17:3. (The one Jesus spoke of)
This page is not to lead you to any denomination, it is to lead you to God through Christ.