Commentary - Overview

Remember the command to John in Revelation 1:11, to write to the seven churches in Asia. We find also in chapters 2 and 3 a special message which was given him for each church. Another of the seven cities was Smyrna. All seven of the cities were in a little group quite near to Ephesus. Between Ephesus and Smyrna are Sardis and Philadelphia. Above Smyrna are Pergamos and Thyatira. The churches in these and other cities were having a very hard time, often tempted to join the heathen people about them in their evil ways and worship, and often persecuted and killed if they refused and stood faithful to the Lord. Ephesus saw many Christian prisoners put on ships for Rome to suffer in the Coliseum.

Look now at the messages. Each message is addressed to the angel of a church. That is beautiful as suggesting that the church in heaven was near to the church on earth in its trials. "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11, 12) The Lord describes Himself to each church by some particular of the description of His glorious appearance to John in the first chapter. Then He commends some good qualities of each church; then faults are pointed out, and a beautiful promise is made to each if it will repent. You will like to compare the messages, in this way, reading especially the messages to Ephesus and Philadelphia and Laodicea.

The messages interest us further because the churches to which they are addressed stand as types of people everywhere of many kinds, to whom the Lord appeals to leave their evil ways and to be of His holy city. For seven means all.

Commentary - In-Depth

The general truth is well expressed in this note in the "New Century Bible":

"In order to secure a full understanding of these Letters, it is necessary to look at each of them in a double aspect, first, as addressed to an individual, historical church, and reflecting the character and situation of the church to which it is addressed, and secondly, as directed to these churches in a representative capacity, and together standing for the whole church, and reflecting the strength and weakness, the victories and shortcomings, which characterize the church of Christ wherever it may be found."

For definite recognition of the qualities of life represented by each of the churches, we find help in Swedenborg's two expositions of the Revelation: Apocalypse Explained and Apocalypse Revealed. Apocalypse Explained is the earlier work, written before the last judgment in the spiritual world, in the year 1757. It is a very full opening of the meaning of the words and symbols that form the letter of the book, an opening which one feels was necessary for the accomplishment of the judgment. The Apocalypse Revealed is a shorter book written after the last judgment, showing especially the application of the Revelation to the events of the judgment in the spiritual world and to the slower accomplishment of like changes in this world.

These chapters of the Revelation contain a message to the churches which collectively represent all the kinds of people who can be prepared for the life of the Holy City which is described later in the book. The message is to seven churches in Asia, to John's own church in Ephesus and to the others near by. But these stand as types of character among Christians everywhere. Seven means all - "all who are in the Christian world where the Word is and consequently the Lord is known." The kind of character represented by each church can be learned from the special way in which the Lord describes Himself to each one, the good things which are commended in each church, the faults which are pointed out in each, and the promise to each church if it will repent. Each message closes with the appeal, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." It is an appeal, so far as we are able to take the Lord's message to heart and obey it. (Apocalypse Revealed 10; Apocalypse Explained 20)

The comparison of the messages to the several churches, suggested to the juniors, will be of interest; and then select perhaps Ephesus, Philadelphia and Laodicea for special study.

The church in Ephesus represents persons who care much for truths of doctrine but too little for charity. The Lord, who holds the stars and walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks, is the Source of all light to the church in heaven and in earth. The good work which the Lord commends is the diligent learning of truth. The fault which He points out is the too little care for charity.

Unless truth is joined with charity, its light will soon go out. The Nicolaitans are explained to mean those who pride themselves on good works and take credit for them. It is not such works that the Lord desires. Heeding the warning and repenting of their fault, the people who have been strong in faith will receive in abundance the satisfaction of love and charity that are a part of real wisdom. (Apocalypse Revealed 73-90; Apocalypse Explained 95-110)

Read what is said to the church in Sardis. The church in Sardis stands for those whose religion consists of formal piety - going to church, reading the Bible, saying prayers - without care for spiritual truths and the life according to them, which make heaven. The Lord announces Himself to such persons as the Source of the heavenly spirit and knowledge which they need; "He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." He warns them that their religion is dead! That they need to awake and put life into these empty forms. If they do not, in the other world, if not before, the outward forms of sanctity will be taken from them. Some have not defiled their garments; with them the forms of worship are the clothing of a heavenly spirit; and the forms of worship will become white raiment with those who love and seek the heavenly spirit in them. Those who thus overcome have in them enduring heavenly life; they are brought into close and lasting union with the Divine love and goodness of the Lord (the Father), and with the angels. The message is practical as we take to ourselves its warning and its promise. (Apocalypse Revealed 154-171; Apocalypse Explained 181-201)

The message to the church in Philadelphia is in some respects the most beautiful of all. There is in it no rebuke, but only the exhortation to "hold that fast which thou hast," with promises of the Lord's protection and of enduring strength from Him. The message is to those who love what is true for the sake of good life. The Lord announces Himself as "He that is holy, He that is true," meaning that He is the Source of the truth which these persons love. This truth also brings with it the power of the heavenly King to protect from evil; and it opens the doors of the soul to the blessed influence of heaven and the Lord. The saying that they of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews but are not, will worship at the feet of the church in Philadelphia, means that they who are in falsities from ignorance or misinstruction will be led to feel the Lord's love in those who are in genuine faith and charity, and will desire to learn the truth by which such love is found. The wisdom of good life that is here described will stand the test of the Divine light in this world and the other, and will be a lasting crown. To be a pillar in the temple of God is to have a permanent place and use in heaven, strong in the Divine truth established in the life. The name of God is written upon one as he lives more and more in the truth and love received from Him; and the name of the Holy City that comes down from heaven is written as the principles of heavenly life are received and lived here in this world. The new name of the Lord is new wisdom about the Lord and heavenly life continually received from Him. (Apocalypse Revealed 172-197; Apocalypse Explained 203-225)

The name by which the Lord announces Himself to the church of the Laodiceans:

"the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God," is a reminder of the certainty and unchangeableness of the Divine truth. The Lord announces Himself so to those who are inconstant, who at one time acknowledge His truth, and at another time deliberately choose evil and deny and argue against the truth. This inconstancy is meant by their being neither cold nor hot. Such persons may call themselves rich, may pride themselves on their knowledge, but because of their inconstancy their knowledge has no value, and good is profaned with evil. The charge is to get wisdom that is made truly precious by an ardent and constant love, which will be a pure garment and a protection against evil. The change cannot be made without struggle (rebuke and chastening) for the evil which has made one inconstant must be overcome. But the Lord is at the door of the soul, and waits only for an earnest and constant effort on our part, to make His presence felt and to unite us to Himself. To those who overcome, being patient and faithful to the end of life in this world, the Lord gives heavenly strength and blessing - the fruit of the patient faithfulness of His own life. (Apocalypse Revealed 198-223; Apocalypse Explained 226-255)

Commentary for Young Students

When the Lord appeared to John in the island of Patmos He told him to write what he saw in a book and to send it to the seven churches which are in Asia. (Revelation 1:11) A special message was given for each of the seven churches, and these fill the second and third chapters. The Lord knew the people in each of the churches and sent to each just the message that they needed.

What a wonderful encouragement it must have been to the churches in Ephesus and in other cities to receive these letters by John, whom they all knew and loved. They were messages from the Lord that showed that He was near them in their trials and would save them if they would leave the evil ways which He pointed out and keep near to Him. Read the letter to Ephesus, John's own church and city; and to Philadelphia, one of the most beautiful of the letters; and to Laodicea.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

Questions for discussion:

1. What two things was John commanded by the Lord to send to each of the seven churches in Asia? What is the significance of the number seven?

2. What was the temptation which these and other churches were facing, and which must be overcome?

3. What is the general arrangement of each particular message to each church?

4. Why was it of especial encouragement to the churches to receive letters from John? What did the letters teach them about the Lord?