Quote:
Originally Posted by Forrest
" 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" (Revelation 1:11).
The Interpretation of this Passage- Since they are identified as "churches", are the members of these churches "called out believers"?
- Are these "seven literal historical churches" with unique messages that are relevant and applicable to individual churches today?
- Or, is this a prophecy which specifically addresses and applies exclusively to the thousand year Millennium?
- Or, all three?
(There seems to be so many relevant and needful applications for us, today.)  |
Aloha brother Forrest,
Please read (or re-read) my comments on the word "church" in my Thread - "Rightly Dividing God's Words". The word "church" in the Bible doesn't always mean a "New Testament church" (as we know it).
The questions that you ask are some of the same questions that I have "grappled" with for years (and still haven't got a "complete handle on".
)
I will give you some "food for thought" - Please consider the following verses:
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
{The Apostle John was "physically" on the Isle of Patmos - That is: his body was physically located at Patmos, and at a specific time in past history} BUT, He was some where's else "spiritually":
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
The standard "interpretation" is that John was in the Spirit on
SUNDAY. But the Scriptures don't say that! The Bible states that John was in the Spirit on
THE LORD'S DAY! Look up "The Lord's Day"; or "The Day of The Lord"; or "That Great Day"; or any other reference that you can think of and see if "The Lord's Day" = SUNDAY. {I don't "think" so!
}
In order to "rightly divide" the Book of Revelation, we must first determine WHAT is "The Lord's Day", because all of the following verses hinge on WHEN and WHERE John was when he saw what he saw and wrote what he wrote. {Context! Verses without a "context" more likely than not = a "pretext"}
For instance: If John was
in the "Future" {"The Day of the Lord"}, then
ALL of the things that he saw and heard were in the "Future"; which would mean that he was writing to "churches" that were not necessarily in existence in his day (historically) but are going to be in existence in the Tribulation}.
The Book of Revelation is about the Future, and as such it has been "
interpreted" in literally hundreds of ways. I don't profess to understand it all (Understanding is dependent upon God showing us), but I will say this - I believe that Revelation 1:10 is the "
KEY" to understanding and "rightly dividing" the Book, and if "The Lord's Day" is NOT SUNDAY, then most of what is taught as "Doctrine" for the Book may not be doctrine at all, but possibly "Spiritual" instead. Remember the: Historical; Doctrinal; and Spiritual "application" of all Scripture.
Your questions in regards to this subject are some of the most difficult questions I have encountered on this Forum, and truthfully I don't have all of the answers for them {I wish I did!}
I hope that the discussion that follows doesn't turn into "a can of worms", for I would genuinely like to see what the brethren have for my edification on this matter.
