The term asia did not mean in the first century what it does now, but only the roman province called asia, of which ephesus. Why were the 7 churches of asia minor chosen by god to. An introduction to the letters to the seven churches of. Now there were seven actual churches in asia minor and the interesting thing is if youre up in a satellite looking down, christ names the churches in order as though you were walking in. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. Thus the seven churches would have to be symbolic of all the churches in asia at the time of the writing. John was not far from 100 years old, and the only remaining apostle.
From the prechristian era to the postcolonial age sugirtharajah, r. Asia is not the asia of our day which is the worlds largest continent stretching from the pacific ocean on its eastern border to the ural mountains in the west. Commentators repeatedly speak of what john wrote to the seven churches of asia and are often seemingly unaware that the seven letters were spoken directly by jesus through john to them. Scriptures asia minor seven churches sermon series. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city. Seven churchesintroduction page 1 seven churches of asia introduction introduction. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practised. However, the letters are also prophecy about the future. Weve looked at ephesus, pergamum, smyrna and thyatira and now we are on sardis, which is the fifth of the seven churches that the letter in the revelation was addressed to. Though the bible is a product of west asia, its influence on europe and the americas has received far more attention than its complex career in the east. The immediate audience for the revelation recorded by john is the seven churches which are in asia rev. The seven churches of revelation pastor mark hillis a journey through the seven churches of asia minor, as.
The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. The bible journey johns letter to the 7 churches of. Commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia. The term asia did not mean in the first century what it does now, but only the roman province called asia, of which ephesus was the capital. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. The temple and city of jerusalem had been destroyed, and the jews dispersed 26 years before, and johns attention was called to the condition of the seven representative churches of asia. So if you have your bibles with you, open them to the first chapter of revelation. This is number seven in an eight part series looking at the seven churches of asia and so here we stand, almost but not quite at the end of our journey.
Seven churches of asia commentary bible study tools. The churches in this context refers to the community or local congregations of christians living. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches revelation 3. Bible support esword downloads reference library reference books topx trench, richard commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. Pergamum or pergamon, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia and laodicea. At the time of john, the region refers to the peninsula know as asia minor. It is uned and long outofprint and the lord has seen fit to make it possible to preserve it within the pages of our website. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Map of asia minor in the roman empire map of asia minor and the adjacent mediterranean lands in roman times. The seven churches of asia 2 appleton church of christ. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are letters to seven literal churches in johns day. They mirror seven churches in the old testament as well as seven church ages.
The communion of saints should be maintained by all methods. Commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia is perfect for students, professors, historians, and anyone wanting a greater grasp on this divisive book of the bible. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. This is the pastor bringing the eleven oclock morning message entitled the seven churches of asia. Down deep inside you, is a yearning to go to heaven when this life finally ends or jesus comes and brings us home to his place. Aquila and priscilla salute you much in the lord, with the church that is in their house. These seven representative churches stand for the church of the province. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series. In our preaching through the bible, for these last. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. Explain the meanings of the messages to the seven churches. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas, and has contributed many of his bible study series for use by the foundation. It was a beautiful city with public walkways, parks, and a library second only to alexandria. The city of pergamos was located near three rivers.
The church in ephesus was founded by paul in the middle of the first century. The asia bible commentary series edited by bruce j. Christ speaks to seven churches in asia minor bible truth. Pen and ink were means of strengthening and comforting others. Map of the 7 churches of revelation seven churches of asia.
Over the next 7 weeks, our church is going to examine jesus words to these 7 churches and consider what he is saying to ours. Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. This critical study delves into the strengths and weaknesses of these first century congregations and how. The seven churches of asia, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse, are ephesus, smyrna, pergamos a. Ephesus, smyrna, pergamos, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia and laodicea. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse, the seven churches of asia and the seven churches of asia minor referring to the roman province of asia, modern day asia minorturkey are seven of the major churches of early christianity, dating from the first century ad, as indicated in the book of revelation, chapters 2 and 3, of the new testament.
This morning were going to begin a brief series of studies of the first three chapters of the last book in the bible the book o f revelation. Page 59 saying, i am alpha and omega, the first and the last. This commentary, which despite the title includes a commentary on 1. Revelation the last book of the bible contains jesus final words to his church through 7 letters to 7 churches. In the revelation, chapter 2 and chapter 3, the lord in his address to the seven churches of asia, said some very threatening things. Firstly, to give some pointers that seem to be important not only with reference to chapter 1 but with the overall thrust of the book after all, as you will see below, we have pigeonholed the letters to the seven churches until they have become a quite distinct section from the scriptures which follow them even though the entire and complete. On the lords day sunday, john is deep in prayer when he hears a voice and is told to write what he sees to the seven churches.
An overview of the seven churches of asia by william mccarrell. Map of the 7 churches of revelation bible history online. Now there were seven actual churches in asia minor and the interesting thing is if youre up in a satellite looking down, christ names the churches in order as though you were walking in a circle from one to the other. Thank you for the question, why were the 7 churches of asia minor chosen by god to send letters to in the holy bible. In the apostle johns day the seven cities were located in a province of the roman empire called asia, but today they are located in western turkey. Criswell sermon library death of the seven churches. Now, the churches had a marvelous apostolic background. A onevolume commentary on the whole bible zondervan, wintle, brian, dharamraj, havilah, jeyaraj, jesudason baskar, swarup, paul, cherian, jacob, philip, finny, chris wright and ajith fernando on. The exact reason why god selected the seven churches of asia minor to receive a letter of commendation and warning is unknown. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local. If we heed these lessons, we will gain a reward from jesus christ. Bible support esword downloads reference library reference books topx trench, richard commentary on the epistles to the seven churches in asia submitter. In the book of revelation chapters 23, we find in asia minor seven churches johns letters or we should say jesus letters to these seven churches, which was written during the roman empire period.
This letter is from paul, an apostle of christ jesus, according to gods will, and is being sent to the saints i. An introduction to the letters to the seven churches of the. The seven churches were geographically arranged in sequence on a mail route in western asia minor modern turkey. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 2.
This is part six of an eight part message on the seven churches of asia. Asia was a small region in what is modern day turkey see map. Trench, richard commentary on the epistles to the seven. Geography asia in the first century was not the continent by the same name today. Seven represents a cycle in the bible, like the week. The words at ephesus are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter, and the faithful ones in fellowship with christ jesus. The apostle refers many things to a personal meeting. Seven churches introduction page 1 seven churches of asia introduction introduction. Map of the seven churches in asia bible history, revelation. With the logos edition, all scriptures are linked to the bibles in your library, making study fast and easy. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey.
The letters to the seven churchesand the seven church eras they representcontain important lessons. Welcome to the sermon theme on the seven churches of asia minor. Bobdeffinbaugh graduated from dallas theological seminary with his th. The letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting the biblical resource series colin j. Scholars realize that this sequence portrays seven eras of god.
The only reference to his appearance is found in the book of isaiahmore than seven hundred years before the nativity. On the radio and on television you are sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. It is believed that john, mary, peter, andrew, and philip were all buried here. Seven churches of asia minor sermon by richard mc quinn. Explain the meanings of the messages to the seven churches in. We enter into a study of the seven churches of asia using the book of that same name, written in 1936 by william mccarrell. Asia was a term which in the books of the maccabees actually means asia minor, which antioch iii the great had to give up to the roman province of asia proconsularis formed after 3 b. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas. Bible study notebook bible study tools scripture study bible mapping bible notes bible knowledge historical maps free bible bible truth sunday october 25th 2015 vision of jesus in israel how the vision began sometime about 7. John writes, i was in the spirit on the lords day, and i heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia. Nicholls and sangbok david kim aims to enable readers to understand the scriptures in their own context and to interpret and apply them to the plurality of asian cultures in which they live and work. This is a set of visuals to use with the lesson about the 7 different churches in asia that john wrote about in revelation.
The letters to the seven churches describe actual conditions in each church at the end of the first century ad. Map of asia minor and the adjacent mediterranean lands in roman times. Criswell sermon library the seven churches of asia. The effect this is having on our children in school and society is horrendous. This was a major city in the western province of asia minor, and now a part of turkey. The scripture that bonnie read earlier was the letter written by christ to the christians in the city of philadelphia, which was the sixth of seven letters written to the churches in the area. The government was run by the romans, but the language was greek. Saying, i am alpha and omega, the first and the last. All kjv books old testament only new testament only apocrypha only. Sometimes you may hear it referred to as asia minor. Sugirtharajah corrects this imbalance with an expansive new study of asias subversive and idiosyncratic relationship with the bible.
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