WEBVTT
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The Book of Revelation
is a mystery for many.
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Yet, the word revelation
means "revealing, making
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known something previously
unknown." Are you
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intimidated by it,
finding it impossible to
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understand, preferring
rather to put it on that
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proverbial shelf?
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If so, today's Tomorrow's
World program is for you.
00:22.355 --> 00:25.125
Many are familiar with
the four horsemen of
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Revelation, the book
often referred to as the
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apocalypse, but what about
the seven letters to the
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seven churches in Asia, as
recorded in chapters 2 and 3?
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These letters have puzzled
scholars and lay members
00:39.105 --> 00:41.641
alike for more
than 1900 years.
00:41.708 --> 00:46.346
Do these letters have some
special meaning for you and me?
00:46.413 --> 00:51.351
The answer is, yes, and that is
the subject of today's program.
00:51.418 --> 00:54.387
In addition, I'll be offering
you our free resource,
00:54.454 --> 00:56.389
God's Church
Through the Ages.
00:56.456 --> 00:59.526
This easy to understand
booklet gives more details
00:59.592 --> 01:02.328
than I have time to cover
on this program, so be
01:02.395 --> 01:05.131
sure to have writing
material available to take
01:05.198 --> 01:07.634
down the contact
information.
01:07.700 --> 01:11.404
Now stay with me, as I'll
be back in five seconds to
01:11.471 --> 01:15.875
explain the seven letters to the
seven churches of Revelation.
01:15.942 --> 01:22.549
♪
01:22.615 --> 01:25.952
A warm welcome to all of
you from those of us here
01:26.019 --> 01:29.155
at Tomorrow's World, where
we bring you the good news
01:29.222 --> 01:32.158
that Jesus proclaimed
of the Kingdom of God,
01:32.225 --> 01:35.495
explain the prophecies of
the Bible, and make sense
01:35.562 --> 01:37.230
of the world in
which we live.
01:37.297 --> 01:40.867
On today's program, we'll
open the biblical book of
01:40.934 --> 01:44.204
Revelation, and discover
the significance of the
01:44.270 --> 01:46.706
seven messages given
to seven churches.
01:46.773 --> 01:49.976
The first verse of this
book gives us answers to
01:50.043 --> 01:52.145
five vital questions:
01:52.212 --> 01:54.914
Who can open our
understanding of the book?
01:54.981 --> 01:57.517
What is the source
of its message?
01:57.584 --> 01:59.986
Who is the
intended audience?
02:00.053 --> 02:02.288
When do its
prophecies begin?
02:02.355 --> 02:07.126
and, Who is to take the message
to its intended audience?
02:07.193 --> 02:11.865
So, let's begin by reading
Revelation 1, and verse 1,
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where we read the answers
to our five questions:
02:15.568 --> 02:20.039
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
[that tells us that He is
02:20.106 --> 02:23.176
the One who reveals the
message], which God gave
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Him [God the Father is the
Originator of the message]
02:27.046 --> 02:30.416
to show His servants
[so the message is not
02:30.483 --> 02:33.453
primarily to the world,
but to the servants of
02:33.520 --> 02:37.457
God]--things which must
shortly take place [in other
02:37.524 --> 02:40.360
words the events prophesied
would soon begin].
02:40.426 --> 02:43.730
And He sent and signified
it by His angel to His
02:43.796 --> 02:47.600
servant John [the Apostle
John is to take the message
02:47.667 --> 02:49.602
to God's servants].
02:49.669 --> 02:52.906
We see from these opening
verses that Jesus Christ
02:52.972 --> 02:56.643
is the One who unveils the
message, that the message
02:56.709 --> 02:59.913
comes from God the Father,
that the message is
02:59.979 --> 03:03.283
intended for God's
servants, and that John is
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given the responsibility
to carry the message to
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those servants.
03:07.220 --> 03:10.690
But, as rich as this
opening verse is, it does
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not reveal the
theme of the book.
03:12.992 --> 03:16.829
For that, we must turn to
verse 10, where John writes:
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I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's Day, and I heard
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behind me a loud
voice, as of a trumpet.
03:23.937 --> 03:27.040
What is the meaning of
being "in the Spirit on
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the Lord's Day"?
03:28.808 --> 03:32.545
Almost all translators and
commentaries erroneously
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promote the idea that, "in
the Spirit on the Lord's
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Day," means that John was
worshiping on Sunday; but
03:39.419 --> 03:41.821
there's a huge
problem with this.
03:41.888 --> 03:45.091
To claim the expression,
Lord's day, means Sunday,
03:45.158 --> 03:47.594
is flawed on
multiple fronts.
03:47.660 --> 03:51.230
If we're talking about a day
of the week, which it's not,
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it could never be Sunday.
03:53.466 --> 03:57.403
If the Bible is our source, we find that not once does it
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identify Sunday, the
first day of the week,
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as belonging to the Lord.
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On the contrary, it tells
us three times that Jesus
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is "Lord of the Sabbath."
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Notice: Matthew 12:8--
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For the Son of Man is
Lord even of the Sabbath.
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Mark 2:28--
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Therefore the Son of Man is
also Lord of the Sabbath.
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And Luke 6:5--
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The Son of Man is also
Lord of the Sabbath.
04:28.401 --> 04:31.938
So, according to the
Bible, if the Lord's day
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is a day of the week, it
is not the first day of
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the week--it's not Sunday; but
the seventh day--Saturday.
04:39.012 --> 04:42.482
However, the statement, "I
was in the Spirit on the Lord's
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Day," has absolutely nothing to do with any day of the week.
04:46.586 --> 04:49.889
The book shows that John
was projected forward in
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vision to the day of the
Lord, a time referred to
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more than 30 times in the
scriptures, in both the
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Old and the New Testaments.
04:58.598 --> 05:01.968
The first six chapters of Revelation set the stage
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for the theme.
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In chapter 4, John sees a
vision of God, the Originator of
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Revelation, on His
heavenly throne.
05:11.444 --> 05:16.482
Chapter 5 describes Revelation written on a scroll that is
05:16.549 --> 05:18.284
locked with seven seals.
05:18.351 --> 05:21.621
It also explains in this
chapter that the Lamb of God,
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that is Jesus Christ, is
the only one capable of
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opening these seals.
05:27.093 --> 05:30.897
We then read in the 6th
chapter how He opens six
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of the seven seals.
05:32.799 --> 05:36.269
The first four seals are
the famous four horsemen.
05:36.335 --> 05:39.305
The fifth seal pictures
a martyrdom of some of
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God's servants.
05:40.673 --> 05:45.011
Then comes the sixth seal--
the terrifying heavenly signs:
05:45.078 --> 05:47.880
And the stars of heaven
fell to the earth, as a
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fig tree drops its late
figs when it is shaken by
05:51.184 --> 05:52.285
a mighty wind.
05:52.351 --> 05:55.621
Then the sky receded as a
scroll when it is rolled
05:55.688 --> 05:59.125
up, and every mountain and
island was moved out of
05:59.192 --> 06:00.193
its place.
06:00.259 --> 06:02.929
And the kings of the
earth, the great men, the
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rich men, the commanders,
the mighty men, every
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slave and every free man,
hid themselves in the
06:09.435 --> 06:12.138
caves and in the rocks of
the mountains, and said to
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the mountains and rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us
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from the face of Him who
sits on the throne and
06:18.478 --> 06:20.546
from the wrath
of the Lamb!
06:20.613 --> 06:24.350
For the great day of His
wrath has come, and who is
06:24.417 --> 06:25.818
able to stand?"
06:25.885 --> 06:29.422
These six seals, all opened
within a short chapter,
06:29.489 --> 06:32.158
are preludes to
the theme of Revelation,
06:32.225 --> 06:36.195
the day of God's wrath
on rebellious mankind.
06:36.262 --> 06:39.799
This wrath is explained by
the seventh seal, which is
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made up of seven
trumpet plagues.
06:42.135 --> 06:46.139
So we see in chapters 4
and 5, the Originator of
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Revelation, the One who
can open the scroll to our
06:49.509 --> 06:52.979
understanding, and the
opening of six seals that
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bring us to the theme of
the book. But what about
06:56.382 --> 06:58.017
the servants of God?
06:58.084 --> 06:59.452
Who are they?
06:59.519 --> 07:02.455
Our resource--God's
Church Through the Ages--
07:02.522 --> 07:04.957
fills in details that
cannot be given on this
07:05.024 --> 07:07.360
program due to
time constraints.
07:07.426 --> 07:10.763
Frankly, my friends, Satan
the devil has deceived
07:10.830 --> 07:14.734
mankind, as we're told
in Revelation 12:9.
07:14.801 --> 07:18.137
And part of that deception is
unveiled by understanding
07:18.204 --> 07:21.841
the messages to the seven
churches of Revelation.
07:21.908 --> 07:24.777
This resource--God's
Church Through the Ages--
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reveals the true history
of the Christian Church.
07:28.214 --> 07:31.217
And it will be sent to
you free for the asking,
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as all our long-time
viewers know.
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I sincerely hope you will
take us up on this offer
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as it can change
your life.
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So, pick up the phone
or go to our website,
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TWTV.org/Church and order
your free copy of
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God's Church Through the Ages. You'll be glad you did.
07:51.871 --> 07:54.340
And when I come back after
this short break, I'll
07:54.407 --> 07:58.244
show you who the servants
of God are, according to
07:58.311 --> 08:00.413
the book of Revelation.
08:00.479 --> 08:07.153
For today's free
offer call...
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Or go to...
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This clear and
straight-forward resource
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will help you understand
this vital truth--
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straight from the
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If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
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receive a free annual
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Call today and join
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♪
09:00.873 --> 09:01.974
Welcome back.
09:02.041 --> 09:05.011
On today's Tomorrow's
World program, we're
09:05.077 --> 09:08.648
exploring the significance of
the letters to seven churches
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found in the mysterious
Book of Revelation.
09:11.183 --> 09:14.620
These letters have puzzled
theologians for centuries,
09:14.687 --> 09:18.624
yet there are keys that
unlock the mystery.
09:18.691 --> 09:21.494
As we learned from the
prologue, it is Jesus
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Christ who unveils the
message, the message
09:24.730 --> 09:28.634
originates with God the
Father, and it's intended for
09:28.701 --> 09:31.437
the servants of God, and
John is given the
09:31.504 --> 09:35.107
responsibility to carry the
message to those servants.
09:35.174 --> 09:37.944
In this portion of the
program, I'll show that
09:38.010 --> 09:41.380
those servants are defined
by the seven churches as
09:41.447 --> 09:43.916
described in chapters
two and three.
09:43.983 --> 09:47.653
William Ramsay wrote a highly
respected book titled,
09:47.720 --> 09:50.222
The Letters to
the Seven Churches.
09:50.289 --> 09:52.992
There's a lot of excellent
information in it,
09:53.059 --> 09:56.929
but Professor Ramsay
missed the key element.
09:56.996 --> 10:00.900
Instead of realizing that
the seven churches define
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that intended audience, and are an integral element for the
10:05.237 --> 10:09.008
entire book, he sees the
letters as an afterthought.
10:09.075 --> 10:11.911
As he writes on page 35:
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In this work, Jewish in
origin and general plan,
10:15.648 --> 10:19.185
there is inserted this
episode of the Seven
10:19.251 --> 10:21.887
Letters, which appears
to be almost entirely
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non-Jewish in character.
10:24.090 --> 10:26.726
The reason was that
the form of letters had
10:26.792 --> 10:30.396
already established itself
as the most characteristic
10:30.463 --> 10:33.299
expression of the
Christian mind, and as
10:33.366 --> 10:36.936
almost obligatory on
a Christian writer.
10:37.003 --> 10:40.306
Ramsay goes on to
speculate as to the reason
10:40.373 --> 10:43.509
for inserting these
letters, suggesting that
10:43.576 --> 10:46.112
they were an afterthought,
rather than critical to
10:46.178 --> 10:47.413
understanding the book.
10:47.480 --> 10:50.483
In the subsequent
development of St. John's
10:50.549 --> 10:53.452
thought it is plain that
he had recognized the
10:53.519 --> 10:56.756
inadequacy and
insufficiency of the
10:56.822 --> 10:59.525
fashionable Jewish
literary forms.
10:59.592 --> 11:02.862
It seems highly probable
that the perception of
11:02.928 --> 11:05.898
that fact came to him
during the composition of
11:05.965 --> 11:09.535
the Revelation, and that
the Seven Letters, though
11:09.602 --> 11:12.471
placed near the beginning
and fitted carefully into
11:12.538 --> 11:15.441
that position, were the
last part of the work
11:15.508 --> 11:17.143
to be conceived.
11:17.209 --> 11:21.847
He then makes this incredible
statement on page 37:
11:21.914 --> 11:25.618
The Apocalypse [that is, the book of Revelation] would be
11:25.684 --> 11:29.021
quite complete without
the Seven Letters.
11:29.088 --> 11:32.191
In other words, Ramsay
speculates that the
11:32.258 --> 11:34.093
letters were an
afterthought, that John
11:34.160 --> 11:36.328
realized that the
composition of Revelation
11:36.395 --> 11:40.199
lacked the most common means
of transmitting information
11:40.266 --> 11:43.335
in the New Testament--
that is by written letters.
11:43.402 --> 11:46.372
But were these letters
an afterthought as
11:46.439 --> 11:49.508
Ramsay speculates? Is the
book, as he wrote:
11:49.575 --> 11:52.945
quite complete without
the Seven Letters?
11:53.012 --> 11:56.182
John is told to take the
revealed message to the
11:56.248 --> 11:57.716
servants of God.
11:57.783 --> 12:00.853
So, where are these
servants to be found?
12:00.920 --> 12:04.590
Even if scholars don't
understand, you can.
12:04.657 --> 12:07.526
Does that sound
too arrogant?
12:07.593 --> 12:13.566
Or is that not what Jesus
tells us in Matthew 11:25...
12:13.632 --> 12:17.136
At that time Jesus
answered and said, "I
12:17.203 --> 12:20.406
thank You, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You
12:20.473 --> 12:23.576
have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent
12:23.642 --> 12:26.312
and have revealed
them to babes.
12:26.378 --> 12:29.882
Here are four keys that
reveal the mystery of the
12:29.949 --> 12:30.983
seven letters.
12:31.050 --> 12:32.718
Key #1:
12:32.785 --> 12:37.823
The servants of God and the
Seven Churches are the same.
12:37.890 --> 12:41.293
Notice once again John's
commission found in
12:41.360 --> 12:44.396
chapter one and in verse 1:
12:44.463 --> 12:47.666
The Revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave Him
12:47.733 --> 12:51.036
to show His servants [that
is the audience]--things
12:51.103 --> 12:53.305
which must shortly
take place.
12:53.372 --> 12:56.509
And He sent and signified
it by His angel to His
12:56.575 --> 12:57.776
servant John.
12:57.843 --> 13:00.913
Yes, the message is to go
to the servants of God.
13:00.980 --> 13:03.282
So where does John go?
13:03.349 --> 13:06.585
The answer is
found in verse 4:
13:06.652 --> 13:09.688
John, to the seven churches
which are in Asia.
13:09.755 --> 13:13.526
So, even before we know
which churches these are,
13:13.592 --> 13:16.362
John immediately
addresses them.
13:16.428 --> 13:19.532
Furthermore, John is
commanded to record in a
13:19.598 --> 13:22.234
book what he sees, and
send it to these seven
13:22.301 --> 13:24.770
churches--that is,
the whole message of
13:24.837 --> 13:27.339
Revelation, not
the letters only.
13:27.406 --> 13:30.009
"I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the First and the
13:30.075 --> 13:34.313
Last," and, "What you see,
write in a book and send
13:34.380 --> 13:37.650
it to the seven churches
which are in Asia: to
13:37.716 --> 13:41.987
Ephesus, to Smyrna, to
Pergamos, to Thyatira, to
13:42.054 --> 13:45.991
Sardis, to Philadelphia,
and to Laodicea."
13:46.058 --> 13:48.694
In other words, the
message is to go to the
13:48.761 --> 13:52.231
servants of God, and John
is to take it to the seven
13:52.298 --> 13:53.799
churches in Asia.
13:53.866 --> 13:57.403
Is it not obvious that the
servants of God and the
13:57.469 --> 13:59.738
seven churches
are the same?
13:59.805 --> 14:03.475
This is confirmed in the
last chapter of Revelation.
14:03.542 --> 14:06.145
In a sense, the connection
between the servants of
14:06.212 --> 14:10.382
God and the Seven Churches
is bookended by the first
14:10.449 --> 14:12.585
and last chapters.
14:12.651 --> 14:17.022
Notice Revelation 22,
and verses 6 and 16:
14:17.089 --> 14:20.092
Then he said to me, "These
words are faithful and
14:20.159 --> 14:23.429
true." And the Lord God of
the holy prophets sent His
14:23.495 --> 14:27.499
angel to show His servants
the things which must
14:27.566 --> 14:32.938
shortly take place.... [And then in verse 16] I, Jesus, have sent
14:33.005 --> 14:37.776
My angel to testify to you these
things in the churches.
14:37.843 --> 14:40.012
So, key #1 is:
14:40.079 --> 14:44.583
The servants of God and the
Seven Churches are the same.
14:44.650 --> 14:47.886
Servants and churches are
used interchangeably--
14:47.953 --> 14:50.990
they're synonymous--
but note that not all
14:51.056 --> 14:54.159
Christian congregations
in Asia are mentioned.
14:54.226 --> 14:57.062
Nowhere does the book
introduce any other
14:57.129 --> 14:59.131
congregation than
these seven.
14:59.198 --> 15:02.501
Obviously, there's
something special or
15:02.568 --> 15:04.003
significant about them.
15:04.069 --> 15:07.439
So we must wonder:
Why these churches?
15:07.506 --> 15:11.310
Why only seven if they
are the servants of God?
15:11.377 --> 15:14.046
Does that mean that none
of the other congregations
15:14.113 --> 15:16.548
of the first century
were God's servants?
15:16.615 --> 15:18.450
What about today?
15:18.517 --> 15:22.621
Are we somehow left on the
outside of being God's servants?
15:22.688 --> 15:24.156
Not at all.
15:24.223 --> 15:28.560
Key #2: There is a special
relationship between these
15:28.627 --> 15:30.896
seven and Jesus Christ.
15:30.963 --> 15:34.033
We now come to a
remarkable vision.
15:34.099 --> 15:36.835
Following a trumpet sound
and the listing of the
15:36.902 --> 15:40.506
seven churches, we read,
beginning in verse 12:
15:40.572 --> 15:45.444
Then I [that is John] turned to see the voice that spoke
15:45.511 --> 15:49.014
with me. And having turned I
saw seven golden lampstands,
15:49.081 --> 15:52.918
and in the midst of the
seven lampstands One like
15:52.985 --> 15:56.055
the Son of Man, clothed
with a garment down to the
15:56.121 --> 15:59.191
feet and girded about the
chest with a golden band.
15:59.258 --> 16:03.162
He had in His right hand
seven stars, out of His
16:03.228 --> 16:06.165
mouth went a sharp
two-edged sword, and His
16:06.231 --> 16:09.702
countenance was like the
sun shining in its strength.
16:09.768 --> 16:11.804
What does this
vision mean?
16:11.870 --> 16:15.007
We can be thankful that we
don't have to speculate,
16:15.074 --> 16:17.476
because verse 20 explains it:
16:17.543 --> 16:20.412
The mystery of the seven
stars which you saw in My
16:20.479 --> 16:24.750
right hand, and the seven
golden lampstands: The
16:24.817 --> 16:28.754
seven stars are the angels
[or messengers] of the seven
16:28.821 --> 16:32.257
churches, and the seven
lampstands which you saw
16:32.324 --> 16:34.326
are the seven churches.
16:34.393 --> 16:37.363
As we have seen, the
churches and the servants of
16:37.429 --> 16:42.201
God are synonymous, and Christ
is seen walking amongst them.
16:42.267 --> 16:43.569
Mysterious?
16:43.635 --> 16:44.803
Yes.
16:44.870 --> 16:46.939
Impossible to comprehend?
16:47.005 --> 16:48.140
No.
16:48.207 --> 16:51.310
In a moment I'll show you
how you can understand
16:51.377 --> 16:54.380
what theologians and lay
members for the last 1900
16:54.446 --> 16:56.448
years failed to recognize.
16:56.515 --> 16:59.518
But first I want to
remind you of our free,
16:59.585 --> 17:03.122
insightful resource,
God's Church Through the Ages.
17:03.188 --> 17:06.091
It goes into far more
detail than I have time to
17:06.158 --> 17:09.128
cover on this short
program and it unravels a
17:09.194 --> 17:12.698
mystery that even a child
can understand once the
17:12.765 --> 17:14.633
keys are pointed out.
17:14.700 --> 17:18.737
So order your free copy of
God's Church Through the Ages.
17:18.804 --> 17:20.806
It can change your life.
17:20.873 --> 17:26.378
Just call or go to our
website: TWTV.org/Church.
17:26.445 --> 17:30.182
And when I come back after
this 15 second break, I'll
17:30.249 --> 17:32.951
show you why theologians
do not understand this
17:33.018 --> 17:36.488
mystery, but how you can.
17:36.555 --> 17:38.891
This clear and
straight-forward resource
17:38.957 --> 17:41.593
will help you understand
this vital truth--
17:41.660 --> 17:44.363
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
17:44.430 --> 17:45.431
Call now!
17:45.497 --> 17:49.401
Or go to...
17:49.468 --> 17:51.637
♪
17:51.703 --> 17:54.773
On today's Tomorrow's
World program, we're
17:54.840 --> 17:56.875
exploring the meaning
of the letters to the seven
17:56.942 --> 18:00.078
churches found in the
mysterious Book of Revelation.
18:00.145 --> 18:03.816
These churches have puzzled
theologians for centuries,
18:03.882 --> 18:07.052
yet there are keys
that unlock the mystery.
18:07.119 --> 18:10.189
In the previous portion of
this program, we saw two
18:10.255 --> 18:12.858
vital keys to understand
these prophecies.
18:12.925 --> 18:14.426
Key #1 was:
18:14.493 --> 18:18.831
The servants of God and
the Seven Churches are the same.
18:18.897 --> 18:22.067
And it's evident from the
vision of the glorified
18:22.134 --> 18:25.437
Christ walking in the
midst of seven lampstands
18:25.504 --> 18:29.107
that represent the
churches, that Key #2 is:
18:29.174 --> 18:32.377
There is a special
relationship between these
18:32.444 --> 18:34.813
seven and Jesus Christ.
18:34.880 --> 18:37.916
There's a third key that
should be obvious by now,
18:37.983 --> 18:40.752
something that William
Ramsay, who speculated
18:40.819 --> 18:43.255
that the letters to
these churches were an
18:43.322 --> 18:45.457
afterthought,
clearly missed.
18:45.524 --> 18:47.226
So Key #3:
18:47.292 --> 18:52.164
The entire book of Revelation is
addressed to the seven churches.
18:52.231 --> 18:55.868
John is instructed to take
the message of the book to
18:55.934 --> 18:57.436
the servants of God.
18:57.503 --> 19:01.640
As we've seen, the servants
and the churches are the same.
19:01.707 --> 19:04.776
It therefore follows,
that the whole book of
19:04.843 --> 19:07.679
Revelation is for
the seven churches.
19:07.746 --> 19:10.816
And this is confirmed, as we
saw earlier, in the last
19:10.883 --> 19:15.087
chapter of Revelation. For review, I'll repeat that:
19:15.153 --> 19:18.790
Then he said to me, "These
words are faithful and
19:18.857 --> 19:23.028
true." And the Lord God of
the holy prophets sent His
19:23.095 --> 19:26.164
angel to show His servants
the things which must
19:26.231 --> 19:27.699
shortly take place.
19:27.766 --> 19:31.837
I, Jesus, have sent My
angel to testify to you
19:31.904 --> 19:34.106
these things in
the churches.
19:34.172 --> 19:37.042
There's a fourth
important key, but before
19:37.109 --> 19:40.345
I give that, let's notice
two easy to understand
19:40.412 --> 19:43.882
lessons that are generally
understood about these letters.
19:43.949 --> 19:48.887
The first one is that these
were real church congregations
19:48.954 --> 19:51.924
and the messages to each of those congregations
19:51.990 --> 19:55.227
described conditions that
existed at that time.
19:55.294 --> 19:58.697
So, when Ephesus is told
that it had lost its first
19:58.764 --> 20:02.701
love, that was a problem in
that first century congregation
20:02.768 --> 20:04.503
located in Ephesus.
20:04.570 --> 20:07.739
The second takeaway is
understood from this
20:07.806 --> 20:10.409
refrain that is given
to each of them:
20:10.475 --> 20:14.279
He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says
20:14.346 --> 20:15.614
to the churches.
20:15.681 --> 20:19.484
The admonition is not to
that church alone, but to
20:19.551 --> 20:21.687
the churches, plural.
20:21.753 --> 20:25.390
A condition that exists
in one congregation could
20:25.457 --> 20:28.860
also affect congregants
in any of the others.
20:28.927 --> 20:31.296
The difference being that
the condition mentioned,
20:31.363 --> 20:33.732
dominated that church.
20:33.799 --> 20:36.969
In the example of the
church in Laodicea, a
20:37.035 --> 20:40.439
lukewarm spirit prevailed,
but the admonition to
20:40.505 --> 20:42.674
"hear what the Spirit
says to the churches,"
20:42.741 --> 20:46.745
indicates that this same
lukewarm attitude could be
20:46.812 --> 20:49.748
found among some of the
other congregations.
20:49.815 --> 20:52.384
This is mostly how
ministers down through the
20:52.451 --> 20:54.720
centuries have
understood these letters.
20:54.786 --> 20:58.757
As a teenager, I remember
a chaplain giving a
20:58.824 --> 21:01.727
seven-part series of
sermons on this subject.
21:01.793 --> 21:06.164
But, our 4th key is something
that has not been generally
21:06.231 --> 21:10.569
understood and is perhaps the
most important of all the keys.
21:10.636 --> 21:14.973
Let's go back to the last
part of verse 1 and all of
21:15.040 --> 21:17.843
verse 2, where John is
given three sources of
21:17.909 --> 21:20.779
information that
he was to record.
21:20.846 --> 21:24.916
And He [that is God] sent and
signified it by His angel
21:24.983 --> 21:29.354
to His servant John, who
[#1] bore witness to the
21:29.421 --> 21:33.191
word of God, [and
notice especially #2]
21:33.258 --> 21:35.127
to the testimony of Jesus
21:35.193 --> 21:39.798
Christ, [and #3] to
all things that he saw.
21:39.865 --> 21:42.701
We've already seen that
John was commanded to do
21:42.768 --> 21:46.938
number 3--write in a book
what he saw and send it to
21:47.005 --> 21:48.540
the Seven Churches.
21:48.607 --> 21:51.476
But he was also to record
the word of God,
21:51.543 --> 21:54.946
references to the Old
Testament scriptures,
21:55.013 --> 21:58.583
and the testimony
of Jesus Christ.
21:58.650 --> 22:03.055
The testimony of Jesus Christ,
is of course, what Jesus spoke,
22:03.121 --> 22:07.726
but what He spoke in Revelation is prophetic in nature.
22:07.793 --> 22:11.129
We read in chapter 19
and verse 10:
22:11.196 --> 22:12.698
Worship God!
22:12.764 --> 22:17.002
For the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy.
22:17.069 --> 22:20.639
If you have a red-letter
Bible, the red letters are
22:20.706 --> 22:23.008
what the translators
believe were the direct
22:23.075 --> 22:24.176
words of Jesus.
22:24.242 --> 22:27.512
And where do you find the
overwhelming majority of
22:27.579 --> 22:30.015
Christ's words
in Revelation?
22:30.082 --> 22:33.485
If you guessed the letters
to the seven churches,
22:33.552 --> 22:35.654
you guessed correctly.
22:35.721 --> 22:40.025
In other words, these letters
have prophetic significance.
22:40.092 --> 22:42.761
And it's evident from studying
the book that the subject
22:42.828 --> 22:47.466
matter began in John's day
and yet ends in our future.
22:47.532 --> 22:50.368
So, in addition to
recording conditions in
22:50.435 --> 22:53.205
the very real first
century congregations,
22:53.271 --> 22:57.309
and warnings of attitudes
that can apply to anyone,
22:57.375 --> 22:59.010
Key #4 is:
22:59.077 --> 23:03.682
The letters to the
seven churches are prophetic.
23:03.749 --> 23:06.384
Why is this important
to understand?
23:06.451 --> 23:10.055
I'll give you the answer
to that question in a moment,
23:10.122 --> 23:13.558
but I want to remind you of
today's free resource
23:13.625 --> 23:15.627
God's Church Through the Ages.
23:15.694 --> 23:18.697
Jesus said He would
build His Church, and the
23:18.764 --> 23:21.433
letters to the seven
churches give insight into
23:21.500 --> 23:24.269
that Church in ways
found nowhere else.
23:24.336 --> 23:28.740
Doesn't it make sense to ask
these serious questions:
23:28.807 --> 23:32.110
Where has God's Church been
down through the ages?
23:32.177 --> 23:35.881
Why is Christianity so
radically different today
23:35.947 --> 23:37.783
from the Church
in Jesus' day?
23:37.849 --> 23:43.121
Is it possible due to
your upbringing that you've
23:43.188 --> 23:45.457
overlooked where
God is working?
23:45.524 --> 23:48.894
God's Church Through the
Ages is an eye-opener.
23:48.960 --> 23:51.730
It answers these important
questions and shows how
23:51.797 --> 23:54.933
mainstream Christianity
would not even be
23:55.000 --> 23:57.669
recognized by
Christ as His own.
23:57.736 --> 24:00.772
God's Church Through the
Ages also explains, in
24:00.839 --> 24:02.808
greater detail than I
have time on this short
24:02.874 --> 24:06.144
program, how the seven
churches of Revelation
24:06.211 --> 24:10.081
portray seven stages that
the true church of God
24:10.148 --> 24:13.685
would go through from the
first century all the way
24:13.752 --> 24:15.921
to the return of
Jesus Christ.
24:15.987 --> 24:19.991
So be sure to order
your free copy today.
24:20.058 --> 24:26.832
For today's free
offer call...
24:26.898 --> 24:32.237
Or go to...
24:32.304 --> 24:35.240
This clear and
straight-forward resource
24:35.307 --> 24:37.909
will help you understand
this vital truth--
24:37.976 --> 24:40.846
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
24:40.912 --> 24:43.748
If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
24:43.815 --> 24:46.685
receive a free annual
subscription to Tomorrow's
24:46.751 --> 24:48.086
World magazine.
24:48.153 --> 24:51.690
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
24:51.756 --> 24:54.526
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
24:54.593 --> 24:57.963
your world from a
biblical perspective.
24:58.029 --> 25:00.966
Call today and join
millions around the world
25:01.032 --> 25:03.668
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
25:03.735 --> 25:09.441
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
25:09.507 --> 25:10.842
Call now!
25:10.909 --> 25:14.579
Or go to...
25:14.646 --> 25:20.318
♪
25:20.385 --> 25:21.519
Welcome back.
25:21.586 --> 25:24.422
Our resource--God's
Church Through the Ages--
25:24.489 --> 25:26.925
describes seven stages
through which the true
25:26.992 --> 25:29.394
church of God would
progress from the first
25:29.461 --> 25:32.063
century until the
return of Christ.
25:32.130 --> 25:35.767
As the author of this resource,
the late John Ogwyn, explains:
25:35.834 --> 25:39.104
When we look at the
context of the book of
25:39.170 --> 25:42.007
Revelation, we must
recognize that it is
25:42.073 --> 25:44.476
primarily intended
as a prophecy.
25:44.542 --> 25:48.914
Revelation 1:1 shows that
the book's purpose is to show
25:48.980 --> 25:52.918
to God's servants things that
would soon begin to happen.
25:52.984 --> 25:55.820
Thus the seven churches
should primarily be
25:55.887 --> 25:59.291
understood as representing
the entire history of
25:59.357 --> 26:02.761
God's Church in seven
successive eras.
26:02.827 --> 26:05.430
Why is this not
generally understood?
26:05.497 --> 26:08.533
It's not that others have
not tried to trace the
26:08.600 --> 26:10.635
history of the Church
through seven distinct
26:10.702 --> 26:13.571
stages, but they fail
in these efforts.
26:13.638 --> 26:14.673
Why?
26:14.739 --> 26:16.708
The answer is simple.
26:16.775 --> 26:19.744
They try to shoehorn
mainstream Christianity
26:19.811 --> 26:23.181
into these scriptures, and
mainstream Christianity
26:23.248 --> 26:25.283
simply does not fit.
26:25.350 --> 26:28.720
Put another way, they're
looking for the answer in
26:28.787 --> 26:30.021
the wrong place.
26:30.088 --> 26:32.857
Our resource--God's
Church Through the Ages--
26:32.924 --> 26:35.961
traces the history of the
true church of God from
26:36.027 --> 26:39.230
the first century to the time
of Christ's second coming.
26:39.297 --> 26:42.067
That means that the true
church of God is now
26:42.133 --> 26:45.870
living during the final era--
the Laodicean era--
26:45.937 --> 26:48.206
which is portrayed
as being blind to how
26:48.273 --> 26:51.776
lukewarm and
self-satisfied it is.
26:51.843 --> 26:54.379
And as a result, it
will be thrown into
26:54.446 --> 26:58.249
the Great Tribulation.
Yet, there is hope.
26:58.316 --> 27:01.319
There is a remnant of
the previous era and
27:01.386 --> 27:03.621
those in it will be
afforded protection from
27:03.688 --> 27:06.624
the greatest trouble
in mankind's history.
27:06.691 --> 27:09.427
So if you'd like to
learn more, order your
27:09.494 --> 27:12.297
free copy of God's
Church Through the Ages.
27:12.364 --> 27:14.666
And be sure to come back
next week when Richard
27:14.733 --> 27:18.236
Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod
McNair, and I will bring
27:18.303 --> 27:21.506
you more good news of the
Kingdom of God and the
27:21.573 --> 27:23.108
prophecies of the Bible.
27:23.174 --> 27:25.310
See you next week.
27:25.377 --> 27:26.177
♪
27:26.244 --> 27:32.884
For today's free
offer call...
27:32.951 --> 27:37.055
Or go to...
27:37.122 --> 27:39.791
Call today and join
millions around the world
27:39.858 --> 27:42.527
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
27:42.594 --> 27:46.498
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
27:46.564 --> 27:48.666
♪
27:48.733 --> 27:51.002
The preceding program is produced by the
27:51.069 --> 27:56.341
Living Church of God.
27:56.408 --> 27:58.510
Do you have the feeling our world is going in
27:58.576 --> 27:59.778
the wrong direction?
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Clarity not confusion.
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