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KEY VERSE: “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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:4-15

WHILE THE MESSAGES given to the seven churches specified in Revelation were doubtless applicable to them, they properly have a still wider application to the entire Gospel church—the number seven representing completeness. The Book of Revelation is a book of symbols which our Lord “sent and signified [told it in signs and symbols] by his angel unto his servant John.” (Rev. 1:1) Bible students know that the book abounds in symbols, or signs; and we are satisfied that these are the rule, and that the literal is the exception.

To be in harmony, then, with the rest of the Book, “the seven churches which are in Asia,” must be symbolic; and as the Book is chiefly history written beforehand, they must symbolize seven successive stages in the history of the Christian church, covering the period between the First Advent and the Second Coming of Christ. The fulfillment, we believe, proves the correctness of this position. In the first chapter we have a description of “one like unto the Son of man.” (vs. 13) One or more of the features of this description would seem to be peculiarly appropriate to each of the stages of the church; and in each case, he who sends the message is thus described.

Scholars and Bible students are aware that the visions in the Book of Revelation have been designed by God alone, and that through John, there would be revealed to his servants information about his son, Jesus, who as the “Logos, Greek meaning: word or Word of God,” was “the beginning of the Creation of God.” (Rev. 3:14, John 1:1) We are also told, in some highly symbolic language, of the working out of God’s plan for the past 6000 years. In the first three verses of the Book, we are told to read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. In each message is a feature not relevant to any other time in the history of the church. It is possible, however, for one to get lessons from any of the messages or from the experiences of those who have preceded us.

“I [John] turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man.” (Rev. 1:12,13) It is not left for us to interpret what these lampstands are, for in verse 20 we read that they are the representation of the seven churches. We read also in this verse that the angels to these seven churches are pictured by seven stars in the right hand of John.

Hence, the language, “unto the angel of the church of” a particular period, indicates who was the principal messenger for that time in the development of the church. John was told to “write” for the benefit and information of the messengers, as well as for the individuals of those churches.

Hence, the psalmist said, “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his Word.”—Ps. 103:20

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