Seven Churches and Seven Stars
This is about the mystery of Seven Churches and Seven Stars ; 1260 days and “a time, times, half a time”. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Please read the Revelation chapter 1 to 3.
John got the revelation was on the island called Patmos, he heard a loud voice like a trumpet : “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches(7 stars), to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
So what do the 7 churches symbolize or mean? What do the 7 stars symbolize? Why did Jesus say Seven Churches and Seven Stars was a mystery? Why did Jesus give the revelation to seven churches only, why not send to all churches? Is that other churches no need to read the Revelation?
Almost all messages of revelation gave to John was the symbol, that means it symbolize something. Just like Jesus sent the Morse code to the 7 stars at the appropriate time. The 7 stars can understand(decode) it and then send to churches all over the world.
Surely, Revelation is not just for the seven churches and seven stars only, because Revelation is also a part of Bible that is for all churches and people to read. So what does it mean? It means 7 churches are symbolized a whole of all churches in the “1260 days” period. Each church symbolic a specific “time or period”, seven churches symbolic “7 times or periods“. 7 stars symbolize 7 key man, who have the stewardship and leading all churches. Why we can say that? Let me explain…
Seven Churches ; 1260 days ; “a time, times, half a time”
Revelation 11:2-4 says “…they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”.
Two witnesses symbolic two olive trees and two lampstands, and Jesus told us 7 lampstands means the 7 churches. What did he say?
Revelation 1:20 says, “As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
So does it mean only 2 witnesses( 2 churches) witnessing and prophesy 1260 days? Why did God say only 2 churches hold the testimony of Jesus? Why not the 7 churches? How about the other 5? Are they no need to prophesy and witnessing Jesus? And when did the “1260 days” witnessing period began? Let’s see…
Revelation chapter 12 says there was a heavenly woman who gave birth to a male child(symbolic Jesus), the male child was caught up to God’s throne. After that the heavenly woman went to the wilderness 1260 days or “a time, times, and half a time”, the place prepared by God for her.
When did the “1260 days” start? We can say it started from AD70. This is the symbolix period of Daniel’s vision “seventy sevens”, please read <seventy sevens>.
Revelation 12:17 says the heavenly woman gave birth to many offspring(two witnesses-two churches,144000) who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus, and the dragon made war on them.
How long did they hold the testimony of Jesus, and on war with dragon? It is “1260 days” or “a time, times, and half a time“. This is the 2 witnesses period(2 churches). But how about the other 5 churches? Are they no need to prophesy and witnessing Jesus? Absolutely not. Why?
Because Jesus encouraged all seven churches “do the works you did at first”, “hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith”, “keeps my works until the end”, “that your latter works exceed the first”, “I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”….
That means all 7 churches have to prophesy and witnessing Jesus. Each church symbolic a period, so seven churches symbolic “seven churches period” which started from AD70 till to the End Day. The arrangement of two witnesses(two churches) witnessing is according Deuteronomy 17:6 “On the evidence of two witnesses …”, to prove the “Red Dragon” and “Babylon the great” need to be judged. The star is the one with stewardship of church, who is responsible leading the witnessing work of all churches of the whole world.
So if we use letter A to G to represent 7 churches, and God said 2 churches witnessing at a same time. Then the result should be : “2 churches” are equal to “a time“, then “one church” is “half a time“, and “4 churches” means “times“.
Then it should be like this : “a time” is “AB” 2 churches witnessing period. “times” are “CD and EF” 4 churches witnessing period. And “half a time” is the G church witnessing period.
Have you got it? Is this the mystery of “a time, times, half a time” means? Does this mystery has been revealed? Yes, I think so.
Please wait, Revelation 11:4 says there should be 2 churches witnessed at the same time, but the last seventh church is the only one. How can be like this? Does it not match the requirement of “2 churches witnessing”?
So it should be like this : the seven churches periods(7 periods) of “a time, times, half a time” ; 2 witnesses(2 churches) prophesy for 1,260 days…
“a time“
: A ^ B (“^” represents the same time)
(period of “A + B” : Ephesus church + Smyrna church) ;
“times”
: B ^ C -> C ^ D (Pergamum church + Thyatira church) ;
: D ^ E -> E ^ F (Sardis church + Philadelphia church) ;
“half a time”
: F ^ G(Laodicea church)
The following timeline table shows “a time, times, half a time”, 7 churches period and “1260 days”, you can see each period at least has 2 churches witnessing at the same time:
And “a time, times, half a time” is also equal to 42 months, that means the average for each church is a symbolic six months. The above is the prophecy of seven churches, later we will see the history of 7 churches development to prove it is fulfilling.
Seven Stars
Then who are the 7 stars? We are not sure and we don’t know who they are. Although we don’t know who they are, but Revelation 1:20 gives us some information about “the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches”. Why did Jesus say 7 stars are 7 angels? Are they really the angels not men?
No, they are men not angels. If they are really the 7 angels, how come Jesus send message to apostle John, and then send back this message to angels through John? Wouldn’t it be better for Jesus send message to the 7 angels directly in heaven? Also Revelation chapter2-3 about 7 stars seems talking the man not angel.
So, surely they are man, and the “face”(personalities) of these seven persons are similar to those of angels. Just like Acts 6:15 says, “all who sat in the council saw that his(Stephen) face was like the face of an angel”. And the 7 stars(7 man) are also like angels who are responsible to send God’s message to all churches over the world.
Although we are not sure all 7 stars who they are, but we probable know who is the first star. It is most likely apostle Paul. Why we can say that? Because Ephesians 3:2 Paul said “assuming that you have heard of the “stewardship of God’s grace” that was given to me…”. And also the revelation was given to Paul, Ephesians 3:3 says “how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”
It is same as what Jesus said in Luke 12:42,43. He probably was talking about the star of the church, he said “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time(reveal spiritual food)? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. “
How can the 7 stars leading and responsible the prophesy and the testimony of the whole world churches? Is it relying on his personal talent and charisma? No. Is it because of his outstanding appearance and knowledgeable talents? No. Is it because he is most rich and powerful man? No.
Because he is God’s chosen one. Like angel who can place the prayers rase before God. Yes, they can lead the witnessing work of the all churches over the world because of their prayer, for God listens and accepts their prayer.
Matthew 16:19 Jesus said, “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
So whatever they pray to Heavenly Father and Jesus, the heaven will answer their prayers. Jesus will send angels to fulfill his prayers, especially the prayer is about the testimony work. Not only the 7 stars witnessing, but there is a big heavenly organization(angels) behind to carry out this work.
Revelation 11:5,6 says, “And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”
Why we can say 7 churches represent the timeline from the 1st century to the end time? Again, please read “seventy sevens”. Another evidence is Revelation 1:19,20 says,
“19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”.
So Jesus said, some churches ‘those that are‘(existing) in the 1st century, and some churches ‘those that are to take place after this‘(future).
Another evidence is : Jesus did not tell the first four churches about his coming, but he told the 5th, 6th and especially the 7th church. What did he say?
Jesus told the star of 5th church Sardis, ” I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come”. That means Jesus won’t come in the 5th church period. If he come in the 5th church period, the 5th star will see Jesus and know what hour he come.
Jesus told the star of 6th church Philadelphia, “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon“. That means Jesus not yet come but soon. And church Philadelphia will stay until Jesus come, for Jesus said he will “keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth”.
And Jesus told the star of 7th church Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”. That means he has come and arrived, just open the door you will see him.
So the seven churches period is from Jesus leaved, from AD70 to his coming back period. When Jesus arrived, that means it is the End Day, the Great Tribulation, the God’s Day. It occurs in the last 7th church Laodicea period. So that’s why we can say the 7 churches period is from 1st century the Ephesus church, to the Laodicea church period, Jesus will come back in this period(the End Day).
We can say we are in the Laodicea Church period now. Which church do you belong to? No matter what church you belong to, maybe some knowledge of God or Christian doctrines are different from each other. The most important is to do what Jesus taught us, love good and hate evil. Also be zealous in witnesses and repent, as Jesus told us before leaving :
Matthew 28:19,20 says, “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So no matter which church you belong to, we are the part of Laodicea Church( symbolic the whole by God’s view). All churches need to witnesses Jesus Christ and teach people God’s commandments. For some evil churches which are using Jesus name to hurt people making unrighteous money, Jesus had forewarned them in Matthew 7:22,23 and Matthew 25:31,32,41 says,
Matthew 7:22,23 : 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 25:31,32,41 : 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ‘”
So for all churches who have an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said. Love good hate evil, be zealous in witness and repent. Amen.
Now, let’s see the history of the seven churches period. Please read Revelation Chapter 2-3.
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