Seven Churches Period
Now, let’s see the history of the seven churches. Although we don’t know every details of seven stars, but we can probably know the development from history, it was fulfilled what Jesus prophecy. Who knows 7 stars best? No one but himself and Jesus, because he knew full well what Jesus was talking about him. Seven stars seems to have the stewardship of seven churches. Let’s see the Revelation Chapter 2 and 3.
The Star of Ephesus church
In Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands”. Jesus hold seven stars and walked among the seven golden lampstands means all churches are obey and belong to Jesus Christ. The Ephesus Church was very important for it is the first church, in the symbolic meaning all seven churches are come from or developed from the first church period.
Rev. 2:2,3 says, “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and “are not”, and found them to be false.3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.”.
Who is the first star? Is it talking about Apostle Paul? Yes most likely Paul, because…
2rd Corinthians 11:13 Paul said, “For such men are “false apostles”, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ”. Because Paul recognized the false apostles, and endured patiently the toil of the witnessing work, establishing churches for Jesus’s sake. And this must occurred before apostles died in 1st century, after that no one can be said be the first star due to all apostles has died.
2rd Corinthians 11:23-28 says, “…far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I(Paul) received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers… danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”.
More over, 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 this star(Paul), Ephesians 3:3 says “how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly…”. So this proves that Paul was the star of Ephesus Church in Revelation.
Rev. 2:4-6 says, “4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen(Acts 9:3-6); repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate”.
Acts 9:4 And (Paul) falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Jesus said the first star abandoned “the love you had at first”. He encouraged him repent and do the works same as before. When “a light from heaven shone around apostle Paul, he falling to the ground”, and then he became a enthusiastic Christian. He established many churches, wrote many encouraging letters to them to persuade them, loved them like a mother. But for a period of time after that, his love seems decrease, and his letters to the church was also decreased.
Presumably after that Jesus reminded him “remember where you have fallen” and repent, then Paul rekindled his zeal and love. He wrote letters to the churches in prison, and appealed to Caesar, and finally martyred.
Rev. 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
The first star was also symbolic the situation of the whole church in 1st century. When the church was first established, they were enthusiastic witnessing Jesus, but then their love seemed to fade away. They should “repent and do the works they did at first”. In the first church period(1st century), God’s kingdom good news and churches grew like seeding. At that time, apostasy and factions also began to appear(the Nicolaitans). Jesus promised, For the conquers, they will grant to eat of the tree of life in the paradise.
Star of the Smyrna Church
Revelation 2:8, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”.
Jesus who died and came to life, who is the first and the last. This is what Jesus said to the star of second church. Maybe this star is the apostle John who is the first(means 12 apostles?) and the last(maybe the last died of the 12?). Why we say “maybe” he is Apostle John?
Because Jesus used the same terms descripting Apostle John and the star of Smyrna church in Revelation 1:17,18 and 2:8
Revelation 1:17,18 “…he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…”.
Also John was Jew and locked into prison(island Patmos) being tested with tribulation, and he was belonged to Smyrna church too.
Rev. 2:9,10 “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Rev. 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”
The star of Smyrna was also symbolic the situation of the whole of second church period. Started from the 1st century, the whole church was persecuted by Rome with tribulation. They were poverty because their property was robbed. And they were locked in prison just because they were Christians(real Jews).
On the other side, Satan sowed the weeds(the sons of the evil one), introduced some wrong doctrines into the church. They suffered and their faith were tested, for example they were throw into the Colosseum, burned by fire or killed by lions, specially in 3rd-4th century the tribulation reached to the highest peak. You can imagine how “feared” they were at that time. But Jesus said “do not fear”, “be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life”, “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death”.
Star of the Pergamum Church
Rev. 2:12, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword“. Jesus has the sharpest two-edged sword which means the truth of Bible. Jesus used this point to symbolic the 3rd star of Pergamum Church. Ephesians 6:17 “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.
Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”.
Rev. 2:13-16 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”.
Who was the 3rd star? We have no idea, but Jesus said the place where he dwell was the Satan’s throne, also “Antipas” the faithful witness was “killed” (Smyrna church period). During the Pergamum 3rd church period, there was the Satan’s “throne“, symbolic the churches were under the power of Satan, the truth and sons of the kingdom were suppressed. God’s word was replaced by the teaching of Balaam who put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel(sons of heavenly kingdom).
In the 4th century and afterward, the church hold the teaching of Balaam sacrificed to idols(not worship the only true God) and practice sexual immorality(intermarriage with Rome Empire), and the Church was divided. There was a very important meeting “the Council of Nicaea” at that time, established the authority of false doctrine.
Rev. 2:16,17 “Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”.
Maybe the symbolized 3rd church Pergamum period started from 2nd-3rd century. Jesus told the 3rd star, in the whole 3rd church period they should took up the sword of holy spirit, focus on defending the truth, and repent. Jesus will come at the end day and use the two-edged truth sword defeat all fallacy. To the conquers who will be given the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name. They will be the God’s new creations in the heaven.
Star of the Thyatira Church
Rev. 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze”. Jesus used “eyes like a flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze” these identity talking to the 4th star, hinted the 4th star as same as Jesus whose eyes and feet will be fired, that means the 4th star will be a martyr.
Revelation 2:19-21 “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.”.
Who is the woman Jezebel? Who calls herself a prophetess, teaching Jesus’s servants to practice sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols? She called herself “Roman Catholic Church” add her lover’s name “Roman” in to her name symbolic their sexual immorality, sacrificed(worship) to idols. If you enter the Catholic church, what will you see? You will see idols all around you. After the 4th century, Roman Catholic church called herself a prophetess and teaching God’s servants, but surely God did not accept it.
Revelation 2:22-25 “Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.”.
Jesus warned “her”(Rome Catholic Church) repent, don’t tech her children the deep things of Satan(Greek philosophy). Apostle Paul also warned in Col. 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”. God’s word was come from God, not based on human’s philosophy.
Rev. 2:26-29 “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus encouraged all churches to keep his work(Matthew 28:19,20), Acts 1:8 “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”. As the conquers will receive the authority from Father and the morning star Jesus.
Maybe the star of symbolized Thyatira church period started from in 13-14th century, the revival of truth was triggered during the Renaissance, leading to the emergence of the Reformation Movement. As a result, the true servants of God(the 4th star) were persecuted and burned at the stake. The 4th star is also symbolic the Thyatira church period. During this period, the rest of Thyatira church knew the truth of Bible(God’s word), they knew the teaching of “Jezebel” was wrong, so they developed many new churches in Europe and spread them all over the world.
Star of the Sardis Church
Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.'” .
Maybe the symbolized Sardis Church started from 18-19th century, during that time the theory of Liberalism and Evolution came out. The 5th star symbolic the whole 5th church period full of doubts, many of them didn’t believe God’s creation, miracles of the Bible, even the Bible itself. That’s why Jesus said “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”. They were nominally Christians who believed in God, but actually were dead. This theory has been passed down to the present, schools teach the students that there is no God, no creation, don’t believe God. Then Jesus said,
“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.”-Revelation 3:3,4 .
Jesus told the 5th star of the Sardis church repent and wake up. As the star he should pray for the whole church development, remember what he received and heard, strengthen the others. Let the church continue development and let “good news of God’s kingdom” spread all over the world.
Revelation 3:5,6 “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”. Jesus promised the conquers who will be clothed in white garments and never blot his name out of the book of life.
Star of the Philadelphia Church
Revelation 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”. Maybe it symbolic the 6th star who will honor and glorify God Father’s name(the holy one and true one), he knew the mystery of God’s kingdom(the key of David).
Revelation 3:8,9 “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”.
For a long long time, God’s name YHWH was hidden and replaced with “Lord” in the Bible, but Jesus opened the door, let Father’s name be honored and glorified that no one can shut. The 6th star of the Philadelphia church symbolic during the 6th church period, specially started from 19th, 20th century, God’s name YHWH(Jehovah) was being honored. Also about God’s kingdom knowledge and teaching was much more clear.
Revelation 3:10,11 “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial(7th church period) that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown”.
Revelation 3:12,13 “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” For the one who conquers, Jesus will write his God’s name(YHWH), name of new Jerusalem and Jesus’ new name on him.
Jesus said he will come soon and keep Philadelphia church from the trials. That means Jesus not yet come but soon, and he will come in the 7th church period and the trials will be come over the whole world. The 6th church will continue exist with the 7th until Jesus come. The Philadelphia church also proves that it has symbolic meaning, the “symbolized 6th church period“. For the “real” Philadelphia church in 1st century has already passed over, it won’t wait until Jesus comes.
Star of the Laodicea Church
Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”. It symbolic the 7th star of Laodicea Church is “amen”, “faithful” and his witness is “true” , maybe he will be the beginning of God’s creation of 144000(the first creature)?
Revelation 3:15-17 “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”.
Jesus said the 7th star is neither cold or hot means his witnessing work is not cold but also not zealous. He also said “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.”. But Jesus said he was wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
Revelation 3:18,19 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”.
Jesus counseled him to buy gold means he will be the valuable as gold like construction material in New Jerusalem. Buy “garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen”, means he was naked before and his shameful deeds were seen. He will clothe the white garments means he will become righteous.
“Salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see”, means Jesus will give him the holy spirit so that he can see the Bible truth and God’s mystery. Finally, because Jesus love him, so reprove, discipline him and encourage him be zealous and repent.
Revelation 3:20-22 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock”, means Jesus has come(arrived), it will be the 7th church period. This is the End Day, the Great Tribulation is come. The 7th star is also symbolic the 7th church period(Now our day), we have the most richest material life period comparing with other six churches period, but also the witnessing work is lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.
It is also “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth”. Sexual immorality and pornographic information are flooding the world, the internet and the smartphones are “try those who dwell on the earth”. Never before has the world been filled with “sexual immorality” such an unprecedented scale, like homosexuality, transgender, LGBTQ+… even the time of Sodom and Gomorrah not happened. This world was naked and it’s shameful deeds were seen. May all churches buy the righteous white clothes. And May we all open the door of our heart to listen Jesus, repent and be zealous, for Jesus is really locking the door he is come. The one who conquered will sit with Jesus, sit next Father’s throne. Amen.
Let’s simplified a timeline table for seven churches period :
“a time” : Ephesians and Smyrna churches “time“
“times” : Pergamum-Thyatira churches “time” + Sardis-Philadelphia churches “time“
“half a time” : Laodicea church “1/2 time“
Let’s Prayer
Thank you Father and Jesus, may all give honor, glory, praise to you. Amen. Form the time of Daniel to the time of apostle John, even to 20th century the mystery about “a time, times, half a time” was hidden. What are the meaning of 1260 days, “a time, times, half a time”, 42 months, we have no idea and many scholars have put forward many opinions, but it still seems not match. But you have prophesied that this mystery will be revealed at the end time, and the prophecy come true now. The mystery has revealed now, it is the period of seven churches and seven stars.
Thanks Father, Jesus and heavenly angels. May we all repent, be zealous to witness lord Jesus Christ and he will come soon. May Father and Jesus give all of us white clothes, “salve to anoint our eyes”, so that we can see the truth of mystery. Amen.
May we all defend the war against the lawlessness, the sexual immorality. YHWH Father God, may your name be honor and hallowed, your kingdom come, your will be done, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Father, love you and you are worth our Honor, Worship, Thankful and Praise. Amen.
Prayer is also in the name of the Jesus Christ. Amen.
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