THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS (1 OF 7)
by Zach Terry
Scripture: Revelation 1:4, Revelation 2:7
This content is part of a series.
The Letter to the Church at Ephesus (1 of 7)
Series: Churches of Revelation
Zach Terry
Revelation 1:4, 2:7
INTRODUCTION: RECAP - We began last week looking at this incredible finale of the Bible, the book of Revelation. We said that this book, that many avoid because of the difficulty with the genre, holds unusual relevance to our generation because it is the only book of the New Testament that is written specifically with concern to events that are unfolding before our very eyes.
SECTION - The first major section of the book of Revelation, however is different. We see letters being dictated by the Lord for 7 churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Why these Churches? Well, John most likely had Apostolic oversight of these churches in the region where he was stationed.
Similar letters were likely sent by other Apostles to other churches, but they were not preserved for inclusion within the canon of scripture. These were, therefore, we ought to assume that they hold unique benefit for us.
The concerns addressed in these 7 new testament postcards are issues that can be found in any church throughout church history.
EPHOCH THEORY - There is a theory that they are representative of 7 epochs of time throughout the last 2000 years, making the final church, Laodicea representative of the church in modern day - the wealthy, lukewarm church. That certain seems to ring true. BUT, if you zoom out and look at the church beyond our North American context, it doesn’t ring as true. I am told that in the last 100 years, more people have died for their faith than in the previous 2000 years combined. Worldwide, the church isn’t wealthy, it is suffering and it should not be described as lukewarm, but rather passionate and burning with zeal for the Gospel.
So, I don’t tend to hold to the theory that the 7 churches represent 7 epochs of church history. These were 7 real churches that existed in John’s day. The list of the church follows the Ancient mail route i ...
Series: Churches of Revelation
Zach Terry
Revelation 1:4, 2:7
INTRODUCTION: RECAP - We began last week looking at this incredible finale of the Bible, the book of Revelation. We said that this book, that many avoid because of the difficulty with the genre, holds unusual relevance to our generation because it is the only book of the New Testament that is written specifically with concern to events that are unfolding before our very eyes.
SECTION - The first major section of the book of Revelation, however is different. We see letters being dictated by the Lord for 7 churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Why these Churches? Well, John most likely had Apostolic oversight of these churches in the region where he was stationed.
Similar letters were likely sent by other Apostles to other churches, but they were not preserved for inclusion within the canon of scripture. These were, therefore, we ought to assume that they hold unique benefit for us.
The concerns addressed in these 7 new testament postcards are issues that can be found in any church throughout church history.
EPHOCH THEORY - There is a theory that they are representative of 7 epochs of time throughout the last 2000 years, making the final church, Laodicea representative of the church in modern day - the wealthy, lukewarm church. That certain seems to ring true. BUT, if you zoom out and look at the church beyond our North American context, it doesn’t ring as true. I am told that in the last 100 years, more people have died for their faith than in the previous 2000 years combined. Worldwide, the church isn’t wealthy, it is suffering and it should not be described as lukewarm, but rather passionate and burning with zeal for the Gospel.
So, I don’t tend to hold to the theory that the 7 churches represent 7 epochs of church history. These were 7 real churches that existed in John’s day. The list of the church follows the Ancient mail route i ...
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