Problem 11 - That the 7 churches in Revelation are part of the Body of Christ

PROBLEM NO. 11 --THAT THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

All Acts 2 Dispensationalists agree that the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, belong to the Church, the Body of Christ (The Revelation Record by Henry M. Morris, pages 28,36,48; Tyndale House Publ.; 1983); Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin, pages 128-132; 1920).

They teach that the seven churches represent seven time periods of this Dispensation of grace (Things To Come by J. Dwight Pentecost, pages 149-153; Dunham Publ. Co.; 1964). Therefore, the seventh church, the church in Laodicea, represents the time period before the Rapture, and that we are living in that time period now.

They also use Rev. 1:19 as a reason to divide the book of Revelation into three parts: (1) Past, chapter 1; (2) Present, chapters 2 and 3; (3) Future, chapters 4-22.

THE TRUTH

The book of Revelation MUST be understood as being one unit, representing one subject, the subject being old Testament prophecy. The book is called 'prophecy' at the beginning and at the end (Rev. 1:3; 22:19). 'Prophecy' is singular, not plural. This book is the climax of God's program for Israel under the Abrahamic Covenant, which of course, includes the Davidic, Palestinian, and the New Covenant. The Mystery revealed to Paul cannot be found in the book of Revelation.

If you read Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 closely, you will notice that the language used therein is very Jewish. As a matter of fact, Revelation is the most Jewish book in the New Testament. The book of Revelation contains 285 references that are quoted and alluded to from the Old Testament. -Of the two New Testament books which are considered as being very Jewish in their contents, Matthew has 92 references while Hebrews contains 102 references to the Old Testament. Revelation contains more than those two books together (The Apocalypse by E.W. Bullinger, page 6; Bagster and Sons, London; 1909).

Many of these old Testament references are found in the letters to the seven churches. Please notice sane of them:

1 . EPHESUS - Rev. 2:1-7
a. the seven golden candlesticks (verses 1,5) looks back to Ex. 25:31-40, where the candlesticks for the Tabernacle are described;
b. Repent (verse 5) was THE word under the Gospel of the Kingdom; it is mentioned in five of the messages to the seven churches;
c. Tree of life (verse 7) looks back to Genesis 3:22.

2. SMYRNA Rev. 2:8-11
a. 'Jews' and 'synagogue' in verse 9.

3. PERGAMOS - Rev. 2:12-17
a. Balaam and Balak in verse 14; refers back to Numbers, chapters 22-24;
b. Hidden manna (verse 17) looks back to Exodus 16:33-34 where 'manna' was put into a pot, and hid;
c. New name (verse 17) refers back to Isaiah 62:2.

4. THYATIRA Rev. 2:18-29
a. Jezebel (verse 20) refers back to 1 Kings, chapters 16-21, and to 2 Kings, chapter 9;
b. a rod of iron (verse 27) looks back to Psalm 2:9;
c. Searches the reins and hearts (verse 23) goes back to Jeremiah 17:10;
d. morning star (verse 28) looks back to Numbers 24:17.

5. SARDIS - Rev. 3:1-6
a. Book of life (verse 5) goes back to Daniel 12:1.

6. PHILADELPHIA - Rev. 3:7-13
a. Key of David (verse 7) refers back to Isaiah 22:22;
b. 'Jews' and 'synagogue' in verse 9;
c. The Temple of God (verse 12) certainly refers to the Jewish Temple of the
Millennium.

7. LAODICEA - Rev. 3:14-22
a. Verse 17 is taken from Hosea 2:5,8,9;
b. To buy (verse 18) looks back to Isaiah 55:1-2.

These 17 references to the Old Testament make for a very highly concentrated effort to bring the Old Testament into the book of Revelation in just two chapters.

In addition, all of the messages end with a phrase that the Lord Jesus used 8 times in His earthly ministry, 'he that hath an ear, let him hear' (Matt. 11:13; 13:9,43; Mark 4:9,23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35). John was led to add 'what the Spirit saith unto the churches.'

Now some might object that this is an unfair way or a one-sided analysis of this subject in order to show the Jewishness of chapters 2 and 3. But facts are facts. You cannot get around them. Because of this, it is a fair and accurate presentation of the truth.

Some might answer that Paul also used Jewish language in his letters, but his writings are not considered as being Jewish. While this is true, Paul did not use Jewish terms like the Kingdom writers did.

When John used Jewish language to describe the subject matter in the book of Revelation, his terminology was a part of his thinking, a part of his message, a part of his way of life, so much so that it colors the teachings of the book. This was only natural of John to do this.

But when Paul refers to Jewish events and things, like in 1 Cor. 10:1-11 for example, there is a definite purpose or reason for this, as seen in verse 11, 11 all these things happened unto them for ensamples" [as types or patterns]. Don't forget, Paul wrote to Gentiles, and they could not associate themselves with the Old Testament and its teachings. The Old Testament is not a Gentile book; it is a Jewish book, written by Jews who described Jewish things. However, lessons can be learned from what happened in the old Testament, and that is why Paul would bring in some Divine principles from past history that can still be applied to Gentile believers today.

Now, what about Revelation 1:19? Can this verse be used to divide Revelation into three parts? The answer is No. As mentioned earlier, Revelation is a book of 'prophecy' (singular), NOT 'prophecies' (plural).

"In the King James Version this verse reads, 'Write the things which thou has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.' But in our judgment, a better rendering from the Greek of verse 19 is this: 'Write therefore what things thou sawest and what they are, even what things are about to happen hereafter.' ... In other words, John saw certain prophetic things, what they meant and when they should take place. He only wrote about ONE set of future prophetic events. This includes the messages to the seven churches. The vocabulary of chapters 2 and 3 is sprinkled through the rest of the book, showing the relevancy of the seven messages to God's people at that time" (The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation by R.C. Brock, pages 6-7).

By Robert C. Brock