The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 1

The Seven “Churches” of Revelation

Part 1, Ages, Attitudes or “Churches” (Assemblies)?

Menorah

Chapter 26 Preview: Many opinions exist concerning what the “seven churches” of Revelation 2-3 represent. Some claim that they represent seven “attitudes” present during the entire “Church Age”. Others claim that they are seven consecutive historic periods or “eras” of “God’s “Church” (off site)”. Does the internal evidence in the Book of Revelation, concerning these “seven churches”, support these interpretations? Could they actually be seven Assemblies of people comprising the entire Congregation of God’s people alive today? Was the Book of Revelation meant to be understood? I submit that understanding the nature of the “seven churches” may become a life and death matter during the coming years.

Three Popular Interpretations

I have summarized the most common explanations of the “seven churches” into three theories. We’ll start with the “eras” and “attitudes”.

INDEX

Theory #1: The politically correct belief is that these seven represent all of Christianity down thru the ages, culminating in the end-time. This theory maintains that there are seven broad “attitudes” which comprise every brand of the Christian “faith”. The warnings and promises are for anyone, at any time, who thinks of himself as a Christian.

Theory #2: A narrower interpretation is that the “seven churches” represent seven uninterrupted “eras” of God’s true Assembly of Saints (off site) extending from the time of Peter to the end of the age. This is a form of the “Apostolic succession” teaching of the Catholic Church. Adherents to this teaching often have a Papal like adoration for their own “Vicar of Christ”, whatever they may call him (or her). The theory maintains that today is the “Laodicean era” and that the other six “churches” are all but deceased.

Theory #3: There is also the “preterits” explanation that these “seven churches” existed historically and that the warnings are totally irrelevant to us today, as is, they would claim, almost every other prophecy. I dont care to even comment on that notion.

[The word “church” (off site) is directly derived from the name of the pagan goddess Circe. Yet the original English form of the word “church” is of no concern to most people.]

The first two theories are quite similar with the exception of how exclusivistic the theorist is. If you believe that “all roads lead to heaven”, then Theory #1 is the explanation for you. On the other hand, if you believe that only those people who accept the teachings of your favorite guru (and his alleged or actual predecessors and successors) are true disciples, then Theory #2 is for you. Theory #2 appeals to total exclusivists so much because they can view the “seven churches” as history rather than prophecy—despite their placement in the KEY book of end time prophecy! In this way they can still believe that their organization has always existed under the control of one “church government”. The idea that “the Way” can exist in seven differing forms at the same time is anathema to them.

The first man to suggest the idea of church eras was a 13th Century Catholic monk named Joachim of Fiore (off site). Later, Nicholas of Lyra was the first to suggest actual dates. The Catholic Church eventually rejected Joachim’s theory, but a form of it later resurfaced with some of the Protestant Reformers. Most of the “era” proponents have associated themselves with “the church of the Laodiceans”, the last supposed “era”, and taught that Jesus’ (actually Yeshua, off site) return was imminent. Of course constant revisions of the end time schedule of events need to be made as each new generation of “end time Apostles” come on the scene.

The “church eras” theory was promoted by Ellen G. White, “prophetess” of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and the idea is preserved in her writings. She taught that the Adventists were the last era of God’s true church. In the last century, Herbert Armstrong taught that the Worldwide Church of God was the “Philadelphia era”, because the benefits package was much better that that of Laodicea. Of course he had to teach that the final “era” would come and go in an extremely short period of time. Others have stepped forward in recent years to “bear the burden” of being end time “Elijah’s” presiding over either the “Philadelphia era” or the “Laodicean era”.

Attitudes or Works?

James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. WEB

Some people, particularly those who may see problems with the eras approach, latch onto the “seven different attitudes” approach, saying that there are seven distinct types of people with distinctive “attitudes” within God’s one Assembly. They see this as the condition of the body of Yeshua since its inception. Actually, there are only two “attitudes” at work in the end time congregations—good ones and bad ones. Most of the “seven churches” have both attitudes present. However, that is not the issue. There are two paramount factors addressed in this prophecy—“works” and “heresy” [being divided into sects is literally heresy]. Most of the world’s churches teach that good “works” are not a factor in salvation. Try telling that to these Assemblies!

Revelation 2:2 I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you cant tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them ‘false’ [lying].... WEB

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. WEB

Revelation 2:9 I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. WEB

Revelation 2:13 I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to My name, and didnt deny My faith in the days of Antipas my witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. WEB

Revelation 2:19 I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first. WEB

Revelation 2:23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. NKJV

Revelation 2:26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.... WEB

Revelation 3:1 ... I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. WEB

Revelation 3:8 I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept My word, and didnt deny My name. WEB

Revelation 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. WEB

To be justified before God we must do the works of God and also have faith, as He admonished the seven “lamps”. Neither faith nor works alone is sufficient in itself.

James 2:22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected? WEB

James 2:24 You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. WEB

An Unembellished Explanation

A literal view is that these prophecies are for the end of the age. Specifically, there will be seven different ecclesiastical groups, most of which will have factions or splinters (1 Corinthians 11:19), each a lamp segment of the true congregation of God at the end of the age. The circumstances that these seven branches of the “lampstand” (Hebrew: menorah) find themselves in are a true example of history repeating itself. These “lamps” have strengths and weaknesses that correlate to the conditions of seven local contemporary Assemblies that John was familiar with.

Let’s take a close look at the word of God on the subject. The purpose of the Book of Revelation is revealed in the very first verse of the book—it is to show us what to expect!

Revelation 1:1 A Revelation of [Yeshua the messiah], which God gave to Him to show to His ‘slaves’ [servants] things which must occur quickly. LIT

The phrase “must occur quickly” is translated as “shortly come to pass” in the KJV, which implies that God is running late. What “must occur quickly” are all of the events in the book which describes the Day of the Lord. The “quickly” aspect is that once these events begin to occur then the events will be as surreal as an action movie.

The book of Daniel was sealed—eluding a comprehensive understanding until the final generation of this age:

Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased. WEB

However the Book of Revelation was intended to be understood from the time that it was written. Notice:

Revelation 22:10 He said to me, “Dont seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” WEB

I believe that John literally “traveled in time” to the very end of this age and saw Yeshua walking in the midst of His seven lamps.

Revelation 2:1 ... He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things.... WEB

The perspective that John was “viewing” this prophesy from was reflecting back on the Great Tribulation from within the time frame of the Day of the Lord. This is an important distinction because the fireworks dont really get going until after the Great Tribulation!

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. NKJV

When a symbolic term is used infrequently it usually means the same thing consistently—especially within the same book. Notice that “lampstands” represent the “Seven [Ecclesias]” by definition:

Revelation 1:20 ... the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the ‘angels’ [or “messengers”] of the seven ‘Assemblies’ [usually mistranslated ‘churches’]. The seven lampstands are SEVEN ASSEMBLIES. WEB

Are They Really Churches?

John Calvin

John Calvin insisted on using the word “church” (instead of using “ecclesia” or “assembly” or “congregation”) in his version of the Geneva Bible. Others such as William Tyndale, refused to substitute a completely different word of Greek origin—“kirche/church” for “ecclesia”: see “church” in Webster’s Dictionary}. Tyndale’s Bible correctly renders “ecclesia” as “congregation” rather than “church” where the Greek so-called “New Testament” scriptures use “ecclesia”. This is perhaps the primary reasons why the Church (of England) had him killed! The term “church” implies both “an edifice” as well as “acknowledging” ... “ecclesiastical authority”—the trademarks of corporate or hierarchical church governments which seek to deprive you of your free moral agency (and all of your spare cash)!

For a very detailed study of the origin of the word “church” you really need to read about the pagan Goddess Circe, Daughter of the Sun. Anatomy of a Church (by Earnest Martin)

Circe

Since the word “ecclesia” is rendered into English as both “congregation” and “assembly”, I would like to comment on the usages of these terms.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, an “Assembly” is a gathering in a single geographic location, “in the same place”, whereas “congregation”, while often used synonymously with “Assembly” would be more useful in describing, as Webster says, the “Christian church” on a planetary scale. In order to maintain a meaningful distinction, I prefer that distinction—to describe God’s entire “Ecclesia” as the “Congregation”. Going beyond Webster’s definition—when referring to any one of the seven end time lamps of the menorah, we might refer to it as an “Assembly” with local area members of that Assembly being referred to as “Local Assemblies”.

Seven Messages to Seven Ecclesias

Many examples of a Messenger delivering a message to “His servants” by a revelation to the Apostle John (Revelation 1:1). Does the phrase “To the angel of the church of Ephesus” or the phrase “the angel of the church of_____” (any of the other six Assemblies) truly mean angelic messengers?

Here is a portion of the definition from Easton’s Revised Bible Dictionary:

[Strong’s] 0240 Angel—a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a “messenger,” and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20).

So the question is: Would Yeshua convey a message to seven angels by John? That makes no sense because God resides with the angels. God would no more send messages to His angels, by John, than He would use the U.S. Post Office! The context indicates that Yeshua is delivering messages to people—human messengers—of the last generation of “the Way”!

Are these “messengers” Apostles? A commonly held opinion of the meaning of the term “Apostle” is a servant of Yeshua who had to have seen Him in person in the first century.

Here is what an Apostle is:

Online Bible Greek Lexicon

652 apostolos (ap-os’-tol-os)

1) a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders

1a) specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ

1b) in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers [an interpretation]

1b1) of Barnabas

1b2) of Timothy and Silvanus

The literal translation of the word: “delegate or messenger”, rather than the interpretation above is indicated by the following scripture concerning the Ephesus Assembly:

Ephesus

Revelation 2:1 I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you cant tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them ‘false’. [or ‘liars’] WEB

Here we find an Assembly with men claiming to be Apostles. The prophecy indicates that this Assembly will test these imposters to see if they are really Apostles, not based upon their having seen Yeshua, but rather based on the things that they are saying. In Ephesus their “servants” are proven to be liars. However, the implication is that there could be men at the close of the age with the zeal and power of the original twelve, but that they must be tested by what they are saying. I doubt that true Apostles would even apply the term to themselves because of the baggage that has been added to the term by liars over the centuries. Nevertheless, there are seven end time “messengers”.

I believe that the Two Witnesses will come from two of the Seven Assemblies. John specifically referred to Zechariah’s prophecy concerning the otherwise unique symbols of “two olive trees” and two (of the seven) “lamps” or “lampstands”, and compared it to the end time events that he was witnessing. Without going into detail here, the Revelation account correlates the circumstances of Zerubbabel and Joshua rebuilding the second temple of God to the Two Witnesses building a third temple!

Revelation 11:1-4 A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and dont measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. 3 I will give power to My Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands [personified], standing before the Lord of the earth. WEB

Zechariah 4:1-14 The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it; 3 and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.” 4 I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Dont you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of [Yehovah’] to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says [Yehovah] of Armies. 7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’” 8 Moreover the word of [Yehovah] came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that [Yehovah] of Armies has sent me to you. 10 Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of [Yehovah], which run back and forth through the whole earth.” 11 Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?” 12 I asked him the second time, “What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?” 13 He answered me, “Dont you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the Two Anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” WEB

Notice that some members of all Seven Assemblies will “rejoice” when one like Zerubbabel takes the plumb line in hand! The Book of Revelation was written expressly to inform the Seven Assemblies, that will witness the Apocalypse, about what would be happening to His spiritual body, the entire Congregation, in it’s final generation. Yeshua himself testified to this:

Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of [Yeshua the Messiah], was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’ NKJV

Why are there only Seven Assemblies mentioned in Revelation? Everyone knows that there are hundreds of sects claiming to represent God. I believe that the simple answer is revealed within Revelation itself! The phrase “the testimony of Yeshua” is used five times in the Bible and every instance is in the Book of Revelation. We see below that the “offspring” of God is those who keep the Ten “commandments of God and have the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah”. Now for my biased statement: I believe that only people keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath are truly keeping the Commandments. This drastically reduces the number of contenders for the seven. (This is not to imply that “Sunday Christians” may not be “excused”—indeed many will be, as explained in The Called, the Culled, and the Excused.)

Revelation 12:17 The dragon grew angry with ‘the woman’, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s Commandments and hold Yeshua’s testimony. WEB

Revelation 19:10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Dont do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of [Yeshua]. Worship God, for the testimony of [Yeshua] is the Spirit of Prophecy. WEB

But what specifically is “the testimony of Yeshua”, the second criterion, or common denominator of the Seven Assemblies? By comparing the above two verses we see that Commandment keepers at the end of the age will possess an essential “testimony” which is the “spirit of prophecy”.

It is worth noting that the word “testimony”, in the Greek Scriptures, is derived from the Greek word is also translated as “martyr” (Strong’s 3141 marturia).... This is a message worth dying for!

Could it be that the essential “testimony” worth dying for involves understanding the “prophecy” given by Yeshua to the Assemblies? Perhaps so.

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Revelation 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Assemblies. WEB

Biblical repetition is for emphasis!

It is evident that all of the self proclaimed “one true churches” will, by the end of the age, be aware of the other organizations that God is working with. Perhaps they will not, however, agree on which Assembly is Thyatira, etc. for a time.

God says to Thyatira that:

Revelation 2:23 I will kill her [Jezebel’s] children with Death, and all the Assemblies will know [as a result] that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. WEB

Yeshua concluded the Book of Revelation by again telling us to whom the book was addressed:

Revelation 22:16 I, [Yeshua], have sent My angel to testify these things to you for the Assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star. WEB

The Scriptures unmistakably reveal that the Book of Revelation is addressed to the Seven Assemblies.

In Revelation Chapter 1, Yeshua was seen walking around the seven golden “lampstands” or “candlesticks” (as older versions have it) that we are plainly told represent the Seven Assemblies (verse 20). These Seven Assemblies were on a mail route, in Asia Minor, a province of the Roman Empire. These Assemblies existed in fairly close proximity to each other during the later ministry of the Apostle John. Today this area is in Turkey. These seven small Assemblies died out centuries ago. That is indisputable, but have the prophecies already been fulfilled?

Has Yeshua Returned?

Did God carry out punishments upon the seven ancient Assemblies that He said so much about? The only way that the prophecies concerning the Seven Assemblies could be fulfilled is if Yeshua has already returned and judged the world while we werent looking! All Seven Assemblies were given either a direct or indirect warning to be prepared for the return of Yeshua the Messiah! This alone rules out the possibility of “eras”.

The Warning to Ephesus:

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I AM COMING TO YOU swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. WEB

We see here a direct reference to the return of Yeshua, and very soon. Altho this Assembly is not accused of false teachings, it is growing cold in spirit. Yeshua will threaten to “remove” the “lampstand” of the messenger, or “angel”, of Ephesus unless he and those whom he represents “repent”.

To see some fantastic photos of ancient Ephesus click this link.

The Warning to Smyrna:

The Smyrna Assembly will be greatly persecuted. Some of the members will be martyrs. This is the time of the “fifth seal” during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 2:9-10 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ‘Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. NKJV

If Smyrna were an era then their “tribulation” would have to have lasted for about 300 years (their 1/7th of the last 2000 years). There have been various tribulations as long as there have been Saints. However, the focus here is on “those things which you are about to suffer”—a particular and noteworthy tribulation! What about the “ten days”? This could possibly refer to the ten days between the Day of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement of the next Jubilee year. The suffering will be over when the sins are fully atoned for.

To see some fantastic photos of ancient Smyrna click this link and scroll down to Izmir.

The Warning to Pergamos:

The references to “sword of My mouth” in Revelation correlates to Isaiah 49:1-12 (especially v.2) which is a prophecy about Yeshua, “The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One”, returning to save Israel. The implication is that this Assembly must repent or else be treated as the enemies of Israel will be.

Revelation 2:16 Repent therefore, or else I am COMING TO YOU quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. WEB

There are false teachers in the Pergamos Assembly who teach the “doctrine of Balaam” and “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans”. (off site) Yeshua will destroy these teachers at His second coming unless those involved repent of teaching these false concepts. The knowledge of who the Nicolaitans are is so well exposed on the Web (thoI have never heard it explained in person) that I chose to only mention it here in passing.

Allegiance to any sect or denomination is literally “heresy”. In fact the Greek word for “heresy” and “sect” is one and the same! This is expounded on in Is Exclusivity “The Unpardonable Sin”?

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 For first of all, when you come together in the Assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you [already], and I partly believe it. 19 For there also must be ‘factions’ [“heresies”: Strong’s 139 hairesis AV (KJV) -sect 5, heresy 4] among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. WEB

To see some fantastic pictures of ancient Pergamos click this link and scroll down to Bergama.

The Warning to Thyatira:

This is yet another “indisputable” reference to the return of “The Lord and His Christ”.

Revelation 2:25 Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly UNTIL I COME. WEB

John told Thyatira to at least hang onto the meager truth that they have. Losing scriptural ground is inexcusable.

To see pictures from Thyatira try this link and scroll down to Akhisar.

The Warning to Sardis:

Yeshua also gave the Sardis Assembly a clear reference to His return.

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. IF therefore you wont watch, I will come as a thief, and you wont know what hour I WILL COME UPON YOU. WEB

Yeshua told the Sardis Assembly that “if” they “will not watch” that He will come upon them as a thief. The implication is that they should be watching and should not be overtaken by the “beginning of the end” by negligence. Wake up Sardis and “watch”!

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 But you, brothers, arent in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. 5 You are all children of light, and children of the day. We dont belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. WEB

To see pictures of ancient Sardis click this link and scroll down to Sardis.

The Letter to Philadelphia:

Revelation 3:10–11 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the Hour of Trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. NKJV

This is a clear reference to God’s intervention in the affairs of the world. From the vantage point of John, in the 21st century, Yeshua is saying: “Behold I am coming quickly”.

To see pictures from ancient Philadelphia click this link.

The Warning to Laodicea:

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, then I WILL COME in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. WEB

The statement that “I will come” to those in Laodicea undoubtedly concerns Yeshua’s imminent return of.

This reminds me of a similar promise that John recorded in an earlier work:

John 14:23 [Yeshua] answered him, “If a man loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home with him. WEB

We see from the verses quoted above that all Seven Assemblies will be warned about Yeshua’s return.

Often the five foolish virgins of Matthew 25:1-13 are said to be the Laodicean “church”. Yet the apparent root word of “foolish” (Strong’s 3474) is (Strong’s 3466), that would pertain to a mystery religion:

The Online Bible Greek Lexicon

1) hidden thing, secret, mystery

1a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals

1b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding

1c) a hidden purpose or counsel

1c1) secret will

1c1a) of men

1c1b) of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly

To see pictures of ancient Laodicea click this link.

David J. Smith

There is more evidence to demonstrate that the Seven Assemblies will all exist prior to, as well as during, the very end time. The history of today’s Sabbatarian Assemblies show that at least five of them are already in existence. However, Assemblies, beyond criticism, such as the Philadelphian Assemby or the Smyrna Assembly barely show up on the radar screen. They are undoubtedly assembling in living room groups in order to avoid “liars”, “Nicolaitans”, “Jezebel”, the “dead” and the “lukewarm”. Others will repent of the problems associated with the various sects and perhaps work with the better Assemblies. I expect that those in the Pergamos Assembly who do not “hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans” will follow the lead of a modern day “Antipas” “My faithful martyr”. (I was looking for a picture typifying the Great Tribulation and this one gets right to the point. Someone tell me if you have read this book. The picture is a link.)

An interesting assessment of the “made in the USA” Messianic [Meaning having to do with Yeshua] Sabbatarian Congregations is found on the following link. It explains the origin of each of these groups and mentions some of the major differences between the groups: The first four are easily traced to a common origin. These groups now salt the entire earth as explained in Similarities and Differences Between Sabbatarian Churches (off site). Some of these probably collectively represent one of the Seven Lamps.

Among the Seven Assemblies we see a great deal of false teaching within the ranks of those calling themselves Yeshua’s Disciples. A commensurate great deal of repentance will be demanded by God. So being associated with a Sabbatarian group is not a safety net at all, in and of itself. We must all “work out our own salvation”. I would not say that all “Messianic Sabbatarian groups” are in some way associated with the Seven Assemblies. For example, there are “Sabbatarians” of every stripe who know the Ten Commandments, living on 40% of the earth’s surface who have never considered that God did not wait until man invented the International Dateline to determine when the Sabbath begins and ends. They are in reality keeping the sixth day! They may be as sincere, or even more so, than someone else in their same organization, living on the other side of the imaginary line who just happens to be keeping the Sabbath on the right day. I’m not certain how God will judge that. It is also apparent, from comparing “doctrine” to the scriptures that God is being extremely tolerant of the misguided tenets that are taught within His “nothing to brag about” Assemblies. But there must be a limit to how far the “testimony of Yeshua” (everything that Yeshua taught) can be stretched before it simply does not meet the minimum requirement. So does a Seventh Day Baptist, who happens to understand and keep the Sabbath (in the “right” time zone), meet the “testimony” requirement? On the plus side, that group does not cast people from their group for not agreeing with any particular sectarian “Statement of Beliefs”. Any “ministry”—and there are many—that would banish a brother for having personal convictions that differ from a “corporate dogma” is fulfilling the early stage of the following prophecy:

John 16:2-3 They will put you out of the ‘synagogues’ [religious gathering places, of Jews and pristine Christianity]. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me. WEB