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Revelation 1:11
“Saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Rev. 1:11
“And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD,” (1Sam 7:15-17). The great prophet Samuel went from town to town establishing God’s word and setting up schools of education to maintain His light to the world. Elijah also (2 Kings 2:1-7) made a teaching circuit through Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan before he was taken up in the chariot likely to confirm the very same schools that had been set up by his predecessor. In the time of Paul, Luke tells us that he and Silas voyaged the Mediterranean in order to strengthen the churches that Paul and Barnabas had organized, (Acts 15:36). All these men, influential teachers and prophets, made sure that the faith of the people and the wonderful truths of God had not been lost in their absence.
Jesus, too, is absent from us in the flesh. But He, like the prophets before Him, makes His circuit through each of His churches throughout history. This letter and the names of the addressees are a witness to all believers that Jesus is always present through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the first and last, the Eternal One assures John and His churches of His continual guidance. Now He gives John the promises of this revelation, His work for us in Heaven; we whom He wishes to send His letter of love: His church throughout the world and throughout time from the beginning of Christianity until the time of the end.
During His ministry, Jesus sent His disciple out two-by-two to all of Israel in order to bring them into the kingdom. With this letter entrusted to John, our Lord now sends the same invitation to the churches and the world to which they bring light. As John’s envoy arrives two centuries ago on the shore of Asia and makes the circuit of named churches it may have taken weeks to reach all seven congregations. But no church was without the message. There is spiritual symbolism in this journey of John’s envoy. It delineates the chronological periods of God’s church paralleled by the spiritual problems unique to each city’s congregation and the challenging issues they will come to depict in the history of God’s people. It is the complete number, as we understand about the number seven and thus represents God’s complete church from first to last; from the Apostolic age until the time of Jesus’ return and His eternal kingdom. Home | About Us | Bible Study | Billerica Blog | Bible Commentary | Devotional | Online Giving | Ministries | Prayer | Media | Bookstore | News | Calendar | Contact Us | Sermons
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