7. SEVEN LETTERS, SEALS, TRUMPETS, AND BOWLS

I ran across a video a while back that I just could not shake that spoke about the congregations in Revelation being sequential. When I read the bible myself, something felt right about it so I decided to do some research.

I came to the conclusion that all the letters to the congregations are written from first to last. By the time the last letter is done, they are all contemporary congregations.  If they were contemporary from the beginning of time, there would be at least one letter addressing all congregations. There is not. Thus it is sequential. The first is put in writing then second and so on till the last letter. The Letters prepare us for the Seals which in turn prepare mankind for the Trumpets and then finally, The Bowls. We will look at the scripture then my explanation.

Revelation 2:1-7

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
      These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Ephesus means desirable. This is the 1^st century Christian era. This era is marked with the catalyst of Jesus coming to earth and dying for us all. In this time, there were the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jerusalem. The response from Satan is his killing of Jesus and attempt to continue the rampage against his apostles with severe persecution by those so-called Jews. The sect of Nicolaus was a group that dabbled in hierarchical rules as a science. This was something that could be devastating to the body of Christ and he was well to warn of its evils.

Revelation 2:8:11

⁸"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
      These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Smyrna means Myrrh. This is the era following the death of last apostle. This era is marked by the wonderful growth in the Christian congregations without the apostles. It grew so much it began to effect the established Pagan/Babylonian based religious societies and enrage their leaders. Satan's response was to initiate his own brand of tainted religion. His "so called" Jews would now support the Christianity brought in by Constantine. The Christianity that is known today is a marriage of the Pharisees’ Talmudic Judaism and Paganism given the label of Christianity. Its counterpart, Islam, is really a marriage of true Christianity, as preached by the apostles, and Paganism. (Background info) The Pharisees and Sadducees did not gain strength in Jerusalem until after the release from Babylon by the Medo Persians. When Medo Persia became the world power, the Babylonian priests did not agree with the Medo Persian leadership and moved out. They moved to Pergamum. This city became their central location for work and also an opportunity to create things like the Babylonian Talmud. Thus now the source of the false Jews were now located near Jerusalem itself and a plan to eliminate true Christianity and also to control Catholicism was hatched. First century Arabia was where the apostles first preached and where the first congregations were established. The connection was immediate because Christ and the Arabs shared the same blood and family ties to Abraham. He was one of their own. So the message initially was well received until Mohammad. Mohammad gave a new and fresh message directly from the angel Gabriel called Islam. Mohammad also tied in the local pagan deities which tainted his word and proved that it wasn’t from God. Unfortunately the message held on and overshadowed the truth.     

Revelation 2:12-17
¹²"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
      These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. ¹³I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. ¹⁴Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. ¹⁵Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Pergamum means elevation. This era is marked by the establishing of the Roman Catholic Church. The beginnings were born from the prior era where as you have so called Christians who were really false Jews manipulating a system of Paganism and calling it Christian when it really wasn't anything Christian. There is noted growth of Catholicism. Also Islam becomes firmly established but is not yet a contender against Catholicism. True Christianity ended-up stuck in the middle with the seat of Catholicism to their west and Islam to their east. The teaching of Balaam is a teaching that focuses in on self gratification over God's laws; in other words it is the law of entertainment. Nicolaus’ teaching is the same here as it is in Ephesus. This period continued until the Roman Catholic Church lost its political influence.

            Now the next four congregations are very special because they have a special relationship with the four periods of this book. They also fit within the frame work of the last days and the first four Seals.. Thyatira-Conqueror Period (First Seal); Sardis-Warrior Period (Second Seal); Philadelphia-New World Order (Third Seal); Laodicea-Dragon Period (Fourth Seal).

Revelation 2:18-29
¹⁸"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
      These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. ²⁰Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. ²¹I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. ²²So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. ²⁴Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): ²⁵Only hold on to what you have until I come. ²⁶To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—  ²⁷'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'— just as I have received authority from my Father. ²⁸I will also give him the morning star. ²⁹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Thyatira means perfume or sacrifice. This is during the Conqueror Period. This era is marked by a long period of Christian activity. Christianity, through Protestantism, attempted to establish that only God can provide salvation through grace and not salvation through the Catholic Church. They failed and when they did, the Catholic Church answered their every attempt by allowing the creation of another denomination after another. There was a flood of many different types and kinds of religions to fulfill the desire of every individual seeking spiritual enlightenment. During this wonderful enlightenment another part of this scripture made the scene; Jezebel or Babylon the Great. “Satan’s so called deep secrets” may well refer to esoteric knowledge contained within the higher levels of Freemasonry. This is the period we live in and is the opening of the first Seal.

Revelation 3:1-6

 ¹"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
      These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ²Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. ³Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. ⁴Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. ⁵He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. ⁶He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Sardis means “that which remains”. This is during the Warrior period; the period to come. Due to activity we thought was worth something in the last era, we will come to realize that we don’t know what faith is. This is why the scriptures tell the faithful to “Wake up!” Also we need to prepare and get ready for the further trials ahead. This our Second Seal.

            The next two congregations are extra special because they coincide with the two witnesses spoken of at Revelations 11:3. The congregations of Philadelphia and Laodicea are the two witnesses. The two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. This would fulfill the prophecy at Malachi 4:5,6.

Revelation 3:7-12

⁷"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
      These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. ¹¹I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹²Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. ¹³He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Philadelphia means “love of a brother”. This era is within the New World Order period. This era is also Moses-like. God’s people will be suffering from famine and of course, those earth quakes but most of all, they will be seeking safety. Interestingly he says of this people that they have a little bit of strength but are loyal. This describes Moses to a T.

Our third Seal.

            

Revelation 3:14-18

¹⁴"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
      These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. ¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ¹⁹Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²²He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Laodicea means people. This is within the Dragon Period and our Fourth Seal. The scriptures here make mention of either being hot or cold. It gives the idea that you must make a decision. This is the exact environment that Elijah the prophet was thrown in to. When he began to prophecy, the nation was divided into two parts; Judah and Israel. He was also the prophet who performed the example where he asked the Baal worshipers to a challenge. They set up a sacrifice and Elijah gave the Baal worshipers the first opportunity to get their god to take the sacrifice. After much wailing and yelling and failure, Elijah asked God to accept it. Fire came down from heaven and took the sacrifice and the rocks around it too. Read about it at 1Kings chapter 18. This era leaves no room to be wishy-washy. God is judging the world at large and those who want his leadership he will save. This puts his followers on one side and the wicked on the other. Laodicea will be the last faithful Christians on earth.

The 1st through fourth Seals are what mankind is sowing. The 5th through 7th Seals will be reporting what mankind will reap. Read here. 

Revelation 6:9-11

 ⁹When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. ¹⁰They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" ¹¹Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

The 6^th seal is an introduction to God’s day of judgment. It will be an unmistakable herald that his day has come. The 7^th seal is the Lord’s Day. The 7th seal contains the Trumpets and Bowls. The Christians who survive within the 7^th seal are especially strong because they will witness the trumpet blasts upon earth; yet be protected. They have the immense job of preaching to the wicked on the earth and saving as many lives as possible. We can see how our Lord will assist them through the following verses:

Revelation 11:5-12

⁵If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

 ⁷Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

 ¹¹But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹²Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

As we can see here that the final witness to the earth will be astonishingly accomplished amidst planetary turmoil. God will allow his servants to be murdered after 3 1/2 years during the Trumpets blasts. God will then bring them back to life and take them into heaven in the face of the wicked left on earth. At this point, God cleanses the earth as indicated by the rest of Revelation. Note that during the Bowls of God’s indignation, there are no Godly representatives on earth at that time.

The 7 letters to the congregations primarily follow the progress of God’s people. They give us insight on what we should do now and also the exceeding faith of that last congregation on earth that is attempting to save as many lives as they can. We can see that God is giving every opportunity to save this world. God is truly a loving God. He will not let us down and will always be there in our time of need. Read his word. Ask for Holy Spirit and continue to grow in knowledge and you will be saved.