John was instructed to write to the seven churches in Asia.\u00a0 These seven churches are considered to be seven different dispensations of time, beginning with the time John was given the revelation, right up to the time that Christ will return.\u00a0 Many think that we are presently living in the final or Laodicean dispensation.<\/p>\n
The same statement was made to all seven of the churches, \u201cI know thy works.\u201d\u00a0 Notice, it was not said, \u201cI know what you are going to do.\u201d\u00a0 These letters were written in the present tense; not in future tense.\u00a0 These letters are a reflection of what was happening with each one of those seven churches at the time the book of Revelation was written.\u00a0 The seven churches are not an acknowledgment of different periods of time.<\/p>\n
If each church represents a different time frame, are the blocks of time specific amounts of time or is each period variable?\u00a0 If they are different blocks of time, are they in chronological order?\u00a0 If they are in chronological order, why didn\u2019t Christ return during the time frame of the Philadelphian Church or the Church of Smyrna; seeing that these are the only churches listed, where the word repent<\/em>, was not mentioned?\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t Christ return during either Smyrna or Thyatira, seeing that they are the only churches, that mentioned\u00a0tribulation,<\/em>\u00a0which we know will be in the last days.\u00a0 If the churches are not listed in chronological order, then we have no idea where we are in time.<\/p>\n The seven churches are not seven dispensations of time. All seven of these churches were in existence in John\u2019s day.\u00a0 Each church was called by name, meaning specific churches.\u00a0 All of them were practicing churches, and some had problems, just as churches have issues today.\u00a0 The revelation given to John was pointing out their weaknesses and their strengths. In other words, the letters to the seven churches could be considered seven different \u201cstate of the church addresses<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n In the New Testament, God had already inspired letters to be written to several other churches.\u00a0 All of those churches were addressed individually.\u00a0 Those letters were written approximately 50 to 60 AD, but Revelation was written approximately 95 AD.\u00a0 One church (Ephesus) received an individual letter and was now included collectively, in the letters to the seven churches.\u00a0 These seven churches have something in common and it is not about a progression of time.<\/p>\n These seven churches are located together into one geographic area, known as Asia Minor. Because the book of Revelation is predominately addressing End-time events; therefore these seven churches will have a significant function in the last days.\u00a0 Perhaps, it\u2019s not the churches that are the focal point.\u00a0 Remember, the book of Revelation is written using symbolism.\u00a0 The seven churches collectively, are symbolic for one consequence or outcome in the last days.\u00a0 The churches are not symbolic for seven different dispensations, but they are symbolic for one specific thing in the last days.\u00a0 That one specific geographic location, comprised of the seven churches, will play a major role in the Tribulation Period.<\/p>\n