Though rejected by some Bible scholars, there is a fourth level of interpretation for the seven Revelation churches- that of a prophetic profile for the 2000-year church age. Controversial to some, this application has many adherents. Not wanting to add anything to the word of God that might not be intended, I present it as a popular theory, not as Christian doctrine.
The question of prophetic validity is important because of a statement made by the glorified Christ to the sixth church, Philadelphia. This church is modeled to represent one of the two types present at the end of the church age, the other being the seventh, the church at Laodicea. As we shall see, Christ’s message to faithful Philadelphia has a bearing on the timing of the future rapture of the believing church. The message implies that the rapture will occur before, not during or after, the prophesied seven-year Great Tribulation period. This rapture interpretation is a cornerstone of the pre-millennial theory.
The seven churches are as follows. John writes:
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:10-11 (NASB)
Bible teacher Chuck Missler has stated that if these churches were listed in any other order than that given by Jesus, the prophetic profile concept would no longer be in play.
Here is an outline of the prophetic profile interpretation model:
1) Ephesus – represents the Apostolic Era, approximately 33-100 AD. It was a time of prolific growth for the Christian church among Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire. What began with great faith and devotion to Jesus apparently became increasingly isolated from Him as time went on. Ritual and routine replaced intimacy with Christ.
2) Smyrna – represents the Persecution Era of the Roman Empire, from approximately 64-312 AD. Begun in Rome by Nero to cover his own failings, the killing of Christians later spread throughout the entire empire, most notably by Diocletian and Galerius towards the end of this era. There were roughly ten to twelve persecuting Roman Emperors, or Caesars, each engaged in the mass killing of Christians. These might be alluded to by the ten days of persecution Jesus warned that the church at Smyrna would suffer.
3) Pegamos – represents the Church/State Union Era, covering the waning years of the Roman Empire on into the rise of the Franks, approximately 312-800 AD. During this era there were multiple alignments and alliances between the Christian church and various government leaders, often arranged for political and economic purposes. The church had great power with the people as Christianity spread throughout what is now western Europe, and earthly authorities wanted to take full advantage of it. It began when Emperor Constantine supported Christianity believing that God helped him win a key battle. This was a big improvement over persecution, but it led to compromise and corruption. On Christmas Day, 800 AD, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne King of the Franks. From this alignment between church and state would emerge the Holy Roman Empire, ruled from Aachen in what is now Germany. This empire endured 1,000 years in various forms until 1806.
Christ’s criticism of the Pergamos church was that, despite great growth, it had adopted the priorities and morals of the world around it, tolerating false teachers, and becoming corrupted due to its inclination to compromise. Many “spiritual leaders” of the Church/State Era were political appointees or wealthy businesspeople rather than true ministers seeking to follow and obey the word of God.
4) Thyatira – Middle Ages – 800-1517 AD. Christ’s major issue with this church was their tolerance of an evil teacher, Jezebel, who was leading the people astray to compromise with idolatry and sexual immorality. These are the same evil attributes which led to God’s chastening of Old Testament Israel, sending them into exile in Assyria and Babylon.
Most leaders throughout this period were not living like true Christians and were not shepherding the people towards Christ and the word of God.
Christ did compliment the people in the church of Thyatira for their patience, love, service, and faith. But the leaven of sin was spreading from tolerance at the top, weakening and hindering the whole church from being of true service to God.
5) Sardis – Reformation – 1517-1750 AD. Martin Luther’s Reformation started out with great spiritual energy in opposition to the questionable religious practices of the times, such as the sale of indulgences to fund cathedrals. But over time, this movement found its own deadness due to an ill-advised focus on cold formality and rules rather than the warmth of the person of Christ. Jesus thus condemned the church at Sardis for being dead and defiled, which is quite sad considering their lofty initial zeal and devotion.
6) Philadelphia – Missionary Church – 1750 AD – Present. Philadelphia may represent the Christ-centered church, lasting from the middle 18th century until last days of the age. Relying upon the true word of God and focusing on the person of Christ, the true believing church has been a wonderful vehicle for personal conversion, prayer, worship, community service, and global missionary evangelism.
Jesus commends the church of Philadelphia for its perseverance, faithfulness, boldness, and its willingness to identify with Him despite opposition from the world. He then makes them a remarkable, landmark promise:
10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. Revelation 3:10 (NASB)
This promise is one of the foundational scriptures for the pre-millennial rapture theory.
7) Laodicea – Skepticism / Rationalism – 1750 AD – Present. Alongside the Christ-centered Missionary church at Philadelphia, there exists a parallel, spiritually empty church devoid of devotion to Christ, the word of God, or prayer. Good works, intellectualism, humanism, and Deism replace sincere worship with Jesus as a central focus. Christ had a strong word of warning for the church of Laodicea, but also extends to them a life line:
16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. Revelation 3:16-18 (NASB)
Reflection
This has been a rough outline of the prophetic model for the seven Revelation churches. We do not know for certain whether this prophetic profile interpretation is truly valid or not. But Christ’s promise to the church at Philadelphia and His warning to the church at Laodicea still do have application for us today.
Lord, thank You for Your word. Help us to keep Christ centered in our hearts, with a devotion to Him leading us to seek cleansing, purity, and grace through faith. May His great sacrifice on the cross for us and resurrection from the dead prepare us for a life of eternal security in Your loving presence. We ask this in the power of Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today!
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 