The Literary and Prophetic Structure of Revelation 2 and 3

Eugene Shubert

The Essential Outline

The most wonderful thing about Christ's messages to the seven churches is how amazingly loving and appropriate the messages are. In this summary, you will behold the profound depth of their content. Also, in the second half, the displays of God's omniscience will seriously challenge your capacity to believe. I will not be commenting on everything known about the seven churches. I will be focusing on the prophetic and very elegant literary structure of the messages.

Before we examine the nature and meaning of the seven messages, it will be helpful to reread Revelation chapter 1. (See below). Here are the essential details.

John's epistle is addressed to seven churches in Asia.
John was writing from the island of Patmos and the seven churches were situated on the mainland, near to the Island of Patmos.
The seven churches are listed in geographical order. That's the order that a messenger would take in delivering John's letter to the seven churches, allowing it to be read at each church and faithfully copied.

In Revelation chapter 1, John sees and has a dramatic encounter with the glorified Christ. In the Seven Churches section (Revelation chapters 2 and 3), Christ reminds each church that He is the One speaking and, in each Self-introduction, Christ identifies Himself by referring to some part of His description in Revelation 1. The choice Christ makes to describe Himself to each church is pertinent to that church. Also, in each of the seven messages, Christ mentions a reward for those who overcome. Each reward is appropriate to the circumstances of that church.

You should see an abundance of parallels and contrasts in Christ's messages to the seven churches. I highlighted many of the phrases in bold text to make these parallels and contrasts easier to see.

Revelation 1

Prologue
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Greetings and doxology

4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

One like a Son of Man
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 2

To the church in Ephesus

1 "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: 2 I 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember 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. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He 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.

Christ is in charge of the seven stars. That's an important fact to remember. Unsanctified human nature wants to control. This is a real danger and a potential threat in every legalistic church.

Christ commends the church in Ephesus for their hard work and perseverance. It's a godly undertaking to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

What is missing? The church in Ephesus had forsaken their first love—Jesus Christ. Consider the implications.

Jesus said,

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:23-27.

What teaching of Jesus did the Ephesus church forsake? Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.

Consider again that Christ is speaking to the church in Ephesus. What do they hear is the reward for those who overcome? They get to eat fruit from the tree of life. Is that the reward you look forward to?

Think of all the blessedness that being a member of heaven will bring. What are your greatest and noblest aspirations? They will be fulfilled. Why, then, is Christ referring to granting the right to eat from the tree of life? What was His purpose in mentioning the paradise of God?

Christ has given the church a subtle message. It is a subtle hint to what the Ephesians could have in the here and now.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

The mention, then, of the simple pleasure of eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God matches perfectly the hard work of the Ephesians.

To the Church in Smyrna

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. 9 I 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. 10 Do 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. 11 He 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.

He who is First and Last, who died and came to life again, speaks to those disheartened by afflictions and poverty. Christ encouraged them by pointing to their great riches. Those who are faithful to the end will receive a crown of life. Christ shows great empathy. Note the parallels. The church was distressed by the fierce persecution they were suffering. Christ died and came to life again and this would also be true of those who overcome.

To the Church in Pergamum

12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I 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. 14 Nevertheless, 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. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He 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.

Church members who hold to the teaching of Balaam or of the Nicolaitans should be disfellowshipped. The church in Pergamum didn't understand this necessity. Thus, the church was making an error in judgment. They didn't have the discernment that comes from studying God's word. "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:13,14.

In Revelation 1:16 John describes Christ, saying "out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword." God's word is like a sword. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). The sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Christ is called the Word of God (John 1:1). Christ compares His word with life-giving bread that must be eaten (John 6:33,35,48,50,51,57,58). "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). The reward of those who overcome will be the secret treasure of God's word.

To the Church in Thyatira

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. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, 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. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So 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. 23 I 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. 24 Now 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): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 To 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. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The church in Ephesus, Pergamum and Thyatira are a bit like the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion in The Wizard of Oz. The Tin Man didn't have a heart. The Scarecrow didn't have a brain (only straw). Thyatira, like the Lion, didn't have any courage. Christ is reminding the church in Thyatira that those who overcome will rule with an iron scepter. Christ judges now ("I am he who searches hearts and minds") and the church shouldn't cringe at judging immorality and ungodly doctrines. We are to rule now by not tolerating wickedness in the church.

Note that Christ presents Himself here as an imposing figure and a greater threat than Jezebel, who is intimidating.

Revelation 3

To the Church in Sardis

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. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, 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. 4 Yet 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. 5 He 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. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

He who holds the seven spirits of God knows who is alive spiritually. The Spirit gives life. This church is dead. Their deeds are feeble and lifeless, imperfect and incomplete. Those who overcome will be dressed in white. "And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Revelation 19:8.

Imagine only having a reputation of being alive but actually being dead. Contrast that with having your name permanently written in the book of life and the Son of God acknowledging you before His Father and His angels.

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:23.

To the Church in Philadelphia

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. 8 I 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. 9 I 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. 10 Since 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. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The key of David means the same as the keys of death and Hades (1:18). He who is holy and true is opposed to the unholy and untrue—"those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars."

There is concern by many in the church in Philadelphia that they might fall away because of the persecution that they are suffering. Christ holds the key of David and He addresses the issue of security. "What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." The open door represents the invitation to choose salvation. Christ closes this door for some and opens it for others.

This church has a great desire to share the gospel but has little strength to do so. Christ reveals that those who overcome will be essential pillars in a spiritual temple of God.

Footnote
James, Peter, and John were "reputed to be pillars" (Gal 2:9). The church is "the pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15).

To the Church in Laodicea

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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You 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. 18 I 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. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here 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. 21 To 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Christ is the true witness. Laodiceans are incredibly deceived, so their witness is false. They say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing."

Of all the seven churches, the Laodiceans rank at the very bottom. Their deplorable state is nauseating to God. Christ says very literally, "I am about to vomit you out of my mouth." See the NKJV.

Christ is the ruler of God's creation. The Greek word translated ruler is interesting. The possible meanings are:

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 1:35 am Post subject:

Chiastic Structure

The arrangement of the seven messages to the seven churches in Asia form a chiastic structure.

Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamum
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodicea

The parallel between the church of Ephesus and Laodicea has already been noted:

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:06 pm Post subject: Chapter 2: The Spirit of Prophecy

A Great Achievement in Providence Engineering

I always thought of providence as God managing the ultimate destiny of the universe because of a divine, holy purpose. Seventh-day Adventists don't believe that God engineers any of the minor, inconsequential details of history. I had no evidence to the contrary. Then I studied the names of the seven churches in Revelation. I am in awe of what I found.

My studies began by testing this amazing thesis statement by Ellen G. White:

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:14 am Post subject:

Smyrna
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the word Smyrna means myrrh.

The very reputable Coffman Commentary attempts to interpret the seven messages to the seven churches as having an exclusive first century application. That commentary, however, admits a likely figurative meaning to Revelation 2:10:

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:01 am Post subject:

Pergamum
The name 'Pergamum' means 'citadel' (Gk: pergamos), or 'exalted', or 'lofty'; the city was so named from its commanding position on a huge hill overlooking the Caicus valley. [15]. Thayer's Greek Lexicon seems to concur. It says that Pergamos (or Pergamum) means "height or elevation."

Recall our thesis statement. The meaning of the name 'Pergamum' must apply to the church that follows immediately after the persecution of the Smyrna church. There's a puzzle here. How do we interpret the exaltation? Is the prophecy saying that right after a limited number of persecutions, the church was to become a mighty citadel, exalted and lofty, a true miracle of success in the Roman Empire? Or does the elevation and exaltation of the church in the Pergamum period depict the arrogance and the loftiness of pride of most Christians during that time? (Isaiah 14:13-14, Ezekiel 28:17).

Remember: we need to consider the symbols used to describe the church in each period. Then we will know if the prophecy is predicting good or evil for the church.

I see Satan's throne as the first symbol that impacts the church in the Pergamum period:

"I 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." Revelation 2:13.

There you have it. Living in close proximity to Satan's throne is definitely an omen, not of good but of evil. It indicates danger.

"Nevertheless, 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." Revelation 2:14.

It is doubtful that any Christian in Pergamum was literally holding on to or teaching the principles of seduction, as Balaam taught Balak. What we have here is an obvious symbol. "The teaching of Balaam" clearly represents the sophistry of dupes or agents of Satan that entices true believers to sin. Balaam represents the beginning of apostasy.

Prophetic Meaning
The Pergamos period in church history was a time of pride and exaltation. Worse than that, Christianity abandoned the high standard of truth and the great commission, to pursue a worldly strategy. The nominal conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine to Christianity, the thought of state approval and Christianity becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire, worked like the doctrine of Balaam. The enticing seduction was an effective way to corrupt the true church. Christendom quickly crossed the line in a forbidden alliance with the state.

Supporting Evidence
Another meaning of Pergamos, in its prophetic context, is Per (beyond) gamos (marriage). The allusion here isn't suggesting something better than marriage. "Beyond marriage" is pointing to something beyond what is proper, a forbidden intimacy.

History is clear. A terrible sin of the church during the Pergamum period was in willingly falling for a seductive church-state alliance.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:43 am Post subject: Footnote 1

The great Altar of Zeus, built on a hillside overlooking the Caicus valley in Pergamum, looks like a throne. "I know where you live—where Satan has his throne." Revelation 2:13.

The remains of the Altar of Zeus are now located in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject: The marriage consummated

Thyatira
Thyatira was built as a shrine to the Lydian sun-god Tyrimnus (also spelled Tyrimnos) and was named Pelopia. [16]. During the wars of the Diadochi following the death of Alexander the Great, the city was refounded by Lysimachos who renamed the city Thyatira, meaning the city of Thya, or the castle of Thya [17],—perhaps a reference to the sun god of the city, Tyrimnus. [18]. Tyrimnus, as the divine guardian of the city, was the most influential god of Thyatira and was identified with the Greek sun-god Apollo, the son of Zeus. [19].

The conflict between the worship of the false ‘son of god’ and the true Son of God was always present for this Christian community so the first word of Christ to this church (Rev 2:18) is the proclamation that He alone is the Son of God! It is interesting that this is the only place in the book of Revelation where this specific title of Christ is used. [20].

"Apollo the sun god, was the principal deity," probably leading to the reference to the Son of God and the morning star in this message, as a contrast. [21].

A Time of Unprecedented Corruption
No one believes that the false prophetess that corrupted the church in Thyatira was really named Jezebel. Everyone agrees that a symbol is being used. So all we have to do is study the history and character and purpose of the real Jezebel and then make comparisons with the history of the Christian church.

It's an immensely relevant fact that King Ahab married Jezebel, who was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians (1 Kings 16:31). He ruled from the city of Tyre.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

Eugene Shubert

The End of an Era

Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas, gives a wonderfully clear explanation of the political and economic blunders of Emperor Justinian and how they led, indirectly, to the rise of the medieval Church.

See The Reign of Justinian, 527- 565.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: Sardis is a plural word

Sardis
Interestingly, the symbols describing the church in the Sardis period reveal two distinct groups of people. The excellent NKJV translation says:

Eugene Shubert

Sardis: The Era of Death

"The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. … He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them." Revelation 13:5,7.

While the holy ones are being persecuted, the Spirit and the Word, speaking through the Old and New Testaments, prophesy and mourn for those who are spiritually dead.

"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." Revelation 11:3.

Eugene Shubert

Sardis: The City of Death

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: Philadelphia: The Missionary City

Philadelphia
As is commonly known, Philadelphia means "brotherly love." But why would an ancient people want to name their city in honor of brotherly love? And what was the purpose of the founders in building this city?

The story of Philadelphus
There were two brothers, Eumenes II, King of Pergamon (reigned 197-159 B.C.), and his younger brother Attalus II who ruled after him (159 to 138 B.C.).

In 172 B.C., King Eumenes went to Greece. A report then came home that he had been assassinated. The reported assassination of Eumenes led Attalus to accept the crown. However, the report turned out to be a lie and when his brother returned from Greece, the Roman influence upon Attalus was to overthrow his brother and become king. However, Attalus, in profound love for his returning brother, relinquished the crown, giving it back to his brother. [29].

In 168/167 B.C., the Romans again pressured Attalus to remove his brother and assume the kingship but he repeatedly refused. (Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, p. 184). Firmly and persistently, the Romans promised Attalus that they would back and support him with weapons and soldiers and that, with their aid, he would become King of all Asia. [30]. Attalus was undeterred.

You can now see why Attalus was called Philadelphus, literally meaning, "one who loves his brother." The city was named after him, Philadelphia, meaning, "brotherly love."

The founding of Philadelphia
In the first half of the 2nd century B.C. Pergamon reached the zenith of its power and influence under Eumenes II and his brother Attalus II. —Zofia Archibald, Discovering the World of the Ancient Greeks, p. 170.
The grandeur of ancient Pergamum is suggested in the Great Altar of Zeus, erected by King Eumenes II (reigned 197-159 B.C.). —David Sacks, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, p. 173.
Eumenes II, great-grandnephew of Philetaerus, was a great builder, responsible for the altar to Zeus and the famous library of Pergamum. [31].
There is some confusion as to whether Eumenes II or his younger brother Attalus II Philadelphus founded the city. What is certain is that its name commemorates the loyalty and devotion of Attalus II to his brother (this is what earned him the title Philadelphus, "lover of his brother"). —Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, p. 98.

The purpose of Philadelphia