I was in spirit in the Lord’s Day, and heard a great voice as a trumpet saying, “The things you see, write in a book and send these things to the seven Churches, in Ephesus, and in Smyrna, and in Pergamos, and in Thyatira, and in Sardis, and in Philadelphia, and in Laodicea,” (Revelation 1:10–11).
On the first day of the week, as John is deep in thought, a revelation comes to him concerning the last days. The revelation that John is about to see is for the Church. It is information that will make the reader happy because he will know what is coming (Revelation 1:2). Since Christ treats the grace believers as friends, He has shared with us what He had heard from the Father concerning the things to come (Revelation 15:15).
John is writing to the seven Churches in Asia, which represent the seven periods of the Church on earth. The characteristics of each assembly describe the predominant condition of Christianity during their times. Ephesus is the first assembly after the Apostolic period, and Laodicea is the last period of time the Church will reside upon the earth.
Christ is now raised from the dead and possesses the keys of death and Hades. As the glorified One, He instructs John to write the things that are and the things that must take place after this (Revelation 1:19). In His instructions, Christ reveals that the seven stars, which John saw in Christ’s hands, are the messengers of the assemblies. The seven lampstands, He stands in the midst of, are the assemblies (Revelation 1:18).
Since the Church is not appointed unto any quality of God’s wrath, no one in the Church will go through any part of the Tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Therefore, the book of Revelation will not cause fear for the one who trusts in God. It holds information on how God will punish those who reject the truth and bring an end to unrighteousness.
