I cannot count the number of times over the past 50 years that I’ve heard it taught that the seven churches of Asia—of which we read in Revelation 1-3—symbolically represent seven church ages. It is purely a theory, and I will show in this short article why it is a theory that is full of holes.
First and foremost, nowhere is it taught in Scripture that the seven churches in Asia represent seven future church ages. Not in the book of Revelation or anywhere else. The “Symbolic Seven Churches Theory” has absolutely no biblical basis. That, in itself, should be enough to kill it.
Second, in the first century there were indeed seven cities in Asia (modern western Turkey) with the names mentioned in Revelation 2-3, and in which there were a large number of Christians. The apostle Paul’s ministry had a major impact in Asia. He once spent two entire years there, and Luke tells us that during those two years, “All who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10, emphasis added). So, there is no doubt that the messages John was given by Jesus for the seven churches in Asia were unique messages to seven actual first-century churches. Those who subscribe to “Symbolic Seven Churches Theory” always admit the fact. But then they add their dubious theory to the undeniable facts.
Third, it is crystal clear that Jesus’ messages to the seven churches include specific details that cannot be applied to any church age. For example, Jesus said to the church at Smyrna, “Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days” (Rev. 2:10). How can that specific detail be applied to an arbitrarily-defined church age? During the alleged decades of the “second church age” (the “Smyrnan” age), were there ten days of tribulation that some Christians suffered?
Proponents of the Symbolic Seven Churches Theory might claim that the second church age was characterized by persecution, which was foretold in Jesus’ message to Smyrna. So, no other alleged “church ages” were characterized by persecution? Not the alleged first church age that we read of in the book of Acts?
Many other examples of specific details within Jesus’ messages to the seven churches could be cited to prove the absurdity of applying them to arbitrarily-defined “church ages.”
It is very typical for proponents of the Symbolic Seven Churches Theory to claim that we are now living in the seventh church age, the “Laodicean age.” That is a conjecture based upon a conjecture. They claim that Revelation 3:14-22 is a foretelling of the lukewarm church of our day.
The truth, however, is that there have always been lukewarm churches throughout church history. Moreover, today the church spans the globe, and large portions of it are not lukewarm at all. I’ve been among many believers around the world over the past 50 years who are on fire for Jesus, as indicated by their obedience and sacrifice. Somehow, they’ve missed “the lukewarm church age”!
Granted, many, if not the majority, of North American churches are lukewarm (or dead). Why is that? The primary reason is because of what they are taught by pastors who mishandle the sacred Word of God. Their mishandling of Revelation 1-3 is just a minor example of what they do with the rest of Scripture in more major ways, all to detriment and doom of their followers. Their gospel does not produce disciples who obey Jesus. Rather, their false gospel produces false Christians.
All of this being said, can anything be found in Jesus’ messages to seven ancient churches of Asia that is applicable to the modern church? Yes, absolutely. There are many applicable and important biblical truths in Revelation 1-3. But those truths are, for the most part, ignored by today’s lukewarm pastors and churches.
How many pastors ever teach that Jesus solemnly said to five of the seven churches, “I know your deeds” (Rev. 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15)? To one of those five churches, He added, “I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God” (Rev. 3:2). That might make a good sermon!
How many pastors ever teach that Jesus made promises of ultimate salvation to each of the seven churches for the believers among them who would “overcome,” a word that sounds as if it has something to do with human decision and effort? For example, to the church in Smyrna Jesus promised, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Rev. 2:11). To the church in Sardis He promised, “He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels” (Rev. 3:5).
On the basis of those two promises by Jesus Himself, it is quite safe to conclude that non-overcomers will be hurt by the second death, they will not be clothed in white garments, their names will be erased from the book of life, and Jesus will not confess their names before His Father and the angels. Yet so many modern pastors are telling their congregations that, because salvation is “by grace alone,” there is no behavioral requirement for ultimately inheriting God’s kingdom. They are “eternally secure.” Those who swallow such teaching are destined for a rude awakening at Christ’s judgment seat, and even more so those who teach such diabolic doctrines.
How many pastors ever teach that Jesus promises lukewarm believers that He will “spit them out of His mouth” (Rev. 3:16)? If they do, they often soften it, because surely it can’t have any application to the ultimate salvation of those who are “eternally secure.” Surely Jesus will welcome into heaven, with a smile and open arms, those whom He has spit out of His mouth!
Here’s one more lesson we can learn from Revelation 1-3: If you are sitting under a Laodicean-like pastor, run! Run for your life.
