Hi and IF these assemblies are not FUTURE , that where are these ASSEMBLIES NOW ??\\
Where are the 144,000 Jews m today ??
Have you seen the SATAN imprisoned ?
Have you seen a NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH ??
Have you seen the NEW JERUSALEM ??
Just to name a few ?
The REVELATION is yet all FUTURE !!
dan p
The churches were real churches when the Revelation was written. The letters in the first three chapters talk both of present conditions, not to mention past actions/works by the churches, and of future potential actions Jesus will take to bring the churches in line (those that needed it) as well as future rewards.
Here are some examples
Present conditions and past works:
[Rev 2:2 KJV] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
[Rev 2:3 KJV] And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
[Rev 2:9 KJV] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
[Rev 2:13 KJV] I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
[Rev 2:19 KJV] I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
These are things that were known to Jesus in the time John wrote these words down. The seven churches don't really exist today. How then are these words (first 3 chapters) still to be considered future messages?
There is an obvious discontinuity when Ch 4 begins. I won't argue whether those things (Ch 4 and beyond) are future, but the letters to the churches are definitely directed to existing churches in the first century AD.
Saying anything else is a violation of the idea of Open Theism, by the way, since you have Jesus telling of actions of people that haven't been born yet and condemning them for those actions.
And one major thing to glean from all this? John called the people from those seven churches, those seven, mostly Gentile, churches, "kings and priests".
[Rev 1:4 KJV] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
[Rev 1:5 KJV] And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
[Rev 1:6 KJV] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I'm sure [MENTION=15338]Right Divider[/MENTION] will be pleased.
