Seven Churches or Seven Ages?

In the introductory paragraph to “Revelation” which entitles the book that is by its own admission “the revelation of Jesus Christ . . .” (Revelation 1:1a, ESV), is clear about its recipients: “John to the seven churches that are in Asia . . .” (Revelation 1:4a, ESV).  It is noteworthy that in my experience, when you mention words like apocalypse or acpolyptic literature, many people equate that word with the end, or the final days of the earth.  The word simply means “revelation”.[1]  So as we enter this book we anticipate that this is not particularly a book about the Endtimes, but a book that reveals, makes plain, or discloses; and it reveals a particular subject: Jesus Christ. It is the revealing of Jesus.

It is written by John to recipients that are called: “the seven churches that are in Asia”; or specifically to modern readers, “. . . seven historical churches located in the Roman province of Asia, in modern Turkey.”[2]  The question is, “What do these churches represent within the context of the Revelation, and in particular to us? It is a truism to say, “The Bible is not written TO us; it is written FOR us.”  So what are these churches ‘for’?

Some Bible interpreters and teachers promote a notion called the “Seven Ages Theory”.   This would look like this:

1. The Church in Ephesus: Apostolic Church (A.D. 33–100)
2. The Church in Smyrna: Era of Persecution Under the Ten Caesars (A.D. 100–312)
3. The Church in Pergamum: Era of Church-State Union (A.D. 312–590)
4. The Church in Thyatira: Era Spanning the Middle Ages (A.D. 590–1517)
5. The Church in Sardis: Protestant Reformation (A.D. 1517–1750)
6. The Church in Philadelphia: Era of Revival and Great Awakening (A.D. 1750–1925)
7. The Church in Laodicea: Era of “Higher Criticism” (A.D. 1900–Tribulation)

This translates into a mindset that sees the contemporary Church as the Laodicean church. A couple issues come to my mind, including, “This might be significant to us; who the letter is “for” - but has absolutely no relevance to whom the letter is written “to”.  Secondly, such a posture competes with the very clear exegetical evidence.  I suggest that these seven churches represent the universal church existing from the advent of the church (Pentecost) through to the second return of Christ.  The internal evidence in the Revelation strongly asserts that.  Here are 2 reasons that I am convinced of this:

1.  In every instance where Christ communicates his message to a church, he says, for example: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . . .” (Revelation 2:7a, ESV) (see also 2:11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13).  Notice the end of Revelation: ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches . . .” (Revelation 22:16a, ESV) [My emphasis].
2. It is unanimous among scholars and proponents of all millennial views that the number seven (7) represents a perfect wholeness. To see the seven churches in fragments, not only ignores this important figure but fails to properly represent what John saw in his vision: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest . . . “As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:12-13, 20, ESV).

Dr. Beale writes, “Although each letter is addressed to the particular situation of a particular church, it is relevant for the needs of all “seven” of the churches, and consequently for the universal church . . .”^[3] Likewise Dr. MacArthur agrees, “Although these 7 churches were actual, historical churches in Asia Minor, they represent the types of churches that perennially exist throughout the church age.”^[4]  Again the editors of the KJV Commentary support this: “There are seven churches chosen, because in Scripture seven is the number of completion. In these seven letters the Spirit gives a complete picture of the moral and spiritual history of the church, along with other truths.”^[5]

The implication of this interpretation is that any exhortation, commendation or promise given to any of these churches may be applicable to any true church today.   

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[1] ἀποκάλυψις [apokalupsis /ap·ok·al·oop·sis/] …  1 a laying bear, making naked. 2 a disclosure of truth, instruction. 2a concerning things before unknown. 2b used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all. 3 manifestation, appearance.” - Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[2] Zondervan. NIV Zondervan Study Bible, Hardcover: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message (Kindle Locations 292320-292321). Zondervan. Kindle Edition..  

^[3] Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 226). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[4] MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1993). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

^[5] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2658). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.