Revelation: The Seven Churches

By Ionel Plesa

This last book in the Bible is made up of the correct response to the crucial problems with which people have been confronted over the generations, in trying to find meaning in their lives. The first mystery that troubles the minds of those who don't know God is the following: if an all-powerful, wise, and good Creator truly exists, why did He create a corruptible world? Why does He allow the Devil to act as he does so often, producing so much suffering among mankind, without intervening to put things in order?

The second common question follows: why does the righteous one so often have more problems, compared to the unlawful ones, who are constantly rebelling, and in spite of all that, they live a rich life and die without being punished ?

We won't be able to find the appropriate response unless we look at it from the Creator's perspective, even if only for a few moments. If we would only ask Him, He is ready to give us the answer through words of Scripture.

Besides the material universe, God created a world that is corrupt and is made up of angels and people, desiring that any of these beings would acknowledge Him and serve Him out of love, not out of fear or because they are obliged. Every created being is free to chose and to decide whom he wishes to serve (Joshua 24:15). See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Everyone's reward or punishment will be according to the choices he makes (Ezekiel 18:23).

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449763657

Ionel Plesa

IONEL PLESA, an evangelist and teacher, has traveled extensively throughout Europe, spreading the Gospel in the German language, as well as his native one. He has authored five books, previously published in Romania, now translated into English. His writings and experiences bring a profound insight to God and His Word. He lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, with his wife. They are the parents of three grown children and one with the Lord, and have eleven grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2012 Ionel Plesa

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6365-7 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/18/2012

Contents

Forward

Revelation

Chapter 1:1-6

Chapter 1:7-8

Chapter 1:9-11

Chapter 1:12-18

Chapter 1:19-20

Ephesus The city of Ephesus

Chapter 2:1-7

Smyrna The city of Smyrna

Chapter 2:8-11

Pergamum The city of Pergamum

Chapter 2:12-17

Thyatira The city of Thyatira

Chapter 2:18-29

Sardis The city of Sardis

Chapter 3:1-6

Philadelphia The city of Philadelphia

Chapter 3:7-13

Laodicea The city of Laodicea

Chapter 3:14-22

The Seven Promises (a quick revision)

Forward

UNLIKE OTHER SOURCES OF UNIVERSAL literature about the concepts of the world and life, beginning with the most rudimentary forms of abstract thought and finishing with the most sophisticated philosophical-religious treatments, the Bible, known as The book of Books was, and will remain, the only complete source of information about the spiritual regeneration of every man who reads it reverently, being convinced that it is the Word of God.

The people who were involved in the writing of the Biblical messages, were nothing more than simple tools, used to fulfil a purpose. The true author of the Scriptures is God, who inspired people through the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

If through the book of Genesis, found at the beginning of the Old Testament, the existence of the Creator is revealed to us, as is mentioned in Genesis 1:1-31; then in the last book of the Bible, called The Revelation, we are offered the possibility of hearing about the end of all things, followed by a new creation and a new form of existence in a spiritual world that is of eternal value (Revelation 20:1-4).

The central subject of the whole Bible is the person of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, looking at His divine nature, in the hypothesis of The Word who was at the beginning, as well as His becoming flesh, constituted in His human nature (John 1:1-2; 1:14).

The Revelation reveals to us in the clearest way possible the divine nature of the Saviour, who is worthy of the name Alpha and Omega, signifying the beginning and the end of all things (Revelation 1:17).

He was presented, as a spiritual being, before the act of creation; and He will be present not only until the end of time, but even beyond the notion of time, in the same hypothesis of The Word which He had at the beginning (John 1:10-11; Revelation 19:11-13).

This last book, through which the New Testament is completed, can be compared with an infinite column, having many facets with different dimensions and forms. The interpretation of the messages can be differentiated according to the angel from which they are seen and analysed. It largely depends not only on one’s theological knowledge, but also on one’s spiritual level, and the sincerity with which one seeks to discover the mystery; not only for the love of discovering God’s will and plan in creation, but much more, with the aim of fulfilling the salvation of souls.

Because of the style in which this book was written, and the way in which the ideas which are surrounded by a rich symbolic representation were communicated, the correct interpretation of the messages is very difficult without having special guidance from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

We can’t ask the Lord to reveal all things to us. To each one of us grace has been given as Christ has apportioned it (Ephesians 4:7). There are things unknown by man, which God has intentionally kept for Himself, because He considers that it isn’t in our best interests to know them (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:6-7; Revelation 10:4).

Now, we know in part and we prophesy in part. When He who is perfect comes, when we will meet our Lord, this in part will finish.

The objective reality of the spiritual world is reflected in our spirits. We can only catch a darkened glimpse of it because human reasoning can be shadowed and deformed, just like at the bottom of a mirror which, because of its undulations, deforms the dimension and form of the objects which are reflected, producing optical errors.

Revelation was not written to frighten people, only reminding them about the wrath and final punishment which will come to those who find pleasure in wrongdoing, because of their disobedience to God. The book’s message, generally speaking, shows us God’s love and His long suffering patience, as He waits for people to turn from their sins (Revelation 2:21-23; 3:19-20; 9:20-21).

If people continue to stray, trying to profit from the liberty given to them by God, if they willingly and knowingly find pleasure in wrong doing, going against the truth, then God’s righteousness is necessarily enforced, and the consequences that come from this will be fully justified. The blame for their loss can’t be directed at God.

This last book in the Bible is made up of the correct response to the crucial problems with which people have been confronted over the generations, in trying to find meaning in their lives. The first mystery which troubles the minds of those who don’t know God is the following: if an all-powerful, wise and good Creator truly exists, why did He create a corruptible world? Why does He allow the devil to act as he does so often, producing so much suffering among mankind, without intervening to put things in order? The second common question follows: why does the righteous one so often have more problems compared to the unlawful ones, who are constantly rebelling, and in spite of all that, they live a rich life and die without being punished?

We won’t be able to find the appropriate response, unless we look at it from the Creator’s perspective, even if only for a few moments. If we would only ask Him, He is ready to give us the answer through words of Scripture. Besides the material universe, God created a world which is corrupt and is made up of angels and people, desiring that any of these beings would acknowledge Him and serve Him out of love, not out of fear or because they are obliged. Every created being is free to choose and to decide whom he wishes to serve (Joshua 24:15). See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Every-one’s reward, or punishment, will be according to the choices he makes (Ezekiel 18:23).

If the righteous one often meets with more problems in comparison with the unrighteous, that is the way God has chosen to purify our spiritual values, and also to stimulate the inner man to maturity. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Just as gold is refined by going through fire; in the same way our faith is purified, by going through the fire of suffering (1 Peter 1:5-7).

In conclusion, the message of Revelation reveals God’s plan for salvation to us - which He prepared to save the human race, through the sacrifice of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through this good news which was communicated to us through the Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:9-10), we are told that the darkness of sin will not always dominate on earth. Lies, corruption and injustice will be destroyed forever. The light of eternal life will include all of creation, who will obey Him out of love and gratitude, praising the Redeemer. Truth, good and righteousness will make up the principles of a happy life, without suffering and death (Revelation 21:3-4).

Order and harmony in the spiritual world is shown with great clarity right from the beginning of the book. The apostle John wrote this last book in about 95 A.D., when he was in exile on the Island of Patmos, during Emperor Domitian’s reign.

In order to understand the messages as close to the truth as possible, we need to have a few elementary facts:

1. To know the author (the one who transmits the