The Basics of Bible - Herald of Hope

The Basics of Bible Prophecy
Part 2 - The Things Which Are (Chapters 2 & 3)
The seven Churches of Asia are located on the western end of Turkey
as we know it today. To each of these Churches Christ reveals Himself
in a manner appropriate to the spiritual condition of that Church.
Just as Jesus predicted that tares would grow amongst the wheat, birds
would lodge in the branches, and leaven would be mixed with meal
(Matt.13:24-33), so the description of these seven Churches indicates
that there are varying degrees of apostasy in local Churches.
The "overcomers" in each Church represent the "true Church" within
the visible professing Church. This is how it has ever been, and it
will continue so until the Lord takes the true Church out at the Rapture.
Then all that will remain will be the final apostate Mystery Babylon
the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth
(Rev.17:5).
It is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the true Church, the body of
Christ, which restrains the full manifestation of apostasy.
"The mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now hinders
will hinder, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that
Wicked (one) be revealed..." (2Thess.2:7-8).
Each of the seven letters records:
a) The Revelation of Christ to that Church
b) The Commendation of Christ for that Church
c) Condemnation by Christ of that Church (except Smyrna and
Philadelphia)
d) The Exhortation of Christ to that Church
e) The Appreciation of Christ for the Overcomers (the saved
remnant).
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The seven Churches of
Asia represent seven
stages of Church history
from the Apostolic Church
to the last-days Church.
The overcomers are the
saved remnant in all ages
who will be raptured. The
apostate Church will go
into the Tribulation.