The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

Messages apply to seven distinct epochs
From the world's standpoint the Churches existing in St. John's day were doubtless of little
importance. They were despised or held in light esteem by the people of the world in
general. However neglected, despised, or persecuted, we see by these special epistles of
the Savior to them that imperfect as they were they were considered of more importance
in heaven than any organization of earth, and had the first, chief place in the Savior's
mind, as well as that of the Heavenly Father Himself. We again emphasize the fact of the
very wide and general application of the reproofs, the rebukes, the warnings, the dangers,
and the evils pointed out, as well as the special words of comfort and promise to the
overcomers, to all the generations of the Church's history, both individually and
collectively. However, the facts of history themselves have proved beyond any reasonable
doubt that the peculiar characteristics described of each of these Churches, fit exactly
seven distinct, successive epochs of the history of the Church in the order mentioned,
which establishes the prophetic character of the messages themselves; in the measure that
we become familiar with the history of these seven epochs, we will be able to see a most
remarkable fulfillment of the messages. Their prophetic character has been recognized by
many, if not by nearly all of the expositors who have written on the Revelation for the past
two centuries. However, it is a perfectly reasonable supposition that all the various matters
associated with these messages in their primary application to the seven particular
Churches and their ministry, must be the Divine basis, as well as the Divine rule by which
we interpret the symbols of the seven lampstands, among which the Savior is seen
walking, and the seven stars held in His right hand.
In a very particular way these messages show us the moral and spiritual condition of these
primitive Churches. From the fact that they were founded by the Apostles, one might
naturally presume that they would be perfect patterns and models of excellence; that they
would be pure in morals and free from evils, false doctrines, and the defections we find
later on in history, as also in this last time. However, as we examine these messages, we
find that those early congregations to whom they were addressed were very much like the
churches that have existed in every generation since that time. There was equally as much
to censure as there was to commend. There were loyal and true children of God, whose
affections were centered on things above and whose citizenship was in heaven, but there
were many whose love for Christ had lost its fervor; some whose affections were set on
worldly things; others who had a name to live, but were dead to a real experimental
knowledge of the saving power of Christ; and still others who were proud, boastful,
claiming to be rich and increased with goods--with all that they thought was necessary for
a Church to possess, and yet were so blind to the real riches that they are represented by
the Savior as wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked--actually
possessing nothing of the true inward qualities necessary to represent the Savior and to
perform His work. With five of the Churches out of the seven, the Savior finds serious
fault. In one of these five, Laodicea, He finds nothing whatever to commend; and two
alone, Smyrna and Philadelphia, are not specially reproved by the Savior, though even
these find themselves in contact with elements which He severely condemns.