The Seven Churches in New Jerusalem

In the last book of the Bible there are seven letters to seven churches, Chapters 2, 3, preceding a vision in heaven of the throne room of God. (There is no further mention of church or churches after 4:1 until the closing chapters.) But all true followers of Jesus--from each church--will all be caught up together in the Rapture. That is, we might expect to see Seven Churches in New Jerusalem. The dead wood, sin, corruption and error found in every church today will all be gone, of course, and each church as described in Revelation 2 and 3 will be perfected and complete. The topic of New Jerusalem has a long and varied history in the history of the church. Recommended reading: New Jerusalem History (Wikipedia)

The Seven Churches also represent seven stages of church history but these churches also exist today. Each church has enjoyed its heyday during a particular period of history. To know more about these churches I recommend Ray Stedman’s series on Revelation and Chuck Missler’s detailed analysis of all seven.

Find Yourself in One of the Seven Churches

The general state of the church of Jesus Christ at the end of the church age is Laodicean. But as an individual Christian today attending a particular local church, you personally may have some different beliefs compared to the stated beliefs of your local church. Your core beliefs define which of the seven churches you identify with the most. If you have never belonged to a local church, read the descriptors of each of the seven churches, you will probably which group best fits what you know and believe! It's not a good idea to be a Lone Ranger Christian all alone in a hostile world. If you are well read, you will probably not agree with everything your local church teaches. But you'll be more at home with one church type compared to another. Jesus allows for this by giving special promises to the "overcomers" in each church. Pay special attention to the “overcomers” in each church and aim for that place in heaven. Why settle for second (or third) best? Don't just go with the flow but sort things out for your self. Be like the Christians in Berea:

Paul and Silas in Berea

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. (Acts 17:10-14)

1. Ephesus: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

2. Smyrna: “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

3. Pergamos: “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

4. Thyatira: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

5. Sardis: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

6. Philadelphia: "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

7. Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Ephesus

The Apostolic Age (32-100 AD)

32-100 AD (~70 years, 2 generations @40 years per generation)
Estimated: Total Christians from this church in all of history past: 60 million persons.

The total world population at this time was about 300 million.
From 100 AD until now perhaps x millions have come under the umbrella of this church.
Since 100 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 15 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Smyrna

The Persecuted Church (AD 160-320

)

160-320 (~160 years, 4 generations)
Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history past: 120 million persons.

The total world population at this time was about 300 million.
From ~320 AD until now perhaps x million persons have come under the umbrella of this church.
Since 320 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 15 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Pergamum

The Medieval Church (320-600 AD (~280 years, 7 generations)

Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history past: 245 million

The total world population at this time was about 350 million.
From 600 AD until now perhaps x millions have come under the umbrella of this church.
Since 100 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about ~15 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Thyatira

The Catholic and Eastern Church (300-1500 AD (~1200 years, 30 generations)

Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history past: 1200 million.

The total world population at this time was about 400 million.
From 1500 AD until now perhaps 1200 millions have come under the umbrella of this church.
Since 100 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 15 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Sardis

The Church of the Reformation (1500-1650) (~150 years, 4 generations)

Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history past: 180 million

The total world population at this time was about 450 million.
From 1650 AD until now perhaps 180 millions have come under the umbrella of this church.
Since 100 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 15 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Philadelphia

The Evangelical Church (1850-1930 AD) (~80 years, 2 generations)

Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history past: 900 million.

The total world population at this time was about 500 million.

From 1930 AD until now perhaps 900 millions have come under the umbrella of this church.

Since 100 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 1 billion. (This is the total integrated area under the population growth curve below).

Laodicea

The Church at the End of the Age (1930-present) (~90 years, 3 generations)

Estimated: Total Christians from this church in history till now, 2700 million.

The total world population at this time averaged was about 8 billion.

From 1930 AD until now perhaps 2700 millions have come under the umbrella of this church.

The Rapture

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain
until the coming (parousia) of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.
And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
You are all sons of light and sons of the day.
We are not of the night nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.“ (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11)

I suspect that a many as 20 billion men, women and children—all of whom will know Jesus personally—will find ourselves suddenly living together in the heavenly City of New Jerusalem with Jesus. This is not the heaven of heavens quite yet. Our residence in that City will, I believe, last only 7 years* (according to Earth time). After that we’ll return to earth with Jesus as Part Two of His Second Advent.

The Gap Between the Rapture of the Church and the Seventieth Week of Daniel

* Many Bible scholars believe there will be a gap in time after the Rapture of the Church. Some thing the gap will be days at most. One scholar predicted 40 years! Arbitrarily I have added 12 years for three reasons. Suppose we arbitrarily allocate 12 years to us acclimatizing to city living in New Jerusalem with Jesus as our King? That time interval would give us time to remedy our Bible (and secular) illiteracy. The dozen year interval could allow for closure and healing with people we thought we’d never see again, including old enemies who came to Christ after we wrote them off. How about resolution of old rivalries and family feuds so common down below on Planet Earth? How long will it take for us to adjust to life in New Jerusalem? We'll be learning other languages, rediscovering Body Life, and adjusting our life styles from self-centered to self-giving. There will be lots of ethnic diversity up there! The prep time will surely be needed by the bride to be, but the well-being of bride-to-be is only the first of three reasons. We were told before we came here that we were chosen to be the gentile Bride of Jesus. Will there a courtship interval before the wedding? Everyone in heaven will be sin-free but major social and life-style adjustments will be required of us. In the Book of the Revelation the marriage supper of the Lamb comes after the major judgments have all happened on down on earth during the seven year tribulation period.   The 24 elders, last seen in Chapter 4 reappear. My second reason for believing there will a gap between the Rapture and the Seven-year Tribulation period is to allow for the calling, conversion and training of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists who will lead many millions left behind down on the planet--to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It seems likely to me that our Lord will select His 144k dedicated evangelists from the Ultra Orthodox community in Jerusalem. They must be single, Jewish males who know the Tanach (the OT) well. They will need a “road to Damascus” conversion experience like Rabbi Schaul had in Acts 9.  A third reason for allowing for a time gap between the rapture and the Seventieth Week of Daniel is to give the Antichrist to emerge from hiding, and bring together one world government and the final form of the Old Roman Empire predicted by Daniel.

Picturing New Jerusalem as an orbiting earth satellite should help make clear that this marvelous city is not the “heaven of heavens” but only a region of the heavens. New Jerusalem will descend to earth when Jesus returns and assumes His role on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

At the Rapture Jesus will come from high heaven where He is now, to lower heaven, the atmospheric heaven, in THE Cloud, the Shekinah, which evidently serves as a cloaking device during the Tribulation period.

“...widespread is the hope in Scripture of the coming of Christ again to this earth. This is what we pray for when we pray in the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The hope that God himself will dwell among men, and mankind itself will be his dwelling place. He "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes," and then shall be introduced and fulfilled all the glorious dramas and visions of the prophets. If there is any one truth, therefore, that we ought to hold clear and sharp in our minds, it is this great hope of the coming again of Jesus Christ.

Most people, I have found, think of this as a single point of time, a great event which will occur within a reasonably brief period of time. They think this mean Christ will visibly appear, come again to this earth, stand upon it, and beginning at the Mount of Olives will begin to reign throughout the earth, and they feel this is a single great event; one event seen throughout the earth. But a careful study of many Scriptures, both Old and New Testament alike, raises certain questions about that. One question is, "Where does the prediction of Paul in I Thessalonians, chapter 4, verses 16-17, fit in when he describes the Lord 'coming with a shout and the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet and the church being caught up together with him in the air?'" This is a very clear description. It is one that has often been quoted and has resulted in describing this event as the "rapture" of the church. Now, the word rapture (harpazo) does not appear in the passage, but it comes from the Greek word which is translated here "caught up." The Latin word for that is "rapere." It is from that that we get our English word rapture. It literally means "to snatch away." I remember during the days of the Jesus movement the hope of the rapture was called the "Great Snatch." I don't think many of them knew what the Greek word meant, nevertheless, they were right on when they described it that way. It is the great catching away of God's people to join the Lord in the air, not on earth, in the air, and as Paul adds, "so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Now, when does that occur, and how does it fit with this sudden appearing of Jesus Christ in great power and glory with flaming fire taking vengeance? There are many question raised here. Another question that that passage awakens in our hearts is, "How could Christ's coming be preceded by unmistakable great signs in the earth, signs in the heavens, darkening of the sun and of the moon, signs on the earth, distress among nations, terrible events in the political and economic world, and at the same time be described as a coming ‘like a thief in the night’ with nobody anticipating him. How could that be? Surely after the fulfillment of visible dramatic signs anybody who has ever had a Bible at all, or known anything about it, would be expecting Christ's return. It could hardly come, then, as an unexpected event, coming as a ‘thief in the night.’ This raises some questions.” (Ray Stedman, The Coming King of Kings).

See also: From Presence to Unveiling by Ray Stedman.

Don't Be Left Behind

If then you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:1-4)

All manner of prophecy experts today keep talking about how living down here in earth after the Rapture will be terrible and violent. They seem to all have been Left Behind!

Few people these days apparently really looks forward to seeing Jesus, meeting loved ones who have gone before, or getting acquainted with fellow pilgrims, let alone meeting the great saints of all the ages. Is no one among us eager to take part in the marriage Supper of Jesus? How about our part in the ages to come? Should not our “leaders” be telling us about our unfolding place in history and our glorious future, ruling and reigning with Jesus? Need we be preoccupied with God’s just treatment for all the left behind ones who continue to refuse His mercy and grace? I guess Jesus is fading away into oblivion after all? Too bad His program failed so miserably. I suppose Matthew 6:19-21 has been repealed?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Passports and Visas

I believe those who come to reside in New Jerusalem will move there en masse through the event called the Judgment Seat of Christ. (How long the Bema requires on the local New Jerusalem clocks is uncertain. (Probably those believers of pure heart with a clean track record will breeze through the Bema into the City, while for others the transition will involved a bigger time warp?). The Bema is NOT about sin: that issue was dealt with fully by Jesus on the Cross.

Every entering resident settling into New Jerusalem will have received his or her new resurrection body en route. Everyone moving into New Jerusalem to live with Jesus will be free of sin. But social adjustment will be huge for many arriving pilgrims—for those who did not walk with Jesus faithfully during their time on earth. There will be a class of Excluded Ones outside the City apparently. Yet the twelve gates of the city will permit easy access for those with passports.

It is quite one thing for Christians to adjust to their own racial group, natural family, like-minded community members, and fellow church goers who held to the same beliefs. It is quite difficult for most of us to live amongst fellow Christians having very different cultural of racial beliefs from ours!

I suggest that New Jerusalem may possibly be divided into seven “parishes” reflecting the seven different churches of Revelation 2, 3. Parish cities have existed down through the centuries but they have they usually had bishops and rulers over them in an hierarchical top-down style—a style refuted by the New Testament. Jesus is the Head of the one true Church. The counterfeit Church has been ruled over by kings and popes and power brokers for 2000 years. Jesus governs His Church by servant authority. The foundation of the church is at the base, not up at the Capstone.

The very plain teaching of Jesus to His disciples should clear the air on this matter.

“...the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20-28)

We can expect basic equality to prevail in New Jerusalem but probably few citizens there will arrive knowing the Bible! Surely there will be a great need to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry...”

This educational process in New Jerusalem will apparently not be mostly about “reaching the lost with the gospel” but in healing the broken body of Christ with accurate Bible knowledge of what lies ahead for us. Much prayer will be appropriate in an atmosphere of worship.

“...to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:7-16)

Body Life as taught in the New Testament is not widely taught, nor lived out in small groups these days. Top-down management by a paid professional clergy (Nicolatianism) is very common. Management by committees is another default mode for churches everywhere today.

There is much about the Rapture of the Church that is neglected or glossed over by today’s churches! We can not see angels in our preset bodies. But they will be visible to us in New Jerusalem. No one teaches Angelology today, yet we are immersed in a demon infested culture down here. See: God and the Angels and by God's Rule Through Angels

In regard to evangelism down on the planet during the Tribulation period, Jesus will lead a special team of Jewish believers with the result that millions will come to know Jesus. God has not given up on our race at all. He is not willing that any should perish! At the present time few are coming to Christ through the efforts of the churches.

Our seven years' residence with Jesus in New Jerusalem, will, I believe, feature for us the City’s multidimensional time and space nuances. We should have plenty of tune learning from along great teachers, discovering what we failed to learn in Sunday School, in Home Bible School or in Seminary. We may have a lot of social adjusting and refinement of personal-relationships to catch up on, before we return to the planet with Jesus at His grand Second Advent, Phase Two. There will be plenty of time plus all truth for a change, with no error mixed in, and no more boring sermons. Plenty of Bibles around, I assume!

“...continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Other Notes: The Church as a Living Building

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

The Church as Body of Christ/Bride of Christ

Jesus has been quietly building His church since he discussed this with His disciple Peter.

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)

See A Glorious Church, under construction by Jesus for 2000 years now.
Servant Authority prevails in New Jerusalem: Not Top Down Management

Our Grand Return to Earth with Jesus

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

(Revelation 19:1-16)

Angels of the Seven Churches

For the sake of completeness, the seven churches each apparently have an angel over them. Angels are not now visible to us. Will they be out in the open and visible to us in New Jerusalem? The age to come will not be managed by angels, Hebrews 2:8.

“The mystery of the seven stars which 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 which you saw are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20)

The Twenty Four Elders

There are several views about the elders, prominent in Revelation 4.

“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” (Revelation 4:2-4)

Ray Stedman says,

John sees...the companions of God, the court of heaven, surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders[or ancients]. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. (Revelation 4:4 NIV)

There has been much debate as to who these twenty-four elders represent. Many commentators take them to be redeemed saints, both of the Old and New Testaments; twelve elders of Israel and twelve apostles. I have to tell you that for many years I held that view myself. I have changed my view because, for one thing, I have always been troubled by the fact that if these are the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles, then John was one of them for he was one of the twelve apostles. Is he seeing himself seated there? It does not make sense, does it? They were viewed as saints because they wore white robes and they have victors' crowns upon their heads. This has suggested to many that they have conquered evil and so wear crowns, and their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. But there are other reasons for crowns and robes as we shall see in a moment.

I have now come to see that this group is probably what Daniel and other Old Testament prophets saw when they looked into heaven. In the fourth chapter of Daniel the prophet is called before King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret a dream of the King; a dream of a great tree which is cut down and only the stump remains. Daniel's interpretation was that the tree was Nebuchadnezzar himself and it meant his crown would be taken away from him for a period of seven years, he would lose his mind and be turned out to eat grass like a horse or a cow for the seven years. Then his throne and his authority would be restored to him. When Daniel tells the king this he puts it in this way.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones. (Daniel 4:17a KJV)

There are others associated with God's judgment upon this king who are called "watchers" and "holy ones."The verse continues:

...to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17b KJV)

That may also explain why we have had certain politicians in office! In the seventh chapter of Daniel the prophet makes a somewhat similar reference. There Daniel, too, saw into heaven, and this is what he saw,

I beheld till thrones [plural] were placed, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands ministered with him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set[or, as the NIV puts it, 'The court was seated'] and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10 KJV)

So Daniel also saw thrones surrounding the throne of God upon which individuals were seated who entered into the judgments and decisions of God. In the 26th verse of that same 7th chapter, Daniel says:

But the judgment shall sit: [or 'the court will sit'; and, with reference to the anti-Christ] they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (Dan 7:26 KJV)

Once again, there is a reference to this council in Psalms 89:6-7,

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him. (Psalm 89:6-7 NIV)

So who are the twenty-four elders? I believe that they are angels who are put in charge of the present age. They are a body of twenty-four intelligent, powerful angels associated with the government of God, especially with regard to fallen angels and redeemed people. They are wearing crowns because they are victors in their battles with Satan; and they are wearing white robes because these are righteous angels who have refused to join the rebellion of the devil.” Supreme Headquarters, messages in Revelation.

Some Numbers

Just since 1930 AD the total number of people who have lived on earth has numbered about 8000 million or 8 billion. Assuming a 5% conversion rate per generation for ~3 generations is about billion Christians. The total number of Christians at the time of the Rapture from 32 AD to now would appear to be perhaps 1500 million. Our assumed conversion rate of 5% of the population per generation is conservative. Dare we assume the Rapture will catch away 1500 million living believers of whom a few will be alive on earth on the day of the Rapture. (Rough estimates for discussion purposes only!) The death rate is presently about 150,000 per day. How many will known Jesus before the go?

The total world population from Adam to Noah was about 5-7 billion persons. From Noah to Jesus: about 300-500 million total, Grand Total population, Adam to now, until now, est. 15-100 billion.

The Seven Letters

In the last book of the Bible there are seven letters to seven churches, preceding a vision in heaven of the throne room of God. There is no further mention of church or churches after 4:1 until chapter 19.

Several commentators have noted that the church is not mentioned from 4:1 to 18:1. Why is this? The church is not of earth but in “heaven” after the Rapture until the Second Advent of Jesus. All Christians, several billion of us, will be in heaven (i.e., in New Jerusalem) after 4:1. We’ll be alive and well there with our new bodies and with Jesus for the seven year interval between the parousia and the epiphania of our Lord Jesus

At any point in history, since the first century, each of the seven churches could be found active in the world.

But all believers from each of the seven churches will be caught up together in the Rapture. That is, expect to see Seven Churches in New Jerusalem. The dead wood will all be gone of course and each church as described in Revelation 2 and 3 will have been perfected and complete. The “left behind” church will coalesce into the false church of the end time

The Seven Churches represent seven stages of church history but each of these churches exists today. If you enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus you should be able to identify which of the seven church types you most closely identify with. Therefore any one who embraced Christ as Lord down through 2000 years was automatically identified with one of the seven churches when they died.

For instance, followers of Jesus who have suffered for their faith or been martyred will have an affinity for Smyrna. Calvinists and Reformed Christians will identify with Sardis. The multitudes from nominal Christian backgrounds should find their place in Laodicea. Traditionalists from Orthodox or Roman Catholic backgrounds should feel at home with Pergamos or Thyatira.

I have no problem strongly identifying with Philadelphia. That era flourished briefly after the Reformation.

From Ray Stedman,

“...The church of Philadelphia foreshadows the great Evangelical Awakenings of the 18th and 19th centuries, following the time of declension among the Reformation churches: The Moravian Brethren in Germany began to meet in small groups for prayer, catching again a vision of God and what he could do, and eventually sent out missionaries to other parts of the world. It began in England as the movement which we call the Puritan Movement. John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress, was one of these Puritans; John Newton, whose hymns we sing so often, was another. This Awakening also encompasses the great Wesleyan Revival and George Whitefield's preaching in both England and America. In this country it includes the movement called the Great Awakening, with Jonathan Edwards as one of its leaders, and the Methodist Circuit Riders who rode horseback up and down the Eastern seaboard, later expanding westward when the nation began to move west. I personally have been benefited by one of these men, called Brother Van, who came to the Territory of Montana shortly after it began to be populated because of the gold rush. He went into the saloons and mining camps of Montana and preached the gospel, winning hundreds to Christ. He started churches all over the state, most of which are still there, but I'm afraid not doing very well. This was also a time of revival of missionary interest: William Carey in England got a vision of the need of India and eventually went out there and planted the gospel in a great work in that country. Robert Moffet and his famous son-in-law, David Livingstone, went to Africa and did marvelous work there. The American missionary, Adoniram Judson, went out to Burma and pioneered a work in that country. Hudson Taylor went to minister in inland China.

We have many other great missionary names that come out of this period of history. It is also the time of the emergence of great evangelists whose names we all remember -- George Whitefield, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon (a pastor, but also a great evangelist), Charles Finney here in this country, and D. L. Moody, who left a great work behind him. All of these were foreshadowed by this church of Philadelphia which came alive amidst the death that characterized many other churches.”

The Church as a Building

The true church is not about cathedrals and tents or buildings or even open-air crusades. Yet the true church is a living temple:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
(1 Peter 2:4-10)

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
(Ephesians 2:19-22)

The Seven Churches in New Jerusalem

The main portal into New Jerusalem is known as the Bema Seat, or The Judgment Seat of Christ. We will have new bodies of course, and Jesus will be there in person with us. Hypocrisy and compromise will be unknown. We will live as whole persons no longer as mere church goers or nominal believers. I have put together a bunch of articles imaging what life in New Jerusalem will be like for us. I have written these articles with my very best “sanctified imagination.” Please feel to disagree with anything I have written. My main point is that we Christians will not be an amorphous body living in New Jerusalem but a seven-fold community of saints each distinct and unique! There is much, much more that can be said about living together with Jesus forever as one great family—men, women, children—all ages, all nations.

Hierarchy in Heaven

For your reference, a full commentary on the Book of the Revelation is available. The notes in this article are very brief and presuppose that the reader has some knowledge of the last book of the Bible, especially Chapters 2 and 3.The history of seven periods of church history from the first century until now has been note by many commentators. Each church has had its “day in the sun” as the prominent church of its day.

The Management of the Universe	The Church in the Mirror	The Church as Body of Christ/Bride of Christ
The True Church during the Tribulation	A Glorious Church	Eight Thousand Million People
Psalm 45	The Bema Starts Now	City Living in New Jerusalem
The Families of God	God's House	A City in Space
City Life	The Church at the End of the Age	The Table of Nations
The Revirginized Bride	The Philadelphia Church	The False Church

Please follow the links and “do your own homework.”
Be a good Berean as Chuck Missler taught us.

“...the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea.
When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness,
and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
(Acts 17:10-11)

Text of Revelation Chapters 2, 3.

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

---

The Citizenry of New Jerusalem

Spiritual Warfare and the Church

The Biblically Illiterate Church

Jesus and His Church During the Tribulation

The Speculation Room

* Will New Jerusalem be divided into 7 (perhaps 8) administrative districts or parishes? (The Eighth Parish would perhaps be for all the millions who know Jesus but have never been taught or molded by one of the Seven Churches.) * New Jerusalem will have a central garden assembly area but no temple. There is apparently a throne? New Jerusalem resides in the Second Heaven, not the Third. “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.“ (Revelation 22:1-5) * Will there be a Training School to equip the 144,000 Evangelists? They will be thorough versed in the Old Testament and the History of Israel but not know the New Testament nor the History of the Church. * Will the Apostle Paul lead this class? * The original Twelve Apostles will surely have offices and study centers in New Jerusalem?    “…Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.“ (Matthew 19:28) * Surely NJ will have schools to bring believers up to speed on Bible knowledge.  * Surely there will be Music and Worship Schools?  * Arts and Crafts Schools but no factories? * No Fire Department, no Police Department, no Hospitals? * Military Training Center and Security Forces for the 144k? * Scouts to visit the planet and report back? * A Foreign Travel Office for visiting other worlds. * All Spiritual Gifts will be operative. * The Foundation of the city is Jesus and the 12 Apostles  * Gardens, vineyards, orchard, flowers, trees, forests, flowing water?  * A breathable atmosphere with no pollutants.. Fresh water.  * Science and History Center. * Languages and Culture Office. *Garments, Potters, Artists. * A Health and Healing Center  * No sewage or garbage November 22, 2021

Above Notes by Lambert Dolphin 

Email 
Lambert Dolphin's Place
Recent and Recovered Articles
Newsletters Old and New
Old Library 
Library Annex (since 2018)

      

March 10, 2019
October 20, 2019
October 19, 2020
November 22, 2021
October 17, 2022