10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Revelation 1:10-11 (KJV)
The Book of Revelation was not written to you. It was not written to me. It was not written to us. When I tell people this, their immediate response is one of horror and outrage. “So you believe nothing in the Bible was written for us”, comes the usual reply. Notice the subtle prepositional shift, as though to state that a letter written specifically to a group of first century churches renders the entire Bible meaningless to us today!
This is a fairly common, emotionally charged, response when most people are confronted by this fundamental truth: a truth that comes to us straight from the pen of the apostle John himself! Yet the implications of reading ourselves into the pages of Revelation are as dangerous as they are far-reaching, and negatively impact our understanding of all other eschatological texts found throughout the Bible.
Failure to recognize and acknowledge the audience, to whom these prophetic authors were writing, has caused needless strife and confusion in the church for almost 2,000 years.
Unless you are a persecuted 1st century Christian, or member of one of these seven churches living 2,000 years ago, the very first chapter of Revelation is clear: this letter was not written to you.
Some would argue that the churches in Revelation 1:11 are types of churches that have appeared throughout history. Others argue that they are the invisible, universal body of Christ that has gone through phases throughout history.
Unfortunately, the text itself allows for no such wiggle room, because if the textual revisionists are right, this phrase makes no sense at all:
“…send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia…”
So even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that the seven churches represent seven types or phases of the church throughout history, then they all must exist in Asia, thus eliminating churches from every other continent from consideration!
Preterists are often falsely accused of playing fast and loose with scripture, yet the only way for Futurists to make Revelation all about us is to ignore 1:11 in its entirety, because verse 11 makes clear that these were seven churches in Asia: not America, Europe, or Australia!
If words mean anything, “Asia” does not mean “North America!”
But while Revelation 1:11 presents an insurmountable geographic challenge to those who claim the book is about us, numerous other verses present an even larger temporal challenge!
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:1-3 (KJV)
John’s intent to convey the timeliness of these events was so clear, he repeated these phrases several more times throughout the letter!
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. Revelation 2:25 (KJV)
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:11 (KJV)
(How could they hold fast to anything if they all died waiting for the fulfillment of these verses?)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
(Compare Revelation 3:20 with James 5:9: Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.)
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Revelation 22:6 (KJV)
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7 (KJV)
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. Revelation 22:10 (KJV)
(Compare Revelation 22:10 with Daniel 12:4: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.)
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12 (KJV)
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 (KJV)
Those who argue that these words were written to us must make the case that words like “soon” and “at hand” really mean “much later” and “far away”: that “soon” and “at hand” meant something different to John and the first century church than they do to us today! They must make the case that the God who created all language at the Tower of Babel is incapable of communicating His meaning clearly to these seven churches in any of them!
It’s clear by audience, geography, and time that this book was not written to us! Understanding this crucial truth is the key to understanding the Book of Revelation itself.
Preterists are often falsely accused of playing fast and loose with scripture, yet the only way for Futurists to make Revelation all about us is to ignore 1:11 in its entirety, because verse 11 makes clear that these were seven churches in Asia: not America, Europe, or Australia!
I have been trying to figure out the book of revelation for almost 45 years and when it comes right down to it I am no closer than day one.
When I think I have a hold on one thing it always turns out to contradict something else and it turns out the same way in following the understanding of others.
I believe some chapters of rev are more or less in detail such as 1 through 3 are actually letters written to those Churches.
Chapters 4 through 11 were things John saw and told then chapter 12 continues with more details again as we can see that it is something which did occur.
In chapter 13 through 16 it seems to include many events over the years but in 17 it goes again in detail explain to john just what the great whore is, in which time we are now living.
19 and 20 seems to be both things both past and present and future.
Like I have already said, I don`t know but I think we just have a short time.