Introduction to the Seven Letters

1. Right from the first verse of Revelation, we discover the purpose of this book: «The of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants - things which must take place.» Moreover, a special blessing is granted to those who study this book: «Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and those things which are written in it.»

2. The book of Revelation addresses a letter to seven churches that really existed in the time of the apostle John. Which ancient region (corresponding to modern Turkey) were these seven churches located in?
   Syria.
   Mysia.
   Lydia.
   Phrygia.

3. The letters to the seven churches, found in the book of Revelation, are addressed to all the following churches, except one. Which one?
   Pergamos.
   Colosse.
   Thyatira.
   Sardis.

4. In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, the apostle John sees the One who instructed him to send the letters to the seven churches. This being is described in a gripping way: «I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the of the seven lampstands One like the of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a band.»

5. This powerful being declares: «I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.» We understand that the powerful being is Jesus Christ, since the Epistle of Paul to the Romans says: «Christ, having been raised from the dead, no more. no longer has over Him.»

6. The book of Revelation pictures Jesus walking in the midst of the seven lampstands, thus giving us the message that Jesus will always be with us, until the end of the world. Indeed, the prophecy explains that «the seven lampstands which you saw are...»
   «... the seven Spirits of God.»
   «... the seven trumpets.»
   «... the seven seals.»
   «... the seven churches.»

7. In this same vision of Revelation, Jesus designates Himself with an expression which confirms His divinity. Indeed, in the book of the prophet Isaiah, God Himself uses the same expression, stating: «I am the and I am the ; besides Me there is no .»

8. The letters of the seven churches, in the book of Revelation, generally contain all the following elements, except one. Which one?
   A parable-type introduction.
   A praise of the positive points.
   A condemnation of the negative points.
   An encouragement to persevere.

9. The letters of the seven churches, in the book of Revelation, present all the following applications, except one. Which one?
   A message addressed to the local church.
   A prophecy on the Christian Church.
   A message addressed to each one of us.
   A prophecy on earthly kingdoms.

10. Jesus shows that the letters to the seven churches, in the book of Revelation, also have a prophetic value: «Write the things which you have , and the things which , and the things which will take place this.» These letters are therefore following the pattern of Daniel's prophecies, and will be the subject of our next lessons.

Your name:

Your E-mail address:
(Please be sure to enter your E-mail address correctly.)