WHAT IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION FOR? – Part 2: THE LETTERS
In the Introductory article (Part 1 of this series) I made no mention of the 1st chapter of Revelation. So, for completeness and before proceeding further, I attach (at annex A below) a review of the 1st chapter, as a necessary lead-in to the examination of the letters in Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation.
The letters to the 7 churches contain comments that can only be understood by referring to the prophetic chapters that follow them. My assessment will seek to link the most significant observations in each letter to the relevant clarification / expansion in the chapters that follow.
But first, some observations on the structure and common factors. They all start with an address to the angel of the particular church, followed by a different characteristic of Jesus for each. Five churches are complimented; two are not: Sardis and Laodicea. Five churches are reprimanded; two are not: Smyrna and Philadelphia. All are given advice, and all are encouraged to have an ear to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (note that we should listen to what is said to all the churches). Each church is told what “He who overcomes” will receive.
What do the letters promise “to him who overcomes”?
The overcomers of the Church of Ephesus are assured that they will eat from “the tree of life”. The clarification: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (Rev 22:14). The overcomers of the martyr Church of Smyrna are promised the crown of life and that they “will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
What is the second death, and who will suffer it? The prophecy explains: “the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Rev 21:8). “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” (Rev 20:14).
The Church of Pergamum overcomers are promised hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. There are no direct references in the subsequent chapters; however, hidden manna may well refer to “the bread of life”; “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:35 & 50-51). The “white stone with a new name …” has been the subject of much speculation. There are references to a new name: “ … you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow” and “… to His servants He will give another name” (Is 62:2 & Is 65:15) but the full meaning of the white stone reference has yet to be revealed.
To the Church of Thyatira: “to him who overcomes, and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – He will rule them with an iron sceptre; he will dash them to pieces like pottery …. … I will also give him the morning star.” In the subsequent prophetic chapters, the shaking of the nations is portrayed. A woman clothed with the sun, and crowned with twelve stars gives birth to a son who will rule all nations with an iron sceptre (see Rev 12). The morning star is Jesus (Rev 22:16), who will “rises in your hearts” (2 Pe 1:19).
The Church of Sardis, which had a reputation for being alive but was dead, is told to wake up and strengthen what remains. There are no good comments; even so, a few overcomers will be dressed in white and will not have their names erased from the book of life. Later, at Rev 20, we see the book of life opened and at Rev 21, that only those named in the “Lamb’s book of life” will be able to enter the New Jerusalem.
The Church of Philadelphia, receives the encouraging promise that the overcomes will be made pillars in the temple of my God; and “I will write on him the name of my God, .… and I will also write on him my new name.” At the start of Rev 14 we read: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (see also Rev 22:4). Two other encouraging comments are: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut” and “I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth”. I have often heard the former used in prophetic words given to individuals, and the latter is sometimes used in support of the pre-tribulation rapture argument.
Lastly, the lukewarm Church of Laodicea, which boasts about its material wealth while not realising that in God’s eyes it is wretched and miserable and needs to repent. Even so, Jesus shows His long-suffering love: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock,” and to those who overcome: “I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
In Part 3, we will look at significant aspects in the chapters that follow the letters, some of which we have commented on above.
Annex A Continue reading
The prime purpose of the 







To read Veronika’s prophetic word in full click image below:























