The Recapitulation of OT History in the letters to the seven churches

The Recapitulation of OT The Recapitulation of OT HistoryHistoryin the letters to the seven in the letters to the seven churcheschurches

Dr. Jean-Luc Murk, MDDr. Jean-Luc Murk, MD

VUmc, Amsterdam, The VUmc, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsNetherlands

The Recapitulation of OT The Recapitulation of OT HistoryHistoryin Revelation’s seven lettersin Revelation’s seven letters I The Seven Letters and the OTI The Seven Letters and the OT II The Seven Letters and Rev. 12 -II The Seven Letters and Rev. 12 -

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Ephesus

Smyrna

Thyatira

Pergamos

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

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Ephesus

Smyrna

Thyatira

Pergamos

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Pergamos

PergamosPergamos

Christ with Sword(mouth)

Teaching of BalaamIdolatry

Judgment by Sword

Hidden Manna

Name in Stone

Lord’s Angel withSword (hand)

Teaching of BalaamIdolatry

Judgment by Sword

MannaIsrael in Desert

Ten Commandments

Pergamos - Pergamos - ConclusionsConclusions The letter forms a The letter forms a coherent unitycoherent unity

– Introduction, body of the text and Introduction, body of the text and promise all relate to each otherpromise all relate to each other

The letter has a The letter has a single OT themesingle OT theme::– Israel’s encounter with Balaam in Israel’s encounter with Balaam in

the desertthe desert The The OT theme is adaptedOT theme is adapted to the to the

circumstances of the churchcircumstances of the church Correlation with OT: Correlation with OT: thematic > thematic >

verbalverbal

PergamosIsrael in Desert

Ephesus

EphesusEphesus

Christ walksamong lampstands

& Seven Stars

False ApostlesFirst Love LostRemove Lamp?

Get fruit ofTree of Lifein Paradise

God walks in Eden

SerpentFall: DistanceOut of Eden

Lost access toTree of Life &

Paradise

Genesis 3


EphesusFallSmyrna

SmyrnaSmyrna

Christ:First, Last,

dead but now Alive

Afflictions10 days Persecution

Crown of Life

No second death

“I know your afflictions”

“I know your afflictions”LXX Exodus 3:7,9; 4:31

SmyrnaSmyrna

Christ:First, Last,

dead but now Alive

Afflictions10 days Persecution

Crown of Life

No second death

Lord’s Angel:I AM

AfflictionsOppression untilappointed time

Deliverance

No judgment

Exodus 3

SmyrnaSmyrna

Additional parallels:Additional parallels:– God’s people living in pagan city / God’s people living in pagan city /

countrycountry– Oppression by pagan rulersOppression by pagan rulers


EphesusFallSmyrna

Oppression Egypt

Thyatira

ThyatiraThyatira

Christ:Eyes like Fire

Feet like Brass

Jezebel’s influenceHer punishment

Death allies & children

Power over heathensMorningstar

Michael:Eyes like Fire

Feet like Brass

Jezebel’s influenceHer punishment

Death allies & children

Power over heathens

Daniel 10

Thyatira Thyatira Jezebel = Babylon?Jezebel = Babylon?

JezebelJezebel– Prostitute (3:21)Prostitute (3:21)– Children (3:23)Children (3:23)– Tempts (3:30)Tempts (3:30)– Judged by Christ Judged by Christ

(3:22)(3:22)

Babylon (in Babylon (in Revelation)Revelation)– Prostitute (17:1)Prostitute (17:1)– Children (17:5)Children (17:5)– Tempts (18:24)Tempts (18:24)– Judged by Christ Judged by Christ

(17:14)(17:14)

Thyatira Thyatira Jezebel = Babylon?Jezebel = Babylon?

OT JezebelOT Jezebel– Reigned by AhabReigned by Ahab

(I Kings 21:7,8)(I Kings 21:7,8)– Persecution of Persecution of

prophetsprophets– Persecution of Elijah Persecution of Elijah

for 3.5 years (Jam for 3.5 years (Jam 5:17)5:17)

Babylon (in Babylon (in Revelation)Revelation)– Reigns by beast and Reigns by beast and

worldly kings worldly kings (17:3,18)(17:3,18)

– Persecution of saintsPersecution of saints– Persecution of Elijah Persecution of Elijah

for 42 months for 42 months (11:2,3,7,8)(11:2,3,7,8)

Thyatira - ConclusionsThyatira - Conclusions

Jezebel might represent BabylonJezebel might represent Babylon– different perspective: different perspective:

outside ~ within the churchoutside ~ within the church Vision of Michael (Daniel 10-12):Vision of Michael (Daniel 10-12):

to affirm power over Satan and to affirm power over Satan and BabylonBabylon


EphesusFallSmyrna

Oppression Egypt

ThyatiraApostacy & Exile

Sardis

SardisSardis

Christ hasSeven Spirits &

Seven starsNot Alive but Dead

Filthy GarmentsCall to Repentance

Some walk with Christ

White ClothesStay in Book of Life

High-priest Joshua:Filthy GarmentsCall to repentance

White Clothes

Zechariah 3

SardisSardis

““Revelation 5:6Revelation 5:6 He had seven horns He had seven horns and and seven eyesseven eyes, which are the , which are the seven seven spiritsspirits of God sent out of God sent out into all the into all the earthearth.”.”

““Zechariah 3:9 There are seven eyes on that one stone …' says the LORD Almighty'.

““Zechariah 4:10 These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.

SardisSardis

Christ hasSeven Spirits &

Seven starsSpiritually DeadFilthy Garments

Call to RepentanceSome walk with Christ

White ClothesNot deleted from

Book of Life

Lord’s Angel,Stone withSeven Eyes

White Clothes

Zechariah 3

High-priest Joshua:Filthy GarmentsCall to repentance


EphesusFallSmyrna

Oppression Egypt


SardisReturn Exile 1

Philadelphia

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Christ: Holy, True,Key of David

Christ opens doorChurch is weak

Enemies will fall downSaved in Tribulation

Place in TempleName of God & Christ

Name Jerusalem

God: Holy (45:11)

God opens doors (45:1)

Israel is weakEnemies will fall down

Isaiah 45


Revelation 3:12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God…

I will write on him the name of my God and

the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem…and I will also writeon him my new name.

Revelation 7:3 144,000:“put a seal on the foreheadsof the servants of our God.”

Revelation 14:1Then I looked, and therebefore me was the Lamb,standing on Mount Zion, andwith him 144,000 who hadhis name and his Father'sname written on theirforeheads.


Revelation 3:12Revelation 3:12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God…

I will write on him the name of my God and

the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem…and I will also write on him my new name.

Isaiah 56:5,7Isaiah 56:5,7to them I will givewithin my temple and its walls a memorial …

I will give them an everlasting name …

these I will bring tomy holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.

Isaiah 56:6all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold fast to my covenant


Place in TempleName of God & Christ

Name Jerusalem

Isaiah 45

Christ: Holy, True,Key of David

Christ opens doorChurch is weak

Enemies will fall downProtection for church

God: Holy (45:11)

God opens doors (45:1)

Israel is weakEnemies will fall down

Place in TempleEternal Name

JerusalemIsaiah 56


EphesusFallSmyrna

Oppression Egypt


SardisReturn exile 1

PhiladelphiaReturn exile 2

Laodicea

LaodiceaLaodicea

Christ: AmenTrue, Faithful WitnessBeginning of Creation

Lukewarm, NakedGold tried in Fire

White ClothesAt the door: meal

Sit on Christ’s Throne

AmenIsaiah 65:16 (LXX)

LaodiceaLaodicea

Isaiah 65:16,17Isaiah 65:16,17““I will destine you for the sword … for I called but you did not answer. “ “

““Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the do so by the God of truthGod of truth… For the past … For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.”my eyes.”

"Behold, I will create "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new heavens and a new earthnew earth. The former things will not be . The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

LaodiceaLaodicea


Lukewarm, NakedGold tried in Fire




Gold tried in FireMaleachi 3:2,3

LaodiceaLaodicea

Maleachi 3:2,3Maleachi 3:2,3

““But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”.”

LaodiceaLaodicea


Lukewarm, NakedGold tried in Fire,




Gold tried in FireMaleachi 3:2,3

Rule with Son of ManDaniel 7:26,27

LaodiceaLaodicea

Daniel 7:26,27Daniel 7:26,27

““But the court will sit…Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.””

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EphesusFallSmyrna

Oppression Egypt


SardisReturn exile 1

PhiladelphiaReturn exile 2Laodicea

End-time Judgment

Revelation 12 -14Revelation 12 -14

Dragon vs Woman12:1-4 EphesusFallGenesis 3

SmyrnaEgypt

12:5 Dragon vs Male ChildEgypt, Herod

“Revelation 2:8-9 These are the words of him who is

the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

I know your afflictions…”


SmyrnaEgypt


PergamosBalaam

Woman to Desert12:6Israel in Desert

ThyatiraMichael

Dragon vs Michael12:7-9

:10-16Woman to Desert Jezebel

SardisBook of Life

Dragon vs OffspringBook of Life

12:17-13:8

“Zechariah 3:2Is not this man a burning stick

snatched from the fire?”


SmyrnaEgypt


PergamosBalaam

Woman to Desert12:6Israel in Desert

ThyatiraMichael

Dragon vs Michael12:7-9

:10-16Woman to Desert Jezebel

SardisBook of Life

Dragon vs OffspringBook of Life

12:17-13:8

PhiladelphiaSeal

Sealing13:9-14:5

LaodiceaJudgment Announced14:6,7

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!

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The Recapitulation of OT History in the letters to the seven churches