This Present Age – Lesson 3 of 3

Letters to the Seven Churches

This Present Age, from the rejection of the Messiah by Israel, until the reception of Him by Israel at the Second Advent, is outlined in two parts of the Bible. Matthew 13 comes from the viewpoint of God’s Kingdom Program, and Revelation two and three from the viewpoint of the church program. We will trace the present age outlined In Revelation 2 and three in this lesson.

I. Time Period of Revelation two and three – John is writing about things that are present, things that are present, and things that are future

A. The divisions of the book of Revelation

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

1. “What thou hast seen” refers to the vision of Christ John has just seen – (Revelation 1:12-16)

2. “The things that are” refers to letters to the seven churches – Revelation 2-3

3. “The things that shall be hereafter” refers to the balance of the book –

Revelation 4:1-22:21

B. John is writing the churches during this present age – from the beginning of the church, to the judgment of the apostate church, before the Second Advent

So, it is about the same time frame as Matthew 13.

C. The Purpose of the Seven Letters

1. John is writing to meet the individual needs of each congregation

2. These letters reveal various kinds of individuals and congregations during this time period

3. A prophetic revelation in that they are types of the churches throughout the age

While the mystery form of the kingdom is not synonymous with the visible church, yet since, the time period is essentially the same we could expect to see some parallels between the two passages – Notice the chart on the next page

D. The Parallels Between Matthew 13 and Revelation 2 and 3

Matthew 13	Revelation 2&3	Name’s Meaning	Approximate dates	Characteristic
Sower	Ephesus	Desired	Pentecost to 100 AD	Time of sowing, organization, evangelism
Wheat & Tares	Smyrna	Myrrh	Nero to 300AD	Persecution, enemy revealed
Mustard Seed	Pergamos	Thoroughly Married	300-800AD	Worldly alliance, Great external growth
Leaven	Thyatira	Continual Sacrifice	800-1517 AD	Papal Domination, Doctrinal Corruption,
Treasure Hid	Sardis	Those Escaping	Reformation to last days	Rise of the state church
Pearl	Philadelphia	Brotherly Love	Last days	True church of the last days
Dragnet	Laodicea	People Ruling	Last Days	Apostacy

We are not trying to show an identity in the revelation of these two passages, but rather that there is a similarity in the progress of the course of the age

E. The Close of The Present Age –

1. Bringing to fulfillment two distinct programs

a. Church – This program completed with the Rapture

b. Israel – This program will be completed after the Rapture at the Second Advent

2. Both have passages concerning the end times of the programs

a. “Last times” for the church

I Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Jude 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

b. “Last time” for the church

I Peter 1: 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

c. “Latter days” for Israel

Daniel 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

Deuteronomy 4: 30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; {are…: Heb. have found thee}

d. “Latter times for the church

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

e. Scripture refers to “last days” for Israel

Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. {established: or, prepared}

Micah 4:1But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

f. Scripture refers to “last days” for the church

II Timothy 3:1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3. Since the church is given the hope of an imminent return of Christ, there can be no signs given to her as to when this event will take place

4. There are certain revelations on the condition of the church at the end of the age – They are a system of denials

a. A Denial of God

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luke 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

b. A denial of Christ

I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

I John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

II Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

c. A denial of Christ’s return

II Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

II Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

d. A denial of the faith

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

I Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

e. A denial of sound doctrine

II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

II Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

f. A denial of the separated life

II Timothy 3:1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

II Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {false…: or, one who foments strife}

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

g. A denial of Christian liberty

I Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

I Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

h. A denial of morals

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

II Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {false…: or, one who foments strife}

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. {reprobate: or, of no judgment}

II Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Jude 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

i. A denial of authority

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

The close of this present age seems to coincide with the state of the Laodicean church. This is a church which Christ must stand to seek admission. It is not surprising that this age is called an evil age.