Matthew 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
1. How the CHRONOLOGY IS PRESENTED
Revelation 1:19
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Revelation 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Church |
Church History Typified |
Dates |
|
Ephesus |
The Apostolic Church |
A.D. 30-100 |
|
Smyrna |
The Church of Roman Persecution |
A.D. 100 – 313 |
|
Pergamum |
The Church of the Age of Constantine |
The Wilderness Period (Numbers) |
|
Thyatira |
The Church of the Dark Ages |
A.D. 600-1517 |
|
Sardis |
The Church of the Reformation |
A.D. 1517-1648 |
|
Philadelphia |
The Church of the Great Missionary Movement |
A.D. 1648-1900 |
|
Laodicea |
The Church of the Apostasy |
A.D. 1900-present day |
|
Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Revelation 5:12
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
2. How the CHURCH IS PICTURED
Revelation 19:7
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
3. A CONSISTENT PRECEDENT
2 Peter 2: 4– 7, 9
If God . . . did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah . . . and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes . . . delivered righteous Lot . . . then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.
2 Peter 2: 4– 7, 9
If God . . . did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah . . . and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes . . . delivered righteous Lot . . . then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.