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Evidence for Eras
Chapter V
The Evidence of
Christ’s Imminent Return
Exhibit 5
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:11
Another compelling piece of evidence for Church eras is the fact that the end-time is not discussed in every letter. Only the last four epistles mention Christ’s return and of those, the events immediately preceding His arrival become a focal point in the letters to only the last two churches. The theme of Christ’s return is more prevalent in the last letters because their message is intended for those who would live at the end of the age.
While Christ does mention coming to the first three churches, it is not in the context of returning to establish the Kingdom on earth. Instead, He speaks of intervening to rebuke them for their lack of faithful obedience. Notice His words to these congregations.
To Ephesus
I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent (Revelation 2:5).
While Jesus does speak of coming quickly to Ephesus, He is not referring to His triumphant return. As a result of their waning love for God, Jesus is threatening to remove their candlestick—their light to the world.
To Smyrna
…and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Next Jesus speaks of Smyrna having tribulation for ten days. This is not the tribulation that comes upon the entire world for three and one half years. Instead, Christ is speaking of a great trial that would come upon this second era of the Church. He admonishes them to be faithful, and promises a reward for their courageous endurance.
To Pergamos
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth (Revelation 2:16).
To Pergamos, Jesus says He will come to fight against them if they do not repent. Again, Christ is not speaking of the time when He comes to set up His Kingdom on earth. Instead, He is threatening these people with reprimand. Jesus warns them to repent of their tainted religious practice or suffer the consequences.
It is only after the first three letters that Christ begins to speak of His second coming. Jesus tells Thyatira to hold fast till He returns. Sardis is told that He will descend upon them as a thief. Philadelphia is admonished to hold fast because He comes quickly. Finally, speaking to Laodicea, Christ implies that they will have to endure the great tribulation before His dramatic intervention in man’s affairs. Notice His words to these last four churches.
To Thyatira
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations (Revelation 2:25-26).To Sardis
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee (Revelation 3:3).
As the letters progress through each of the last four churches, the emphasis on the return of Jesus Christ becomes greater. The messages to the 4th and 5th churches give an indication that individuals from these eras will be alive during the end. However, when the last two are addressed, the end time becomes a central issue. Clearly the subject of the great tribulation takes precedence in these final messages.
To Philadelphia
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly… (Revelation 3:10-11)
Enormous passion for God motivates the Philadelphians to consistently strive to overcome. These people refuse to let down, even during the lax period prior to sudden destruction when peace and safety is proclaimed (1 Thes. 5:3). Jesus tells them that as a result of faithfully keeping His Word, He will keep them from this terrible time of trial and punishment.
To Laodicea
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see (Revelation 3:18).
Jesus also speaks of the tribulation to Laodicea. He warns them that, as a result of their self-satisfied, lukewarm attitude, He will spew them out of His mouth. He then admonishes them to repent immediately so that they will not have to suffer being brutally tested, tried, and even martyred!
In other words, if they do not put forth the effort at this time, the merciful Christ will still give them the opportunity to obtain the righteous character they failed to develop. However, they will have to build this moral fiber in the great tribulation and therefore, Jesus advises them to “buy gold tried in the fire” (Rev. 3:18).
The fact that Jesus used the symbols of gold and fire is of enormous significance. The Bible reveals that gold is a symbol of righteous character (I Cor. 3:12-15). Fire is used as a symbol for trial or tribulation (I Pet. 4:12). As fire refines gold, the tribulation will be Christ’s instrument to refine the character of these lukewarm members of His Church.
The clear indication of these last two letters is that Philadelphia and Laodicea both exist during the time of the great tribulation. This terrible time of trial begins three and one-half years before the return of Jesus Christ (Dan. 12:7; Rev. 12:14). The Church of Philadelphia is promised protection from this horrific trial; however, the Laodiceans must endure it in order to achieve their place in the first resurrection.
The letters to the last two churches should be all the evidence needed to confirm the doctrine of Church eras! These final missives undeniably speak of end-time events, and yet the churches that once existed in these ancient cities have long ago disappeared.
Philadelphia Today
Obviously, these last two messages were not intended for the churches in John’s day. The words of warning and admonition contained in them were meant for those who would live during the end-time. They are written to us!
The Two Witnesses
There is another point of interest that reinforces the fact that these last letters were intended for Christians living at the end of the age. In the beginning of the book of Revelation, Christ revealed Himself as being in the midst of the seven candlesticks or lamp stands. He then stated that these lampstands were the churches (Rev. 1:20).
The Scriptures also show us that, at the end of the age, only two lampstands will be reflecting God’s light to this spiritually dark world. Jesus begins to illustrate this point in Revelation eleven where He speaks of the ministry of the two witnesses. In so doing, He makes this curious statement, saying:
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth (Revelation 11:3-4).
Regarding the two end-time witnesses, Jesus states that they are the “two candlesticks.” However, Jesus also said that “the candlesticks are the churches” (Rev. 1:20). Thus, the two witnesses are directly associated with the two churches. Could this mean that they are leaders or representatives of these two assemblies?
The answer begins to emerge as we explore the book of Zechariah where the lampstands and olive trees are also mentioned. With the understanding that the term “candlesticks” actually refer to “lampstands,” the prophet Zechariah relates a unique vision from God, saying:
I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:2-6).
In these verses, God is speaking to Zerubbabel, the governor chosen to restore the temple during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Zerubbabel must have felt completely overwhelmed facing such a monumental task. In this context, the angel reminds this great man that the work of God is accomplished by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and not by the strength of men.
Since God’s Spirit works through men, this vision includes the two olive trees. Oil is a symbol of God’s spirit (Mat. 25:1-5), and these two olive trees are a symbol of the source of oil feeding two of the seven lamps. As Jesus had stated in Revelation, these olive trees and the lampstands are the two witnesses, the leaders who will feed the end-time churches.
On the Right and Left Side
It is important to note that this lampstand has seven individual lamps, and each is fed by one of seven separate golden pipes. Since each olive tree feeds only one lamp, only two lamps are burning at this time. This reveals that during the end-time fulfillment of these verses, only two churches will be shining their lights to the world. As the angel continues to explain:
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth (Zechariah 4:11-14).
Like a jigsaw puzzle slowly coming together to reveal a clear picture, these verses in Zechariah complete those in the book of Revelation. The two olive trees are individuals who are anointed by God and set apart for His holy use. That use is to feed the two lamps—the churches. Thus, the spirit of each church and the light provided by the message each preaches is fueled by God’s Holy Spirit flowing through these two individuals.
Understanding this, it is interesting to note that the two olives trees are not found standing side by side. Instead, one is on the right and the other on the left. Could it be that this is also symbolic? Does this reflect that each one is associated with a different era—either Philadelphia or Laodicea? Is it possible this separation is indicative of the conservative as opposed to the liberal element in the church? Could this mean that, while one more conscientiously adheres to the scriptures, the other takes more liberties in how they live? If so, the difference in zeal certainly would be expressed in Christ’s admonishment to each of these churches.
It is evident that the two witnesses are the two olive trees, the two anointed ones, and they are inextricably tied to the two end-time churches! This means that they are the representatives of the two churches, and while the two witnesses are but men, through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are able to fuel God’s last light and witness to the world.
Since these churches no longer exist in Asia Minor, and because Philadelphia and Laodicea are shown to be associated with the two end-time witnesses, there can be no other conclusion. The letters addressed to them could not have been written solely to Christians living during the lifetime of the apostle John. They must have been intended for specific eras of God’s Church leading up to the climactic return of our Savior Jesus Christ.