What does it matter what I think? I simply want to know who were the Churches in revelation that Christ was speaking to?
Is this a trick question? My friend, the churches of Revelation are quite clearly identified. Why are you asking us to identify them for you? It seems that you’re hinting that one of the churches might be identifiable with ours, and if that’s the case, I wish you’d stop making us guess and just tell us.
Why do you want to argue with me, whose opinion is founded outside the catholic tradition you say, therefore it is irrelevent. Do you think I want to play chase around that bush? No, I do not.
Well, you’re certainly coming across that way, considering your refusal to answer any of my direct questions
But I would like to know father, who are the Churches of Revelation that Christ is correcting. You say you are qualified to teach me, please, teach me. I’m litening. If it is the truth you have to share, how would it change if you knew what I thought?
But you’re the one hinting around the issue of the churches of Revelation, so naturally I thought that you had something further to say about them. Otherwise, one can only conclude that you’re just here to goad Catholics
So you wanna know who the churches in Revelation identify, according to a valid Catholic interpretation? Let me dig out my notes from the summer '07 Bible study on this topic (taught by a permanent deacon assigned to my parish, along with his wife):
Rev: 2:1-7 - Ephesus - St. Paul lived and preached in this location for about 3 years; it had about 250,000 residents, was a provincial capital, port city, and center of the pagan cult of Diana. It’s unclear who’s meant by the Nicolaitans, but they were tolerant of idolatry, and it’s good that their works weren’t tolerated in this church. In v. 4, Our Lord holds their lack of love against them, and they needed to be reminded of the way they received the gospel in the beginning. In v. 5, it mentions a threat that the church would die, and eventually all 7 of the churches mentioned herein *did *die. I also find it interesting that they tested those who called themselves apostles, but were not
Rev. 2:8-11 - Smyrna - also a large city, and a center of commerce. There were Jews living in the city who were offended by the presence of Christians - the so-called “synagogue of Satan.” The letter to this church exhorts them to endure without fear (v. 10). There were no admonitions against this church, and they were in fact praised for steadfastness (v. 9). The “crown of life” in v.10 refers to Jesus’ crown of thorns - thus, salvation through intense suffering.
Rev. 2:12-17 - Pergamum - the two-edged sword is the Word of God. This city was famous for its pagan temples, particularly the one dedicated to Zeus. It was also known as a place where emperor worship was accepted and prominent. People in this city were taking part in religious ceremonies that involved sexual immorality. The “new name” in v. 17 refers to being a new creation in Christ through the sacrament of baptism
Rev. 2:18-29 - Thyatira - This city was known as a center for dying and weaving, and various craft guilds worshiped their own unique gods. Jezebel (v. 20) refers back to 1 Kings 16:31; she was a pagan who tried to entice Ahab to worship pagan gods. Verse 24 speaks of the deep secrets of Satan, a way of describing the Gnostic heresy. Verse 28 mentions the morning star, which is the light of Christ coming up through the darkness of the pagan world that surrounded this church (and also to personally overcome the darkness of unbelief in the heart of believers)
Rev. 3:1-6 - Sardis - This was another prominent, wealthy center of trade and a major crossroads for travelers. They have the reputation of being alive, but are actually dead inside (which would be an indication of religiosity without belief -
hey, christian1, is this who you think we are? If so, just come out and say it - you wouldn’t be the first). The few people who have not soiled their garments are those who’ve remained faithful to the baptismal promise.
Rev. 3:7-13 - Philadelphia - they’re praised for strength of faith with limited resources, and were persecuted by false Jews who saw these Christians as a threat. Their endurance (v. 10) is encouraged, and they’re told to hold fast to avoid losing their crown - once again, a crown of suffering (v. 11) that’s well-earned because of having suffered great persecution and trial from the surrounding community of non-Christians, just as in Smyrna.
Rev. 3:14-22 - Laodicea - also a wealthy commercial and industrial center. It was famous for a medical school that invented an effective salve for eye ailments. There was a spring of hot water that was pumped into the city, but it became lukewarm by the time it got there. The passage suggests some cures for spiritual lukewarmness, the malady that afflicted this church: buy gold refined in the fire (v. 18), symbolic of suffering; white garments (v.18), symbolic of the purity affected by baptism; application of ointment to eyes (v. 18), symbolic of the removal of spiritual blindness, perhaps through baptism; reproof and chastisement (v. 19), the pain of which is intended to bring the members of the church to repentance
So what does any of this have to do with the Catholic Church, sola scriptura, and determining a correct interpretation of scripture from that basis?
Any of my fellow Catholics have an idea of what christian1 could possibly mean with his call to read the information about the churches in Revelation?
(as an aside, why do non-Catholics always try to make us work so hard to figure out what they believe, when they could just cut to the chase and stop wasting everyone’s time?)
