SECOND INTERPRETATION IS NOT ONLY HISTORICAL BUT ALSO TYPICAL

The Second Interpretation is That These Seven Churches are not only Historical, but also Typical

The number of churches listed as the recipients of these letters is clearly indicated as seven. To these seven selected churches the Lord directs this revelation so far as its immediate destination is concerned.

But there were more churches than seven even in the province of Asia. Hieropolis and Colossae also were located in the province of Asia (Col. 1:2; 4:13, 15-16). There were doubtless others of which we have no record beyond the nine. But it is true that outside the province of Asia there may have been hundreds.

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis."
"Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house." "And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea."

The number seven, then, must be used in some ideal sense such as the number of perfection which pervades the book of Revelation. This particular sense must be that of type.

Seven spiritual types of individual Christians constitute the complete number of spiritual breadth.

This number of spiritual types or kinds can be found in every congregation. When any one spiritual type increases until the number is decidedly in the majority, that congregation may be said to be of that type. Since there were just seven different types of congregations, there was no need to write letters to more than the seven churches listed.