EXPLANATION OF THE SEVEN LETTERS

The Explanation of the Letters to the Seven Churches

The Magnitude of Church History: Many volumes have been written on church history, but these have not exhausted the story. Special emphasis has been given to certain periods, and volumes have been multiplied to tell the story in full. But never has every aspect and period been given full and satisfac­tory emphasis. This is due to the fact that men are a part of the stream of history and are unable to see it in its true perspective. But we are about to follow the grand sweep of church history from its inception at Pentecost to its glorious consummation at the coming of Christ. All of this is seen from the heights of God through the eyes of Lord of the Churches. And remember that history is HIS STORY.

The Method of Church History: The method of recording church history that is so familiar to us is literary effort after the events have transpired. Recently or remotely after the events have happened, the historian laboriously gathers material, carefully sifts it, and painstakingly records it for future generations. But we are about to peruse seven volumes of church history that were written before the events transpired, and part of it still remains unexperienced by the Church. No laborious, sifting, painstaking process was necessary to arrange this for the generations of believers yet unborn, for the author was guest to this moving picture drama of the age and had a reserved seat to the events as the Lord caused His Story to pass before him.

The Material of Church History: Multiplied are the volumes on church-history. They are many, and they are very dry. But before us are seven volumes of church history, covering the entire church age, and so compact and concise is the story that they can be compressed within two chapters of the Word of God. These 51 verses do strike off in bold lines every important detail, so pregnant with meaning that no man has ever yet exhausted its information, yet progressively through the years men have discovered that every detail has been confirmed by the actual unfolding in the life of the Church. These seven volumes do more than record the dull and dusty facts of ages long since past. They provide light for the way that lies ahead.

The Manner of Church History: Ordinarily volumes on church history are the records of one who is separated by clime and time from the period and people of whom he writes. It could be no other way, for history is the record of events that are already past. But this is not true of the history we are about to study. These seven volumes of church history are really seven very personal and very private letters. These are the final love letters of the bridegroom to His bride. He is one who inhabits eternity, and so His letters are ever fresh and vital. He is everywhere present so that no church cannot but feel His presence. He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.