The Recapitulation of OT

History
in the letters to the seven
churches

Dr. Jean-Luc Murk, MD

VUmc, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
The Recapitulation of OT
History
in Revelation’s seven letters
 I The Seven Letters and the OT
 II The Seven Letters and Rev. 12 -
14
 Ephesus
5
Smyrna

Pergamos
4
Thyatira
3
2
Sardis
1 6
Philadelphia
7 Laodicea
 Ephesus
5
Smyrna

Pergamos
4
Thyatira
3
2
Sardis
1 6
Philadelphia
7 Laodicea
Pergamos
 Pergamos

Christ with Sword Lord’s Angel with

(mouth) Sword (hand)

Teaching of Balaam Teaching of Balaam

Idolatry Idolatry
Judgment by Sword Judgment by Sword
Hidden Manna Manna
Israel in Desert
Name in Stone Ten Commandments
Pergamos -
Conclusions
 The letter forms a coherent unity
– Introduction, body of the text and
promise all relate to each other
 The letter has a single OT theme:
– Israel’s encounter with Balaam in
the desert
 The OT theme is adapted to the
circumstances of the church
 Correlation with OT: thematic >
verbal
 Ephesus

Pergamos
Israel in Desert
 Ephesus
Genesis 3
Christ walks
God walks
among lampstands
in Eden
& Seven Stars
False Apostles Serpent
First Love Lost Fall: Distance
Remove Lamp? Out of Eden
Get fruit of Lost access to
Tree of Life Tree of Life &
in Paradise Paradise
 Ephesus
Fall
Smyrna

Pergamos
Israel in Desert
 Smyrna
Christ:
First, Last,
dead but now Alive
Afflictions “I know your afflictions”
10 days Persecution
“I know your afflictions”
Crown of Life LXX Exodus 3:7,9; 4:31

No second death
 Smyrna
Exodus 3
Christ:
Lord’s Angel:
First, Last,
I AM
dead but now Alive
Afflictions Afflictions
Oppression until
10 days Persecution
appointed time
Crown of Life Deliverance

No second death No judgment

Smyrna
 Additional parallels:
– God’s people living in pagan city /
country
– Oppression by pagan rulers
 Ephesus
Fall
Smyrna
Oppression Egyp
Pergamos
Israel in Desert
Thyatira
 Thyatira
Daniel 10
Christ: Michael:
Eyes like Fire Eyes like Fire
Feet like Brass Feet like Brass
Jezebel’s influence Jezebel’s influence
Her punishment Her punishment
Death allies & children Death allies & children

Power over heathens Power over heathens

Morningstar
Thyatira
Jezebel = Babylon?
 Jezebel  Babylon (in
– Prostitute (3:21) Revelation)
– Children (3:23) – Prostitute (17:1)
– Tempts (3:30) – Children (17:5)
– Judged by Christ – Tempts (18:24)
(3:22) – Judged by Christ
(17:14)
Thyatira
Jezebel = Babylon?
 OT Jezebel  Babylon (in
– Reigned by Ahab Revelation)
(I Kings 21:7,8) – Reigns by beast and
– Persecution of worldly kings
prophets (17:3,18)
– Persecution of Elijah – Persecution of saints
for 3.5 years (Jam – Persecution of Elijah
5:17) for 42 months
(11:2,3,7,8)
Thyatira - Conclusions
 Jezebel might represent Babylon
– different perspective:
outside ~ within the church
 Vision of Michael (Daniel 10-12):
to affirm power over Satan and
Babylon
 Ephesus
Fall
Smyrna
Oppression Egyp
Pergamos
Israel in Desert
Thyatira
Apostacy & Exile
Sardis
 Sardis
Zechariah
Christ has 3
Seven Spirits &
Seven stars
Not Alive but Dead High-priest Joshua:
Filthy Garments Filthy Garments
Call to Repentance Call to repentance
Some walk with Christ

White Clothes White Clothes

Stay in Book of Life
Sardis
 “Revelation 5:6 He had seven horns
and seven eyes, which are the seven
spirits of God sent out into all the
earth.”

 “Zechariah 3:9 There are seven eyes

on that one stone …' says the LORD
Almighty'.

 “Zechariah 4:10 These seven are the

eyes of the LORD, which range
throughout the earth.
 Sardis
Zechariah
Christ has 3
Lord’s Angel,
Seven Spirits & Stone with
Seven stars Seven Eyes
Spiritually Dead High-priest Joshua:
Filthy Garments Filthy Garments
Call to Repentance Call to repentance
Some walk with Christ
White Clothes
White Clothes
Not deleted from
Book of Life
 Ephesus
Fall
Smyrna
Oppression Egyp
Pergamos
Israel in Desert
Thyatira
Apostacy & Exile
Sardis
Return Exile 1
Philadelphia
 Philadelphia
Isaiah 45

Christ: Holy, True,

God: Holy (45:11)
Key of David
Christ opens door God opens doors (45:1)
Church is weak Israel is weak
Enemies will fall down Enemies will fall down
Saved in Tribulation
Place in Temple
Name of God & Christ
Name Jerusalem
 Philadelphia
Revelation 3:12 Revelation 7:3
Him who overcomes I 144,000:
will make a pillar “put a seal on the foreheads
in the temple of my of the servants of our God.”
God…
Revelation 14:1
Then I looked, and there
before me was the Lamb,
I will write on him the
name of my God and standing on Mount Zion, and
with him 144,000 who had
the name of the city of his name and his Father's
my God, the new name written on their
Jerusalem… foreheads.
and I will also write
on him my new name.
 Philadelphia
Revelation 3:12 Isaiah 56:5,7
Him who overcomes I to them I will give
will make a pillar within my temple and its
in the temple of my walls a memorial …
God…
I will give them an
I will write on him the everlasting name …
name of my God and
these I will bring to
the name of the city of my holy mountain and
my God, the new give them joy in my
Jerusalem… house of prayer.
and I will also write on
him my new name. Isaiah 56:6
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant
 Philadelphia
Isaiah 45

Christ: Holy, True,

God: Holy (45:11)
Key of David
Christ opens door God opens doors (45:1)
Church is weak Israel is weak
Enemies will fall down Enemies will fall down
Protection for church
Place in Temple Place in Temple
Name of God & Christ Isaiah
Eternal 56
Name
Name Jerusalem Jerusalem
 Ephesus
Fall
Smyrna
Oppression Egyp
Pergamos
Israel in Desert
Thyatira
Apostacy & Exile
Sardis
Return exile 1
Philadelphia
Return exile 2
Laodicea
 Laodicea
Christ: Amen Amen
True, Faithful Witness Isaiah 65:16 (LXX)
Beginning of Creation
Lukewarm, Naked
Gold tried in Fire
White Clothes
At the door: meal

Sit on
Christ’s Throne
 Laodicea
Isaiah 65:16,17
“I will destine you for the sword … for I
called but you did not answer. “

“Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will

do so by the God of truth… For the past
troubles will be forgotten and hidden from
my eyes.”

"Behold, I will create new heavens and a

new earth. The former things will not be
remembered, nor will they come to mind.”
 Laodicea
Christ: Amen Amen
True, Faithful Witness Isaiah 65:16 (LXX)
Beginning of Creation
Lukewarm, Naked
Gold tried in Fire Gold tried in Fire
White Clothes Maleachi 3:2,3
At the door: meal

Sit on
Christ’s Throne
Laodicea
Maleachi 3:2,3
“But who can endure the day of his
coming? Who can stand when he
appears? For he will be like a refiner's
fire or a launderer's soap.
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver; he will purify the Levites and
refine them like gold and silver.”
 Laodicea
Christ: Amen Amen
True, Faithful Witness Isaiah 65:16 (LXX)
Beginning of Creation
Lukewarm, Naked
Gold tried in Fire, Gold tried in Fire
White Clothes Maleachi 3:2,3
At the door: meal

Sit on Rule with Son of Man

Christ’s Throne Daniel 7:26,27
Laodicea
Daniel 7:26,27
“But the court will sit…
Then the sovereignty, power and
greatness of the kingdoms under the
whole heaven will be handed over to
the saints, the people of the Most
High.”
 Ephesus
Fall
5
Smyrna
Oppression Egyp
Pergamos
Israel in Desert
4
Thyatira
3 Apostacy & Exile
2
Sardis
1 6 Return exile 1
Philadelphia
Return exile 2
7 Laodicea
End-time Judgment
Revelation 12 -14
12:1-4Dragon vs Woman Ephesus
Genesis 3 Fall
12:5 Dragon vs Male Child Smyrna
Egypt, Herod Egypt
“Revelation 2:8-9
These are the words of him who is
the First and the Last,
who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions…”
12:1-4Dragon vs Woman Ephesus
Genesis 3 Fall
12:5 Dragon vs Male Child Smyrna
Egypt, Herod Egypt
12:6 Woman to Desert Pergamos
Israel in Desert Balaam
12:7-9Dragon vs Michael Thyatira
Michael
:10-16Woman to Desert Jezebel
12:17-Dragon vs Offspring Sardis
13:8 Book of Life Book of Life
“Zechariah 3:2
Is not this man a burning stick
snatched from the fire?”
12:1-4Dragon vs Woman Ephesus
Genesis 3 Fall
12:5 Dragon vs Male Child Smyrna
Egypt, Herod Egypt
12:6 Woman to Desert Pergamos
Israel in Desert Balaam
12:7-9Dragon vs Michael Thyatira
Michael
:10-16Woman to Desert Jezebel
12:17-Dragon vs Offspring Sardis
13:8 Book of Life Book of Life
13:9- Sealing Philadelphia
14:5 Seal
14:6,7Judgment Announced Laodicea
Thank you for your
attention!