Seven Churches on Trial details the challenges and tribulations Christians faced since the beginning of the church age (that is from the day of Pentecost (30AD) to our present times. These trials include lack of love, compromising with the world, sin, dealing with false Christians and their doctrine, persecution, persevering in faith, and weak to moderate faith. It is based on the appraisal Jesus conducted on seven historic churches in Asia Minor (now a part of modern Turkey). This appears in the book of Revelation chapters two and three, which is used as a model to further our understanding of what Jesus expects from His church.
This should be a standard approach for all churches and their individual believers past, present and future, regardless of denomination. They are measured with the same yardstick as the ones used for the original seven churches.
The events of history are repeated for successive generations (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The seven churches are no exception to this divine rule. Jesus said, “I am He who is, He who was and is to come” (Revelation 1:8). This book comprehensively analyses these themes, applying them throughout church history up to the present church movement and denominations.
The Corona virus pandemic of the early 2020s spearheaded the upturn in online church activities. One of the symbols for the pale horse rider (Revelation 6:8) is pandemics. But this was another opportunity for Jesus to test His church. It is a warning sign to get ready so that we will not be overtaken by “the thief in the night” (Matthew 24:42-44).
The book teaches churches how to strive for the best prizes and how to overcome its trials, and make itself ready as a Bride of Christ. Dispensationalists believe that one of the purposes of the seven churches is to foreshadow seven distinct epochs of church history from Jesus’ apostles to the Pre-Tribulation rapture. In other words, from the age of Ephesus to the age of Laodicea.
The problem with this dispensationalist view is that dividing church history into seven eras, so it suits the Asia minor church chronology, is at times inadequate and misleading and does not accurately explain shared global influences. For instance, the traditional acceptance that Smyrna was the age of persecution is quite incorrect because the present so called Laodicea era has witnessed more Christian persecution and martyrdom than at any time in church history. For Churches or Christians who encounter persecution today, the message to Smyrna would be a message to that church.
It is hoped, with prayers, that the reader will receive the best and most practical comprehensive outline available on chapters two and three of the book of Revelation, which is still relevant for us today.
The trial is based on our church's spiritual preparedness and perseverance. The story of the Foolish and Wise virgin in Matthew 25 describes the main difference between two types of Christians. The wise virgins allowed the Holy Spirit to fill their lives and the foolish ones did not. These foolish virgins, realising their error, wanted to make amends, but it was too late.
The foolish believers could not breach the realm of the spirit where the wise virgins now resided because the door was shut, and Jesus had disowned them (Matthew 25:12).
Many Christians tend to be person-centred rather than God-centred. They focus more on themselves, the people around them, and their immediate environment than on spiritual matters. This creates the dead Christians (Sardis types) and the lukewarm believers (Laodicean types). In addition, many born-again Christians have forgotten (or were not told) that their spiritual birth in this world (John 3:3-5) requires growth, a change of character (Galatians 5:22), a change of lifestyle (Romans 12:2), and righteousness (1 Peter 1:15; Matthew 5:20).