Atticus Finch
Member
I have a Biblical question from the Book of Revelation that has perplexed me for some time. The question relates to Christ's letters to the Seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. I have not been able to find the answer to this question in commentaries or online research. The question may seem "minor" or inconsequential to some, but I believe NOTHING is minor or inconsequential in God's Word. So here it is (and hoping someone may have a constructive explanation to my question): In His letters to the Seven churches, Christ's concludes each of the Seven letters to the churches the SAME way: "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches". Christ then immediately states His promise (s) to the individual OVERCOMERS of each of the seven churches (and Christ's promises to the Overcomers of each of the seven churches are quite DIFFERENT from one another!). Well, that is the format and sequence found in the first THREE (3) churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos). Beginning with Thyatira (the 4th church), and continuing with Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, the format to the ending of Christ's letters is inexplicably REVERSED. Christ concludes His letters to the last four (4) churches (Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) first by stating His PROMISES to the Overcomers in those four (4) churches, and then followed by the conclusion, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches." My question is (and I have not found anyone who even ADDRESSES the issue, much less answers it!) WHY did Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost REVERSE the order of the ENDING of His letters in His letter to the final four churches of Revelation? i.e, "He that has an ear, etc" FOLLOWS His promises to the overcomers in His letters to the final four (4) churches; whereas in His letters to the first three (3) churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos) the salutation, "He that has an ear, etc." PRECEDES His promises to those churches? As mentioned above, there is NOTHING minor or inconseqential in God's Word. Every jot, tittle, comma, and word in Scripture has been placed there for a REASON by the Holy Ghost (mankind, in his various translations over the centuries, has greatly messed that up, but that's a whole separate post). I am just very curious WHY the Holy Ghost REVERSED the order to the ending of Christ's letters to the seven churches between the third and fourth church? Any insights or revelation (no pun intended) would be much appreciated!