The Seven Churches of Revelation Overview

John was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos when the Lord Jesus Christ told him to write a letter to the seven churches. Christian churches were scattered throughout the region in John's day yet he addressed only seven in Asia Minor. Most scholars agree that these seven churches represent the entire church through the ages which means that the church of Laodicea represents the church of the end times.

Jesus revealed clues to interpreting the scriptures in the first chapter of Revelation. "This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."

The seven lamp-stands characterize the seven burning lamps before the throne of God in chapter five. In scripture the number seven has always represented perfect completion. For this reason it is obvious that the seven churches John addressed in Asia Minor represent the whole church.

Even though the seven churches represent churches of different eras and the church at Laodicea mirrors today's church, all of the seven churches are relevant to Christians today. We deal with the same issue such as leaving our first love, allowing false doctrine to slip into the church, a zeal for works more than a zeal for God, and so on.

What Jesus said about them and to them is also true for us today. Studying the seven churches teaches us everything we need to know about what the Lord expects from His body, the church.

Ephesus:

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first."

Notice how Jesus says to them that He holds the seven stars in His right hand and He walks among the seven gold lamp-stands. We are truly in His hand and since we are His church and He is inside all believers we can be sure He knows everything that goes on in His church. Jesus said as much when He said, "I know all the things you do."

The church at Ephesus had apparently lost the tremendous love they first had for the Lord and instead became absorbed in the work itself. In other words, the service they performed in the beginning was done out of love for the Savior yet somewhere along the way they developed a love for the work, which was stronger than their love for the Lord.

This is something all Christians face at one time or another. When we are first saved we have such love for our Lord and anxiously want to please Him. Inevitably we sometimes end up enjoying the work and we do it, not to please Him, but to please ourselves.

The scriptures say, "do all things as unto the Lord," so everything we do should be done to please Him. Our love and devotion to Christ is more important than anything else in our Christian walk. He is our first love and nothing should be more important to us.

"Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first."

Smyrna:;

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: I know about your suffering and your poverty- but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days."

Among the seven churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia appear to be the most upstanding. Even though the church at Smyrna was very poor, Jesus said they were rich; unlike the church at Laodicea, who considers themselves rich but Jesus said they were pathetically poor. And even though the church at Smyrna was already suffering, Jesus said more was coming and charged them to be faithful unto death.

In the western world of today, Christians haven't been persecuted for their faith. Nevertheless, as the time of the Lord's return draws near, every Christian could be subjected to some kind of persecution. Therefore, the Church of Smyrna is a good example to follow.

"But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life."

Pergamos:

"I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city. But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching."

The church at Pergamos is said to be located where Satan dwells. Evidently, some of the church members there were allowing the doctrine of balaam to slip into the church, which involved sexual immorality and idol worship.

This is happening today as so many Christians are mingling with those who believe (and teach others to believe) things opposite of what God teaches. They sneak into our churches and influence vulnerable Christians, convincing them they're doing nothing wrong. The apostle Paul said they are poisonous and should be cast from the church because they work like yeast, which will ultimately permeate the whole loaf.

"Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Thyatira:;

"I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman- that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet- to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve."

The church at Thyatira seemed to be moving forward and gaining spiritual strength. But apparently there was a woman among the congregation who was following in the footsteps of Jezebel, seducing the members and thereby corrupting the church.

In the story of Jezebel, Ahab did nothing to stop her corruption. And since the letter was addressed to the leader of the church at Thyatira, many believe the warning had to do with the pastor's wife.

Nevertheless, Jesus had given her time to repent, which suggests that the church leader could have stopped her yet he didn't. We have pastors today who tolerate things within the church that should never be tolerated in God's house.

"But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (deeper truths,' as they call them- depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come."

Sardis:;

"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive- but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief."

The church at Sardis is said here to be a dead church. It had the appearance of life but it had lost its passion for the Lord. Many churches of today appear to be booming yet despite their outward appearance, the passion is missing.

Jesus is not impressed by outward appearances. He knows the hearts of all mankind. To be spiritually alive one must truly worship the lord from the heart- not lip service. A church congregation that comes together to worship the Lord with other believers is spiritually alive but the church whose congregation comes together to see and be seen is a dead church.

"Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine."

Philadelphia:;

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue- those liars who say they are Jews but are not- to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world."

The church at Philadelphia received a promise from the Lord to protect them from the time of testing that is coming upon the whole world. Any Christian would want to be a part of this church. However, it wasn't a blanket promise to the whole church. It was to those who obeyed and persevered.

The Jews were severely persecuting the church at Philadelphia but Jesus said they would eventually realize how wrong they were.

The apostle Paul, who was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, made it very clear that being a true Jew had nothing to do with nationality (Rom. 2:28) and everything to do with believing in salvation through Jesus Christ.

"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God- the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name."

Laodicea:;

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing! And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me- gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference."

The church at Laodicea is widely belied to represent the church of today. It is also believed that the "lukewarmness" began slowly creeping in just a few decades ago. For several years churches have been telling us we're fine- we're "locked in" and will automatically be accepted by the Lord when He appears.

Jesus asked why we call Him Lord yet don't do the things He says. Believing and accepting Him as our Savior is all well and good, but Jesus wants us to obey Him. We are to love others, especially other believers and help those in need. He also said we are to preach the gospel and reach out to the unsaved.

Conversely, many Christians have become lax in their devotion and very few make even the slightest effort to save souls- not even the ones in their own households!

Jesus said the lukewarm Christians needed eye salve so obviously those who are lukewarm are blind to it. Every Christian on earth should study the scriptures and evaluate their relationship with the Lord. The time for Jesus to return is close at hand. Remember, He said not everyone who cries Lord, Lord, would enter the kingdom.

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne."

"Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." This is not a suggestion. It is a direct command from the Lord Himself.