The Seven Churches of Revelation

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

In Revelation 2-3, John has a vision containing seven churches from his time.  It is some what counter intuitive at first since these churches are not around today.  However, taking a closer look at each of the churches makes clear the fact that each church is unique in its own way.

To the church of Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)

Christ gives a warnings to Ephesus in Rev 2:5-6: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

Here we see a stern warning to Ephesus: Repent and do the first works or the rock that makes you shine will remove His light from among you.  This warning is similar to the warning contained through the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17-20).  The father of the son only welcomed back his lost son because he had come to his senses and returned.  Likewise, Christ is telling this church to come back to their senses, lest, they too will be forgotten.

What are the first works that they must not forget?  Like Acts 2, the first works are the basic necessities of a Christian: joy in fellowship, prayer and thanksgiving, reading and meditating upon the Word, and evangelizing.  Are the first works all a Christian need to perform to attain the resurrection of the dead?  As you will see from the other churches, they are not.

Lastly, the Nicolaitans supported a doctrine of immorality and idolatry, but kept all else equal.  They were perverts of the Gospel.  Some interpret this as the Catholic church, others interpret this as gluttons, drunkards, and the like.

To the church of Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)

The warning (2:9-10):I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Christ is calling the Christians at Smyrna rich inwardly since by external appearance they seem to be in poverty.  Smyrna was also a community containing many Jews by practice.  However, the real Jew is the Jew that is righteous by faith in Christ.  Therefore, the Christians at Smyrna are under persecution from those that are not real Jews.  It appears that the Christians of Smyrna are missionaries of some sort that are living in poverty, under tribulation, and performing fruitful works.  They are rich in Spirit.  Their warning is to endure; if they endure they will receive their crown and their names are written in the Book of Life.

To the church of Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)

The warning (2:14-17): ^“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

The church of Pergamum were led by people that perverted doctrine and enticed the congregation to sin through idolatry and immorality.  This is similar to the warning to the church of Ephesus: hate the Nicolaitans.  These are those in leadership that pervert doctrine.

If Pergamum does not repent, the sin of the church will make the entire congregation guilty and God’s judgment will befall upon them – a “double edged sword” is the mouth of God.

To the church of Thyatria (Rev 2:18-28):

The warning (2:20-22): “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.”

Thyatria is influenced by false prophets that lead the congregation astray through immorality, idolatry, false teachings, and the ‘deep secrets of Satan’ (Rev 2:24)”.  Christ is calling this church to repent otherwise they will be repaid according to their deeds.  This is another way of saying the blood of the Lamb does not cover their sins.  To the churches that set direction based upon a prophets word, Christ tells us in Matt 7:15-23 how to tell if a prophet is false.

To the church in Sardis (Rev 3:1-6)

The warning: “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

The church of Sardis is dead, although they think that they are alive.  By dead, this indicates no judgment, no struggle, no persecution, etc.  The only person that wants everything to go right in your life is Satan.  God wants to refine us because His moral will for our life is sanctification.  The deeds of the Christians at Sardis are also imperfect and do not meet the standard that God calls of us.  This implies that the church of Sardis was probably at peace – everything was going well, they had a reputation of being alive, yet in reality they were fruitless and dead by God’s standard.

Christ warns them to wake up, otherwise his judgment will come upon them at an unexpected time.  Why?  Because God’s moral will for us is sanctification. In 3:4, Christ says that there are a few people in Sardis that have not “soiled their clothes” and will be dressed in white and will be called worthy.  Therefore, God is establishing a dichotomy: not all who say “Lord, Lord!” will enter the gates.

To the church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)

^{(3:8-10): “}I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”

This is the one church that does not have a warning.  Christ is telling them to continue to endure in their ways.  Though they are weak, they have continued to follow the stone that will crush (Matt 21:44).  God is also telling them that those who think that they are legitimate Christians, but are not, will fall down at their feet and acknowledge the fact that God has loved the Christians of Philadelphia.

Lastly, this is the only end times church that God tells that He will keep them from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the earth.  This is a reference to a pre-tribulation rapture.

To the church of Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22)

The warnings (3:15:19): “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

The Christians of Laodicea are lukewarm.  And because of their lukewarmness, they will be spat out of God’s mouth.  In other words, we are either hot, cold, or lukewarm based upon our deeds and Laodicea has lukewarm deeds (similar to Sardis) and will be spat out.  Laodicea has a reputation of being alive, but in reality their deeds are dead.  Furthermore, they are rich and have acquired wealth, but they do not realize that true richness comes from the gold that we acquire as God refines us through the fire.  God loves those whom he rebukes and disciplines.  In order to acquire the gold that comes from refining, it is a matter of our hearts response to acknowledge God.

Christ is calling the Christians at Laodicea to repent.  If they repent, they will acquire eternal richness that does not perish.

-Mark