Seven Churches of Revelation

Seven Churches of Revelation

The Seven Churches of Revelation are also known as the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse in Asia. These major churches of the early Christianity mentioned in the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, are located in Asia Minor, present-day Turkey.

   John was banished to the Aegean islad of Patmos by Emperor Domitian around 90-95 AD. He was seized by the Holy Spirit and received visions from Christ instructing him to “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea” (Revelations 1:1-2; 9-11).

   These churches were among the early Christian communities in Asia Minor. They may have been chosen to receive Christ’s apocalyptic message because, geographically, they were located along an established trade route that brought together the most important parts of the province.

   In Roman world, letters were constantly transferred by the cursus publicus, the state mandated and supervised messengers, or by the letter-carriers of financial and trading companies. There was no general postal service; people who were not wealthy enough to send their own slaves as letter couriers had no other option but to trust these communication systems. For Christian Church, a safe transmission of the letters was necessary. Therefore they had to find their own messengers, and there is no doubt that they were Christians. Some of them were Epaphroditus, Tychicus and Silas...

All the letters have the same format and order. We can divide each letter into seven parts.

1-) Greeting: God greets each church and its angel. “To the angel of the Church in ………. write”.

2-) Identification: Christ identifies himself in relation to that church. In every of the letters to the Seven Churches he says “These things says”.

3-) Condition: The condition of the church is mentioned, with short description of what was happening in that community. In every letter Christ says “I know your works”.

4-) Problem: A certain problem in the community is mentioned, a challenge that they were facing...

5-) Counsel: He finds solution to their problem and gives advise how to solve it.

6-) Promise: He gives promise to the church. In every letter He says “to him who overcomes”.

7-) Closing: Closing is the same in every letter. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Sipirit says to the churches.”

In the the first three letters, to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos, the closing comes before the promise.

Ephesus

(The Loveless Church)

 

1-)  Greeting: To the angel of the church of Ephesus write.

2-) Identification: “ These things says, He who holds the seven stars in His right Hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.

3-) Condition: “I know your works, your labor, your patience and that you can not bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

“and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

4-) Problems: “Nevertheles, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5-) Counsel: “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 Nicolatians, which I also hate.

6-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

7-) Promise: “ To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Smyrna

(The Persecuted Church)

 

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church of Smyrna write.

2-) Identification: “These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

3-) Condition: “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.

4-) Problems: “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.

5-) Counsel: Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

6-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

7-) Promise: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death”

Pergamos

(The Compromising Church)

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church in Pergamos write.

2-) Identification: “ These things says, He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

3-) Condition: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

4-)Problems: “ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

5-) Counsel: “Repend, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

6-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

7-) Promise: “ To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

Thyatira

(The Corrupt Church)

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church in Thyatira write.

2-) Identification: “ These things says the Son of God, “who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

3-) Condition: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last  are more than the first.

4-) Problems: “Nevertheles, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

5-) Counsel: “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

“But hold fast what you have till I come.

6-) Promise: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works untill the end, to him I will give power over the nations-

“He shall rule  them with a rod of iron:

They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels”-

As I also have received from My Father;

“and I will give him the morning star.

7-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Sardis

(The Dead Church)

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church in Sardis write.

2-) Identification: “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:

3-) Condition: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

4-)Problems: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

5-) Counsel: “Remember therefore how you have received and hear; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will not know what hour I will come upon you.

“You have a few name even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

6-) Promise: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

7-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Philadelphia

(The Faithful Church)

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write.

2-) Identification: “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

3-) Condition: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

4-) Problems: “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

“Because you have kept My command to perservere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

5-) Counsel: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

6-) Promise: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My new name.

7-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 Laodicea

(The Lukewarm Church)

1-) Greeting: To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write.

2-) Identification: “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

3-) Condition: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

4-)Problems: “Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-

5-) Counsel: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

6-) Promise: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

7-) Closing: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.