The Seven Churches

¹ “Write this letter to the angel (messenger) 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 (churches). . . . ⁸ Write this letter to the angel (messenger) 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 . . . . ¹² Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword . . . . ¹⁸ Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze . . . .” Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18 (NLT)

¹ “Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars. . . .  ⁷ Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is Holy and True, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open . . . . ¹⁴ Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen—the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of God’s new creation. . . .” Revelation 3:1, 7, 14 (NLT)

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are the most popular section of the book because the teaching of these sections continues to apply to all churches today (Revelation 2:1-3:22). The seven letters deal with the same challenges of today’s church culture. The seven churches are symbolic of all churches because seven means complete, all-inclusive, and whole.

Revelation chapters 1 through 3 revealed the exalted and resurrected Jesus Christ (Messiah) ruling, ministering, and caring for His churches. Jesus is the Head of the church, and He is living and reigning (Revelation 1:18; see also John 14:19; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). As the Head of the church, Revelation chapters 2 and 3 reveal that only Jesus “knows” every church’s true internal condition, motivation, and deeds as He continually examines and shepherds each church (Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 23; Revelation 3:1, 8, 15, see also 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 7:9; Psalm 26:2; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 20:12; Romans 8:27). 

The true Author of the letters is Jesus and Jesus instructs the human author John to write these letters. Jesus intended all churches to read these letters and benefit from His instructions and encouragement (note the plural “churches” in Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22). Some scholars see in these seven churches various stages of church history from apostolic times (Ephesus) to the lukewarmness of the twenty-first century (Laodicea). Most biblical scholars believe these letters remind us that the exalted Head of the church (Jesus) “knows” what is going on in each assembly, and that our fellowship with Him and His Word determines the life and ministry of each local church.

There are several common features in these seven letters.

First, each of the seven letters begins with a personal description or designation of heavenly Jesus taken from John’s vision of Him in Revelation chapter 1 (see Revelation 1:12-16, 20). These glorious descriptions of Jesus unify the seven letters.

Second, Jesus tells the churches of their victory as “overcomers” against evil if they “hear” the letter’s instruction and remain continually faithful and obedient (see Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; Revelation 3:5, 12-13, 21-22; see also Revelation 12:11). If they overcome evil, the church will enjoy continual and eternal blessedness, life, and fellowship with God and His Son Jesus (Revelation 21:1-22:5).

Third, Jesus warned the churches to stay away from false teaching, false teachers, and false prophets such as the Nicolaitans, Balaam, and Jezebel (see also Matthew 7:15-20). These evil workers were inducing members of the church to compromise and engage in idol worship and sexual immorality (e.g., fornication, adultery, and other lustful offenses) (Revelation 2:6, 14-15, 20-21; also see Numbers 31:16; 1 Kings 16:30-33; 1 Kings 19:1-2; 1 Kings 21:25-26). Jesus provided a simple and practical method to recognize false teachers and prophets, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16, 20; Luke 6:43-44). True teachers and prophets of God will always have deeds, behavior, and actions of the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT).

Fourth, these churches were suffering persecution from the Romans and Jews because of their allegiance to God and His Son Jesus (Revelation 2:9-10, 13, 24; Revelation 3:9-10). Jews and Roman emperors such as Nero and Domitian directed bloody persecution against the Christian churches. Antipas was the first of many Christians who died because of their faithfulness to Jesus (Revelation 2:13).

Fifth, Jesus addressed each letter “to the angel of the church” and not to the church itself. Angels are very prominent in Revelation. The word “angel” means “messenger.” Scholars have long speculated the identity of the church’s angel. Some argue the angel was the church’s protective or guardian angel. Other scholars argue the angel represents church leadership, such as the bishop or the pastor.

Sixth, the Speaker and Author of the letters is the resurrected Jesus!

Seventh, Jesus acknowledges each churches’ strengths and weaknesses, and He makes a repeated call for repentance, faithfulness, and endurance (see e.g., Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; Revelation 3:3, 19). In Greek, endurance refers to athletics or training. Endurance requires activity and not passivity. Revelation consistently calls for endurance, allegiance, and faithfulness to God and His Son Jesus throughout the book. Jesus calls the church for active living and not passively accommodating, secular, and compromising with the world’s evil culture and immorality (see also Romans 12:1-2).

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 remind everyone that the messages of the seven churches are the same message to all churches today:  never stop loving (Ephesus), do not fear suffering (Smyrna), stay away from false teaching (Pergamum), moral compromise (Thyatira), spiritual deadness (Sardis), call for faithfulness and perseverance (Philadelphia), and lukewarmness (Laodicea).  

References

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Senior Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2016).

Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary –New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).