Revealing Revelation: The Seven Churches

I have been studying Revelation lately. Here is a brief overview of the letters John wrote to the seven churches in the province of Asia after Jesus reveals himself to John.

Ephesus:
They have worked hard and endured hardships as a church. They don’t tolerate evil people, and have quietly suffered for Christ without quitting. However, they have “lost their first love”. They no longer love each other or God as they once did. God wants them to turn back to him and do the good deeds they did as new Christians. If they do not follow these commands, their lamp stand will be taken from its place among the churches. If they obey these commands, they will be rewarded with fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Smyrna:
They have suffered and have been blasphemed by false Jews whose synagogue belongs to Satan. God encourages them to not be afraid of what they are about to suffer. He says Satan will throw some of them into prison to test them, and they will suffer for 10 days. But the promise from God is if they remain faithful throughout their torture He will reward them with the crown of life. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

Pergamum:
This is the city where Satan has his thrown. Even still, God’s church remains faithful to him. They tolerate teachings 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. God warns to repent of their sin or He will come after them suddenly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth. To everyone who heeds this warning and repents, He promises to give a piece of manna stored away in heaven. He also promises to give them a white stone and on it will be a new name to which only they will understand.

Thyatira:
They love the Lord, and have shown patient endurance and steadfastness. And they continue to improve in all of these things. However, they are permitting Jezebel who calls herself a prophet, to lead God’s servants away. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and eat the food offered to idols. God has given her time to repent, but she will not turn away from her immorality. God says that He will throw her on a bed of suffering and whoever commits adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her wickedness. God will strike her children dead, so all the churches will know that He is the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person, and will give to each of us what they deserve. But He says to the rest of the church, who has not followed this evil false prophet, He will not ask anymore from them, but to hold tightly to what they have until He comes again. To all who are victorious, He will give authority over all the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will be awarded the same authority that Christ received from His father, and they will also be given the morning star.

Sardis:
They have a reputation for being a church that is alive, but they are really dead. God says to strengthen what little remains, which is almost dead as well. Jesus finds that their actions are not up to par with the requirements of God. He says to go back to what they heard and believed when they were new Christians. He says that if they do not turn to him again, that He will come to them suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. He says that some of the people in Sardis are not walking wayward and will walk with him in white garments. He says that all who are victorious will be clothed in white and will never have their name erased from the Book of Life. They will be called “Mine” before God and the angels.

Philadelphia:
This church has little strength, but they did not deny God. God says He will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue to bow at their feet and they will acknowledge that this church is who God loves. Because they have obeyed God, He will preserve them from the testing that is coming to the whole world to test who belongs to Him and who belongs to this world. God is coming soon. He says to hold onto what you have so no one can take away your crown. All who obey this command will be pillars in the Temple of God and will never have to leave it. They will have God’s name on them and will be citizens of His city- the new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven to earth. They will also have Jesus’ new name written on them.

Laodicea:
This church is neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm. God says that since they are neither hot nor cold, He will spit them from His mouth. They think they are rich and don’t need anything, but God says they are poor, miserable, blind, and naked. So He tells them to buy gold from Him- gold that is purified by fire, so they will be rich. He also wants them to buy white garments to hide their nakedness and ointment for their eyes so they can see. God corrects and disciplines all that He loves, so He warns them to turn away from their indifference. Those who are victorious will sit with Jesus on his throne and share a meal with him.