How exciting! Your church is getting a letter from John the Revelator. John was exiled to Patmos and Jesus visited him and gave him seven specific messages to each of the seven churches. The letters to the seven churches in Revelation were not touchy-feely words. These letters were swift, succinct, and in many ways corrective.
Jesus typically provided compliments and then issued corrections. Let’s dig into each of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation.
#1 Ephesus — Abandoned Your First Love
The church in Ephesus is the only church to have a Biblical epistle and a letter from Jesus through St. John. Yes, there is mention of the letter to the church in Laodicea by Paul but it didn’t make it into the canon.
Timothy pastored the church in Ephesus. It was in great standing for quite some time. However, when Jesus visited John there were some corrections necessary.
Positives
The church in Ephesus was hard working, had great patience. and did not tolerate evil. Despite hardships they did not grow weary.
Revelation 2:2-3 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.
They also hated the practices of the Nicolaitans. Jesus hated that too. Here’s an article that details some of the issues with this sect.
Revelation 2:6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Negatives
The Ephesians left their first love.
Revelation 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Spiritual drift happens and often goes unnoticed. We must guard our hearts and protect our first love.
There are thousands of sermons about “leaving our first love”. Some are good and others are works-based nonsense.
Don’t allow your first love to devolve into a task list.
#2 Smyrna — Suffering Persecution
The church of Smyrna is somewhat in the middle. Jesus did not praise them and did not correct them. They were in the middle of a difficult and trying time. The Word of the Lord to them was challenging and I’m certain it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Positives
Jesus promised the faithful of Smyrna a victor’s crown. Those who overcome, according to Jesus, will not be hurt by the second death.
Negatives
Suffering, tribulation, and prison were inevitable to the church in Smyrna.
#3 Pergamum — Hold To Teachings of Balaam
The church in Pergamum was placed in the midst of a satanic stronghold. Their location was in a terrible location. Jesus understood that and gave them credit for that difficulty. He commended them for keeping the faith even when others were being martyred.
However, He also corrected them.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Balaam is mentioned in the book of Numbers. He was hired to curse the family of God. God warned him yet he continued to play “Let’s Make A Deal”.
Ultimately he was rebuked by a donkey.
Some in the Pergamum church rejected the apostolic instruction from the Council in Jerusalem. The apostles boiled down the expectations for Gentile converts to a few commands.
Acts 15:19-20 Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Sexual immorality has always been a big deal. Here’s an article that I wrote about sex not long ago. It’s not all bad.
Positives
They held firmly to the Name of Christ during a time of martyrdom.
Negatives
Some in the church held to the teachings of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans. Jesus would wage war against them by the Sword of His mouth if they did not repent.
That sounds quite serious to me.
#4 Thyatira — Jezebel Tolerance
The small letter to the church in Thyatira is brutal. This church is in terrible shape and received extreme admonishment from Jesus.
Those in Thyatira are similar to those in Pergamum — violating apostolic instruction found in the 15th chapter of Acts.
What else was going wrong?
Jesus had utter disdain for Jezebel and those in Thyatira tolerated her.
Revelations 2:21–23 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. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Jesus referred to her teachings as the so-called deep secrets of satan.
Positives
Jesus commended their deeds, love, faith, perseverance, and service. Apparently, that’s insufficient in many instances.
When a wobbly-kneed preacher elevates “love thy neighbor” to an idol your Spidey senses should be activated.
Negatives
It’s easy to “do good stuff” and still be 100% lost, spiritually speaking. The problem with deception is that it is deceiving.
#5 Sardis — Alive But Dead
Reputation is what others think about us. What they believe could be true or it could be just smoke and mirrors. The church in Sardis had a great reputation. Jesus couldn’t care less about a false reputation.
Revelation 3:1-2 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 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 found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
Many churches in the United States are similar to Sardis. They have a celebrity pastor. Worship consists of navel-gazing songs about the biggest idol in America — self.
Lemmings are packed into multiple cookie-cutter “services” each Sunday. Biblical discipleship is non-existent. The band is rocking, though!
Positives
A few of the church members had not yet soiled their clothes. There was still time to repent of their sin.
Negatives
Their work was incomplete. They thought that they were alive but Jesus clearly stated that was fake news — this church is dead. If they did not wake up Jesus would come like a thief.
This situation is dire.
#6 Philadelphia — Kept Christ’s Commandments
The church of Philadelphia hit a spiritual grand slam. There was no correction from the master for this church.
Positives
They kept His word and remained faithful to His name despite their loss of strength. The synagogue of satan would have to come and fall at the feet of the Philadelphians. The church was also exempt from the hour of trial that was coming upon the entire world.
Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Negatives
None. Bam!
#7 Laodicea — The Lukewarm Church
The church of Laodicean and the Ephesian church seem to be the two that are mentioned the most by pastors. It’s pretty simple to roast the sheep on leaving their first love and being lukewarm. Regrettably, many of these sermons are simply works-based cheerleading.
Revelation 3:17 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.
Jesus did not mince words. The Laodiceans were wealthy and boasted about it. Jesus let them know that they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Again, not a warm & fuzzy prophetic utterance.
Jesus loved this church! He told them that He rebuked those He loved. The clock was ticking, however. Repentance must come quickly.
The Letters To The Seven Churches — Summary
Many preachers overthink the Revelation of Jesus Christ. They make an already complex book even more complicated. Honestly, I don’t know if these seven churches are past or future. They could be prophetic or apocryphal.
I simply stuck close to the text and offered a few nuggets.
Enjoy!