The seven churches of Revelation are found in Asia Minor. They were located along known travel routes. Jesus communicated to these seven churches both good and bad about their spiritual condition. The following analysis is very brief. Many books have been written on the seven Churches of Revelation. But in this article we offer a very brief synopsis of each of the church’s concerns. There are plenty of applications for us today. Please consider what Jesus had to say to the seven Churches of Revelation.

1. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1–7) The city was large and known for trade and commerce.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ blueletterbible.org 

1. Positive: Its deeds, toil, and perseverance were good. It did not tolerate evil. It tested those who called themselves apostles but were not. It hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, perhaps related to the false apostles.
2. Negative: The people in Ephesus had left their first love – devotion to Christ. The Lord called them to repentance and to do the deeds they did at first. He was coming to them to judge them.
3. Application: It is good to be doctrinally aware and examine people’s teachings. But that is not enough. Devotion to Christ is more important. Make sure that you are developing your prayer life, study life, and relationship with Christ. After all, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9).

---

2. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8–11)  The city was known for the presence of many Jews

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’” blueletterbible.org 

1. Positive: They endured tribulation and poverty and resisted the blasphemy of the false Jews in the area.
2. Negative: The devil is going to persecute them. Be faithful even to death.
3. Application:  We are to endure the suffering that comes to us (Phil. 1:29). We have an eternal reward for our enduring difficulties, whether they be physical or spiritual. Our hope is in Christ and the eternal salvation He has purchased for us.  God says, “…“I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU…” (Heb. 13:5).

---

3. Pergamum (Revelation 2:12–17)  The city was known for paganism

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: 13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some 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 acts of immorality. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’” blueletterbible.org/

1. Positive: They did not deny their faith during persecution.
2. Negative: They suffered from moral compromise. They held to the teaching of Balaam, who stumbled Israel and promoted idolatry. Jesus called them to repentance.
3. Application: This tough message deals with avoiding moral compromise and the need for repentance. If we do not turn from our apathy and focus on things other than God, He may very well discipline us. “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10).

---

4. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18–29) The was city known for its wealth

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: 19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” blueletterbible.org

1. Positive: They have good deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance. They have increased in good deeds.
2. Negative: It tolerates the woman Jezebel, the false prophetess, who leads them to immorality (porneia), false gods. Will be judged with pestilence, unless they repent.
3. Application:  Good deeds are what God wants from us, among other things. But, we are not to compromise. We are to avoid sexual immorality (adultery, fornication, pornography, etc.) God requires our holiness before Him. “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).

---

5. Sardis (Revelation 3:1–6)

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” blueletterbible.org

1. Positive: A few in that church have not soiled their garments, they will walk with Christ.
2. Negative: They are dead spiritually. Strengthen the things that remain. They were ignoring the first things they had learned. They were worldly.
3. Application: We must be constantly alert so as not to be deceived by the devil or our flesh. We should strengthen what remains in us spiritually. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

---

6. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7–13)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” blueletterbible.org

1. Positive: They kept Jesus’ word and did not deny His name. Those who claim to be Jews but are not will bow at their feet. He will keep them from the hour of testing.
2. Negative: None
3. Application:  We should learn from the faithfulness of the Philadelphia church to God. He rewarded them, and He will reward you, too, as you remain faithful to Him. It may not be easy, but it is always good.  “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

---

7. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14–22)

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”” blueletterbible.org

1. Positive: None.
2. Negative: They were neither hot nor cold. They were Lukewarm. Jesus warned that He would spit them out of His mouth. They boasted of their riches but were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. He warned them to seek Him and called them to repent.
3. Application: We are to be dedicated to God through Christ. We ought not to be ambivalent in our attitude and dedication to Jesus. Live for Him, or don’t! Do not use God’s word to justify seeking the prosperity and comfort of the world. “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me’” (Luke 9:23).

 

Related Articles