Introduction:
The Apostle John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
☆ Revelation 1:9...
"I John, who also am your brother (in the Lord), and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
And... John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day where he had an amazing encounter with the Lord Jesus.
John heard behind him a great voice like as of a trumpet.
The voice said...
☆ Revelation 1:12...
"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
John was given 7 letters addressed to 7 churches... seven letters from the Lord Jesus Himself.
John had to write down exactly what He saw and heard and then to go and tell the churches.
These letters we given about 60 years after the birth of the Church (which took place on the day of Pentecost.)
When John turned to see Who it was that was speaking to Him... he saw...
(and I'll give you exactly what the Scriptures say)...
☆ Revelation 1:12-16...
"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man (Jesus), clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt (encircled) about the paps (waist) with a golden girdle (belt).
(1) His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and
(2) His eyes were as a flame of fire; And...
(3) His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and...
(4) His voice as the sound of many waters. And...
(5) He had in His right hand seven stars: and
(6) out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and...
(7) His countenance was as the sun shines in His strength."
Keep in mind each specific feature describing Jesus [1 to 7]. He uses an appropriate feature in each letter when He addresses each church.
Back to the Apostle...
John totally freaked out with what He saw...
☆ Revelation 1:17-18...
"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last:
I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
John knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the One He saw, the One Who was speaking to him, the One Who laid His hand upon him was the resurrected Lord Jesus Himself.
Had not John often heard his Master say... "Fear not!"?
The 7 candlesticks... or lampstands... represent the 7 churches.
Lampstands are light bearers.
The Church is Christ's light bearer in the community.
The 7 stars represent the the messengers or the angels of the churches... (some say the pastors).
And note... that Jesus is standing in the midst (in the middle) of these churches... they are His churches... the Church He died and gave His life for...
Jesus is vitally interested in His Church... hence His personalized letters to them.
Some very interesting points to keep in mind...
■ Chapters 2 and 3 is the the second major division of the book of Revelation... "the things which are"... the state or condition of the Churches.
■ The letters have a well defined format...
• they mention a feature of the glorified Christ.
• they are addressed to the angel of each church. I like the thought that God has assigned a ministering angel to every church.
• they begin with "I know your works."
Jesus sees all with those "eyes like flames of fire."
Nothing gets past Him. He is so aware of what is happening in His Church.
• they give a word of commendation (+)
• they give a word of condemnation (-)... Jesus sees and knows what needs fixing. When He comes to Rapture His Bride the Church one day... Christ comes for a Church that is without spot, blemish or wrinkle.
• they all conclude with the warning, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches." The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the Church...
He is the anointing, teacher, comforter, guide into all truth.
• they give a promise to those who overcome.
■ A panoramic history of the church is given in these seven letters... from Pentecost to the Rapture.
[Not all scholars however agree on this.]
The amazing thing is this... the order of the churches in chapters 2 and 3 is very specific... and gives a prophetic timeline of church history from Pentecost to the Rapture.
Had they been in any other order, this would not have been the case.
The following dates are approximate...
▪︎ Ephesus... "loveless church"... 33 to 64 AD
▪︎ Smyrna... "persecuted church"... 64 to 313 AD
▪︎ Pergamos... "compromised church"... 313 to 606 AD
▪︎ Thyatira... "corrupt church"... 606 to 1 520 AD (Dark Age)
▪︎ Sardis... "dead church"... 1 520 to 1 750 AD
▪︎ Philadelphia... "missionary church"... 1750 to 1 900 AD
▪︎ Laodicea... "humanist man centred church"... 1 900 to ?
(This does not mean that in any given "church era" all the churches were the same.
Just as these 7 churches were present in John's day... they are also found in our day... in any day.)
■ These special "Jesus letters"...
• were for the people in the churches back then in John's day...
• are for all people in all the churches today... and...
• are for you and me as individuals.
■ In Chapters 4 and 5, John is taken to Heaven and gets to see and hear the awesome worship taking place around the throne of God.
There is no more mention of the Church.
And that's because the Church is in Heaven... it has been Raptured by Jesus.
☆ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18... ☆ 1 Corinthians 15:51-54...
Jesus' Bride... the Church... does not go through the terrible judgements that are to take place during the Great Tribulation.
☆ 1 Thessalonians 5:9...
"For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..."
*******
So... let us take a careful look at each individual Church.
What I will do is...
• Give a brief historical background of each church.
• Give the the letter Jesus writes to each church.
• Give a brief commentary on what Jesus said to each church.