Revelation’s Seven Churches

Upon reading Christ’s assessment of Revelation’s seven churches, it is obvious that Christ’s analysis of these ancient churches is not a good report about them or of their leaders.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Key Takeaways

• Christ’s assessment of Revelation’s Seven Churches highlights poor spiritual conditions, aiming to guide today’s churches.
• The article presents a local and prophetic application, urging Christians to assess their spiritual health.
• Warnings of judgment are given to most churches; however, Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no condemnation.
• Christ approves works among several churches but rebukes the last church, Laodicea, for its lukewarm state.
• The article concludes that modern Christianity increasingly reflects the self-focus of the Laodicean church rather than the faithfulness seen in Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Overview of the Condition of Revelation’s Seven Churches

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 refer to “the things which are” that should concern today’s churches. This is because there is little time remaining until the Rapture occurs. (1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:7). 

In other words, this article has been written to help today’s Christians to determine if they have met the CONDITIONS necessary to:

"...be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to escape all these things that shall come to pass [in the forthcoming Tribulation], and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:36)

In this, Christ’s letters to the churches have a twofold application:

1. A local application to these churches, which reveals the spiritual and moral conditions occurring in seven local churches in Asia Minor at that time.  These church congregations were located along the western coast of modern Turkey.
2. A prophetic application to today’s churches leading up to the Rapture.  In this, Christ’s words reveal the (poor) spiritual conditions in five of these churches that may help individuals in today’s churches assess their own spiritual health.

Similarities in the Letters to the Churches

The order Christ addressed the churches are as follows:

1. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)
2. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)
3. Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17)
4. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)
5. Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
6. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)
7. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
8. In nearly all of the letters, there is a reference to one or more of the description of Christ in Revelation 1:12-16.
9. Each letter is addressed to the church’s pastor.
10. Except for the last church, each is commended for its “works”.
11. Jesus Christ rebukes each church except the second (Smyrna) and the sixth (Philadelphia).

Christ’s Approvals and the Condemnations of Revelations Seven Churches

Church	Approval Points	Condemnation Points
Ephesus	Rev. 2:2-6. I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted…thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes.	Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love – meaning evangelism.
Smyrna	1.   Works 2.   Tribulation 3.   Poverty, but rich in the Lord	No words of condemnation
Pergamos	1.   Works 2.   Holding fast to Christ’s name 3.   Not denying the faith.	1.   Holding the doctrine of Balaam 2.   Eating things sacrificed to idols 3.   Committing fornication 4.   Holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (church hierarchy)
Thyatira	1.   Works (James 2:26) 2.   Charity (Godly love) 3.   Service to God 4.   Faith (as a gift – 1 Cor 12:9) 5.   Patience (Rom 5:3-5) 6.   Increased works (John 14:12)	1.   Jezebel permitted to teach in the church 2.   Allowing her to seduce My servants (Christians) to commit fornication 3.   Permitting Jezebel to seduce Christians to eat things sacrificed to idols 4.   Tolerating Jezebel in spite of her impenitence.
Sardis	1.     Works (Rev. 3:1) 2.    Having a name or reputation of being a live church, but “art dead” (Rev. 3:1) 3.    Works not perfect before God (Rev. 3:2) 4.    Few godly members (Rev. 3:4)	No condemnation, but Christ’s promises to The Overcomer are: 1.   Walk with Me in white (Rev. 3:4) 2.  Be clothed in white raiment (Rev. 3:5) 3.  I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5) 4.  I will confess his name before My Father and the angels (Rev. 3:5)
Philadelphia	1.   Works 2.  A little strength 3.  Kept My Word 4.  Not denied My name	No condemnation
Laodicea	Nothing from Jesus to commend.	• Works (Rev. 3:15) • Neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:15) • Lukewarm and nauseating (Rev. 3:16) • Proud and self-satisfied (Rev. 3:17) • Ignorant of their true state (Rev. 3:17) • Wretched • Miserable • Poor • Blind • Naked (spiritually)

Assessment points of Revelation’s Seven Churches

1. Each of Revelation’s Seven Churches was commanded to repent except the second, fourth, and sixth. This means to stop sinning totally! In this, the fourth church was required to repent of its sin, but it was a free-will choice and not a commandment.
2. Warnings of judgment are given to all the seven churches except the second and sixth.
3. Each church was more corrupt than the preceding church except for the first, second, and sixth churches.
4. Christ approved the first church for ten things, whereas He condemned the last church for ten things.
5. Promises to ‘The Overcomers’ are those whom Christ personally knew in each church.
6. Each Christian had the same admonition to “HEAR“!!!.
7. John is told to write each case of judgment. Once one letter is completed, he continues writing letters to all remaining churches.
8. He is told to write about “the things which shall be hereafter” or the events that follow the Rapture (Revelation 1:19; 4:1).

Eighteen Blessings to ‘The Overcomer’

Christ promises to give to every Christian who becomes an ‘Overcomer’ of Satan and his lies and deceptions the following benefits (or blessings):

1. Eat of the tree of life (Rev. 2:7)
2. Be given the crown of life (Rev. 2:10; Rev. 3:11)
3. Escape the second death or the Lake of Fire (Rev. 2:11; Rev. 20:14)
4. The hidden manna (Rev. 2:17)
5. A white stone and a new name (Rev. 2:17)
6. Their part in the Rapture (Rev. 2:25; Rev. 3:11; 1 Thes. 4:16; Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:23,51-58)
7. Power (or authority as kings) over the nations (Rev. 2:26-27)
8. Complete defeat of rebels (Rev. 2:27)
9. The Morning Star (Rev. 2:28)
10. Walk with Christ in white raiment (Rev. 3:4-5)
11. Name eternally written in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5; Rev. 22:18-19)
12. Jesus Christ will mention the Christian’s name before God (Rev 3:5).
13. The Christian will be a pillar in God’s temple (Rev. 3:12)
14. The Christian will be eternally abiding with God (Rev. 3:12)
15. God’s name written upon the Christian (Rev. 3:12)
16. Name of the New Jerusalem written upon him (Rev. 3:12)
17. New name of Christ written upon him (Rev. 3:12)
18. The Christian will be given an eternal throne and kingdom in Christ’s kingdom (Rev. 3:21; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 22:4-5)

It seems from comparing today’s churches with Christ’s assessment of Revelation’s seven churches that Christianity has become more self-focused rather than Christ-focused. If one examines the list of promises (or blessings) above, it seems that most modern churches have become more like the Church at Laodicea rather then those at Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Things to ponder

• Have you read what the True Church of Jesus Christ should be like? If not, click here.
• What do you think of this article?
• Do you have any comments?
• Feel free to ask a question.
• Have you seen any street evangelism like this before?

Invitation

I encourage you to share this article with your pastor and your trusted church members to determine for yourself whether the claims in this article are true or not.

On the contrary, if this article has caused you any concern about your Christian faith, feel free to post a comment or question in the Comments box below.

If you prefer to ask me a private question, feel free to contact me using my website’s Contact form.

Alan Manson
A Disciple of Jesus Christ
Retired engineer
Australia