Understanding the Seven Churches of Revelation Today

Revelation 2-3

2:1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks;

2:2 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars:

2:3 And have borne, and have patience, and for my name’s sake have labored, and have not fainted.

2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.

2:5 Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.

2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

2:7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.

2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

2:9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

2:10 Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life.

2:11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges;

2:13 I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

2:15 So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

2:16 Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

2:17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.

2:18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

2:19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.

2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works.

2:24 But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put on you none other burden.

2:25 But that which you have already hold fast till I come.

2:26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

2:28 And I will give him the morning star.

2:29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

3:1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.

3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God.

3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come on you.

3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

3:6 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

3:8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

3:10 Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.

3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.

3:12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.

3:13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

3:14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.

3:16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.

3:17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

3:18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

3:22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The seven churches of Revelation 2-3 represent seven distinct states or periods of the Christian church, spanning from the time of the apostles until the second coming of Jesus ChristEVRR124+2. The conditions described in these messages, particularly the final message to the Laodiceans, speak directly to the spiritual state and dangers facing believers today18MR 192.2+2.

The Prophetic Nature of the Seven Churches

The messages to the seven churches are prophetic rather than merely literal; while they were sent to local congregations in Asia Minor, they delineate seven successive stages of church history through the entire gospel dispensationSBBS 487.2+2. This is evident because the number seven denotes completeness and the book of Revelation is a prophecy of things that "must shortly come to pass" which extend to the end of time Revelation 1:1TT 306.4+1.

The Historical Succession of the Churches

Each church captures the spirit and character of a specific era:

• Ephesus (A.D. 31–100): Represents the apostolic age, characterized by original purity and zeal but noted for eventually leaving its "first love" Revelation 2:4EVRR152+1.

• Smyrna (A.D. 100–312): Signifies the "sweet-smelling savor" of the church during periods of pagan persecution, notably the ten years of tribulation under Diocletian Revelation 2:10EVRR152+1.

• Pergamos (A.D. 312–538): Marks the era of "elevation" where the church became popular and united with the state under ConstantineEVRR152+2.

• Thyatira (A.D. 538–1798): Depicts the church during the "Dark Ages" and the long period of Papal supremacy, symbolized by the influence of JezebelEVRR152+2.

• Sardis (Post-Reformation): A state where the church had a "name" that it lived but was spiritually dead, often associated with the period leading up to the great advent awakening Revelation 3:1EVRR152+2.

• Philadelphia (18th Century–1844): The church of "brotherly love" that characterized the great evangelical revivals and the Second Advent movement of 1844EVRR152+2.

• Laodicea (1844–Second Advent): The final state of the church during the time of the investigative judgmentEVRR152+2.

Relevance to the Church Today

We are currently living in the Laodicean period, which is the final state of the church before the return of ChristARSH November 13, 1856, page 13.2+2. This era is defined by specific conditions and a divine remedy:

• The Spiritual Condition: The Laodicean state is one of "lukewarmness"—being neither cold nor hot—characterized by a dangerous self-deception of being "rich, and increased with goods" while actually being "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" Revelation 3:17ARSH December 4, 1860, page 22.3+1.

• The Danger of Formality: Many today possess a mere form of godliness, quibbling over unimportant trivia while lacking a daily, living experience of the love of God in the heartCCh 67.3+2.

• The Divine Remedy: Christ, the "Faithful and True Witness," counsels us to buy "gold tried in the fire" (faith and love), "white raiment" (His righteousness), and "eyesalve" (spiritual discernment) Revelation 3:18CCh 67.3+1.

• The Individual Call: The message is not for judging others but for each individual to search their own heart, zealously repent, and open the door to Christ who stands knocking Revelation 3:19-20GCDB March 22, 1891, page 201.2+1.

If we prove true witnesses in these last days, we will heed this warning, flee from the wrath to come, and eventually stand before the Son of man in glory Revelation 3:21ARSH December 11, 1856, page 46.21+1. To remain in the church of God today is to remain in the Laodicean state but to arise from its lukewarmness through total surrender to the LordARSH March 19, 1857, page 157.6+1.