The Seven Churches in Revelation
John wrote Revelation to seven churches in Asia. Revelation, therefore, is a type of letter–though it’s also prophetic and apocalyptic. Imbedded within this book, John singles out the seven churches and gives each of them a direct message. We should not think that these sections are seven individual letters. No, Revelation is just one letter that spotlights each of the seven churches separately. And if, as I previously argued, the seven churches represent the universal church, then these seven messages are applicable to churches everywhere.
In the remaining space, I want to summarize each message to the seven churches. Before doing that, however, I want to highlight the commonalities between them. For example, each section addresses the angel of the church. Each includes some aspect of the Son of Man vision from Revelation 1. Additionally, each church receives either encouragement or rebuke. Finally, each church must listen carefully to the message and overcome if they want to receive the eternal promise. Consider the following chart:1
As I mentioned in a previous post, John lists the churches in the order a courier would take as he delivered this book–starting in Ephesus and circling his way around to Laodicea.
Ephesus
Ephesus was famous for its temple dedicated to Artemis (Acts 19:29-30). Moreover, Ephesus erected a temple and twenty-five foot statue in honor of Emperor Domitian. Romans all across the empire worshiped Domitian as if he were a god.
Christ reminds the church that he walks among the seven lampstands (churches). In other words, he knows their situation well. They should never think that he is distant or aloof.
Jesus starts by complimenting the Ephesians for their labor and perseverance in the faith. Furthermore, he praises their doctrinal fidelity. They have successfully discerned that some so-called Christians aren’t Christians at all. Rather, they are evil. Moreover, others have illegitimately claimed apostolic authority and the Ephesians snuffed them out. And we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Paul previously warned the church at Ephesus to watch out for false teachers (Acts 20:28-30).
Be that as it may, Jesus laments that the church has lost its first love. This phrase seems to allude to the fact that the church no longer has the same zeal for the gospel. While their doctrine might be technically correct, they don’t live it out in zealous love for God and others. As a lampstand, the church should be a light to the world. Instead, Ephesus’ lamp burns dimly.
This problem is serious. Orthodoxy should result in orthopraxy. Jesus warned that if they don’t repent and return to their first love, he will remove their lampstand. That is to say, he will remove his live-giving presence from them. And as a result, the church will harden and die.
At the same time, Christ admonishes them for opposing the Nicolaitans. While not entirely certain, the Nicolaitans most likely tempted the Christians to participate in idolatrous practices including temple prostitution. Artemis, after all, was the goddess of fertility. The church rightly hated this practice.
Finally, Jesus exhorts the church to listen to his message and overcome. If they do, they will eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God. That is to say, they will experience eternal life in the presence of God in what can only be seen as a restoration of humanity to its pre-fallen state.
Smyrna
Like Ephesus, Smyrna was a port city. Unlike Ephesus, Jesus finds no fault with them. Instead, Jesus exhorts the church to persevere in the midst tribulation, especially their financial poverty.
Their poverty was the result of not aligning with the beast (Rom. 13:17). After all, economic prosperity was only possible for those who participated in the Roman cult.
Moreover, the church faced the distinct possibility of imprisonment or even death. Apparently, the Jewish community in Smyrna reported the Christians to local officials because they didn’t want the church to have the legal recognition of Judaism. For a few decades, Christians enjoyed relative freedom to worship Christ because they were seen as a branch of Judaism (Judaism was legal in the Roman Empire). Jesus uses harsh terms for these Jews: “synagogue of Satan” and “the devil.”
The Christians will face tribulation for ten days which Jesus calls a “test.” That is to say, even though the Christians experienced evil, God was working through it (James 1:2-4). We should not understand ten days literally as numbers in apocalyptic literature are often symbolic. Rather, the point is that their tribulation will be short-lived. This promise was not that they would escape death. After all, he charges them to “be faithful unto death.” That said, when their persecution ended, they would receive the crown of life. We shouldn’t understand the crown of life as an additional reward beyond eternal life. Crown and life are appositional. In other words, the crown, or the reward, is life!
As the one “who died and came to life,” Jesus offers hope for the Smyrnans beyond the grave. They may experience persecution for the name of Jesus, but “the second death” (the lake of fire) will not hurt them.
Pergamum
Like the other cities, Pergamum was home to the imperial cult and pagan worship. They had temples dedicates to Augustus, Roma, and Zeus. It was also home to the cult of Asclepius, the god of healing, whose symbol was a serpent. One doesn’t need a Bible degree to see the significance of that symbol.
The Son of Man has a warning for the church in Pergamum. The two-edged sword protruding from his mouth will strike down anyone who does not repent of their idolatry. After all, he calls Pergamum “Satan’s throne” which most certainly refers to the imperial cult. Satan is the real enemy, even though he uses Rome to do his bidding.
Specifically, Jesus is upset that some of the believers have succumbed to the teaching of Balaam and the Nikolaitans –two similar groups. Balaam, of course, is renown in the OT for being a false prophet. At one point, he incited Israel to join the Moabites in their sacrifices and sexual immorality to their gods. God killed 24,000 Israelites for this practice. Now, the church in Pergamum is guilty of the same sins. Why would they do this?
The temptation was to fit in to society as well as avoid poverty. Eating food sacrificed to idols in the temples and honoring the emperor and other deities was common practice among the Romans. Failure to participate would lead to economic and social ostracism. Before it’s too late, the church must repent of these practices if they want to receive their reward. They should strive to be like those who “did not deny the faith even in the days of Antipas.” Antipas, whoever he was, would not capitulate, and they killed him for it.
What will be their reward for conquering? They are promised “hidden manna” and a “white stone with a new name written on it.” The manna–which is a clear allusion to Israel’s food in the wilderness–most likely refers to the fellowship meal one will enjoy at the marriage supper of the Lamb. It’s hidden, because it’s not visible to the human eye just yet. The white stones are possibly references to the white stones the Jews used as votes of acquittal in court. That is to say, the stone represents forgiveness of sins. The new name on the stone is most likely Jesus’ name representing the new identity of his people. Isaiah prophesied that Israel would be called by a new name (Isa. 62:2; 65:15). Here, Jesus indicates that the promises made to Israel are being fulfilled in the church.
Thyratira
Thyratira was not a major city, though it was known for its many trade guilds. The reference to Jesus as the “Son of God” is not arbitrary, for it counteracts the Romans’ belief that the emperor was the son of God, and it anticipates the reference to Psalm 2 in this section where the Messianic ruler would rule with “a rod of iron.”
The Son of God is the one with “eyes like a flame of fire,” for he is the one who knows all things and won’t allow sin to go unpunished.
Jesus begins by complimenting the church because their “latter works exceed the first.” That is to say, real sanctification is happening. Be that as it may, Christ rebukes the church for “tolerating” Jezebel. Certainly, toleration is one of the highest ideals in our postmodern society, but it was deplorable to Jesus. He tells the church they should never tolerate evil.
Not unlike the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, Jezebel promoted pagan idolatry, including sexual immorality to the gods. Jezebel most likely isn’t the literal name of the false prophetess in Thyratira. Rather, Jesus must be referring to someone who came in the same spirit as the evil queen of ancient Israel who led Israel to worship Baal (1 Kings 16:31). This prophetess claimed to be teaching “the deep things of God,” when in all reality, it was more like “the deep things of Satan.” Jezebel, like the false prophet and the harlot Babylon leads people astray (Rev. 13:14; 19:20; 18:23).
Jezebel’s temptation was real for the church because trade guilds required members to participate in pagan idolatry. And practically speaking, one could not engage in the economy without being part of the guild.
Jesus promised, however, that he would bring judgment down on Jezebel and her followers. They would get sick and even die unless they repented. This reference to “all the churches” is yet another reminder that this letter is written to the universal church.
Jesus also calls the church to conquer by “keeping his works till the end.” Then they will rule with him in the heavenly city (Rev. 20:4; 1 Cor. 6:2; Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:20). In other words, the saints won’t be bored in eternity. They will have exciting tasks to accomplish!
The final reward is “the morning star.” The star most certainly refers to Jesus (Rev. 22:16; Num. 24:17). That is to say, a heaven without Jesus is no reward at all.
Sardis
Ancient Sardis thought they were invincible because their fortress was situated high up on cliffs. Surely, they thought, no one would be able to scale those cliffs and defeat them. This pompous attitude backfired as twice in its history, enemies “surprise” attacked them by scaling the cliffs in 547 BC and 214 BC. In the same way, if they don’t repent, Jesus is going to come like a thief in the night, at an hour unknown to them, and judge them (Matt. 24:43; Luke 12:39; 1 These. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).
Sardis is the only church not to receive any commendation. Ironically, others thought Sardis was a healthy church. They had the reputation for being alive, but Jesus could see right through them. Jesus knew they were dead. They needed the Holy Spirit which is why he mentions the Son of Man “who has the seven spirits of God” in the introduction. If they wish to avoid final judgment, they must repent now.
While the church on the whole is dead, Christ recognizes that a few people in the church are alive. They are the ones who have not “soiled their garments, and they walk in white, for they are worthy.” Again, the clothing here should not be taken literally. Soiled garments refers to those who engaged in idolatrous practices (Zech. 3:3-4; Rev. 14:4), while at the same time white garments symbolize righteousness (Rev. 7:9). The garments analogy is appropriate since Sardis was famous for its wool production and making beautiful garments.
Those who conquer will get white garments, their name will never be blotted out of the book of life, and Jesus will confess their names before his Father. These three phrases are simply three different ways of saying they will receive eternal life.
Philadelphia
Jesus has no rebuke for the city of brotherly love (can’t imagine the same is true for the city in Pennsylvania). He writes to them as “the holy one, the true one”—a description that is used of the Father also (Rev. 6:10). Jesus is also the one who “has the key of David.” That is to say, he is the promised Messiah who has ultimate authority (Isa. 22:22; 2 Sam. 7; Ps. 89:28-29; 132:10-11; Jer. 30:9). Keys, after all, symbolically represent authority (Matt. 16:19). He has so much authority and power, that no one will be able to shut the door he has opened—most likely the gate into the heavenly city (Rev. 21:25-26).
While Philadelphia has “little power,” they have remained faithful. They have not participated in the imperial cult which was so prevalent in their city. Moreover, just as in Smyrna, the Jews were reporting them to local authorities—thus increasing their persecution. Jesus says that one day the church will be vindicated.
Because of their faithfulness, the Son of Man says he will spare the church from “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Several times throughout Revelation, John refers to the unsaved as “those who dwell on the earth” or “earth dwellers.” Here, I don’t believe Jesus is promising the church that they will avoid tribulation completely. After all, the churches John was writing to were experiencing severe persecution for their faith, and they have throughout history. Rather, Jesus says he will protect them spiritually as they endure persecution. That is to say, he will keep them in his hands and ensure that they persevere to the end (John 10:28; Phil. 1:6).
To those who persevere, Jesus says he will make them like a “pillar in the temple of my God.” Or to put it another way, the people will be part of God’s universal temple in the new heavens and new earth. The heavenly city, shaped like a perfect cube (Rev. 21:16), is just like the holy of holies where God was present. Those who belong to God will have his name written on them (Rev. 14:1; 22:4). A name inscribed on someone symbolically represents who that person belongs to and should not be taken literally.
Laodicea
The last of the seven churches receives a severe rebuke. Laodicea was a wealthy city known for its worship of Zeus. And sadly, the church seems to have participated as well. Jesus, the faithful and true witness, knows their faithless works. The church is lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. We should not think that being lukewarm is better than cold. Jesus says that he wishes the church was either hot or cold. And because they are lukewarm, he wants to spit them out of his mouth. After all, hot beverages like coffee or tea are good for drink as are cold beverages like water. Lukewarm beverages are gross.
The image is appropriate as Laodicea did not have a good water source of their own. Instead they had to pipe it hot water from Hierapolis five miles away which by the time it got to them was lukewarm. Similarly, they piped in cold water from nearby Colossae but it was likewise lukewarm upon arrival. That is to say, this community knew that being lukewarm was a bad thing.
Therefore, no one should think that “lukewarm” describes a genuine Christian. As if there are the “hot” Christians who are really on fire for Jesus and “cold pagans” who will spend eternity in hell—lukewarm representing Christians that are saved but not like those “hot Christians.” Not at all! In fact, Jesus rebukes them because they say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” And because he finds them so repulsive he wants to spit them out of his mouth. They’re like the Canaanites that were “vomited” out of their land (Lev. 18:25, 28). Does that sound like a saved person to you?
While not specifically mentioned, we can assume that this church has become wealthy because they participated in the Roman cultic practices. After all, not participating in the social practices of Rome all but guaranteed poverty. So while they are materially rich, Jesus says they are spiritually poor. Therefore, Jesus urges them to repent. Or as he says it, they should buy refined gold from him. They should store up their treasures in heaven and invest in his kingdom. They must become rich in Christ and poor to this world. In short, they must repent and turn to Christ.
Things had gotten so bad for this church, that Jesus says he hasn’t been allowed inside their church. He stands at the door and knocks! They had operated independent of Christ, which has resulted in spiritual bankruptcy. If they will repent, and place Jesus at the center of their church, they will partake in the eschatological banquet (Isa. 25:6; Luke 22:30; Rev. 19:9).
Takeaways from the Seven Churches
What should be our takeaways from the messages to the seven churches? First, the church is a mixed bag of good and bad. Some of the seven churches were more faithful than others. But on the whole, most churches had both good and bad elements. Like Jesus urged those churches, we must repent of where we have grown spiritually cold, where we have capitulated to cultural values, or to where we have lost our first love.
Second, the church was enduring tribulation for remaining faithful to Christ. Temptations exist all around us to fit in with the culture—especially to cave on sexual ethics and gender norms. Refusing to celebrate the culture’s values may very well land the church on society’s chopping block. The church must listen to the words of Jesus here. Jesus never promises to that we will avoid tribulation. Rather, he promises to preserve us in the midst of it.
Third, the church must keep its eyes on eternity. In each message to the seven churches, Jesus promises eternal life to everyone who conquers. He promises them things like the tree of life the paradise of God, the crown of life, white garments, hidden manna, and the morning star—all of which represents eternal life. Yes, the church will face persecution, but Jesus promises the prize for those who persevere to the end—to those who remain faithful to him in the face of cultural opposition.
Fourth, the church must remember that God is sovereign over the world and his churches. We will see this more clearly in chapters 4-5, but here we see that Jesus holds the angels in his hands and is in the midst of the lampstands. Jesus repeatedly warns that he is going to come and judge those who dwell on the earth who do not repent of their sins. As the sovereign one, he holds the keys of eternity in his hands. Only those who bow to King Jesus will receive their eternal reward.
In the next post, we will take a look at God’s throne room in Revelation 4-5.
