Christ' Message to The Seven Churches In The Book Of Revelation

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show his servants –things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1)  Revelation was written specifically for God’s servants, the Church of God. So it should come as no surprise that the Church itself is the primary topic of discussion in the first three chapters. Jesus commissioned His Church to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16).


In the book of revelation, Jesus symbolically introduces seven specific congregations of the Church as seven lampstands (Revelation 1:12, 20). This imagery reminds us of the seven lamps on the golden lampstand in ancient Israel’s tabernacle and later in its temple (Exodus 25:37; Zechariah 4:2). There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven Churches. It is obvious, that there were many other churches located in the areas where these churches were found (There were about five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches); but that God divinely selected seven and seven only, is logical that seven is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection.



Jesus commissioned His Church to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). In Revelation, He symbolically introduces seven specific congregations of the Church as seven lampstands (Revelation 1:12, 20). This imagery reminds us of the seven lamps on the golden lampstand in ancient Israel’s tabernacle and later in its temple (Exodus 25:37; Zechariah 4:2). Now, however, God regards the Church itself as His spiritual temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). Since seven often represents completeness in Scripture, these seven lampstands seem to portray a composite picture of the Church of God as the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). 

Paul explains that the Church is one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4). However, it has multiple members scattered throughout the world (Romans 12: 4 & 5). Therefore, these seven specific assemblies of believers appear to effectively represent the overall members of the Church. It appears likely that the letters sent to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have multiple meanings and applications. There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven Churches. It is obvious, that there were many other churches located in the areas where these churches were found. There were about five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches; but that God divinely selected seven and seven only, is logical that seven is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection. First of all, each church needed a particular message, and the spiritual state of each church corresponded precisely to the exhortation which was given. The selection of the churches was also governed by the fact that each church was in some way normative and illustrated conditions common in local churches at that time as well as throughout later generations. 

Church Historian Will Durant writes: “The influence of the Book of Revelation was immediate and profound. Its prophecies of salvation for loyal believers, and of punishment for their enemies, became the sustenance of a persecuted Church. Its theory of the millennium solaced those who mourned the long delay in the second coming of Christ. Its vivid images and brilliant phrases entered into both the popular and the literary speeches of Christendom.” (‘The Story of Civilization’: Part III, Caesar and Christ, p. 594, 1972). The messages to the seven Churches therefore embody admonition suitable for churches in many types of spiritual need. Along with the messages to the Churches were exhortations which are personal in character constituting instruction and warning to the individual Christian. Each of the messages given to the churches therefore ends in a personal exhortation with the phrase “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” 

“Many expositors believe that in addition to the obvious implication of these messages, the seven Churches represent the chronological development of church history spiritually. They note that Ephesus seems to be characteristic of the Apostolic Period in general and that the progression of evil climaxing in Laodicea seems to indicate the final state of apostasy of the Church”. “…The order of the messages to the Churches seems to be divinely selected to give prophetically, the main movement of Church history” (John Walvoord, 1989, pp. 51-52). The overall message is, of course, that Christ reveals the dominant strengths and weaknesses of the Church both in John’s day and through the ages. He plainly tells each congregation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). He reveals what appears to be a sweeping picture of the future of His Church until the end of this present age. 

At that moment in time, Christ’ true followers –the Church- were a persecuted and discouraged body. They longed for Jesus to return in power and glory to judge their adversaries and establish the Kingdom of God. They desperately needed encouragement and desired a better understanding of what their future held. And this is what the book of Revelation provided for the Church. 

Revelation, sometimes called the Apocalypse, is viewed by many as a mysterious book of strange symbols. Yet it has a clear and definite historical background. The apostle John, writing under the inspiration of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1), mentions where it was written and that it was addressed to congregations in seven Churches in Asia Minor. Seven cities mentioned in Revelation apparently formed an ancient postal route connected by Roman roads stretching from the port city of Ephesus to Laodicea. John received his visions while on the island of Patmos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey.

While on Patmos, John received a long and complicated vision from Jesus Christ (Revelation 1: 1-2, 10-20) with the instructions: “…What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea” (verse 11). Interestingly, Jesus used some of the characteristics of each city to spiritually evaluate its congregation and to prophesy the history of the Church up to His second coming. 

The seven spirits, seven golden lampstands, seven angels, seven Churches, seven stars, seven seals and seven trumpet sounds, are all signs of a complete rotation of renowned earthly events. There are certain numbers in the Bible that are very significant, and seven is one of them. Some call it the number of completion. Though these seven signs may literarily exist in the spiritual kingdom, however, the crucial thing to know is that they can only exist one at a time. 

Just as we have seven days a week on earth, of which there can only be one day at a time, these seven events can only occur one after the other and not simultaneously. The order is very important. Sunday, for example comes first in the week, before Monday, Tuesday, and ending on the seventh day, which is Saturday. 

Saturday and Sunday cannot co-exist simultaneously. This basic principle of a seven-day complete weekly rotation is the key to unlocking the mystery of the seven letters sent to the seven Churches, and it can also be applied to the seven seals, seven angels, and seven trumpet sounds. The seven cities mentioned in Revelations 2 and 3, apparently formed an ancient postal route connected by Roman roads stretching from the port city of Ephesus to Laodicea. 

John received his visions while exiled on the island of Patmos off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Since seven often represents completeness in Scripture, as earlier noted, these seven lampstands seem to portray a composite picture of the Church of God, the light of the world. Paul explains that the Church is one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4). However, it has multiple congregations and individual members scattered throughout the nations (Romans 12:5). Therefore, these seven specific assemblies of believers appear to effectively represent the totality of the Church. It appears likely that the prophecies of the Church in Revelation 2 and 3 have multiple meanings and applications.

There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven churches. It is obvious that there were many churches located in the area where these churches were found, but God divinely selected seven and seven only, and did not send messages to other churches that conceivably might have been more important. There were from five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches. 

It is understandable that the number of churches should be limited to seven as this is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection. 

At that moment in time Christ’s true followers were a persecuted and discouraged body. They longed for Jesus to return in power and glory to judge their adversaries and establish the Kingdom of God. They desperately needed encouragement and desired a better understanding of what their future held. They also needed to be put back on the right path spiritually. That was exactly what Christ did for them through these letters. During this time of extreme adversity, directly instigated by Satan, Christ reveals to the Church the framework of future events and reminding His faithful servants what He expects of them. 

He is particularly complimentary toward those who “have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary” (verse 3). He makes His point: “… The churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (verse 23). He appreciates those who “cannot bear those who are evil” and “have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (verse 2). 

Notice Christ’s promises to the faithful: (1).They will “eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (2) They will “not be hurt by the second death.” (3) They will receive “a new name.” (4) They will be given “power over the nations.” (5) They will “be clothed in white garments.” (6) They will be pillars “in the temple of My God.” (7) They will “sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). 

These promises, along with the assurances in the remainder of Revelation, must have strengthened and encouraged those early Christians. But there is an ominous side to Christ’s evaluation of His Church. He begins with the congregation in the city of Ephesus: “I know your works, your labour, your patience …” (verse 2). In the preceding verses Jesus evaluates the works and faithfulness of each congregation. 

He compliments the members for their strengths. But He also uses expressions like “Nevertheless I have this against you …” (verses 4, 14, and 20). He tempers His praise with words of warning. He refers to the active influence of Satan in drawing Church members back into the idolatrous and sinful society from which they had just escaped. To “the church in Pergamos” He says, “I know … where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is” (Revelation 2:12-13). He also reveals that some in Thyatira had strayed into “the depths of Satan” (verse 24). False teachers posed a major problem. The congregation in Thyatira is censured for allowing “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (verse 20). The congregation in Ephesus is also accosted by “those who say they are apostles and are not,” but are “liars” (verse 2). 

The Smyrna congregation experiences problems from “those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (verse 9). And Pergamos has “those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” He adds, “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (verses 14-15).  To the congregation of Sardis Christ says, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). This description is of people who are Christians in name only. Yet He adds: “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (verse 4). 

Those in Philadelphia “have little strength” but they at least remain faithful (verse 8). But the Laodicean congregation is described as lukewarm; “neither cold nor hot” (verse 16). Christ tells Laodiceans: “… You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (verse 17).

Significantly, Christ seven letters to the seven Churches in Asia reveals His Everlasting Covenant with the Church. For it is written: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah –not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke … I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No more shall every man teach His neighbour, and every man his brother saying, ‘know the Lord’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jer.31:31-34). The Philadelphian church generally worship God in the Spirit, and faithfully keep His commandments through the New Covenant of grace established by Jesus Christ on the cross.... that was the prevalent system of early Christianity, before imperial Romans started building large structures in order to more easily control people and indoctrinate them with apostasy. 

These many references and warnings tell us, both from external sources and from within the Church of God itself, that a corrupted form of Christianity was developing through the influence of the devil and those he managed to deceive. Peter had warned of this dangerous development some years earlier when he wrote: “But there were also false prophets among the people [of ancient Israel], even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1-2). 

Satan masterminded and manipulated an apostate religion that began to masquerade as false worship of God far back in the Israelite camp. The messages to the seven congregations in Asia Minor also seem to imply that a counterfeit Christianity would be one of Satan’s main instruments of deception across the centuries until the end time.