The Lord’s Messages to the Seven Churches

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

• These messages are for all of us - anyone who can hear.
• Notice that when the Spirit speaks, he speaks to and through the Church. Our job is to listen to the Church and to "think with the Church."

1. Ephesus (2:1-7) [refer to highlighted notes in texts.]

Name: "permitted, desirable, relaxing"

Christ is: He who has dominion over the whole Church and who lovingly cares for each of the churches.

Commendation: You hate evil and heresy, you are hard workers and patient.

Condemnation: You left your first love. ["first love" - their devotion had grown cold.]

• Nicolaitans—not well known; Ireneus reports they were lascivious libertines.

Promise: If you overcome, you will eat of the tree of life.

2. Smyrna (2:8-11)

Name: "bitter suffering"

Christ is: The Eternal One, whose Godhead is proved by his resurrection.

Commendation: You are faithful in the midst of trial and poverty; you are spiritually rich.

Condemnation: None

Warning: More persecution will come, so be faithful.

Promise: If you remain faithful until death, you will receive the crown of life.

• "synagogue of Satan" - not a reference to the entire Jewish people as though they were accursed and rejected (Rom 11:1-2, 25-29 – I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob’, and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.), but only those Jews who had set themselves in open opposition to Christ by persecuting his Church. see Nav. p. 44.
• "The second death" - eternal punishment in hell.

3. Pergamum (2:12-17)

Name: "height or elevation"

Christ is: The divine Judge, distinguishing between good and evil, meting out reward and punishment.

Commendation: You held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny the faith.

Condemnation: You have compromised with false teachers. [by participating in pagan ritual banquets and "sacred fornication" rites.]

Warning: Repent, or I will come quickly.

Promise: If you overcome, you will receive the "hidden manna" (union with Christ in heaven) and a "white stone" (a "ticket" to the eternal banquet).

4. Thyatira (2:18-29)

Name: "sacrifice"

Christ is: The Son of God, able to see into men’s souls and possessing strength and stability.

Commendation: You possess good works, faith, love, service to others and patience.

• "Latter works better" - they have grown in virtue (unlike Ephesus)

Condemnation: You have tolerated false teachers.

Warning: The great tribulation is coming - hold fast.

Promise: Overcome, keep God’s works and you will be given power over the nations.

• "Morning Star" - sometimes refers to Satan (Is 14:12), and sometimes to Christ (2P 1:19). Satan’s deception is most effective when he most closely resembles Christ.

5. Sardis (3:1-6) [see Taushev p. 92]

Name: "remnant, escaped ones"

Christ is: The One who sends the Holy Spirit into the churches to sanctify them.

Commendation: There are some who have not defiled their garments and are still worthy.

Condemnation: Your name signifies survival and life, but your church is dead.

Warning: If you do not awake and repent, you will not be prepared for my coming. Strengthen what remains.

Promise: Those who overcome will wear white garments and have their names in the book of life.

6. Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Name: "brotherly love"

Christ is: The Holy One (a name proper to God alone), the True One (he is faithful in keeping his promises), and the One who has the key of David (his messianic sovereign authority in the Church (Is 22:22,. Mat 16:19; 18:18)

Commendation: You are faithful, you have kept his word and did not deny his name.

Condemnation: None. [except that they are weak. But human weakness is no obstacle to God’s grace (2Cor 12:9, 10) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my ewer is made perfect in weakness. . . . for when I am weak, then I am strong."]

Warning: Hold fast to what you have.

Promise: You will be kept from trial and will be given a place of honor in the kingdom.

7. Laodicea (3:14-22)

Name: "voice or judgment of the people"

Christ is: The guarantor of God’s word, "the faithful and true witness," the cause and source of creation.

Commendation: None.

Condemnation: You are lukewarm and complacent; you claim to be rich but are poor.

• For the Smyrnans, poverty brought them closer to God, whereas wealth drew the Laodiceans away from God.

Warning: Be zealous and repent; sacrifice your worldly wealth for the riches of heaven.

• Their salvation will cost them something.

Promise: If you accept my love, I will place you on a throne and you will reign with me.

• God’s love is explicitly mentioned only for the Philadelphians and for the Laodiceans.
• V. 20: one of the most beautiful images in all of Scripture.