Seven Church's – an overview.

This is by no means a full study into the seven churches mentioned in Revelation; it is more of a taster in the hope that you will study them yourself. I ask you to study for yourself so you can be blessed with the special blessing promised in verse three of Revelation one.

3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

No other book in the Bible has this promise of blessing connected with it, which makes the book of Revelation worth reading and studying.

The seven churches are mentioned in the beginning of Revelation and set the tone for the whole book. It is a prophetic message for the church and the world; a view of what was, is, and what is to come.

The seven churches are located at the following places:

1. Ephesus
 2. Smyrna
3. Pergamos
4. Thyatira
5. Sardis
6. Philadelphia
7. Laodicea

The churches were real churches, as too were the letters which were sent to the churches, dictated by Christ to John. The letters were not only meant to be read in John’s time to the churches present then, but also today, and the messages are just as relevant and true today. So too are the warnings. Not only did God know how mankind would act in John’s day, He knew what we would do now, and using just seven churches showed us the error of their ways and ours, in a supernatural way. Revelation 1:17-20.

17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Why did Christ choose these seven churches, what was special about them?

In Bible times people and places were named for a reason; the name had a point, it meant something, and the churches chosen were no different. Here are the meanings of the names of the seven churches.

Ephesus – The desired one
Smyrna – Death, Myrrh
Pergamos – Mixed Marriage
Thyatira – Continual Sacrifice
Sardis – Remnant
Philadelphia – Brotherly Love
Laodicea – People or self rule

The letters,  as with many prophetic scriptures are divided into specific segments of prophecy covering times in history as well as the working of God’s will with man. I would advise you to read through each letter and write down what is said, promised and what will happen and you will see many patterns and divisions between the churches.

For instance, two churches Christ had nothing good to say about them, two had nothing bad to say about them, three were told they were doing well, but Christ found a fault with them. All, both good and bad, were told that whoever overcomes will be rewarded, so even the bad ones had hope.

When you read the letters you see a typical cross-section of churches when you think about them globally, but these were geographically quite close which shows that even when churches might be going through the same political and social changes and pressures, people react very differently. If we don’t hold to the truth, to the actual Word of God, then false teachings can creep in on the back of political and social views. Personal likes and dislikes can start to influence your interpretation of what Christ is saying. In each letter Christ tries to put straight the errors and commend the faithful.

But the letters go further; they aren’t just letters to the churches at that time but to the church through all the ages, that is from the church’s inception to its rapture. Below is the list of the churches but this time with their corresponding age when they existed at the time the letters were written.

Ephesus – The desired one - The Apostolic Church, the first churchs set up by the Apostle Paul.

Smyrna – Death, Myrrh - The beginning of the persecuted Church, the early church.

Pergamos – Mixed Marriage – The Roman Church and the first state religion under Constantine.

Thyatira – Continual Sacrifice – Medieval Church and the introduction of idolatry.

Sardis – Remnant – The Reformation Church and the introduction of denominations.

Philadelphia – Brotherly Love – The missionary or revival Church, where truth is preached.

Laodicea – People or self rule – The final apostate Church prior to the rapture.

Each Church through the ages lives up to its name; obviously in John’s day this wouldn’t have been obvious or known  but thanks to the ‘unveiling’ or Revelation as it is interpreted we can see the error of their ways and hopefully, before we too make those errors, put ourselves and the church straight.

The most important letter for us to read is the one to the church at Laodicea, which is directed prophetically at the last church. I say we should read this letter because it is the church today, the one which is now leaving Christ out of the meetings and has decided to go it alone. It is important to recognise and understand this and act accordingly. But we mustn’t forget the other letters, there are still lessons to be learnt from them all.

I hope this quick overview will set you looking into Revelation and the seven churches as a prelude to going though the rest of the book. Remember Revelation 1:3 and take ownership of this blessing.

3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.