The Seven Churches

(New International Version)

The seven churches described in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation is a mirror reflecting the modern "churches" of any date in history we may wish to consider. I used to think that this particular section of God's Word was written just for the churches of the period of time I was here on this earth. But, on closer examination, and much prayer for revelation by the Holy Spirit, I realize that these passages of scripture has applied to mankind throughout the ages. They were given to the churches named in the scriptures, but when we study the messages given to the different churches, we can see how they can be applied to the churches of modern time, and, in particular, to our lives. We are the temples of the Living God, and therefore, we are members of the 'church' that Jesus said He would build upon the rock.

Therefore, what God is saying to the different 'churches' in these scriptures, He is saying to us as individuals who profess to be His children. If we are to claim membership in the church that Jesus said He would build, then we must examine ourselves in light of His letters to the seven different churches. Let us begin.

To the Church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7)

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lanpstands; I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Can we read these passages and let them speak to us as God wants them to speak? Can we look at our lives and ask, How does this apply to me? If there is a message in these passages, it must be 'He who has an ear, let him hear...'

To the Church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

We may not have a lot on this earth, but just think of what lies ahead in Glory! As we lay up treasures in Heaven, we are rich beyond the imagination of this world. When we get our hearts in tune with the will of God, and seek to please Him only, our persecutions are only for His glory! If we will acknowledge that Christ died for our sins, and live according to his statutes, then we will not suffer the second death; for we will have buried our sins ( which is spirtual death) in baptisim, and risen to a new life.

To the Church in Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17)

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live - where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone wth a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

There are those in the churches who are not teaching what "thus saith the Lord." Too many times, we hear "I think" being used when the Word of God is being presented to us. We are so prone to add our little 'ideas' of what God means to say. If we are to accept the Holy Bible (whatever version we are reading or studying) as the Word of God, we must accept what is written as His word-to be acknowledged as He has spoken it. We do not take a simple math problem and say '2 + 2 = (I think) 3.' It is incorrect, just as saying

'I think God will judge everyone according to the book of life.' God has spoken, therefore, it will come to pass. We need more 'Thus it is written' and less 'I think' in the presentation of the Word. "I think' can give us false information and send us to Hell!

To the Church in Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-27)

To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deed. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets ( I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come.

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The calling will not get any easier, the battles will seem to get more difficult. This world is seemingly falling to pieces around us. But is this not the fullfilling of the prophesy as later related in this wonderful book of 'Revelation?' Do we not know that the war has already been won? Sin has been defeated, death is no more the conqueror, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has established eternal victory for all who will believe. He is telling us what we must do - 'Hold on to the end.' It won't be easy, but by His grace it is possible.

To the Church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)

To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have recieved and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Now is not the time for the church to 'go to sleep.' Satan is still very much at work in this world - in fact, even more so as his time draws nearer. Slumber may cause spiritual death, as we will be caught off guard and let Satan take what we have fought so hard for. His purpose is to separate us from the love of God and he is watching our every move, waiting for a chance. We must always be on our guard and the best way to do that is draw as near to the love of God as we possibly can through the study of His Word.

To the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens, no one can shut; and what he shuts, no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews thougfh they are not, but are liars - I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

God has the power to 'establish' things - He can make things happen! When He says He can 'open and no man can shut or shut and no man can open' then we can take Him at His word and believe that it shall come to pass as He has spoken. It is in His Word, and His Word cannot lie.

To the Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

He lets us know in no uncertain terms what He expects from us as His children. There is no 'half-way' point between Heaven and Hell. We can only serve one master! There is no 'in-between' child of God. We either make Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings, or we make known that we are unable to. He will accept NO other.

There is so much to gain and so little to loose. Why can we not look at these letters and use them to judge ourselves in the light that our Heavenly Father does? Our Father is so easy to please - we just try to make it harder than it is. He will fight our battles, we only need to learn to love and put our complete trust in Him. We need only to acknowledge Him for who He is, and love and praise Him accordingly so that all the world will know - JESUS IS LORD!

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