Summary of the Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia

Revelation chapters 2 and 3

Attributes of the Seven Churches by Church

Ephesus

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	2:1-7
Period described	The early church, <100
Church age	Apostolic
Meaning of name	Purpose
Title of Christ	“He [Jehovah] who holds the seven stars”, "walks among seven lampstands" Explained in 1:13, 1:20
Commendation	Works, labour patience, cannot bear the evil one, tested the false teachers, persevered and had patience, laboured for Christ’s sake
Criticism	“Left first love” – the love of espousal, or marriage partner (Ephesians, Song of Songs)
Exhortation	Remember and repent, do first works Keep hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans
Warning	I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Remedy	Remember and repent, do first works (5) Keep hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans (6)
Promise to over- comer	Eat from tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God

Smyrna

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	2:8-11
Period described	The church under persecution, 100 to 312
Church age	Caesars
Meaning of name	Myrrh – meaning suffering & death
Title of Christ	“First and Last”, Who was dead and came to life Similar words used in Isaiah 41:4 etc., Rev 1:17 – the LORD, the I Am
Commendation	Works, trials, tribulation, poverty; blasphemy of false Jews Jesus knows their poverty, and says they are in fact rich. He also knows about the persecutors from the synagogue of Satan
Criticism	None – as with Philadelphia
Exhortation	Be faithful, even until death Do not fear suffering
Warning	Do not fear those things which you are about to suffer…that you may be tested.
Remedy	Not really a remedy – like the Philadelphia letter – an exhort to be faithful, even until death, and not to fear suffering
Promise to over- comer	The crown of life (10) Not hurt by second death (11)

Pergamum

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	2:2-17
Period described	Paganism enters the church, 312 to 590s
Church age	Constantine
Meaning of name	Adulterous,
Title of Christ	“He who has the sharp two-edged sword” Two-edged sword spoken of in Psalm 149:1 & Hebrews 4:12 – the Word of God)
Commendation	Works “although” living where Satan’s throne is For holding fast to “My name & faith” even in time of martyrs
Criticism	Held to the doctrine of Balaam, and included those with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans – unlike the Church of Ephesus
Exhortation	Repent
Warning	Unless they repent, Christ will fight against them with sword of mouth The Word of God sharper than a 2 edged sword – contrasts with the false doctrine for Balaam and Nicolaitans.
Remedy	Repent – a common theme for the churches that have sinned
Promise to over- comer	Will be given the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name

Thyatira

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	2:18-29
Period described	Papal supremacy of Dark Ages, 590 to Tribulation
Church age	Middle Age/Catholic
Meaning of name	Daughter
Title of Christ	“Son of God” who has eyes like a flame of, feet like fine brass; searches minds Daniel uses similar words (Dan 10:5, eyes of fire, a vision of God, similar to Rev 1:14,15, brass also used in a similar way – Ezek 1:4, Dan 10:6 etc)
Commendation	Works, love, faith, service, faith, patience, latter works
Criticism	"you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols" –similar to Pergamos that suffered the teaching of Balak (14)
Exhortation	Those that have not the doctrine of Jezebel hold fast till I come
Warning	Christ will kill the children with death, unless they repent (22,23). It is Christ that searches the minds and hearts. Christ will give each according to their works (23) This warning is the longest of the Seven letters
Remedy	Those that have not the doctrine of Jezebel hold fast till I come. The few faithful will have no other burden (24)
Promise to over- comer	No other burden to those who hold not the false doctrine, and those will be given power over nations, rule with a rod of iron (26,27), the morning star (28)

Sardis

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	3:1-6
Period described	Protestant incomplete reformation, 1517 to Tribulation
Church age	Reformation/ Protestant
Meaning of name	Remnant ?
Title of Christ	"He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars." Image used elsewhere in Rev – 4:5, 5:6. “Star” as image used in Numbers 24:17 for the Messiah.
Commendation	None – see also Laodicea
Criticism	A name – (denominations), the church is dead, inadequate, has imperfect works. 2)
Exhortation	Remember the gospel, hold fast and repent, watch
Warning	Be watchful, strengthen the things that remain (suggesting little good exists), remember the truth (3) else Christ will come as a thief in the night.
Remedy	Remember the gospel, hold fast and repent, watch – like Thyatira, he speaks to the few who have not been corrupted.
Promise to over- comer	The few names (individuals) who are not defiled will be clothed in white, name in book, and will be confessed before God

Philadelphia

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	3:7-22
Period described	Awakening, Bible spread and studied, 1730-50 to Rapture
Church age	Revival/Evangelical.Missionary
Meaning of name	One who loves a brother
Title of Christ	He who is Holy & true, holds key of David, opens and shuts. Isaiah 9:7 uses “throne of David”. “Holy * True also in Rev 6:10 in reference to Jesus as the ruler
Commendation	(1) Works, (2) open door no one can shut (3) little strength, (4) yet kept My word, (5) not denied My name, (6) synagogue of Satan will worship before your feet (7) kept My command to persevere
Criticism	None
Exhortation	Hold fast to what you have that no one may take away your crown
Warning	None – hence is like no other church with no condemnation or warning.
Remedy	Not really a remedy; more an exhortation - hold fast to what you have that no one may take away your crown. Unique in that the “hour of trial” will not come to this church – persecution is evident in Ephesus, Smyrna & Pergamum
Promise to over- comer	I come quickly, a pillar made, inscribed with new name

Laodicea

Attribute	Summary
Chapter & Verse	3:14-22
Period described	The end-time church, contented but sinful.1900 to Tribulation
Church age	Apostate/Post modern
Meaning of name	Rule of the people, judgement
Title of Christ	Amen, the Faithful, and True Witness, the Beginnings of the creation of God. “The Faithful” used in Deuteronomy 7:9 in relation to Jehovah; parable in Matt 24:45, as Lord, etc and Rev 1:14; The beginning of creation, alluded to in Gen 1:1 etc, Colossians.
Commendation	None – see also Sardis
Criticism	Not hot nor cold – lukewarm, wretched, (a form of godliness but denying the power thereof) blind, naked Says they were rich, when in fact had nothing, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. I will vomit you out of My mouth
Exhortation	Buy gold, clothes, eye ointment (ie to open the eyes to the truth), so their nakedness be hidden
Warning	Buy gold, clothes, eye ointment (ie to open the eyes to the truth and to cover their nakedness.
Remedy	I rebuke those I chasten - be zealous and repent I stand and knock – open the door and I will come in – appears to speak to the individual rather than the church as a whole, unlike the other letters.
Promise to over- comer	He who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne

Attributes of the Seven Churches by Attribute

Attribute 1. The meaning of the name of the church –

The names are actual geographical places but the characteristics of each are reflect in her name. Each church is also prophetic in terms of the dispensational approach.

Ephesus	The desired one full purpose
Smyrna	Myrrh; Offering of Sacrifice
Pergamos	Much Married; Adulterous
Thyatira	Daughter, sacrifice of Labour (?)
Sardis	Remnant (?)
Philadelphia	Brotherly Love
Laodicea	Rule of the people, Judgement

Attribute 2. The title of Jesus and the revelation of his character

Ephesus	Who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands
Smyrna	The First and the Last, who died and came back to life again.
Pergamos	Who has the sharp double-edged sword
Thyatira	Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Sardis	Who holds seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Philadelphia	Who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. One who opens the door which no one can shut
Laodicea	The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Attribute 3. The commendation of the Church – Their strong points and merits;

Ephesus	Deeds, hard work, perseverance, endured hardship, did not tolerate wicked men
Smyrna	Through affliction and poverty did not leave faith
Pergamos	Held fast to My Name, kept the faith and did not renounce faith
Thyatira	Deeds, love and faith, service and perseverance
Sardis	None given
Philadelphia	Deeds, kept the word, did not deny my name
Laodicea	None given

Attribute 4. The reproof (correction) and rebuke

Ephesus	Forsaken their first love
Smyrna	None given
Pergamos	Teaching of Balaam/ Teaching of Nicolaitans
Thyatira	Tolerates Jezebel
Sardis	Dead
Philadelphia	None given
Laodicea	Neither hot nor cold and is lukewarm

Attribute 5. The exhortation & counsel specific to the condition of the particular church;

Ephesus	Remember your first love / repent and do the things you did first
Smyrna	Be faithful to the point of death
Pergamos	Repent, otherwise I will come and fight against them
Thyatira	Hold on to what you have until I come
Sardis	Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent
Philadelphia	Hold on to what you have
Laodicea	Buy from me gold refined in fire so you can be rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your nakedness; and slave to put on your eyes so that you can see

Attribute 6. The promise to the “overcomer”

Ephesus	I will give the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.
Smyrna	Will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Pergamos	I will give some of the hidden manna, I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who angels it.
Thyatira	I will give him the authority over the nations. I will give him the morning star.
Sardis	They will walk with me, dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will confess him before my Father and his angels.
Philadelphia	I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on him the name of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from heaven from my God; I will also write to him my new name.
Laodicea	I will grant him the right to sit with me on my throne.

Attribute 7. The concluding phrase, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."

This corresponds with the historic period of each letter.

Ephesus	Apostolic Period sowing of the seeds till 100 AD
Smyrna	Persecution Period Parable of the Weeds
Pergamos	State Church Period Parable of Mustard Seed
Thyatira	Period of Heresy Parable of the Leaven
Sardis	Reformation Period Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Philadelphia	Missionary Period Parable of the Great Pearl
Laodicea	End time Apostate Church Period The Parable of the Drag Net

Note that although one could image each church representing a period in history, in reality the characteristics appear in all ages, and in some cases multiple characteristics could appear in a single church, over time.

Pdf document The Seven Churches - outline - long form

Pdf document The Seven Churches - outline - wide form

David L Simon
21 February 2009
Edited 30 October 2022
Revelation\The Seven Churches - outline