The Seven Churches of Asia

Revelation Chapter 2 and 3

INTRODUCTION: The church we think is “rich” may turn out to be poor in God’s sight (Rev. 3:17), while the “poor” church is actually rich (Rev. 2:9).

Only the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, can accurately inspect each church and know its true condition, because He sees the internals (Rev. 2:23b). In these messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor, the Lord gave each assembly an “X-ray” of its true condition. But He intended for all the churches to read these messages and benefit from them.

1. THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS, THE LOVELESS CHURCH
The believers at Ephesus were a suffering people who patiently bore their burdens and toiled without fainting. And they did all of this for His name’s sake! No matter how you examine this congregation, you conclude that it is just about perfect. However, the One among the lampstands saw into their hearts, and He had a different diagnosis from ours.

How is Christ designated in this letter? Revelation 2:1.
For what are they commended? Revelation 2:2-3.
For what are they condemned? Revelation 2:4.

2. THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA, THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Smyrna means myrrh or bitterness.

Smyrna was the fearful church. Smyrna itself claimed to be the birthplace of Homer, and its coins bore his image. It was a wealthy commercial city renowned for its faithfulness to Rome. The Lord’s letter underlines the faithfulness as well as the fearfulness of the believers. The name of the city reflects the word myrrh, an aromatic spice that gives forth its fragrance when crushed and bruised, hence the reference by the Lord to suffering.

How is Christ spoken of in this letter? Revelation 2:8
For what are they commended? Revelation 2:9a.
For what are they condemned? Revelation 2:9b.

3. THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS, THE LENIENT CHURCH
Pergamos (or Pergamum) means high tower or thoroughly married.

Pergamos was the faltering church. The city of Pergamos has been described as a pagan cathedral city, a university town, and a royal residence. It was famous for its medical center and for its pagan temples. The temple dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine, was renowned. The most conspicuous object in this temple was a wreathed serpent, the symbol of medicine even yet. Asklepios was often referred to as “savior.” It might be this fact that caused the Lord to refer to Pergamos as the place of Satan’s throne, “where Satan dwells.”

How is Christ designated in this letter? Revelation 2:12.
How are they commended? Revelation 2:13.
How are some of them condemned? Revelation 2:14, 15.

4. THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA, THE COMPROMISING CHURCH
The name Thyatira means perpetual sacrifice or continual offering.

Thyatira was the false church. Thyatira itself was once a great military city. It was built by Seleucus I to guard the mouth of a long pass between the Hermus and Caicus valleys. Its tutelary god was Tyrimnas, depicted as a warrior armed for battle with a great two-edged axe. To the church in this city, the Lord depicts Himself as the One with flaming eyes and feet of bronze.

What is Christ’s self-designation in this letter? Revelation 2:18.
What is the commendation? Revelation 2:19.
What does Christ have against this church? Revelation 2:20, 21.

5. THE CHURCH AT SARDIS, THE DEAD CHURCH
Sardis means those escaping or renovation.

Sardis was the fruitless church. The city was once the capital of Lydia. Twice during its history it had fallen to plundering enemies because of its lack of watchfulness. Likewise, the church at Sardis is characterized by the Lord as having a great name for being alive, whereas actually it was dead.

How is Christ designated in this letter? Revelation 3:1.
What commendation does He give to a few of them? Revelation 3:4.
Since He can’t commend these brethren as a whole, how does He condemn them? Revelation 3:1.

6. THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA, THE CHURCH WITH AN OPEN DOOR

Philadelphia means love for the brethren.

The city Philadelphia was founded by Attalus, king of Pergamos, who intended to make Philadelphia a center of Greco-Asiatic civilization and a means of spreading the Greek language and customs in the eastern part of Lydia and Phrygia. The church in Philadelphia was a missionary-minded one, dedicated to the spread of the gospel.

How is Christ described? Revelation 3:7.
What commendation does this church receive? Revelation 3:8-10.
Does Christ find anything wrong with this church?

7. THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA, THE INDIFFERENT CHURCH
The name Laodicea means either the people ruling or the judgment of the people.

Laodicea was the fashionable church. The city was renowned for its prosperity. The wealthy, boastful believers were instructed to buy from the Lord gold, tried in the fire, to anoint their eyes with eyesalve, and to acquire from Him raiment of purest white.

How is Christ designated in this epistle? Revelation 3:14.
Does He find anything to commend?
What does He condemn them for? Revelation 3:15.

In the closing verses, Revelation 3:20 we have what Scofield calls “the place and attitude of Christ at the end of the church age.” He is outside the professing church, politely knocking and inviting individuals (no longer the mass of the people) to leave the apostate church in order to have fellowship with Him. (Dr. C. I. Scofield)

CONCLUSION:
A period in the history of the church are generally listed as follows:

• Ephesus: The church of the first century was generally praiseworthy but it had already left its first love.
• Smyrna: From the first to the fourth century, the church suffered persecution under the Roman emperors.
• Pergamos: During the fourth and fifth centuries, Christianity was recognized as an official religion through Constantine’s patronage.
• Thyatira: From the sixth to the fifteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church largely held sway in Western Christendom until rocked by the Reformation. In the East, the Orthodox Church ruled.
• Sardis: The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were the Post-Reformation period. The light of the Reformation soon became dim.
• Philadelphia: During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there were mighty revivals and great missionary movements.
• Laodicea: The church of the last days is pictured as lukewarm and apostate. It is the church of liberalism and ecumenism.

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