The seven churches of Revelation

The book of Revelation opens with a vision. On the island of Patmos the apostle John sees the risen Christ and hears a command to write down what he sees and send it to seven churches.

saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 1:11 · King James Version (1769)

All seven cities lay in the Roman province of Asia, in what is now western Turkey. In the vision Christ walks among seven golden lampstands and holds seven stars in His right hand, and He explains that the lampstands are the churches (Revelation 1:20). John MacArthur notes that in Scripture seven is the number of completeness, so these seven churches also stand for all churches.

Seven real churches with real problems

Each letter follows the same pattern. The New Geneva Study Bible lists its parts: the address to the angel of the church, a title of Christ taken from the opening vision, Christ’s assurance that He knows their works, praise or rebuke, a warning or encouragement, a promise to the one who overcomes and the call to hear what the Spirit says. Who the “angel” of each church is remains an open question. MacArthur takes the word in its basic sense of “messenger”, a leader of the church, while the New Geneva Study Bible thinks of actual angels.

The letters are full of local detail, and commentators often show how they fit each city.

Ephesus was the chief port of Asia and home to the great temple of Artemis (Revelation 2:1–7). Its church worked hard, endured and exposed false apostles. Yet Christ has one serious charge.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 2:4–5 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur explains that sound doctrine and faithful service had taken the place of a passionate love for Christ. Without repentance the church would cease to exist.

Smyrna, today’s Izmir, was a poor and persecuted church. Christ does not rebuke it at all (Revelation 2:8–11).

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Rev 2:10 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur says the crown here is the wreath given to a winning athlete: the prize is life itself.

Pergamum is called the place of Satan’s throne. MacArthur links this to the city’s pagan temples, while William MacDonald points to emperor worship. The church stayed loyal under martyrdom but tolerated teaching that allowed idol feasts and immorality (Revelation 2:12–17). Thyatira is praised for love, faith and service that keep growing, yet it put up with a self-styled prophetess, “Jezebel”, who led believers into the same sins. MacDonald suggests she may have justified joining the city’s trade guilds and their idol feasts (Revelation 2:18–29).

Sardis had a name for being alive but was dead (Revelation 3:1–6). The New Geneva Study Bible notes that the city’s seemingly unconquerable citadel had twice been taken by surprise, which gives force to Christ’s warning that He will come like a thief. Philadelphia, a faithful church with little strength, receives only praise.

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Rev 3:8 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur reads the open door either as entrance into the kingdom or as an opportunity for service (Revelation 3:7–13).

Laodicea receives no praise at all (Revelation 3:14–22).

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Rev 3:15–16 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur and the New Geneva Study Bible explain the image. Nearby Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had cold mountain water, but Laodicea’s water came through an aqueduct and arrived lukewarm. The rich city was known for banking, wool and eye salve, so Christ offers it true gold, white garments and salve for its blind eyes (Revelation 3:18). Then comes one of the best-known verses of the Bible.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:20 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur notes that it is traditionally read as Christ knocking at the door of a person’s heart, though he himself sees here Christ seeking to enter a church that bore His name without knowing Him. In both readings the invitation is personal: it is addressed to anyone who hears His voice and opens the door.

Do the seven churches picture church history?

Some Bible teachers see in the seven letters a prophetic outline of church history. John Gill held that Ephesus represented the church of the apostles’ time and that the later letters described the church in each age that followed. William MacDonald describes three ways of applying the letters: to the real churches of John’s day, to the church at any time in its history, and, in the view of many, to successive periods from the first century to the end. He mentions, for example, that Ephesus is often taken to picture the church just after the apostles, and Philadelphia the great revivals and missions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Other commentators keep the focus on the churches themselves. Albert Barnes stresses that the letters describe conditions actually existing in these congregations. Matthew Henry notes that the churches differed so much “that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches”. On this the views agree: whatever one thinks of the historical outline, the letters speak to churches of every age.