Christ and the Seven Churches (Revelation 1–3)
The book of Revelation begins with a stunning description of someone that John identifies as the glorified Jesus Christ. John was one of the men who spent three years with Jesus during his earthly ministry, but his description of his Lord is nothing like what we think of when we read John';s gospel account. In John';s vision, he saw seven gold lampstands:
And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:13–16)
When John saw this vision, he goes on to say: “I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don';t be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look — I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and the grave';” (Revelation 1:17–18).
Then John received the meaning of the mystery of the seven gold lamp-stands, namely that they were the seven churches who would be addressed in Revelation 2–3.
While the meaning of some of John';s imagery in the book of Revelation is open to debate, what isn';t open to debate is the main theme of the book: remain true to Jesus Christ, even in the face of persecution, even in the face of suffering, even in the face of losing all you have, even in the face of death.
The next two chapters of the book of Revelation are a collection of letters to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) — the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Here is what Jesus had to say to those churches:
Ephesus: This church received praise for doing good things but was also criticized for not loving Christ or one another as much as it did at first (Revelation 2:4). Christ called this church to turn back to doing the things it did at first.
Smyrna: Though this church was in poverty and being slandered by the outside world, it was a church of great spiritual riches (Revelation 2:9).
Pergamum: This church is praised for remaining true to Christ, even in the face of intense persecution, but it is also chided for • • compromising when it came to the kind of teaching it received (Revelation 2:12–27).
Thyatira: Jesus spoke highly of this church';s love, faith, service, and endurance. The problem, however, was that idolatry and sexual immorality had crept its way into the church (Revelation 2:18–29).
Sardis: Jesus';s message to this church indicated that it was spiritually dead and in need of a reawakening (Revelation 3:1–6).
Philadelphia: This church also received high praise for its faithfulness and perseverance — even in the face of persecution by “Satan';s synagogue,” or false Jews who were making life rough for these believers (Revelation 3:7–13).
Laodicea: This church was a spiritual mess. That is because they were “neither hot nor cold” but lukewarm. Jesus wanted them to decide which they wanted to be. “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:14–22). The word spit in this context means “vomit,” meaning that Jesus was saying, in effect, “You make me sick!”
Jesus';s final words in this message for the churches were these:
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. (Revelation 3:20–22)
This was quite a promise to those believers who lived during such a dangerous time. It assured those who put their faith in Jesus Christ that, no matter how bad things got for them, their endurance would mean incredible blessings to come.
Study Questions
What are some of the things Jesus praises his church for in Revelation 2:4:-3:22?
What are some of the things Jesus chides his church for?
