the churches of revelation chapters 2 & 3

The Seven Churches of Revelation

A Survey

The Pattern

1. Selected Attribute(s) of Christ2. Pros (if any)3. Cons (if any)4. Christ’s Counsel (and at times a WARNING)5. What is The Holy Spirit Saying to the

Churches?6. The Conqueror’s Reward!!!

Ephesus: Attribute(s) of Christ

1. He Who holds the Seven Stars in His Hand

2. He Who walks in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks

Ephesus: Pros

1. Works (Greek erga: “acts”)

2. Labor3. Patience4. Intolerance of Evil5. Exposed false apostles6. Borne (put up with, bear

up under) [adversity]

7. Patience mentioned a 2nd time!

8. Labored9. Has not fainted10.Hate the deeds of the

Nicolaitanes

Ephesus: Cons (only One!)

YOU HAVE ABANDONED YOUR

FIRST LOVE

Ephesus: Christ’s Counsel

1. REMEMBER from where you have fallen.2. REPENT: Turn around, and go back the

way you came!3. Do the FIRST WORKS (?)

Ephesus: WARNING!!!

If you do not repent,

YOUR CANDLESTICK WILL BE REMOVED FROM ITS PLACE!

Ephesus: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror shall EAT of the

TREE OF LIFE,

which is in the midst of the

PARADISE OF GOD!!!

Smyrna: Attribute(s) of Christ

1. The FIRST and the LAST2. He Who was DEAD, and is now ALIVE

[forevermore]

Smyrna: Pros

1. Works2. Tribulation3. Financial Poverty4. VAST SPIRITUAL WEALTH!5. Righteous Attitude towards blaspheming

Jews

Smyrna: Cons

NONE.

Smyrna: Christ’s Counsel

1. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE FUTURE!2. BE FAITHFUL...EVEN IF IT COSTS YOU

YOUR LIFE!

Smyrna: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror shall NOT be hurtby the

SECOND DEATH

(THE LAKE OF FIRE)

Pergamum: Attribute(s) of Christ

He Who has the

SHARP SWORD (Revelation 19:15)

withTWO EDGES

Pergamum: Pros

1. Works2. Proximity to Satan’s Seat3. Prominent Example: Antipas the Faithful

Witness (Martyr), a disciple of the Apostle John

4. Tenacious Hold on The Name of Jesus!5. Has not denied the Faith

Pergamum: Cons

1. TRAITORS! Professing members GREEDY FOR WEALTH working with the pagans to lead Christians into sin:a. Eating meat sacrificed to idolsb. Fornication (Greek porneusai: “to commit

prostitution”)!!!2. Member practicing the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes: the

worship of pleasure (and possibly wife-swapping); an object of Christ’s Hatred!

Pergamum: Christ’s Counsel

REPENT… or else...

JUDGEMENT...against the tares (Matthew 13:24-30)

Pergamum: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror shall EAT of the HIDDEN MANNA

(Exodus 16:31-36, John 6:24-58)...and shall be given a

WHITE STONE in which is a NEW NAME...known only to God and the one who

receives it!

Thyatira: Attribute(s) of Christ

The SON OF GOD...Who has Eyes like a

BLAZE OF FIRE...and Feet like

WHITE BRONZE(Greek chalkolibano: “copper-white”)the idea conveyed: INTENSE HEAT!

Thyatira: Pros

1. First Works2. Charity (Greek “agape”: Unconditional

LOVE)3. Service4. Faith5. Patience6. Last Works (more than the First)

Thyatira: Cons

YOU are continuing to allow a false prophetess (Jezebel) to teach the “Depths of Satan” to and seduce MY servants!1. Prostitution (sexual or spiritual?)2. Eating meat sacrificed to idols

Jezebel is given time to repent, and refuses.

Thyatira: Christ’s Counsel

Since the church leadership is doing NOTHING, Christ Himself takes action:1. Jezebel struck with sickness (Merciful)2. Jezebel’s cohorts thrown into great

tribulation3. Jezebel’s children killed with deathTo the faithfull: “Hold fast!”

Thyatira: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror that keeps Christ’s Works to the end shall be given POWER OVER THE NATIONS and shall rule the nations with a ROD OF IRON; as the vessels of a potter shall they

be BROKEN TO SHIVERS!The Conqueror shall also receive

THE MORNING STAR!!

Sardis: Attribute(s) of Christ

The One Who hasTHE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

(Revelation 5:6)...and Who has

The Seven Stars(The Angels [Messengers] of

The Seven Churches)

Sardis: Pros (??)

1. Imperfect works2. A Living Name, but a dead faith3. Some Life remains, but even that is near

death4. A few names that have undefiled

garments, who are worthy to walk with Christ in white

Sardis: Cons

1. Imperfect works - Hebrews 6:1; 9:142. A Living Name, but a dead faith3. Some Life remains, but even that is near

death

Sardis: Christ’s Counsel

1. Be watchful (PRAY)!!!2. Strengthing the Life that remains...that is near death.3. REMEMBER:

a. how you have received (by Faith: Galatians 3:2, 3)b. how you have heard (by Faith: Romans 10:17)

4. Hold Fast (TENACIOUSLY) to The Faith once delivered to the Saints (Jude 3)!

5. Repent!

Sardis: WARNING!!!

“If you do not repent, I will come upon you as a thief, and

YOU WILL NOT BE READY!

...and you will be cast into The Outer Darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30)

Sardis: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror shall be clothed in WHITE RAIMENT;

his/her name will not be blotted out of THE BOOK OF LIFE;

Christ will CONFESS the Conqueror’s Name before GOD THE FATHER

and before THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN!

Philadelphia: Attribute(s) of Christ

The One Who is HOLY and TRUEThe One Who has the KEY OF DAVIDWho OPENS and no man can shutWho SHUTS and no man can open

Philadelphia: Pros

1. Works2. Christ has provided them an OPEN DOOR3. A little strength4. Has kept Christ’s Word5. Has not denied Christ’s Name6. The Jews humbled before them7. Has kept the Word of Christ’s Patience8. Will be kept from the Hour of Temptation coming upon

the whole world

Philadephia: Cons

NONE.

Philadelphia: Christ’s Counsel

1. The Promise of Christ’s Iminent Return!

2. Hold fast (tenaciously) to what you have

3. Allow no one to take your crown (Greek: “wreath”)

Philadelphia: The Conqueror’s Reward

Christ will make The Conqueror a PILLAR in the Temple of God, NEVER to be separated from

God AGAIN!!!Christ will write upon The Conqueror

THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE NAME OF THE NEW JERUSALEM

and CHRIST’S NEW NAME!!!

Laodicea: Attribute(s) of Christ

The One Who is THE AMEN (TRUTH)

The One Who is The Faithful and True Witness

The One Who is The Beginning of The Creation of God

Laodicea: Pros

NONE.

Laodicea: Cons

1. Lukewarm works2. Self-delusion:

a. Richb. Increased with goodsc. Have need of nothing

3. The Truth:a. WRETCHEDb. MISERABLEc. POORd. BLINDe. NAKED

Laodicea: Christ’s Counsel

1. Buy from Christ:a. Gold tried in the fire (Faith proven in adversity)

- 1 Peter 1:7b. White Raiment to cover your nakedness (The

Righteousness of Christ to cover your filthy rags)- Isaiah 64:6; Revelation 19:8

c. Eyesalve to cure your blindness (the Anointing of the Holy Spirit) - Ephesians 2:1, 5:14

2. Christ still loves you, so be Zealous and Repent!3. LET JESUS BACK IN!!!

Laodicea: The Conqueror’s Reward

The Conqueror will sit with Christ IN

His Throne!!!