“What are the seven churches?”

December 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: What are the Seven Churches?

ANSWER:The seven churches are brought to our attention in the first three chapters of Revelation. This book was to be sent to them. But before examining these churches and their significance, let’s first note a few things about this final book of the Bible – a book of prophecy which seems mysterious to many and is often misunderstood and misused.

Revelation begins with saying, “The revelation of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). He is its central object or theme. In fact, at the end of Revelation 19:10 we are told, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The book is prophetic; it deals primarily with matters that were future when it was written, most of which are still future. It ties loose ends together, as it were, for a number of subjects begun in the Old Testament, even back to Genesis, are concluded in this book. Revelation outlines for us how many of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that did not come to pass when Jesus was here on earth 2,000 years ago will yet be fulfilled. It gives us a picture of Him in the place God purposed for Him before the ages of time, and with which God has rewarded Him for the work He accomplished to God’s glory on the cross at Calvary (Eph. 1:10; Phil. 2:5-11). The Bible would be woefully incomplete without these pictures of Christ in His judicial majesty and of His returning to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation, according to its introduction in its first verse, was given to Jesus Christ “to show His servants things which must shortly take place.” It is a book to give believers, true Christians, an understanding of future events. Unbelievers will always find it confusing, for God did not intend it for them. Furthermore, “He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” This word “signified” means that it is written in symbolic language. Many of the prophetic writings of the Old Testament use symbols to convey God’s messages. In His infinite wisdom God gave this book in symbolic language, which would be understood by believers who had the Old Testament writings and, by its time, most of the New Testament writings as well. In those days, Roman authorities persecuted Christians. Those rulers would not have been able to understand the message written using primarily the symbols from the previous books of God’s Word – the few new symbols being explained as they were mentioned.

The apostle John, writer of this book, referred to himself by name. He did not speak of himself as an apostle – one with authority – but as a servant, for the Lord Jesus Christ wielded all authority in his book. John had leaned on His bosom at their last supper together before Jesus was betrayed and crucified, but when seeing Him in His judicial majesty in Revelation 1:12-16, John fell at His feet as dead (v.17). The Lord tenderly stooped down, revealing Himself to John while telling him not to be afraid. He then commissioned John to write to the seven churches we are about to consider.

The outline of the book is in Revelation 1:19. The Lord told John to write about the things:

1. “You have seen” – essentially the contents of chapter 1.
2. “Which are” – chapters 2 and 3.
3. “Which will take place after this” – chapter 4 to the end of the book, including a brief conclusion.

The book was to be sent to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, which was located in what we now know as the country of Turkey. There were many other churches – more accurately termed “assemblies”* – in that province then, but the Lord chose to address these seven because He had something to say directly to each of them. Not only did He mention actual conditions and problems among them, but these assemblies had a very important prophetic significance. This book was to be sent to all seven, for what is said to any one of them was to be read and taken in by all, and thus these letters have many applications for Christians down through the ages, including today.

John was commissioned to write this book toward the end of the first century. Believers were being persecuted, and aged John, the last of the apostles still alive, had been banished to the rocky island of Patmos, about 20 miles off the coast of present-day Turkey. To judge from what he wrote about himself in Revelation 1:9-10, he was alone there. Yet, even without human companionship or fellowship he could be “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” The Lord appeared to him as he had never seen Him before and, while John could not preach to anyone there, the Lord entrusted a far greater task to him, an assignment we still benefit from today.

The Lord presented Himself as clothed in judicial majesty in the midst of seven golden lampstands (a better translation of the Greek word than “candlesticks”), which He says in verse 20 represent the churches. As lampstands they should be shedding light in their surroundings. He addressed the angel of each assembly, represented by the stars in His right hand. An angel is a messenger, and the angel would represent the responsible element in the assembly, those through whom the Lord communicated His mind to His saints. We should all feel our responsibility as part of the Lord’s testimony wherever we may be.

The Lord addressed each assembly in turn, following a pattern:

1. Introduced Himself to the assembly according to its particular need;
2. Commended what He could commend in that assembly, if there was something to commend;
3. Gave an exhortation or a warning where this was needed;
4. Commanded each one who has an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches; and
5. Addressed a word of encouragement to the overcomer.

In two of the letters there is no condemnation, in one no commendation, and in the last four letters the order of the last two components is reversed. We go on now to a few comments on each church.

Ephesus. This assembly, a real assembly when John wrote, prophetically represents the Church in the first century, active but declining from its original love for the Lord. This is the root of all true spiritual declension, or decline. Paul had noted with sadness as he wrote his final letter to Timothy that all those in Asia had turned away from him; and they were quickly departing from the truth especially committed to Paul as to Christ being the Head of the Church. Human leaders were developing into a clergy, as is hinted at also in John’s third epistle. The Lord longed for their repentance and return to Him. He longs too for our fervent love that would set Him above all else!

Smyrna. During the next more than two centuries Christians were subjected to much persecution. There is no condemnation here of the Assembly. The Lord comforted and encouraged the Church in this period to be faithful unto death and promised to reward their faithfulness with a crown of life. He knows every trial that we pass through; He cares and is ever available for help in time of need.

Pergamos. The Lord used local circumstances to point out the dangers of mixing with the world. This danger increased greatly once the persecutions ceased and Christianity became the official religion – its leaders often became government officials. The world was introduced into the Church, and the Church became worldly in its practices, attitudes and ambitions during the next few centuries – the so-called “Dark Ages.” The Lord is concerned too about our exposure to the world around us and the allurements of the enemy, who seeks to get us thoroughly integrated into it in our thoughts, our words and all that we do.

Thyatira. The letter to this church shows us the dreadful condition to which evil and immorality had advanced even as works were increasing. It pictures the powerful but thoroughly corrupt Church in the Middle Ages which still continues and will until the Lord returns to take His people to Himself. Yet even here there are some true saints of God upon whom the Lord puts no additional burden. Much of Christendom today is ensnared in this organization. It is well to remember that the Lord loves every true believer even though the organization they may be in will come under His severest judgment.

Sardis. This assembly pictures the condition of the Church in the centuries after the fervor of the Reformation (about 1517–1648) had passed and the professing bodies of Christians that had broken away from the established organization had lapsed into a condition of spiritual deadness. Yet in this condition, generally referred to as Protestantism, the Lord sees and encourages His godly saints who walk with Him. No matter what your spiritual associations in this world of so many denominations and confusion may be, the Lord values your love to Him and your personal life with Him.

Philadelphia. While the previous two churches represent the two primary outward divisions in Christendom today, this church and the next one picture more the heart condition of believers in the final days of the Church on earth. The gospel revival in the later part of the eighteenth century was followed by a recovery of precious truth that had largely been lost since the early days of the Church, such as: the difference between Israel and the Church, God’s dealings with mankind in different dispensations, the rapture and the appearing of the Lord, what the Assembly really is, and what it means to gather to the Lord Jesus alone. Saints began meeting together in accord with the teaching of Scripture, and aspects of the truth recovered had a great effect upon believers generally. The Lord Jesus appreciates those today who revere His name and look for His coming for them and for His appearing in glory with them to take His rightful place on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Laodicea. This final church sorrowfully sets before us the general state of things in the Christian profession today: a lukewarmness that is nauseating to the Lord. Rather than hearing what the Spirit says to the churches, this church boasted about being wealthy and needing nothing, completely ignorant of its great need. The Lord was – and still is – outside the door knocking, seeking fellowship with the individual who will open to Him and let Him in. Christ’s person, His Word, and the work He has accomplished for salvation to everyone who accepts it in faith, are not appreciated in this day of mega churches and projects, great self-sufficiency, official pronouncements about many issues in the world, and a respect for every kind of “rights” except those of our God and the Son of His love. Be an overcomer, stand strong, and give Him the place He rightfully deserves in your heart and life!

Indeed, the Letters to the Seven Churches (or Assemblies) have much to say to us. They describe the Lord’s assessment of the conditions in each of the assemblies to which they were sent more than 1900 years ago. The letters describe conditions in our lives and relationships that can either be commended or need to be corrected. They point out the downward trend in the history of the Church on earth, but also present bright spots that show us the tender heart of our Savior even while He is doing His rightful work as Judge, assessing the condition of every professed testimony to His name.

Judgment must begin at the house of God, so the awesome judgment of this wicked world will not begin until every true member of the true Church is taken up into the presence of the Lord. They will be spared from having to go through the dreadful time when God’s wrath is poured out upon the world, which crucified His Son and has brazenly defied His Word. He knows our downsitting and our uprising; He understands our thoughts afar off, yes, even before we can give voice to them (Ps. 139).

ENDNOTE
* These two words, “assembly” and “church” are deliberately being used interchangeably in this article. However, when a body of Christians in a locality is referred to, the word will be written in lower case letters, and when the reference is to the entire body of believers on earth, the word will be capitalized.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.