The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation

1) Epheus: The Declining Church

2) Smyna: The Dependable Church

3) Pergamos: The Defiled Church

4) Thyatira: The Defiant Church

5) Sardis: The Dead Church

6) Philadelphia: The Dedicated Church

7) Laodicea: The Deceived Church

The Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal Churches that were located in Asia Minor. These Churches were planted and cultivated by the Apostle Paul, with the Church at Ephesus being the lead Church. Though the letters are written to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor, there are considerable parallels to the Churches of today. Only the Head of The Church, Jesus Christ, can accurately inspect each Church and know its true condition, because He sees the internals, not only the externals.

Ephesus
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation 2:2-4}

Jesus recognized that the believers in Ephesus were untiring in their labors for the Lord. They had fortitude or steadfast endurance. For Christ's name's sake they had borne patiently whatever burdens came their way. They worked hard and struggled, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. Difficulties and opposition had not caused them to lose their zeal. However, in spite of their zeal and hard work for the Lord, the Ephesians had one serious flaw. They had left or forsaken their first love, a willful abandonment, a deliberate giving up, though it also includes the results of long neglect. They were giving the Lord their service but not giving Him themselves. They were outstanding in their work for the Lord, but they no longer had the intimate fellowship with Him they once had.

Jesus’ admonition for the Church {Revelation 2:5}

"First love" can be restored if we follow the three instructions Christ gave. First, we must remember what we have lost and cultivate a desire to regain that close communion once again. Then, we must repent—change our minds and direction, and confess our sins to the Lord. Third, we must repeat the first works, which suggests restoring the original fellowship that was broken by our sin and neglect. For the believer, this means prayer, bible study and practical application of God's Word, obedient service, and worship.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 2: 7}

"To him who continues steadfast in the faith, and uncorrupt in his life; who faithfully confesses Jesus, and neither drinks the doctrines nor is led away by the error of the wicked; will I give to eat of the tree of life."

Smyna
Jesus assessment of the Church {Revelation 2:9}

The Christians in Smyrna were workers for the Lord, but they were suffering a great deal of tribulation in the form of persecution. These persecutions affected their jobs and reduced them to poverty. They were also persecuted by Christ-rejecting Jews who claimed to worship God but who really were under the control of Satan.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 2:10}

The Lord did give them solemn words of admonition as they faced increased suffering: "Don't be afraid!" He assured them that He knew the devil's plans and was in complete control of the situation. Some of the believers would be imprisoned and tried as traitors to Rome. Yet their tribulation would not be long; in the Bible, ten days signifies "a brief time" (Genesis 24:55; Acts 25:6). The important thing was faithfulness, standing true to Christ no matter what the government might threaten to do.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 2:10}

"But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life."

Pergamos
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation 2:14}

Though this Church as a whole was faithful to Christ and the truths of The Gospel, there were some in their midst who needed the Lord's rebuke. They were compromising with the lax morals and the worldly social customs of the day.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 2:16}

The Church at Pergamos would feel the sword of Christ (the Word) if they did not repent. This is not a reference to our Lord's return but to a present judgment that comes to a Church when it is disobedient to the Word of God

The promise to the Church {Revelation 2:17}

"I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give to each one who wins the victory a white stone with a new name written on it. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it."  



Thyatira
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation 2:20}

The people tolerated evil in the Church. That is done so often today. It is often done in the name of love. But you cannot tolerate evil. When evil becomes strong, it will not tolerate righteousness.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 2:25}

Not everyone in the assembly was unfaithful to the Lord. However, those that have been faithful are to continue being faithful.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 2:26}

"I will give power over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and continues to be obedient to me until the end. You will rule over them with an iron rod, as when pottery is broken into pieces.’ This is the same power I received from my Father. I will also give him the morning star."



Sardis
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation 3:1}

“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Christ was cognizant of the Church's true condition. "Thou hast a name that thou livest." We have a lot of churches like that today. People think these churches are really doing things. These churches boast of many buses, great Sunday School attendance and many baptisms. This is accompanied by impressive building programs that include modern social centers and large gymnasiums. The reality of the church. "Art dead." While many consider the Church to be great and thriving, the Lord has stamped it "dead," for the Lord looks at character and sees the Church as corrupt.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 3:2}

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” A twofold command from the Lord is given here in view of the church's condition. The command is to help the church survive and not die.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 3:5}

"Those who win the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. And I will not erase their names from the book of life, but I will say they belong to me before my Father and before His angels."



Philadelphia
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation 3:8}

“I know what you do”.  “I know you have a little strength, but you have obeyed my teaching and were not afraid to speak my name.”

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 3:8 10}

"I have put an open door before you, which no one can close. I know you have a little strength, but you have obeyed my teaching and were not afraid to speak my name. You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world to test those who live on earth."

In the New Testament, an "open door" speaks of opportunity for ministry (service) and witnessing. (Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). Christ is the Lord of The Harvest and the Head of The Church, and it is He who determines where and when His people shall serve. He gave the Church at Philadelphia a great opportunity for ministry. Nobody can close the doors as long as God keeps them open. Fear, unbelief, and delay have caused the Church to miss many God-given opportunities.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 3:12}

"I am coming soon! I will make those who win the victory pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name."



Laodicea
Jesus’ assessment of the Church {Revelation  3:15}

The condition of being lukewarm is a most unacceptable condition. It sums up the problem in the Church in Laodicea. This condition is especially deceitful. There is enough good to attract the spiritual, but enough evil to attract the carnal. Many Churches build their membership this way.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church {Revelation 3:18}

The Laodiceans were merchants so the Lord adapts His language to their activities. "I counsel thee to buy of me." This is counsel to start considering the Lord in their lives. Buying of God means to get interested in what God says and giving Him honor and allegiance. The Church needs to get interested in that which helps us see reality instead of being blinded by our material assets which are not assets at all but are liabilities spiritually.

Jesus’ promise to the Church {Revelation 3:21}

"Those who win the victory will sit with me on my throne in the same way that I won the victory and sat down with my Father on His throne."

Noah's days, Our days, The last days!

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 
(Matthew 24:37-39) (NKJV)

A) Jesus Compared the Days of Noah to the Last Days
1) The return of Christ will come upon mankind as suddenly and as unexpectedly as did the great flood in the days of Noah. Not only this, but the Lord compared the character of those days to that of men at the time of His return (24:38). Therefore, there is something we can learn from the days of Noah that will help us triumph in this time which is “as in the days of Noah.”

B) Peter Called the Days of Noah a Time of God’s Longsuffering (1 Peter 3:20)
1) Peter describes that wicked time before the flood as a time in which “the longsuffering of God waited."
2) The “days of Noah” were in reality a time of salvation, a time of deliverance and a time mercy.

As we consider the “days of Noah” with a view to learning something relevant to help us in our days, let us do so from God’s perspective as well as that of Noah and the men who lived with him in those days.
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C) Men Were Evil In Noah Days (Genesis 6:5)
1) Marriage abused (Genesis 6:2)
a. The implication is that these marriages were based on lust.
b. It was a time of polygamy (Genesis 4:23)

2) The wicked ruled (Genesis 6:4)
a. Mighty men = warriors
b. Renown = infamous
c. It was a time of "might makes right"

3) Violence prevailed (Genesis 6:11)
a. Murder was prevalent (Genesis 4:10; 24)
b. Men had lost respect for God’s image in man (Genesis 9:5–6)

4) Men were corrupt (Genesis 6:12)
a. Evil men wax worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13)
b. It had become “the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5)

5) God was grieved (Genesis 6:6)
a. It repented God that he had made man.” God regretted it; He was remorseful.

D) The Days Were Dark (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1, 13)
1) It was a time of apostasy (rebellion, falling away) (Genesis 6:2)
a. The “sons of God” married “daughters of men." This is not angels marrying humans as some suggest. (Matthew 22:30). However, it is the godly marrying the ungodly (righteous line marrying the unrighteous line).

2) The God's Word was rejected
a. Noah preached righteousness (2 Peter 2:5)
b. Men were disobedient (1 Peter 3:20)
c. They continued in their ungodliness (2 Peter 2:5)

3) Sin conquered (Genesis 6:5)
a. As wickedness increased, it prevailed to the extent that all were lost.
I do not why or how God allowed sin to go unchecked until the flood. I can only say that such was according to His purpose and necessary to the salvation of a multitude that cannot be numbered. (Revelation 5:9–11; 7:9)

4) Few were righteous (Genesis 7:1; 7:7)
a. “Eight souls were saved by water”
b. “Noah the eighth person”

5) Appointed for destruction (Genesis 6:17)
a. God purposed to destroy man in judgment of his sins (6:7, 6:17; 7:4).
b. This was necessary to God’s eternal purpose in Christ for salvation (Ephesians 1:9ff).

E) The Times (Days) Were Trying (cf. 2 Peter 2:5, 9)
1) People were indifferent (Matthew 24:39)
a. “And knew not…” (v. 39)
b. How could they not know? (Genesis 6:3; 2 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 3:19)
c. They did not know because they were interested in other things (Luke 21:34–36)

2) The work was difficult (Genesis 6:14–21)
a. Imagine building a 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet tall with only 4 men.
b. Noah had to gather all the materials, build the ark, and acquire all the food and supplies.
c. In all this, Noah was diligent and obedient (Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7).

3) The results were discouraging (1 Peter 3:20)
a. Every morning out on the local “sandlot” Noah and his sons were up early hammering, sawing and applying pitch.
b.Whenever a crowd gathered Noah would preach righteousness and judgment to come.
c. When the day ended it was Noah and his sons hammering, sawing and applying pitch.

4) The reality was sad (Ezekiel 14:14, 20)
a. For all their effort, for all their pleading, for all their sincere desire to see the world saved, they could only save themselves (cf. Genesis 7:1).
b. Noah could not repent for the world; he could not pray for the world; he could not obey for the world (Ezekiel 18:20).

5) The outcome was horrifying (Hebrews 11:7)
a. Noah condemned the world.
b. The result of his preaching left them without excuse (cf. Romans 1:20).
c. The inevitable reality was that impentient men would perish (2 Peter 2:5)

F) Our Days are “as the days of Noah" (Matthew 24:36–39)
The days, the last days before Christ comes again are “as” or “like” the “days of Noah.
a. The days are evil days (Ephesians 5:16).
1) Marriage is abused
2) The wicked rule
3) Violence prevails
4) Men are corrupt and being corrupted
5) Certainly, God is grieved

b. These days are dark days (2 Timothy 3:13)
1) It is a time of apostasy
2) The God's Word is rejected
3) Sin is conquering the world and religious institutions
4) There seem to be few righteous (but there are more then eight)
5) Our world is appointed for destruction (2 Peter 3:7)

c. These days are trying days (2 Peter 2:9)
1) People are indifferent (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 3:1)
2) The work is difficult (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
3) The results are horrifying. (Luke 13:23; 18:8)
4) The reality is sad (Acts 2:40)
5) The outcome is horrifying (2 Peter 3:10)

d. We must face “our” days as Noah faced “his” days.
1) Noah sought and found God’s grace. (Genesis 6:8; Hebrews 11:6)
2) Noah was obedient to God’s Word. (Genesis 6:22; 7:5)
3) Noah trusted God for what he could not provide himself. (Genesis 7:14–16; cf. 2:19) However, what God required he did. (Genesis 6:14, 21–22)
4) God never requires more than we are able to do. (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 5:3)
5) Noah understood that he preached and God converts. (2 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 3:19–20)
6) By human standards Noah, John the Baptist and Stephen were poor preachers. However, by Divine standards they're great men. (1 Corinthians 3:6–7; Colossians 2:19)
7) Growth and success are determined by God and not by numbers. (1 Peter 3:20)
8) Noah was concerned for the lost. (Genesis 7:4-5; 1 Peter 3:20)
9) As long as there was time there was hope. (2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Peter 3:9, 3:15)
10) The flood was very real to Noah long before it ever came. (Hebrews 11:7)
11) The return of Jesus Christ, the judgement and hell must become real to us.