The Seven Churches of Revelation

The Letters of the Risen Christ to His Church

Before the great visions of Revelation unfold, the risen Christ dictates seven letters to seven real churches in the cities of Asia Minor, and through them to his whole church in every age. He knows each one by name: the busy church that left its first love, the poor and persecuted church he calls rich, the compromised, the tolerant, the church with a name to be alive but dead, the faithful little church with an open door, and the lukewarm church at whose door he stands and knocks. Each letter shows how he presents himself, what he commends, what he warns, and his promise to the one who overcomes.

The Church at EphesusLeft its first love · Revelation 2:1-7The Church at SmyrnaFaithful unto death · Revelation 2:8-11The Church at PergamosFaithful in a hard place, yet compromised · Revelation 2:12-17The Church at ThyatiraGrowing in love, yet tolerating Jezebel · Revelation 2:18-29The Church at SardisA name to live, but dead · Revelation 3:1-6The Church at PhiladelphiaLittle strength, kept his word · Revelation 3:7-13The Church at LaodiceaNeither cold nor hot · Revelation 3:14-22

These were seven real churches in real cities of Asia Minor, near the end of the first century, and the letters were addressed to them by name. The church has always read them also as a word of the risen Christ to his whole church in every age, and to each believer who has an ear to hear. They are not a coded calendar of the end of the world, and no date is set here. They are the searching, loving words of the Lord who still walks among his churches.

The same Lord walks among the lampstands

These letters are not distant history. The One who walked among the seven churches walks among his people still, and he is calling you. Come and know Jesus, read his word, pray, and gather with the family of God on The Living Bread. Free, with no ads, for all people.

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