Seven Churches of Revelation

by David Treybig

The apostle John was given important messages to the seven churches of Revelation. How are we to understand this section of Scripture today?

Map of the seven churches Jesus Christ addressed in Revelation 2 and 3 (artwork by Kelly Cunningham).

As the first chapter of thebook of Revelation explains, the apostle John was given a vision of end-time events leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. Part of the instruction that John received was: “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea” (verse 11). The order of these cities corresponds to “the route along which a courier fromPatmos [where John received the vision] would have carried the scroll” (ESV Study Bible, Revelation 2:11).

Instructions God gave each church:

• Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7): Don’t lose your love for God’s truth or His people.
• Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11): Remain faithful in the face of tribulation and poverty.
• Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17): Resist Satan’s influence, even to death, if necessary.
• Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29): Resist false teaching.
• Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6): Remain zealous and pure in conduct.
• Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13): Persevere and walk through the doors God opens.
• Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22): Don’t become lukewarm about God’s way of life.