| Church | Translation / Reff | Jesus Descriptor | Commendation | Warning | Final comments | Call to listen | Notes |
| Ephesus Fought Heresy but lost love | Permitted Acts 18:19, 21,24,19:1,17,26,35,20:16,17 1 Cor. 15:32 16:8,Eph. 1:1, 1 Tim. 1:3, 2 Tim. 1:18,4:12, Rev. 1:11,2:1 | (Rev. 2:1 NKJ) He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands | (Rev. 2:2-3 NKJ) I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary | (Rev. 2:4-5 NKJ) “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place– unless you repent. | (Rev. 2:6 NKJ) 6 “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. | (Rev. 2:7 NKJ) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” | Nicolaitans = “destruction of people” 1) a sect mentioned in Rev. 2:6,15, who were charged with holding the error of Balaam, |
| Smyrna Holding true in tribulation | Myrrh Only in REVELATION | (Rev. 2:8 NKJ) These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life | Rev. 2:9-10 NKJ) 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. | NONE | NONE | (Rev. 2:11 NKJ) 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”‘ | NONE |
| Pergamos Keeping the faith in tribulation. Allowing doctrines of Balaam / greed to creep in. | height or elevation Only in REVELATION | (Rev. 2:12 NKJ) These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword | (Rev. 2:13 NKJ) 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. | (Rev. 2:14-16 NKJ) 14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 `Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. | NONE | (Rev. 2:17 NKJ) 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”‘ | (Isa. 11:4 NKJ) 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. (Rev. 19:15 NKJ) 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. |
| Thyatira Keeping in Love service faith and patience Tolerating heresy | odour of affliction Acts 16:14 Prison Miracle (Acts 16:28 NKJ) “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” | (Rev. 2:18 NKJ) These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:6 | (Rev. 2:19 NKJ) 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. | (Rev. 2:20-23 NKJ) 20 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. | (Rev. 2:24-28 NKJ) 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 “But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations– 27 `He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels ‘– as I also have received from My Father; 28 “and I will give him the morning star Jesus / HOLY Spirit see below | (Rev. 2:29 NKJ) 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘ | (Rev. 1:15 NKJ) His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furn(Rev. 1:15 NKJ) His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnaceace |
| Sardis The Dead Church | red ones Only in REVELATION | (Rev. 3:1 NKJ) These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: | NONE | (Rev. 3:1-3 NKJ) “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. | (Rev. 3:4-5 NKJ) 4 “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. | (Rev. 3:6 NKJ) 6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘6 | 3:1 the seven spirits of God (cf. note on 1:4-6). A figurative description of the one Holy Spirit, who issues an edict to each of the seven churches (2:7, 11, 17; etc.). He will also appear as the Lamb’s seven eyes, sent throughout the earth (5:6). Jesus knows this church’s reality (dead), not just its reputation (alive); he holds the seven stars that signify the churches’ true identities. |
| Philadelphia Kept Word and Persevered | brotherly love Only in REVELATION | (Rev. 3:7 NKJ) These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” Noah | (Rev. 3:8-10 NKJ) 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie– indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. | NONE | (Rev. 3:11-12 NKJ) 11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. | (Rev. 3:13 NKJ) 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘ | NONE |
| Laodicea Lukewarm Church | justice of the people (Col. 2:1 NKJ) Paul pleads with them about not falling into works doctrine Col. 2:1, 4:13,15,16 Rev. 1:11 | (Rev. 3:14 NKJ) These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: | NONE | (Rev. 3:15-17 NKJ) “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 “Because you say,`I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’– and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– | (Rev. 3:18-21 NKJ) 18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. | (Rev. 3:22 NKJ) 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘” | |
| Notes or Comments | STARS = MESSENGERS or Angles (Rev. 1:20 NKJ) seven stars are the (32 angels) of the seven churches LAMPSTANDS = Church’s / Believers assembled (Rev. 1:20 NKJ) seven lampstands which you saw are the seven (1577 churches). 1577 ἐκκλησία ekklesia {ek-klay-see’-ah} Meaning: 1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly 32 ἄγγελος aggelos {ang’-el-os} Meaning: 1) a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God | Seven Spirits (Rev. 1:4-5 NKJ) 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven (4151 Spirits) who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 4151 πνεῦμα pneuma {pnyoo’-mah} Meaning: 1) a movement of air (a gentle blast 1a) of the wind, hence the wind itself 1b) breath of nostrils or mouth 2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated | NONE | (Ps. 149:6-7 NKJ) 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; (Isa. 49:1-2 NKJ) NKJ Isaiah 49:1 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. 2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.” (Isa. 66:16-17 NKJ) 16 For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD. (Rev. 1:16 NKJ) 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.6 | (2 Pet. 1:17-19 NKJ) 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (Rev. 22:16 NKJ) 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” | (Rev. 21:7 NKJ) “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (1 Jn. 5:5 NKJ) 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? | |