Seven Churches

Seven Churches in Revelation	Created Date: 21-Jan-2017
Mapped against Seven Kingdom Parables	Last updated: 7-May-2023
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Sections

1	The Churches, Parables and Paul's Letters	2	The Church of Ephesus
3	The Church of Symyrna	4	The Church of Pergamos
5	The Church of Thyatira	6	The Church of Sardis
7	The Church of Philadelphia	8	The Church of Laodicea
9	Comparison Summary

The entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is one book that was designed and implemented by the Holy Spirit to direct us to the central message of God the Father sending Jesus Christ the Son of God to everyone who has lived and will live as a way through Grace unto Salvation, Jesus Christ is the only solution to be in eternity with God, where if you have not asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior do so now.

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

The Churches and Parables

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is speaking to John the Apostle to write messages for the Angel in charge of seven churches for the people at the churches to know.

There is a symmetry of a message that the Holy Spirit has given us in the parallel patterns of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation when mapped with seven kingdom parables.

At the time that Jesus Christ gave John the Words to be written, there were at least 100 Churches existing at that time. There are at least three questions:

Why did Jesus Christ select these seven Churches when there were so many to choose from?
Is there any importance of the order of the seven chosen Churches by Jesus Christ?
Can these Churches, which are existing Churches at the time the Book of Revelation is written, also be about the status of the whole Church of Jesus Christ going forward until the Great Tribulation Period?

Theoretical possibilities by Biblical Scholars and this author:

This was roughly 63 years after Pentecost. There were other well-known Churches such as the ones located in Antioch, Colossae, Derbe, Galatia, Iconium, Jerusalem, Lystra, Miletus, Pilipi, Rome and Troas to name a few others. Biblical Scholars point out that Jesus Christ chose these seven Churches because they all had characteristics or attributes of the well-being of the entire Church, which includes every denomination, throughout the history of the Christian Faith.
Absolutely, the order of the Churches chosen by Jesus Christ have a purpose which most Biblical Scholars have stated that they are meant to deliver a message with a meaning that is similar to the parables. All Churches in the world today, all have people that are in different stages of growth in their relationship with God, and unfortunately there are people going to church to feel good about themselves, for business networking and for other selfish reasons like a desire for power, getting attention and to prey upon others for financial gains along with even sexual conquests that often are adultery.
The order of the messages of the Churches, according to some Biblical Scholars and this author, also represents the general health based on time-periods of the entire Church, which includes every denomination, throughout the history of the Christian Faith. When we apply the time periods to each of the seven Churches, the message by Jesus Christ is very applicable for His good Words and the Constructive Criticism.

The chart below maps the summary of the seven churches theoretically with the seven Kingdom Parables.

	Book of Revelation	Classical Description	Seven Kingdom Parables	Additional Time Period Prophetic Mapping Theory	High Level Notes
1	Church as Ephesus Rev 2:1-7	Apostolic Church	The Sewing and 4 Soils Matthew 13:1-23 Mark 4:1-20 Luke 8:1-15	30 AD - 100 AD	Early Church sewing of Believers. There was suffering but the Believers were spiritually rich because of it.
2	Smyrna Rev 2:8-11	Persecuted Church	Parable of the Wheat and Tares Matthew 13:24-30	100 AD - 313 AD	Bad people (tares) enter the Church Nostrasycism and Ceaser worship introduced at that time
3	Pergamos Rev 2:12-17	The Married to the World Church	The Mustard Seed Matthew 13:31-32	313 AD - 590 AD	Church gets too big and marries the World (State churches?)
4	Thyatira Rev 2:18-29	Medieval Church	The Parable of the Woman & the Leaven Luke 13:20-21	590 AD - 1517 AD	Jesibel introducing false doctrine. Woman putting Leaven in bread (bad)
5	Sardis Rev 3:1-6	Denominational Church	The Treasure in the Field Matthew 13:44	1517 AD - 1730 AD	A "Name that it lived". Confessed Jesus.
6	Philadelphia Rev 3:7-13	Missionary Church	The Pearl of Great Price Matthew 13:45-46	1730 AD - 1900 AD	Kept the Word against opposition.
7	Laodicea Rev 3:14-22	Apostate Church	The Dragnet Matthew 13:47-50	1900 AD - Present	The final church where the World is reaped, good and bad are separated.

An extensive study can be done on the cities where the Churches are located which will support the persecution, peaceful or monetary prosperity. Many Biblical Commentaries have stated that when the Church is being persecuted then the people become blessed, earn rewards and have positive things said to them by Jesus Christ.

The Church of Ephesus

The church of Ephesus, Rev 2:1-7, is the Church that worked very hard with perseverance. Early Church sewing and the soils. There was suffering but the Believers were rich because of it.

Positives	1. Hard Work 2. Perseverance 3. Does not tolerate wicked people. 4. Testing fake apostles 5. Perseverance in Jesus Christ's name 6. Not grown weary. 7. Hate the Nicolaitans* who Christ hates
Negatives	Forsaken the first love of Jesus Christ.
Warning (negative)	Revelation 2:5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Rewards	Revelation 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Kingdom Parable Sowing of Seeds Matthew 13:1-23 Mark 4:1-20 Luke 8:1-15	Four groups of seeds, which represent the Word of God received by people, are given as a parable on seeds falling on different types of ground. 1. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 2. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 3. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 4 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

* The Nicolaitans were a heretical sect that took to some of the teaching of Christianity, but flagrantly did other actions that were diametrically apposed to Christianity. Specifically, the two primary sins as spoken by Jesus Christ, is they believed in polygamy that can be forgiven repeatedly after a specific amount of days, and food offered up unto idols was okay to be done and then eaten which gave false worship to idols.

The Church of Smyrna

The Church of Smyrna had nothing negative spoken about them. They were under many afflictions with poverty and will be rewarded.

Positives	1. Rich in Jesus Christ's with Rewards in Heaven. 2. Under many afflictions and poverty. 3. Tested, maybe in prison, for ten days. 4 Victory, by being faithful and will receive a victor's crown. 5. No fear for the second death.
Negatives	Nothing bad spoken against them by Jesus Chirst.
Warning (positive)	Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Rewards	Revelation 2:11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Parable of the Wheat and Tares Matthew 13:24-30	Good seeds, which represent people who receive the Word of God for their life, is planted in good soil. The enemy, Satanic Forces and Lucifer, corrupt the good soil with bad seeds which are bad people who are loyal only to evil. 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The Church of Pergamos

The Church of Pergamos had good people who had let some people in their church bring in two specific problems that were very offensive to JJesus Christ.

Positives	1. True and loyal to Jesus Christ. 2. Live where Lucifer (Satan) has his primary thrown. 3. Kept persevering even after the death of the faithful witness Antipas.
Negatives	1. Some people holding to the wrong teachings of Balaam which meant eating foods sacrifice to idols and sexual impurity. 2. Some people holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans*.
Warning	Revelation 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rewards	Revelation 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Parable of the Mustard Seed Matthew 13:31-32	31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Church of Thyatira

The Church of Thyatira has:

Part of the Church doing well, who are not following false teachings of a fake prophet named Jezebel*.
The other part of the Church is either deceived or enjoying the deception of the evil woman Jezebel who is exposing fake secrets of Satan (Lucifer).

Introductory Note	Revelation 2:18, introduces "These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze."
Positives	1. Deeds of Love and Faith. 2. Service with Perseverance. 3. All Positives are being done more more that at beginning of the Church of Tyatira.
Negatives	1. Tolerating the fake prophet named Jezebel* who approved of sexual immorality and eating of foods sacrificed to idols. 2. Satan's deep secrets are being given by Jezebel to some of the people in the Church of Thyatira.
Warning	21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Rewards	For those who do not follow and do not listen to Jezebel, will not have any negative consequences and Jesus Christ is saying: 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Parable of the Leaven Luke 13:20-21	20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

* Jezebel is not the Jezebel of 1 Kings 16:31. She is an evil women with the same name, who is most-likely demonically possessed, with the ability to act in a counterfeit manner as if she is a woman of the True God, which Jezebel is not, to trick the members of the Church of Thyatira. Jezebel is representative of Lucifer.

Acts 20:29 informs us of the "grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" with the same sort of intentions of this evil woman Jezebel. Jezebel's two deceptions that are against God are:

Sexual immorality is permissible and encouraged to do so..
It is okay to sacrifice something to a fake god and then eat it afterwards, where Jezebel is apparently encouraging the practice.

The admonition from Jesus Christ (which He does often in the Seven Churches Messages) of "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." in Revelation 2:29 should be a pointer for all of us that Jesus Christ is instructing us to study the seven churches for our improvement in our lives to worship and love God.

The Church of Sardis

The Church of Sardis was judged to be dead, but could repent and recover. There were members that were not dead and Jesus Christ mentions them in Revelation 3:4. The mention of "I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life" in Revelation 3:3, is a warning, as there were people in the Church of Sardis that did not yet have Salvation, where Jesus Christ is telling them to recognize Him, repent (to follow Him) and they will have Salvation. t is impossible to lose Salvation once a person is marked by the Holy Spirit.

Positives	Revelation 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
Negatives	Revelation 3:1: "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
Warning	Revelation 3:2-3 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Rewards	Revelation 3:5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Note: For the victorious who overcome, which is one of the five categories to earn rewards in heaven, will have special recognition from Jesus Christ.
The Treasure in the Field Matthew 13:44	This is how God feels about those who are called by God and recognize and choose God which enable us to become His children through Salvation. Jesus Christ did give everything for the purchase of us. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Church of Philadelphia

The Church of. Philadelphia is like the Church of Smyrna in there was nothing negative said to it by Jesus Christ.

Positives	Revelation 3:7 "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:8 "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Revelation 3:10 "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."
Negatives
Warning
Rewards	Revelation 3:11 "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name."
Notes	The Jews at the location are actually worshippers of Satan will have the consequence of embarrassment along with knowing they were not loved as those at the Church of Philadelphia is by Jesus Christ. Revelation 3:9 "I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you."
The Pearl of Great Price Matthew 13:45-46	45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: 46 and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Pearls are the only jewel created from an irritation in the clam that causes a beautiful jewel. Jesus Christ suffered the spear in His side at the Cross.

The Church of Laodicea

The Church of. Laodicea is the Church in the worst condition. Biblical Commentaries often describe the Church of Laodicea as having members that have a claim that they are Christians, but have done nothing good. A potential positive is the members have refrained from doing bad things that they know are sinful, which is why Jesus Christ stated they are neither "cold nor hot".

Positives
Negatives	Revelation 3:15-16 "15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:"
Commandment	Revelation 13:18 " I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see." Revelation 13:19 "As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Opportunity	Revelation 13:19-20 "20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne."
The Dragnet Matthew 13:47-50	47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Comparison Summary

	Church	Good Things Said	Bad Things Said	Warning	Reward	Additional
1	Ephesus	7	1	Revelation 2:5	Revelation 2:7
2	Smyrna	5			Revelation 2:11	Do not be afraid
3	Pergamos	3	2	Revelation 2:16	Revelation 2:17
4	Thyatira	3	2	Revelation 2:21-23	Revelation 2:25-29	Hold on to Faith
5	Sardis	1	1	Revelation 3:2-3
6	Philadelphia	3			Revelation 3:11-12
7	Laodicea		3

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