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Have you ever wondered why some organizations get special attention by our governmental leaders? It seems that politicians, especially, are particularly fond of singling out certain kinds of corporations for praise and favor or denigration and regulation. Yet, despite these circumstances these kinds of business keep delivering the goods and services to the public.

In a similar fashion, it seems that Christ, through the Apostle John, has a special authoritative message for seven specific churches. We know from the introduction in Revelation 1:4 that the message of Revelation is directed at seven named local congregations and their pastors. Christ reinforces this when He says to the Apostle John, in Revelation 1:19-20:

Rev 1:19-20 (19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

It is clear from the following letters or messages to those specific congregations, and their pastors represent something more than just a group of believers meeting in a specific place, with particular needs and concerns. Some have declared that these churches represent phases or eras of Church history leading to the Great Tribulation. Others have declared that these congregations represent a time that has come and gone. Yet, what is clear from the text is that these churches represent, a minimum, seven kinds of churches that will be present throughout the current era of Christian history from the first century until now. As we study the Scriptures, we will discover that these seven local churches represent seven types of churches.

1. Ephesus: Loveless Righteousness (Rev. 2:1-7)

2. Smyrna (Izmir): Faithful Perseverance (Rev. 2:8-11)

3. Pergamum: False Doctrine and Compromise (Rev. 2:12-16)

4. Thyatira: False Teachers and spiritualized sexual immorality (Rev. 2:17-29)

5. Sardis: Compromised Identity (Rev. 3:1-6)

6. Philadelphia: Faithful Consistency (Rev. 3:7-13)

7. Laodicea: Complacent Apostacy (Rev. 3:14-22)

Concluding Thoughts:

We can see from our text that Christ has something to say to the church members and their pastors of seven different local church congregations. May we reflect on Christ’s words and ask ourselves, am I the kind of Christian that Christ can praise or rebuke? Am I a member of a local congregation that Christ can praise or rebuke?

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