The seven churches of the Apocalypse, today

The seven churches in Asia shown to John in Revelations, chapters 2 and 3, were churches of that day.

The seven churches are representative of all local churches in every age. I see characteristics in individual Christians today as these churches are addressed.

I believe a Christian should look closely at the characteristics of these seven churches and see where they may fit in, or better yet, where they want to belong.

Let us look at one of the churches in detail: Revelations 2:1-7 speaks of the Church of the Ephesus, they reject evil but their love for Christ is no longer fervent. They were told to repent and do the first works over or “I will remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”

“Remove your lampstand?” Sounds like the congregation may continue to exist without being a light in the darkness.

As we see, the seven churches shown in Revelations, chapters 2 and 3, all have particular characteristics: the church of: Ephesus, “the loveless church”; Smyrna, “the persecuted church”; Pergamos, “the compromising church”; Thyatire, “ the corrupt church”; Sardis, “the dead church”; Philadelphia, “the faithful church”; Laodicean, “the lukewarm church.”

As we study these seven churches, we see that there is no criticism for two of these churches, the church of Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia. I believe the church of Philadelphia is the church for the end-times Christians to pattern themselves after. They “persevered” in the faith in a great time of testing.

There is also no criticism for the church of Smyrna, which endured much suffering and poverty. They were told not to be afraid of what they were about to suffer.

Christians today must take up the word of God and persevere in the faith; hold on to what God tells us we have in Christ Jesus, for we have been redeemed from sin, sickness and poverty.

A lot of Christians believe the atonement was only for sin, which it was. But at that same time we received atonement for sickness and poverty. Many born-again believers don’t believe for the blessings that God gave us in healing and prosperity through Jesus Christ. The church of Philadelphia persevered in the faith because they held onto all of God’s promises, and this is where Christians need to be today.

The inspired word of God shows us in Mark 16:15-18 what Jesus said, and we are to believe in all these verses, 15, 16, “... go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Many Christians believe these two verses, but then Jesus goes on to say you must believe for the next two verses also. “And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

I see the church of Philadelphia in Revelations believing for all of these verses, and they persevered. They did not let go of all that Jesus said they could have.

I know that some scholars question the authenticity of the last 12 verses in Mark chapter 16, but these verses only reflect what the gospels and the epistles show us in the inspired word of God, and by faith I believe these scriptures in Mark 16, I persevere in the faith.

The persecution of the Christians in many Third World countries grows more aggressive every day, while here in America it is easy to become like the church of Ephesus, love for Christ no longer fervent. We are fast approaching the end of the timeline for this age. The body of Christ needs to stand strong and persevere in the faith in what will be a great time of testing.

1 Peter 2:9 tells the Christians what we have in Christ, “... You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ, and are born again, all the promises of God’s Word are ours to partake of. We must persevere in the faith to receive them, though.