Breakdown of info re letters to 7 churches

 

From--

1.     Ephesus – He that holdeth the 7 stars in His right hand & walketh in the midst

       of the golden candlesticks.

2.     Smyrna – The first & the last, which was dead and is alive.

3.     Pergamos – He which hath the sharp sword w/2 edges.

4.     Thyatira – The Son of God who hath eyes like a flame of fire & feet like fine brass.

5.     Sardis – He that hath the 7 spirits of God & the 7 stars.

6.     Philadelphia – He that is holy & true, hath the Key of David, openeth & no man shutteth, shutteth & no man openeth.

7.     Laodicea – The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

 

1-7 -----I KNOW YOUR WORKS.

 

Facts acknowledged—

  1. labour, patience, canÕt bear those that are evil, tried those claiming to be apostles and are not and found them liars, hast borne, hast patience, for my nameÕs sake have labored & not fainted, you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans—which I also hate.

 

  1. They suffer tribulation, their poverty (yet they are rich), suffer blasphemy of those claiming to be Jews but are of synagogue of Satan.

 

  1. where you dwell—even where SatanÕs seat is, you hold fast my name, you havenÕt denied my faith (even to martyrdom).

 

  1. charity, service, faith, patience, works (now more abundant than at beginning).

 

  1. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  You have some things about you ready to die; your works arenÕt perfect before God.  There are a few in Sardis which havenÕt defiled their garments.

 

  1. You have little strength, youÕve kept my word and not denied my name.

 

  1. You are neither cold or hot, you are materially rich & need nothing (or so you think); you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind & naked.

 

Rebukes—

  1. You have left your first love.

               Remember from where you have fallen, REPENT, & do your first works

                                                            Or

               I will come quickly to remove your candlestick unless you repent.

 

  1. none
  2. You are tolerating those who hold the doctrine of Balaam & the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

REPENT                OR     

I will come unto thee and fight against them w/the sword of my mouth.

 

  1. You allow Jezebel to teach false doctrine & seduce ÒmyÓ servants to commit fornication & eat food sacrificed to idols.

Those that commit adultery w/her will face great tribulation except they REPENT.

               I will kill her children w/death.

               I will give to every one according to your works.

 

  1. You have a name that you live but are dead

Be watchful       OR       I will come on thee as a thief and you wonÕt know what hour I will come

               Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.

               I havenÕt found your works perfect before God—

                              Remember how you received & heard

                              Hold fast

                              REPENT

 

  1. none

 

  1. You are lukewarm

               I will spit you out of my mouth.

                              Buy of me gold tried in the fire & white raiment.

                              Annoint your eyes with salve.

                              Be zealous & REPENT.

 

Promises to Overcomers—

  1. He that overcometh will get to eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God

 

  1. DonÕt fear what you are going to suffer.  The devil will put some of you in a prison to test you.  You will have tribulation ten days.  Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.

 

He that overcomes wonÕt be hurt by the second death.

 

  1. To him that overcomes I will give the hidden manna & a white stone w/a new name that only he knows.

 

  1. To those who are not consorting w/Jezebel and the depths of Satan—IÕm just asking you to hold on til I come. 

 

He that overcomes and keeps my works to the end, I will give power over the nations and the morning star (Jesus).

 

  1. Those who havenÕt soiled their garments will walk w/me in white. 

 

He that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment, his name will stay in the book of Life, and I will confess him before my Father and the angels.

 

  1. You have an open door of access to me.   Those of the synagogue of Satan will worship at your feet and see that I love you.  I will keep you from the hour of temptation which will come on the whole world.  Hold fast what you have.

 

The overcomer will be a pillar in the temple of my God and go no more out.  I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God and my new name.

 

  1. I rebuke and chasten those I love.  I want fellowship with you, but you have to invite me in. 

 

The overcomer will sit with me in my throne as I sit with my Father in His.

 

1-7 ----- HE THAT HATH AN EAR LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.   (Note that Jesus is the one dictating the letter and here He is identifying Himself with the Spirit; in 2:18 He identifies Himself as the Son of God.)

 

 

Observations:

Jesus is in the midst of His churches.  (1:13 & 2:1)

 

Those churches deserving of rebuke were told to repent.

 

Smyrna and Philadelphia were not rebuked.

 

Smyrna and Philadelphia both had to deal with those who claim to be Jews and are not, Òof the synagogue of Satan.Ó

 

Spiritually strong churches (Smyrna & Philadelphia) seem to be the weakest physically.

 

The Nicolaitans were active in Ephesus and Pergamos.

 

The first three churches – the promise to the overcomer follows Òhe that hath and ear.Ó  In the letters to the last four churches that order is reversed. 

 

Ephesus and Sardis were urged to Òremember.Ó 

Ephesus – from where they had fallen; Sardis – how you received and heard.

 

Smyrna thinks they are poor, but they are rich.

Laodicea thinks it is rich, but it is poor.