Revelation’s first sevenfold series (followed by seals, trumpets, and bowls) consists of seven “letters” or royal edicts, each of which follows a pattern:
- (1) The royal author describes himself in terms from ch. 1.
- (2) “I know” introduces his diagnosis of the church’s condition, both positive (except for Sardis and Laodicea) and negative (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia).
- (3) Comfort and commands flow from the diagnosis.
- (4) All of the churches are commanded to hear and heed all of the letters (“what the Spirit says to the churches,” 2:7, etc.).
- (5) A blessing is promised to “the one who conquers,” foreshadowing the final visions in chapters 21–22.
| Church | Reference | Description of Christ | Commendation | Rebuke | Solution | Consequence of Disobedience | Promise for Conquerors |
| Ephesus | 2:1–7 | holds the seven stars in his right hand; walks among the seven golden lampstands | doctrinal vigilance and endurance | loss of first love | remember, repent, and do the works done at first | removal of their lampstand | will be given the tree of life in paradise to eat |
| Smyrna | 2:8–11 | the first and the last, who died and came to life | spiritually rich, enduring persecution | — | be faithful unto death | — | will be given the crown of life and will not be hurt by the second death |
| Pergamum | 2:12–17 | has the sharp two-edged sword | holding fast Christ’s name, not denying their faith | false teaching | repent | war against them with the sword of Christ’s mouth | will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it |
| Thyatira | 2:18–29 | has eyes like a flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze | growing love, evidenced in deeds of service | lack of discernment; toleration of heresy | hold fast and keep Christ’s works till the end | each given as their works deserve | will be given the morning star and authority over the nations |
| Sardis | 3:1–6 | has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars | — | dead works | keep the Word and repent | Christ will come like a thief | will be clothed in white garments; name never blotted out of the book of life; name confessed before God and angels |
| Philadelphia | 3:7–13 | the holy one, the true one, who has the keys of David | patiently enduring, keeping God’s word and not denying his name | — | hold fast what you have | — | will be made a pillar in the temple of God, inscribed with the names of God, the new Jerusalem, and Christ |
| Laodicea | 3:14–22 | the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation | — | spiritually blind, bankrupt, naked, lukewarm | buy gold, white garments, and salve from Christ; be zealous and repent | will be spit out of Christ’s mouth | will dine with Christ; will be granted to sit with Christ on his throne |
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (pp. 2464–2465). Crossway Bibles.
