1“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write:
“He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:
2“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. 3You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent. 6But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
8“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write:
“The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
9“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.
12“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write:
“He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15So also you likewise have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it.
18“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write:
“The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
19“I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first. 20But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22Behold, I will throw her and those who commit adultery with her into a bed of great oppression, unless they repent of her works. 23I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira—as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan’—to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you. 25Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come. 26He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. 27He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots, as I also have received of my Father; 28and I will give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
| Church | Passage | Praise | Rebuke | Command | Punishment | Reward | Name meaning | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ephesus | Rev 2:1-7 | Good works and patience; exposed false apostles; hated the practices of the Nicolaitans | Forsook their first love | Remember the height from which you have fallen; return to your first love | Removal of the lampstand | Overcomers will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God | Desired one | Apostolic church (AD 30–100) |
| Smyrna | Rev 2:8-11 | Afflicted and poor, yet rich | No rebuke | Do not be afraid; be faithful to the point of death | — | The faithful receive the crown of life; overcomers will not be hurt by the second death | Myrrh | Early church (100–312) |
| Pergamum | Rev 2:12-17 | Remained true to Christ’s name and did not renounce their faith | Some held to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans | Repent | Christ will come and fight against them with the sword of his mouth | Overcomers will eat hidden manna and receive a white stone with a new name | Thoroughly married | Constantine (312–606) |
| Thyatira | Rev 2:18-29 | Good deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance; doing more than at first | Toleration of Jezebel | Repent | Jezebel and those who commit adultery with her will suffer; her children will be struck dead; each will be repaid according to their deeds | Overcomers receive authority over the nations, rule with an iron scepter, and receive the morning star | Continuous sacrifice | Roman Catholic Church (606–Tribulation) |
| Sardis | Rev 3:1-6 | A few people had not soiled their clothes | Had a reputation for being alive, but were dead | Wake up; strengthen what remains; obey what you received and heard; repent | Christ will come like a thief in the night to those who do not wake up | Overcomers will be dressed in white, remain in the book of life, and be acknowledged before the angels | Those escaping | The Reformation (1520–Tribulation) |
| Philadelphia | Rev 3:7-13 | Kept the word of God and did not deny his name | No rebuke | Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown | — | Overcomers become pillars in God’s temple and receive a new name | Brotherly love | Modern church—true (1750–Rapture) |
| Laodicea | Rev 3:14-22 | No praise | Lukewarm; falsely secure; wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked | Buy refined gold, white clothes, and eye salve; invite Christ in | Christ will spew them out of his mouth | Overcomers will sit with Christ on his throne | The people ruling | Modern church—false (1900–Tribulation) |
Adapted from H. Wayne House and Randall Price, Charts of Bible Prophecy, 142–43.