1“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:
15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. 21He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He 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.