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The Seven Churches and the Seven Messages – in summary form  – just as relevant and vital to today’s Christians:

Message to Ephesus:

Praise: Deeds, hard work, perseverance

Criticism: They have left their first love

Exhortation: Repent and do the deeds they did at first

Reward: Given right to eat from the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lamp stands’ – Revelation 2:1

Message to Smyrna:

Praise: Endured tribulation and poverty

Criticism: None (only one of two churches that doesn’t receive any criticism)

Exhortation: Be faithful until death and receive crown of life

Reward: Not hurt by second death

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life’ – Revelation 2:8

Message to Pergamum:

Praise: Have remained faithful

Criticism: Some among them commit idolatry and sexual immorality

Exhortation: Repent

Reward: Given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘The One who has the sharp two-edged sword’ – Revelation 2:12

Message to Thyatira:

Praise: Deeds, love and faith, and perseverance

Criticism: Idolatry and sexual immorality

Exhortation: “what you have [the deeds, love, faith, perseverance], hold fast until I come” – Revelation 2:25

Reward: Given authority over the nations and given the morning star

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze’ – Revelation 2:18

Message to Sardis:

Praise: None

Criticism: “You are dead” – Revelation 3:1

Exhortation: Wake up and Repent

Reward: Be clothed in white garments; his name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars’ – Revelation 3:1

Message to Philadelphia:

Praise: Deeds and faithfulness

Criticism: None (second of only two churches that doesn’t receive any criticism)

Exhortation: “hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” – Revelation 3:11

Reward: Become a pillar of the temple

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens’ – Revelation 3:7

Message to Laodicea:

Praise: None

Criticism: ‘You are lukewarm…I will spit you out of My mouth.’ – Revelation 3:16

Exhortation: Be earnest and repent

Reward: Will be seated with Christ on His throne

Description of the Lord Jesus: ‘The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God’ – Revelation 3:14

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

– Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22.