To the messenger of the church in Ephesus
"To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: 'The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says this: 'I know what you've been doing, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false. You have endured and suffered because of my name, yet you have not grown weary. However, I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you don't, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent. But this is to your credit: You hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in God's paradise '"(Rev. 2.1-7).
The Lord commended the Christians in Ephesus for enduring hardship in his name. They do not tolerate evil people and they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Lord has one thing against them: they have left their first love. They no longer do the things they did before. The Lord is calling on them to repent, if not, he will take away their lampstand. Anyone who overcomes shall eat of the tree of life.
The good works that Christians do is light to the world. When the world sees their good works, they give glory to the Heavenly Father. The good works are the evidence of our love for God. If we do them wholeheartedly, we obey the first commandment. Loving people, helping the poor, enduring hardship, staying faithful, serving in the kingdom of God (preaching the good news to the poor, teaching people the truth, binding the broken hearted, healing the sick, and setting captives free), etc., are all good deeds. They Lord wants us to abound in them.
Any believer who, previously, has been doing these good deeds but is no longer doing them as before, is in the church of Ephesus. The Lord is calling him/her to repent and do again his first works. If he does not repent, the Lord will take away the Holy Spirit from him. If he is victorious, he will eat of the tree of life which is in God’s paradise. The Lord walks amongst the seven golden lampstands. He has the power to take away any lampstand at any time.
The name "Nicolaitans" is derived from the Greek word Nikolaos, a compound of the words Nikos and Laos. The word Nikos is the Greek word that means to conquer or to subdue. The word Laos is the Greek word for the people (laity). Nicholas literally means one who conquers and subdues the people. It may be a reference to the clergy/laity system that we see in today denominationalized “churches”.
Irenaeus and Hippolytus, two leaders in the Early Church who recorded many of the events that occurred in the early days of Church, identifies the Nicolaitans as followers of Nicolas, one of the seven chosen deacons in Acts 6, and as men who "lead lives of unrestrained indulgence". He also relates them to Gnosticism.
The Nicolaitans taught people that the law was no longer binding on Christians and thus no Christian act can be regarded as sin. It reckoned the truth of righteousness; but believed the error that a mere intellectual "belief" in this truth had a saving power.
Nicolaitans of the 2nd century seem to have continued and extended the views of the 1st century adherents, holding to the freedom of the flesh and sin, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to salvation (“Theopedia, An encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity”).
Today, the Nicolaitans doctrine is taught almost everywhere. False teachers teach that the gospel of Christ has cancelled God's law: that by "believing" we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. Christians are taught that they do not sin and that their past, present and future sins have been paid by the blood of Christ and as such they do not even need to ask for forgiveness of their sins. They are even taught that once they believe in Christ Jesus at conversion, they will go to heaven, no matter the kind of life they live. This is the Nicolaitans teaching which the Lord hates.
If we walk after the flesh and not after the spirit, we shall surely die (Romans 8.1-13) Believers who practice fleshly habits will not inherit eternal life (Galatians 5.13-26). Every fruitless branch shall be cut off (John 15.1-2). The dead shall be judged by their works (Rev 20.12). We are commanded to live holy lives (1 Peter 1. 13-21; Heb. 12.10; 2 Corinthians 7.1). The grace of God is not given to continue in sin but to purify oneself from sin. One who has truly received grace is one who no longer sins. Not sinning is the fruit of grace.
To the messenger of the church in Smyrna
"To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write: 'The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this: 'I know your suffering and your poverty—though you are rich—and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan. Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor's crown of life. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death'" (Rev.2.8-11).
The Christians in the Smyrna church are poor in earthly goods (though they are spiritually rich) and they have suffered because of their faith in the Lord. The Smyrna church is under persecution from sinners and false Christians. The persecution would get tougher because some of them would be thrown into prison. The Lord calls on these Christians to endure persecution and not give up. Anyone who is faithful to death will be given the crown of life and be spared from the second death.
The early Christians suffered severe persecutions from the Roman Empire. Today, some Christians, though few, are still suffering from tough persecution. Christians in the Middle East are suffering severe persecutions from the Islamists. The two witnesses will suffer great persecution under the last beast.
If any believer is going through tough persecution, the Lord is calling on him to endure even in death. If he proves victorious, he shall be spared from the second death and given a crown of life.
The Lord was dead but is now alive. Those who die in faith will also live.
To the messenger of the church in Pergamum
"To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: 'The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this: 'I know where you live. Satan's throne is there. Yet you hold on to my name and have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So repent. If you don't, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it'" (Rev. 2.12-17).
Pergamum was an influential city in the Roman Empire. It was a political Centre in Asia Minor. The city had three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor, another for the goddess Athena, and the Great Altar of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. The people of Pergamum worshipped a myriad of Greek and Roman gods. When Christianity arrived with the belief in just one God, the city's pagan priests attacked them and their most famous victim was Antipas.
Jesus called Antipas "my faithful martyr". He was the bishop of Pergamum, ordained by the Apostle John, and his faith got the attention of the priests of Asclepios. Antipas was sentenced to death on the Altar of Zeus for rejecting the divinity of the emperor of Rome.
Christians in Pergamum are Christians who live in areas where Satan’s throne is. Satan’s kingdom is the Roman Empire and his throne is in Rome and Saudi Arabia or all other areas dominated by Roman Catholism, Islam and Nicolaitans. Christians living in such places may fear or hesitate to stand for the truth for fear of public rejection or of dying as Antipas. The Lord is calling forth on all the Christians in such areas to stay away from the deadly idolatrous doctrines (eating food sacrificed to idols). If not, he will wage war on them and kill them with the sword in his mouth. The Lord holds the sharp two-edged sword and he will kill every false person in his house.
To the messenger of the church in Thyatira
"To the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write: 'The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this: 'I know what you've been doing—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance—and that your last actions are greater than the first.
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her immorality. Look! I am going to strike her with illness. Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your actions deserve. 'But as for the rest of you in Thyatira—you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan—I won't burden you with anything else. Just hold on to what you have until I come. To the person who conquers and continues to do what I've commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; shattering them like clay pots.' 'Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 2.18-29).
The church of Thyatira is doing great works for the Lord. Their works are greater than the first. The Lord commends them for this. But the Lord has a complaint against them. Some of them are into idolatry. The woman Jezebel represents false churches led by false teachers who teach errors. These false teachers lead many to worship another spirit instead of the spirit of God.
Mammon worship is practiced in many “churches” today. The mammon teachers abound in our time. These false teachers equate mammon to spiritual fruitfulness. Instead of teaching the life of self-denial, these false teachers teach people how to acquire all the comforts of this life. They highly esteem money and lead people to devote their whole live to make money instead of devoting their lives to God. Greed is the sin of Idolatry (Col.3.5).
These harlot churches have “spiritual fathers” and “spiritual mothers” that are idolized. These “spiritual fathers” are praised and looked up to instead of God. We have only one Father in Heaven and one master, the Christ (Mathew 23.9). He is the Father of all spirits (Heb. 12.9).
There are churches today who are doing great works for the Lord but they accept the false teachings of Jezebel. The sin of idolatry is punishable by death and it overrides all other good works. The Lord has already condemned the Jezebel church because she will never repent of her idolatry. These false teachers will never repent because they belong to the devil. She has been condemned and so are her children (the followers of the false teachers). Anyone who is in the church of Jezebel should come out of her if he hopes to see life. The Lord will reward faithful Christians (Christians who have refused to follow her teachings) when he returns. The Lord Jesus is the son of God and he will give the faithful Christians the authority to rule the nations of the earth.
To the messenger of the church in Sardis
"To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: 'The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: 'I know what you've been doing. You are known for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left, which are about to die. I note that your actions are incomplete before my God. So remember what you received and heard. Obey it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you won't know the time when I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me in white clothes because they are worthy. The person who conquers in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and his angels. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.1-6).
The Christians in Sardis are asleep. Unlike the other above churches, the church in Sardis is not working at all, and the little work which they have done is crumbling. These Christians are not doing the good deeds for which they were created in Christ. Their light is not shining.
The Lord is calling the sleeping Christians to wake up and strengthen that which is about to die. If they continue to sleep, the master will arrive at a time that they are not ready. If the Lord meets them sleeping, they will not be raptured. They must let their light to shine and do good (Ephesians 2.10; Titus 3.14).
If you are a Christian who is not doing good deeds, you will be left behind. The victorious Christian will be dressed in a white garment (the white garment of good deeds of the saints, Rev 19.8).
To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia
"To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: 'The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens a door that no one can shut, and who shuts a door that no one can open, 'says this: 'I know what you've been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan—those who claim to be Jews and aren't, but are lying—come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize that I have loved you. Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of testing that is coming to the whole world to test those living on the earth. I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your victor's crown. I will make the one who conquers to become a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own new name. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.7-13).
The Christians in Philadelphia are the obedient Christians. They keep the words of the Lord patiently and perseveringly and they eventually bear much fruit. These Christians are the first fruits of the entire harvest. The church of Philadelphia receives full commendation from the Lord.
The Christians in Philadelphia are the 144000 saints. They will be a pillar in the new Jerusalem (Rev 21.1, 12-17). They have the name of the Heavenly Father and the name of the city of God on their foreheads (Rev 14.1). They follow the Lord wherever He goes (Rev 14.4). The Christians in the Philadelphia church will be protected from the disasters of the trumpets and the seven bowls of God’s anger (Rev 7.1-4). The Christians in Philadelphia are holy and true as their Lord.
If you are a committed Christian who obeys the Lord perseveringly, He admonishes you to hold on lest another takes your place.
To the messenger of the church in Laodicea
"To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: 'The Amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the originator of God's creation, says this: 'I know your actions, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so you may be rich, white clothes to wear so your shameful nakedness won't show, and ointment to put on your eyes so you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent! Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place to sit with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.14-22).
The Christians in Laodicea are lukewarm Christians. They are not salty (zealous). Their light is no light at all. They claim to belong to the Lord but they are neither devoted nor committed to him. The comforts of earthly riches have taken away their commitment to God. They do not desire much of spiritual things nor the Lord.
Unlike the Church in Smyrna, the church of Laodicea is rich in earthly goods but poor spiritually. They are poor but they think that they rich.
If you are a materially rich Christian, the Lord wants you to trade the material wealth for true spiritual wealth. The Lord is asking the Laodicea Christian to buy of Him true riches. He is calling on the Laodicea Christians to repent. If not, he will cut them off. The victorious Christian will sit on the Lord’s throne.
The Question
In which church(s) are you in?
He who has ears, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. Amen.