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A Historical and Spiritual View of the

Seven Churches of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

Joan Berry, M. A.

Copyright 2018
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
3
Introduction 4
The Church at Ephesus 6
The Church at Smyrna 8
The Church at Pergamum 10
The Church at Thyatira 12
The Church at Sardis 14
The Church at Philadelphia 17
The Church at Laodicea 21
Chapter Quizzes 24
Quiz Answers 28
Source material 33

Map created by Tony Turner

Copyright 2018
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Preface

This study is written for the church layman. It gives the historical background of the

cities where the churches were located, what the names of the cities meant, and how these related

to the spiritual aspect of Christian living. Knowing these things will make the letters from Christ

much more meaningful because Christ drew upon characteristics of the cities to get his points

across in his letters.

To many people, The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ remains a mysterious book

full of symbols and figures. However, the book is not as hard to understand as some would have

it. Upon careful reading, the explanations are found in the scriptures. The figures and symbols

are largely taken from the Old Testament (OT). Of the 404 verses found in the Revelation, 265

contain expressions from the OT; and at least 550 references are made to OT passages.

I encourage readers to use this study along with your Bibles opened to the appropriate

chapters and verses. There is no substitute for God’s Word.

Joan Berry, M.A.

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Introduction

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, by general consensus of scholars, was written

by Christ’s apostle, John. Numerous times in the first chapter, John referred to himself as being

the author or the one whom God showed these things. The Revelation of Christ was given to

John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. The Romans meted out the punishment due to

John’s activities in the new Christian churches.

Christ directed his letters to seven churches in Asia Minor that occupied the western third

of what is now Turkey. The Imperial Post Road, which had been completed by the Romans about

133 B. C. E., was the connecting route between the seven churches. A messenger carrying letters

could travel from Patmos to Ephesus and from there to the other six churches in a circuitous

route. There were other Christian churches in Asia at this time (Colossi, Miletus, and Troas), but

seven churches in particular were chosen because their names by definition, location, and

characteristics that reflected religious features of periods of the Gospel Age from the days of the

apostles to the close of Earth’s history. The seven churches also represent seven aspects of the

total character of the church.

Seven is the sacred number of the scriptures especially in the Revelation because seven

represents completeness, and fullness. The seven stars that Christ holds in his right hand in

Chapter One represent angels or ministers of the churches. The seven candlestands do not

represent the seven-branched candlestand of the tabernacle. Instead, the seven individual

candlestands represent the seven churches among which the Son of Man is seen in the midst thus

fulfilling, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20), demonstrating his watchcare, presence, and
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awareness. The seven candlestands also represent the entire gospel church in seven periods as

does the seven chosen churches of Asia.

The Seven Spirits (Sevenfold Spirit) of God are also mentioned as the Holy Spirit in his

completeness. The seven spirits are wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, and knowledge, fear

of the Lord, quick understanding, and discernment, according to Isaiah11:1-3. In the letters to the

seven churches there are seven promised rewards to the overcomers that make up the sum of all

the good things that were lost through disobediences which are to be regained through faith.

Christ also promised to give a blessing to those who read, listen to, and obey what is written in

the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

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The Church at Ephesus

The First Period of the Church
Christ’s first letter was addressed to the church at Ephesus whose name means desirable.

Geographically, the city was in a most desirable location and had one of the finest harbors in

western Asia that rivaled Alexandria and Syrian Antioch. It was a leading commercial city and

by an imperial decree was made the gateway to Asia and the land trade route. The city was home

to the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A prosperous guild of

silversmiths grew up around the manufacture of images and shrines of Diana. Ephesus was

referred to as the City of Change because earthquakes were prevalent and the city was

abandoned in the fourth century C. E. The harbor began silting up in the Apostle Paul’s day and

became a 20-mile reedy marsh that separated the old harbor from the sea. Smyrna replaced it as

an outlet and center of trade of the Maeander Valley.

This period of church history was desirable because the early Christians received the

doctrine of Christ in its purity. They enjoyed the benefits and blessings of the gifts of the Holy

Spirit. The Christians also were commended for their patience, hatred of evil, zeal in testing false

apostles, perseverance under persecution, and steadfastness to the faith, and hatred of the

Nicolaitans that Christ also hated. The Nicolaitans were liberalists or modernists who believed

the church was too strict in its standards and they were advising a compromise. They used

spiritual liberty as an excuse to practice immorality. Among their practices were polygamy and

eating food sacrificed to idols. It was the beginning of the working of the “mystery of iniquity”

mentioned in II Thessalonians 2: 3-7.

Ephesus, as the city of change, symbolized the great changes that took place during this

period because the system of Christianity challenged every system of human thought at that time.
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The complaint that Christ had against Ephesus was their waning love. He wanted them to repent

and return to their first love. To the overcomer, Christ promised the righteous that they would eat

from the “tree of life” that is in the paradise of God. Christ indicated in verse seven (chapter two)

that all the churches were to benefit from his letters. The period of Ephesus was from the

resurrection of Christ to the close of the first century, or the death of the last of the apostles.
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The Church at Smyrna

The Second Period of the Church
The second letter from Christ is addressed to the church at Smyrna that was about 40

miles to the north of Ephesus. The city was famous for its science and majesty of its buildings.

When the harbor at Ephesus silted up, Smyrna replaced it as a trade center. Smyrna is a

synonymous term with myrrh which was used as a healing ointment, but its primary use was for

embalming the dead. Myrrh was made by crushing certain plants from which one of them was

bitter to taste but had a pleasant fragrance. The more the plant was crushed, the more fragrant it

became. In the center of the city of Smyrna was a conical-shaped mound more than 500-feet high

named Mount Pagus and the summit of the mount was crowned with a shrine dedicated to the

Greek goddess, Nemesis. The hilltop was known as the Crown of Smyrna and the city was

known as the Crown of Ionia.

Smyrna was to be persecuted and it would be bitter for those who went through the

afflictions, but it would be a perfume that would spread everywhere: it was the Age of Martyrs.

Christ sent a message to the church that he was once dead but now is alive and held the keys to

the grave indicating that he was able to bring them up from a martyr’s grave. Christ wanted the

Christians at Smyrna to know that he knew of their afflictions and that their poverty in earthly

things would not rob them of their spiritual riches. Christ also had the knowledge of those who

claimed to be Jews (the term here represents Christians) who were pretending to be members of

the church, but were really members of the “synagogue of Satan.” (Synagogue and church are

synonymous in this passage. The early Christian movement was considered a Jewish sect until it

broke off and formed its own church).

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It is believed by many Bible scholars that Polycarp was the “angel” or minister of the

church at the time the letter of Christ was delivered. Polycarp was martyred in 158 C. E. by

being burned at the stake on the hillside of Pagus. Afterwards, during the persecutions, 2300

more Christians gave up their lives on that same hillside.

Christ prophesied to the church that it would have tribulation ten days. According to

some Bible scholars, a day in prophetic time is a year. According to history accounts, the last and

most bloody persecution took place under Diocletian and lasted 10 years (303-312 C. E.).

Practically all of the Roman emperors during the first two periods of the church persecuted the

Christians, but 10 of them were more pronounced than the rest. They were: Nero, Domitian

(under whom John suffered and was banished to Patmos), Trajan, Hadrian, Severus, Maximinus,

Decius, Falerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian. Smyrna covers the second church period from

approximately from 100 C. E. to 323 C. E.; the Age of Martyrdom, 200-250 years during the

second and third centuries C. E.

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The Church at Pergamum

The Third Period of the Church
Pergamum (Pergamos KJV) was the recipient of the third letter from Christ. The city was

named for the hill on which it was built. Pergamum had the meaning of a union as in marriage

and also carried with it the meaning of exaltation. The city was the educational center of western

Asia and had a library containing 200,000 volumes that rivaled Alexandria. Parchment was

invented at Pergamum to free the library from Egypt’s ban on the export of papyrus. The city

was located 15 miles inland in a commanding position and was the capital of Mysia until the last

of the Pergamum kings, Attalus, died. He bequeathed both his royal and priestly offices to the

Romans in 133 B. C. E. and then the city became the chief town of the new province of Asia.

When Cyrus captured ancient Babylon, the supreme pontiff of the Chaldean mysteries

and his many priests fled and finally settled in Pergamum bringing with them the Palladium of

Babylon, the Cubic Stone. Independent of state control, the priests established a seat of ancient

Babylon sun worship. In 29 B. C. E., the city became the sight of the first temple of the Caesar-

cult erected to Rome and Augustus. Caesar became not only the emperor, but also Pontifex

Maximum of the religion of the empire. The emperor handed down the divine honors to his

successors and they were later assumed by the popes, who became the supreme pontiffs of Papal

Rome. A union (marriage) took place between church and state during this third period of the

church.

Antipas, a faithful witness, stood against the wicked ceremonies that took place at

Pergamum and lost his life because of it. He was shut up in a bronze bull that was heated until it

was red hot, and he died praising God. Christ knew that the Christians living at Pergamum were

suffering under dour conditions and great pressure to compromise their faith. His complaint
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against this church was that they were accepting the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

Balaam here represented the prototype of all corrupt teachers. Just as Balaam bartered his

religion for wealth and honor, the priests of the paganized Christian church bartered religious

rites, ordinances, relics, and indulgences for worldly gain and thus created the House of God as a

house of merchandise. The Hebrew word, Balaam, and the Greek word, Nicolaitans, practically

have the same meaning.

Christ called for the repentance of the church. They were told that if they did not repent

he would come and fight against them with the sword of his mouth (Word of God). Anciently,

the Lord withstood Balaam with a drawn sword. To the overcomer, Christ promised some of the

hidden manna and a white stone upon which the overcomer’s name would be inscribed. Christ

declared himself to be the real manna or the Bread of Life (John 6:26-63). Jesus pointed out that

only those who would eat of the living Bread would have eternal life. Citizens of Pergamum, the

capital of the judicial system of the province, were familiar with the custom of the judges using

white and black stones in making their decisions. The white stone stood for acquittal and the

black stone for condemnation. The promise of Christ was that Christian victors would be

acquitted by the Supreme Court of Heaven. White stones were also given to those who were

victorious in athletic contests in Greece and Rome. The name of the victor was inscribed upon

the stone and this gave him special privileges. These stones were also badges of friendship thus

making the promised white stone symbolic of victory and indicated a pledge of eternal friendship

with Christ. The Pergamum period of the church would date from the so-called conversion of

Constantine in 323 C. E. to the establishment of the Papacy in 538 C. E.

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The Church of Thyatira

Fourth Period of the Church
The fourth letter from Christ was delivered to the church at Thyatira. The city was

located approximately 25 miles southeast of Pergamum. It was an important manufacturing city

whose leading industries were manufacturing metal instruments and dying cloth. The city is still

well known for its purple and scarlet cloth. Christ draws an analogy from the fiery furnaces of

Thyatira to himself when he says: “The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire

and his feet are like fine brass.”

The city was founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of the leading generals of Alexander the

Great. It was a garrison city built on the plains and had no natural fortifications; therefore it was

captured, destroyed, and rebuilt many times. According to coins found in the ruins, the city was

represented by a horseman bearing a double-bladed battleax indicating Thyatira was a cavalry

post. The city’s name means “sacrifice of contrition” and it represents that period of the church

when faith was exchanged for work and penances.

According to the Scriptures, salvation cannot be bought or sold. Salvation is a gift of

God, but during the fourth period of the church, some turned from the simple gospel and in its

place they built up an elaborate ritual and a human priesthood. Thyatira is known as the

“Backslidden Church of the Middle Ages.” However, later, this is the only church commended

for an improvement in spiritual matters. Christ’s complaint against them concerned their

tolerance of an apostate religion represented by “Jezebel.” This apostasy began in earnest from

the time that the church married and united with the state in the Pergamum period. The apostasy

became so universal that both the church and world entered the Dark Ages.
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Christ tells the church to ”hold fast until he comes.” He promised power to those who

remain faithful until the very last. The promise of the “morning star” was a reference to Christ. It

was also an indication that the period of darkness would come to a close. The Reformation was

as a morning star promising greater light. The reformers of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries were

morning stars announcing the dawn of a new day of liberty.

John Wycliffe (1320-1384 C. E.) opposed the pope’s interference in national affairs and

fought against the pope’s assessment of back dues of England for 33 years. He translated the

Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate and organized a popular movement of evangelism by

sending priests and laymen in pairs to preach in all sections of England. Wycliffe’s influence was

felt in Bohemia under the leadership of one of Wycliffe’s most faithful disciples, John Huss

(1369-1415 C. E.). He carried on the work but was branded as a dangerous heretic and was

burned alive at the stake in 1415 C. E.

The Thyatira period of the church was in effect from 538 C. E., the beginning of the

supremacy of the Papacy to time of the Reformation period about 1400 C. E.

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The Church at Sardis

The Fifth Period of the Church
The Church at Sardis was the fifth recipient of the letter sent to them by Christ. The city

was located about 35 miles south of Thyatira. It grew into power during the 12th century before

Christ and was one of the oldest and most important cities in Asia. It was famous for its arts and

crafts and the first center to mint gold and silver coinage.

Sardis was considered to be an impregnable fortress. It was built about 1500 feet above

the plain on a plateau whose height was 6700 feet. The city was accessible only by one narrow

passage which was steep and easily guarded. Due to over confidence and carelessness, the city

was captured by Cyrus in 549 B. C. E. A soldier climbed an unguarded precipice and secured a

way for a large number of soldiers to follow him and Sardis was captured. In 17 C. E., an

earthquake destroyed the city and it never fully recovered. It was finally destroyed in 1402 C. E.

by Tamerland and was never rebuilt.

The city’s name carries several meanings: those escaping, that which remains, something

new, and song of joy. Taken together they describe the Reformation period of the church and

Christ’s message to Sardis is addressed to Protestantism. The city is also called the City of Death

due to hypocrisy’s prominence in this church because of overconfidence leading to neglect and

slothfulness. The Reformation churches claimed they discovered what it means to live by faith in

Christ, but eventually they lapsed into a state resembling similar ways to the organization from

which they withdrew.

The Sardis church period covers the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries and in particular the

dates 1517 and 1755 C. E. In 1517 C. E., Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the

Wittenberg church. The great Lisbon earthquake occurred in 1755 C. E. that caused many
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believers to mark the event as a sign of the beginning of the end of time as predicted by Christ in

Matthew 24. Also during this period there were many important reformers too numerous to list

here, however some of them noted were Ulrich Zwingli of Switzerland; John Calvin of Geneva;

the Huguenots of France; Puritans and Separatists of England; and John Knox of Scotland.

Christ introduced himself, in the letter to Sardis, as the possessor of the Seven Spirits of

God and the Seven Stars (See introduction). The seven spirits represented the Holy Spirit in his

fullness and completeness. Christ was telling this church whose light was flickering and ready to

go out that he had the full power they needed. The seven stars represented the human guides and

teachers of the church during this period. It should be noted that the seven spirits and the seven

stars are not the same thing. When a minister (star) lost the gift of the Spirit, he/she failed to

shine and became mentioned as “a wandering star” in Jude 15.

Christ told the church, “I have not found thy works perfect before God. The Reformation

started but did reach completion. Instead, it came to a standstill. Many of the great truths

received were no longer appreciated and remembered. Protestantism became stagnant and

lifeless when it ceased to protest and was the reason why the work of the reformation was not

completed during this fifth church period.

By the time John Wesley was born in 1703, most of the churches founded by the early

reformers became cold, dead, and formal. The Sardis period of the church experienced a spiritual

decline and the message applied especially to Sardis toward the end of that period. It was a call

to Protestantism to wake up and become watchful before being overtaken by sudden and

unexpected disaster. The faithful remnant in Sardis was promised to be clothed in white robes,

their names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life, and Christ promised to confess their
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names before his father and the angels. In the midst of the decadent Protestantism, John Wesley,

George Whitefield (1714-1770 C. E.), and others began a revival to carry forward the

Reformation that became the connecting link between Sardis and Philadelphia periods of the

church.
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The Church in Philadelphia

The Sixth Period of the Church
Christ addressed his sixth letter to the church at Philadelphia. The city was founded by

Attalus II between 159 and 139 B. C. E. The king was so named from his devotion to his brother,

Eumenes, and the city perpetuated his title. It was known as a missionary city and its founder

intended for it to be the center of the Greek Asiatic civilization. Also intended was the goal of

spreading the Greek language and manners. By the year 19 C. E., the Lydian language ceased to

be spoken and Greek was the only language of the country.

Philadelphia was sometimes known as Decapolis because it was one of the ten cities of

the plain. It also was referred to as Little Athens due to its beautiful buildings. It was located

about 30 miles southeast of Sardis at a strategic pass between the Hermus and Maender valleys.

The city sat on a low, easily defended hill that might be the reason the city long withstood the

Turks. The location was advantageous also due to the control of the flow of commerce and mail

traveling to eastern Lydia. Essentially, the city held the key to the gateway and could open and

close the pass at will. Christ used this significant feature in his introduction to the Philadelphians

to inform them of other important doors that he alone held the keys with the power and authority

to open and shut.

Philadelphia was built on an earthquake fault and the citizens often had to flee the city in

fear and return once it was safe to do so. Christ used their experience in a meaningful message to

the church in Revelation 3: 10-12. He promised them that if they were faithful, they would be

permitted to enter the New Jerusalem in safety and “go no more out.” The message indicated that

this church was in better spiritual condition than the other six churches. It was an era of brotherly

love that came about as a result of a great revival in Protestantism.

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The Revival

Many of the churches founded by early reformers had ceased to actively protest. They

separated from the Roman Catholic Church but there was little change in several respects. Some

were state churches; for example, the Church of England differed very little from the Roman

Catholic Church. The Pilgrims and Puritans, who came to America to enjoy religious freedom,

did not extend that liberty to those who did not agree with their beliefs.

William Carey, in 1793 C. E., went as a missionary to India; this revival spread through

all the churches and denominations breaking down many barriers. In 1797 C. E., the first

missionaries landed in Tahiti in the South Pacific; Robert Morrison traveled to China in 1807 C.

E.; Robert Moffat went to Africa in 1817 C. E.; John Williams also, in 1817 C.E., began

Christianizing the South Sea islands. David Livingstone, in 1840 C. E., began his missionary

explorations in Africa.

The proliferation of Bibles in several languages became an essential part of the program

of World Evangelism. The British and Foreign Bible Society was organized in 1804. The

American Bible Society was organized in 1816. The Sunday School Movement organized about

this same time. Political revolutions in America in 1776 and in France in 1789 helped prepare the

way for the great missionary programs. The revival of Christian love and desire for world

evangelism culminated what became known at that time as the Great Second Advent Movement.

Christian leaders around the world began to study the prophecies of the Bible, especially

the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. Almost simultaneously, they came to the conclusion

that Jesus was soon to return to earth. They connected the books of Daniel and Revelation with

Matthew 13 and Luke 21 and believed that they discovered that certain signs either had or were
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about to take place that indicated that the end of time had come. Today astronomic events are

better understood; however, at that time these events were believed to be supernatural in origin.

Christ’s prophecy indicated there would be earthquakes as well as signs in sun, moon and

stars. The greatest earthquake up to that time was the great Lisbon quake of November 1, 1755.

On May 19, 1780, the sun was ‘supernaturally’ darkened and that same night the moon had the

color of blood. They witnessed the greatest meteoric shower known to ever fall before that time,

November 13, 1833. The occurrences of these signs together with the study of the 2300-year

prophecy of Daniel 8 and 9 caused thousands of ministers in most all churches to proclaim Christ

was coming in 1843 and no later than 1844. Those who believed in the second advent of Christ

were brought into a condition of brotherly love and unity such as had not been known since the

days of the apostles.

Christ’s Message to the Church

Christ introduced himself as the Holy One; it speaks of his divinity. The True One occurs

28 times in the New Testament (NT). It is the word used of the True Light, True Bread, and True

Vine. Christ referred to himself as having the Key of David meaning the key to the Kingdom of

Heaven. It is Christ who has the authority to open and close the heavenly kingdom; he decides

who can and cannot enter.

Revelation 3:9 indicates that it is a serious matter to oppose those faithful to God because

He will make them fall down at the faithful believers’ feet and acknowledge his love for those

who obeyed and followed the truth. The following verse envisions a world crisis that is in the

future. It appears that the prior four churches continue in some respects to the coming of Christ.
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Those who do keep his command to endure patiently, Christ promises to keep them from the

hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on Earth.

The crown of victory depends on the keeping of Christ’s word to the end. There is no

provision made to reward the quitter. The reward to the overcomer is that he/she will be made a

pillar in the temple of God. This would indicate that the overcomer will hold a permanent

important place in the presence of God – solidity of character is finally achieved. Three names

will be written upon the overcomer: the name of God, (the impression of God’s character), the

name of the New Jerusalem (the destination of the New Jerusalem), and the name of Christ.

The Philadelphia period of the church was an era of brotherly love that covered the latter

part of the 18th century and extended to about the first half of the 19th century.
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The Church of Laodicea

The Seventh Church Period
The Present Time

Christ’s letter to the seventh church, Laodicea, is the church of today. The ancient city,

located in the Lycus River valley about 100 miles east of Ephesus, was founded by Antiochus

(261-246 B. C. E.) who named the city for his sister and wife, Laodice. He populated the city

with Syrians and Jews transported from Babylon. The city lay on one of the great Asian trade

routes and was a leading banking center. It was strategically located at the junction of two post

roads from Ephesus and Pergamum running eastward into Syria. It was the head of the circuit of

the seven churches of Asia. This wealthy city was also located in rich farming country where

they raised black sheep that produced silky-black wool and used to make garments that had the

appearance of silk.

In addition, Laodicea was a noted health resort. They had a school of medicine in

connection to the Temple of Karu that was dedicated to the Greek god of medicine that was the

counterfeit of the Messiah and was even called the Great Physician. The famous eye salve,

collyriun, was made in the temple. The city also had several hot, cold, and lukewarm springs. It

was famous for its soda-laden, lukewarm springs that were comforting for bathing, but nauseous

to drink.

In 60 C. E., a great earthquake struck the city and the rich banking firms financed the

reconstruction, refusing to help of the Roman government. The city was “rich and increased with

goods and had need of nothing,” Rev. 3:17. Under Diocletian, Laodicea was made the chief city

of the province of Phrygia. The city’s name is made up two Greek words, “loas” meaning people

and “dika” or “dikee” meaning righteous judgment of the people. Therefore it is evident that the
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Laodicean church is the church living in the time of judgement. In 364 C. E., the famous council

of Laodicea was held with 32 bishops present. During the council meeting, Christ’s message was

finally rejected. The city has long been deserted.

Christ introduced himself to the Laodiceans as the “Amen” the faithful and true witness,

the beginning of the creation of God. This is the only place in the Bible that Amen is used as a

name of the deity. Christ is the Amen personalized; therefore, he placed his own personal

guarantee on the truths that he proclaimed. He said that he was the beginning of the creation of

God which showed all things had their origin and beginning with Christ, because he was the

creator. This introduction of Christ to the Laodiceans was a rebuke and also a challenge to those

in these later days who deny the Genesis record of Creation. He intimated that the same mighty

power that created and upheld the worlds can recreate and uphold the modern Laodicean who

accepts his counsel.

Christ could find nothing he could praise in this church. They were neither “hot”

(zealous) nor “cold” (destitute of intense zeal, but aware of it). Hot and cold are states of feeling.

They were in a state of “lukewarm;” they were comfortable, satisfied with their position and

unwilling to move from it. The Laodiceans were spiritually sick. If a person is sick and refuses to

acknowledge it, it is hard to convince him/her that his/her life depends on the Physician’s advice.

That was the problem with the Laodicean church; it was sick, but according to the Bible record,

they did not know it. The Laodiceans only saw progress because they looked at material things.

Christ saw their true spiritual condition and it was distasteful to him.

The “gold” is symbolic of the Word of God coupled with faith and love. While the

Laodiceans had the Word of God, they lacked in faith and love that according to various
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prophecies would be at low ebb in the last days of Earth’s history. The white raiment is symbolic

Christ’s righteousness and the eye salve is symbolic of the Holy Spirit that alone can help the

spiritually blind.

Christ’s message to the Laodiceans was a message of love. He said, “I am telling you of

your true condition because I love you.” And then he added, “Be zealous there and repent. Those

who do repent are invited to sup (fellowship) with the Lord. To the overcomer came the promise

to have the right to sit with him on his throne just as he overcame and was given the right to sit

down with his Father on his throne.

Mankind that is fallen, rebellious, degraded, and polluted can be returned to

reconciliation with God through the work of the Redeemer. He will be cleaned of his pollution,

redeemed from the fall, made moral and finally raised to a seat upon the throne of his savior.

The Laodicean period of the church reaches from about the middle of the 19th century to the end

of the Christian dispensation.

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Epilog

It is my sincere hope that this study has helped you to understand the seven churches of

the Revelation and their relationship to history and religious condition of the Christian souls who

resided in those particular cities. While it is hard for us today to relate to the way that Christ

communicated to them, the people living in those individual cities would immediately recognize

the descriptions and analogies Christ used to get his message across to them, and later to us.

Many of my sources for this paper were hundreds of years old and some as late as the 20th

century. I thank those who went before me to keep the Revelations of Christ relevant as well as

my peers and generous pastors who shared their knowledge. A special thank you to the pastors of

Baptist churches, Seventh Day Adventists, and Roman Catholic priests who provided material

and views on the relevance of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Other sources are listed in

the Source section of this paper.

God Bless You

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QUIZZES FOR STUDY

Quiz for Introduction and Ephesus

1. To whom did Christ give the Revelation?

2. Where was John when he was given the Revelation? Why was he there?
3. What is the name of the connecting route between the churches?
4. What do the seven stars that Christ holds in his right hand represent?
5. What does the name, Ephesus, mean?
6. Which one of the Seven Wonders of the World was at Ephesus?
7. What other name was Ephesus known by and why?
8. Why was this period of the church history that Ephesus represented desirable?
9. For what did Christ commend the church at Ephesus?
10. Who were the Nicolaitans?
11. What was the complaint Christ had against the church at Ephesus?
12. What church period does Ephesus represent?

Quiz for Smyrna

1. For what was the city of Smyrna famous?

2. With what term was Smyrna synonymous?
3. What was Christ’s message to the church?
4. Smyrna would usher in what “Age”?
5. Approximately how many Christians were martyred in Smyrna during its time of
persecution?
6. According to some Bible scholars, a day in prophetic time equals what?
7. Under whose rule did the worst persecution take place?
8. What church period does Smyrna cover?

Quiz for Pergamum

1. What does the name, Pergamum (Pergamos KJV) mean?

2. What was invented at Pergamum and why?
3. Who fled to the city and set up a pagan religion?
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4. What union took place during this church period?

5. Who was martyred?
6. What was Christ’s complaint against this church?
7. What did the black and white stones signify?
8. What time period did the Pergamum Church cover?
9. What did Christ call for the church at Pergamum to do?

Quiz for Thyatira

1. What were the leading industries in Thyatira?

2. Why was the city captured, destroyed, and rebuilt many times?
3. What does the name, Thyatira, mean?
4. What did the church of Thyatira become known as?
5. For what did Christ commend the church?
6. What was Christ’s complaint against the church?
7. To whom is the “morning star” a reference?
8. This church age was also known as what “Age”?
9. Who were two early Reformers?
10. What did each of the Reformers do?
11. What church period did Thyatira cover?

Quiz for Sardis

1. For what was Sardis famous?

2. Why was Sardis captured?
3. What is the meaning of Sardis?
4. Sardis was also known as the city of _____________. Why?
5. What time period does Sardis represent?
6. Who were some of the famous Reformers of this period?
7. What was Christ’s complaint against this church?
8. What happened to the Reformation?
9. Who were the leaders that began the revivals to carry the Reformation forward?
 27

10. What promise was made to the faithful remnant in Sardis?

Quiz for Philadelphia

1. What kind of city was Philadelphia known as?

2. What other name was Philadelphia known as?
3. Why was Philadelphia the keeper of the key to the gateway to the eastern highlands?
4. How did Christ introduce himself to the Philadelphians?
5. What did the message to Philadelphia reveal about its spiritual condition?
6. What happened to many of the churches founded by early Reformers?
7. Who were some of the missionaries during this period?
8. What became an essential part of the program for World Evangelism?
9. What movement was organized about this time?
10. The great revival in Christian love and study of the prophecies in the Bible by all
religious circles was known as the ____________________ Movement.
11. What church period did Philadelphia cover?

Quiz for Laodicea

1. The city of Laodicea was a leading banking center and a trade center for what kind of wool?
2. What else was Laodicea famous for and why?
3. What kind of springs was Laodicea noted for? Would you want to drink water from these
springs?
4. What does “Laodicea” mean?
5. What happened there in 364 C, E.?
6. This is the only place in the Bible that this name “______” is used as a name for the deity.
7. How does Christ introduce himself to the Laodiceans?
8. What spiritual condition did Christ find the Laodicea church in?
9. What church period does the Laodicea church period cover?
10. How did the Laodiceans see themselves?
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ANSWERS TO THE QUIZZES

Ephesus

1. The Apostle John

2. On the island of Patmos, exiled for his faith
3. Imperial Post Road
4. Angels or ministers of the seven churches
5. Desirable
6. The Temple of Diana
7. The City of Change due to earthquakes and introduction of Christianity.
8. Because the early Christians received the doctrine of Christ in its purity.
9. The Christians also were commended for their patience, hatred of evil, zeal in testing
false apostles, perseverance under persecution, and steadfastness to the faith, and hatred
of the Nicolaitans that Christ also hated.
10. The Nicolaitans were liberalists or modernists who believed the church was too strict in
its standards and they were advising a compromise. They were involved in wicked
practices they wanted the church to condone.
11. Their waning love, he wanted them to repent and return to their first love.
12. From the resurrection of Christ to the close of the first century or to the last apostles.

Smyrna
1. Its sciences and majesty of its buildings
2. Myrrh
3. Christ wanted them know that he would not forget the martyred and that he could bring
them back from the grave.
4. Age of Martyrs
5. Crown of Ionia
6. 2300
7. One year in regular time
 27

8. Diocletian
9. Approximately from 100 C. E. to 323 C. E. It was the Age of martyrdom; 200-250 years
during the second and third centuries.

Pergamum

1. Union as in marriage
2. Parchment because of Egypt’s ban on the export of papyrus
3. The supreme pontiff of the Chaldean mysteries and his many priests fled from Babylon
and from Cyrus
4. Church and State
5. Antipas
6. That they were accepting the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.
7. The white stones stood for acquittal or friendship; the black stones represented
condemnation.
8. From 323 C. E. to 538 C. E.
9. Repent

Thyatira

1. Making metal instruments and dying cloth

2. It was built on a plain and had no natural defenses
3. Sacrifice of contrition
4. Backslidden church of the Middle Ages
5. Improvement of spiritual things
6. Their tolerance of an apostate religion represented by “Jezebel”
7. Christ
8. Dark
9. John Wycliffe and John Huss
10. John Wycliffe (1320-1384 C. E.) opposed the pope’s interference in national affairs and
fought against the pope’s assessment of back dues of England for 33 years. He translated
the Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate and organized a popular movement of
evangelism by sending priests and laymen in pairs to preach in all sections of England.
 27

Wycliffe’s influence was felt in Bohemia under the leadership of one of Wycliffe’s most
faithful disciples, John Huss (1369-1415 C. E.). He carried on the work but was branded
as a dangerous heretic and was burned alive at the stake in 1415 C. E.
11. 538 c. E. to about 1400 C. E.

Sardis

1. Arts and crafts

2. Because they were careless and overconfident
3. Those remaining, those escaping, that which remains, something new, and song of joy
4. Death. It was not what it pretended to be.
5. 1517-1755 C. E.
6. Ulrich Zwingli of Switzerland; John Calvin of Geneva; the Huguenots of France; Puritans
and Separatists of England; and John Knox of Scotland.
7. He did not find their works perfect before God. And the Reformation was started but not
completed.
8. It came to a standstill and its great truths were not remembered and appreciated.
9. John Wesley and George Whitefield
10. They would be clothed in white robes, their names were not to be blotted out of the Book
of Life. Christ promised to confess their name before his Father and the angels.

Philadelphia

1. Missionary
2. Decapolis, also Little Athens
3. Because of its location; It could open or close the passage to eastern highlands
4. He reminded them of other and more important doors to which he along holds the key,
with the power and authority to open and close them.
5. That it was in better spiritual condition than any of the seven churches
6. They ceased to do much protesting and some had undergone very little change and were
different is name only.
7. William Carey, Robert Morrison, Robert Moffat, John Williams, and David Livingstone.
8. Proliferation of Bibles in various languages
 27

9. Sunday School Movement

10. Great Second Advent Movement
11. The latter part of the 18th century extending to about the first half of the 19th century

Laodicea

1. Flossy (silky) black

2. A noted health center where a famous eye salve, collyrium was made in the Temple of
Karu
3. Soda-laden warm springs; no, the water would bring on nausea
4. Righteous judgment of the people
5. The famous Council of Laodicea was held with 32 bishops present and where Christ’s
message was rejected
6. Amen
7. As the “beginning of the Creation of God”
8. They were lukewarm
9. From about the middle of the 19th century to the end of the Christian dispensation
10. As rich and increased goods and have need of nothing
11. To be zealous and repent
 27

Sources

Acts and Monuments, Vol. IV, p. 102

Ancient Christianity Exemplied, Chap. 26 Sec. 2
Beacon Lights of History, Vol. 5, p. 101
Beacon Lights of Prophecy, pp. 207-208
Binney’s Theological Compendia Improved, pp. 169, 170
Book xiii, Epistle I, Pope Gregory I
Book of Martyrs, John Fox
Cambridge Bible
Christ & Other Masters, Part 2, p. 183
Collections of the Massachusetts History Society, Vol. 1, 1792 (Boston: Belknap & Hall, 1792,
p97-98, (9BC, p. 316).
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Development of Christian Doctrine, pp. 272-372
Ecclesiastical Annals, Chap. 36
Hadley’s Bible Handbook
Hartford Weekly Call, Feb. 22, 1884
Historical Account of Earthquakes, pp.72-74 (1756; Liverpool; R. Williamson
History of Greece, Vol. 3, p. 89
Institution of Public Ecclesiastical Law
Italy, Forsyth, p. 31
Jewish Targum
King James Version Bible
Moody Institute Monthly, Nov. 1930
Nave’s Topical Bible
New International Version Bible
Pictorial Bible Dictionary
Pilgrimage to Rome, p. 228
Popery in Alliance with Heathenism, Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman
Romanism & the Reformation, Guinness, p. 148
Rome and Its Papal Rulers, p. 440
 27

Targum of Jonathan
The American Journal of Science & Arts, 1834, pp. 363,365, 9BC, pp. 409, 410
The Apocalypse. Seiss, Vol. 2, p. 314; Vol.3, pp. 22, 23
The Byzantine Achievement, pp. 290, 29
The Catholic Mirror, Sept. 23, 1893
The Encyclopedia Britannica 1956, p. 858
The Modern Papacy, pp. 60, 15, 16
The Outline of History, H.G. Wells, Vol. 1, pp.590-591; Vol. 2, pp.19, 63
The Two Babylon, pp. 51, 52
Western Watchman, Father D. S. Phelan, June 10, 1915
Weymouth Bible
Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible