Each of the messages has a triad to it:
(1) There is a reminder of what the church is through God.
(2) Each church has problems.
(3) Each church is given promises that give hope and motivate them.
There is even a more detailed structure to the triad, which expands to seven elements. Not all seven churches will have all the details of the seven elements.
(1) The address to the angel of the church.
(2) Christ’s self description which is oriented to what the church needs.
(3) A commendation to the church where it is faithful at some point.
(4) A condemnation, or rebuke, or some point of infidelity noted about the church.
(5) A duty is given with a warning of judgment or an encouragement.
(6) An exhortation to discern the truth of the preceding message to the church.
(7) An exhortation and promise of a reward to the church if it is faithful.
The seven-fold pattern is not followed for all churches. Also the order will vary. A summary set of tables is shown below (this is broken into several tables because the blog format will not permit one continuous table).
| Section | Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamum |
| Christ's Description | Authority Presence | Giving life | Warrior against sin |
| Commendation | Doctrinal zeal | Spiritually rich | Holding fast |
| Condemnation | Lost first love | none | False teaching, immorality |
| Duty | Repent | Suffer for Christ | Repent |
| Promise | Tree of Life | Freedom from death | Spiritual significance |
| Section | Thyatira | Sardis | Philadelpha |
| Christ's Description | Searching heart | Source of Spirit | Opening door |
| Commendation | Love, service | A few faithful saints | Keeping the word |
| Condemnation | False teaching, immorality (Jezebel) | Spiritually dead | Little strength |
| Duty | Repudiate Jezebel | Awake | Continue |
| Promise | Rule over nations | White robe (honor) | Secure dwelling |
| Section | Laodicea |
| Christ's Description | True witness |
| Commendation | none |
| Condemnation | Worthless |
| Duty | Admit need; receive from Christ |
| Promise | Fellowship |
Let’s look at the letter to the church in Ephesus in detail:
(Revelation 2:1-7 NASB) "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: {2} 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; {3} and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. {4} 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. {5} 'Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place-- unless you repent. {6} 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. {7} 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.'
The self description of Christ is: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Notice how this comes from the vision in chapter 1. This is both a sign of authority and Christ’s presence in the churches. Christ holds the angels (stars) of the churches in his hand and walks among the churches (the lampstands). Christ is present in the eternal and temporal church.
Christ’s commendation of the Ephesians is: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.” These are people who have greatly endured. They have a real zeal for good doctrine.
Christ’s condemnation: “… that you have left your first love.” That is a stunning condemnation! How did the church grow cold? The Apostle Paul started the church in Ephesus, probably in the mid 50’s. Timothy was at Ephesus, according to First Letter to Timothy. Timothy was there in the late 60’s. Apollos, Priscilla, and Aquila where in Ephesus during the 60’s. While there is some debate when Revelation was written, I go along with many scholars that think Revelation was written around 95/96 AD. From the late 60’s to 95, let’s say the slide went from 70 to 95 AD, that’s 25 years – basically a generation. A lot can happen in 25 years or more. What was once a great church was now a dying church. A church that dwells on the great things it did years ago is a dying church. A church, or a family, cannot rest on the faith of a previous generation.
The correction: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” The problem is that they have lost their first love. They are persevering, but we do not hear about their love. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 says: “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NASB). Our labor, our works, comes from faith, love, and hope in Christ. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that without love we are nothing. The description of Christ also helps in Ephesus’ situation. They need to dwell on Christ’s presence, bask in his love for them, and renew their faith and love for Christ. Works and perseverance will come from faith and love, the type of works that is built of precious stone.
Christ exhorts the church: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This echoes out of the Synoptic Gospels when Jesus told parables. This is a warning that comes out of Isaiah 6:9-10. It is a warning of judgment and the promise of blessing that is conditioned on repentance. Christ used this as the reason why he spoke in parables. Parables were given as a judgment to blind and deafen the majority of Israel and to have a positive effect on only the remnant. Those whom God has called are that remnant that will listen and head the message.
The promise is: “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.”
This gives a taste on reading through the section of the letters to the seven churches.
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