Lessons from The Seven Churches of Revelation

The Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation tells us the different kinds of churches that we have learn much from and be a mirror for us to review our own church. It shows us the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church. The good and bad of the churches. and the call for repentance and correction with promises of rewards were given by Jesus. It gives us great comfort and encouragement in this challenging times. What kind of church do you have and how can you make improvement for the church and your spiritual walk with Jesus?

The Overview of Seven Churches
We can study the seven churches one at a time. We can also study them as a group. We will do both in this post because there are many benefits to gain by taking these two different viewpoints. Some people think that the seven churches represent the seven stages of the history of the church. Others think that they are the seven types of the church at the end times. The important thing for me is --- what can we learn from each of them and as a collection of them. Here is the summary:
I. The Study of Individual Church

For each church, we can see the pattern given, Jesus described some attributes about Himself, then praised them for the good work, pointed out their bad things, called them to repent, warned them of the consequences if unrepented and promised them of the rewards.  We will go through each of the church as shown in the sequence of mind-maps.

1 Ephesian Church - Lost of 1st Love - Truth overrides Love.

2 Smyrna - Persecuted but Living Church
As Christ has suffered for us, we shall also be willing to suffer as Him for the sake of His church.

• Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
•  Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
• Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

3 Pergamum - Compromised Church

4  Thyatira - Misguided In Darkness Church

5 Sardis - Appearance Only, Form without Substance Dying Church

6 Philadelphia - Obedient Powerful Church

7 Laodicea - Materialistic Church

II. Studying them as a Consolidated Group:

Jesus and the Church:

See also: Knowing Jesus through the Seven Churches of Revelation


The Good of the Churches:

The Bad:

See also: The Qualities of Good Believers from the Seven Churches of Revelation

The Corrections:

The Warning:

The Rewards:

See also: Your Eternal Rewards in Heaven according to the 7 Churches of Revelation

The Key Truths:

See also: Lessons from The Seven Churches of Revelation
and 7 Management Principles of Jesus in His Letters to the Seven Churches

III. Applications:

Which kind of church do you have?
Most likely, you have some of this and that. The key thing is to examine ourselves and our church and make corrections before it is too late.

May God bless you and your church that they may be God's shining light on this earth pointing others to Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Lim Liat (c) 12 Oct 2015