I have heard that professional designers for billboard advertising follow something they call “the three-second rule.” Someone in a vehicle must be able to see and understand what is on the billboard in three seconds or less. The next time you are on the road, you might notice how the best billboards have messages that are short and easy to grasp in a few seconds.

We are about to open seven letters to seven churches. They were brilliantly designed by the Lord to be short letters, to the point, and easy enough to understand in just a few minutes.

Although written to specific churches in west-central Asia Minor, these letters were recorded in Scripture so that every church—and every Christian—could open them, listen to the same warnings, and enjoy the same encouragement from the Lord. Each of the seven letters is delivered by the “angel”—the messenger representing that church, more than likely the pastor/teacher.

The first letter is to the church in Ephesus. It is signed by Jesus Christ, described here in Revelation 2:1 as “him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands”—that is, churches (see Revelation 1:20). This is a good reminder that Jesus Christ is not some distant Savior but very active and aware of each church.

In verses 2-3 the Lord commends this church for their good “works . . . toil and . . . patient endurance.” They also pursued doctrinal purity. He says they “tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.” If only the church would put their preachers to the test of Scripture today.

Verse 6 commends their opposition to the “Nicolaitans.” This was a group of so-called Christians who justified indulging in sexual immorality. Anything was permissible with the Nicolaitans.

So far, the church in Ephesus sounds like the church you should join if you are moving into town. But not so fast.

The Lord also writes, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (verse 4). In other words, they have grown cold in their love for Christ and for one another. You might call them God’s frozen chosen. They were keeping the rules, but they had lost the warmth of Christian relationships.

So, here is the needed correction: “Repent, and do the works you did at first” (verse 5). They did not have to start over. They simply had to retrace their steps back to a loving relationship with Christ.

If they refused to repent, Jesus says here at the end of verse 5, “I will . . . remove your lampstand from its place.” That means they will forfeit future effectiveness. The light of their gospel testimony to the world will be turned out. Beloved, there are many churches today that hold services and have beautiful buildings, but they have no light. They are as dark as the world around them.

The next letter is written to the church in Smyrna. This church is commended for remaining faithful in the midst of great persecution. They had suffered under Roman persecution and from the attacks of the Jewish people in the city. And there is more to come, as Jesus promises in verse 10:

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.”

This time reference could be literal or could refer to a short period of time. I personally think it refers to ten periods of persecution unleashed by a series of Roman emperors.

But the Lord tells them not to be afraid but to be “faithful unto death” (verse 10). Their suffering will be exchanged in heaven one day for a glorious “crown of life.” Verse 11 promises them that they “will not be hurt by the second death.” “The second death” appears four times in Scripture, all four in the book of Revelation. It describes eternal separation from God.

This faithful, persecuted church in Smyrna receives no rebuke, no criticism at all from the Lord. It stands as an example for suffering believers around the world today and an encouragement to “be faithful unto death.”

The third church to receive a message from Christ is in Pergamum (verse 12). We are told that this city is “where Satan’s throne is” (verse 13). Imagine that. Satan is prominent; in fact, he is in charge of this town. This might refer to the city’s primary worship of Asclepios, the god of healing. Asclepios was depicted as a serpent, which Christians would naturally connect with Satan, the serpent in the garden of Eden.

Add to that the fact that one of the most common names for Asclepios was “the Savior.”[1] Can you imagine a false god whose symbol was a snake and he is called the savior? 

Well, the Lord commends this church for not denying the faith, even, as Jesus says, “in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you” (verse 13). Evidently this bold Christian was martyred in Pergamum.

In spite of this wonderful commendation, the church was compromising with two significant errors. Verse 14 refers to “the teaching of Balaam” and verse 15 to “the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” These false teachings justified sexual immorality.

The Lord commands them to repent—to reject this false teaching. If they failed to repent, they would suffer the Lord’s judgment. If they obeyed, the Lord promises them “hidden manna” (verse 17). The Jewish rabbis were teaching that the prophet Jeremiah had hidden the ark of the covenant, with manna preserved inside, waiting to be discovered when Messiah arrived. So, this is an allusion to the believer indeed enjoying the blessing of the coming Messiah and His glorious kingdom.[2]  

The promise in this verse of a “white stone, with a new name written on the stone” might refer to the Olympic games, where victorious athletes were given white stones engraved with their names. These stones essentially granted them free access from then on to events in the city.[3]

The next letter is addressed to the church in Thyatira. This church is commended in verse 19 for their “love and faith and service and patient endurance.”

That is a great start to this letter. But the Lord also has strong criticism of this local church. They have tolerated the false teaching of an influential woman, whom Christ refers to as Jezebel. He describes her in verse 20:  

“[She] calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”

This woman is leading many astray, and the church has failed to discipline her. They have done nothing but turn a blind eye. Well, Jesus cares enough about them to do something:

“I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead.” (verses 22-23)

As for those who have not followed her false teaching, Jesus charges them, “Hold fast what you have until I come” (verse 25). He is saying, “Do not compromise. Do not follow those who lead you away from the Word of God.”

I want to go back for a moment to a statement Jesus made in verse 13: “I know where you dwell.” Beloved, Jesus knows where you and I live today. Is that not a wonderful thought? Jesus knows your address.

He knows you might struggle in the home of unbelievers. He knows your struggle to maintain a pure testimony at work. He knows everything about your neighborhood and your school and every temptation in your world.

Follow His warnings in these letters—He has written them to you as well. Stand fast for Him, and depend on Him for strength.