Jesus' Messages to the Seven Angels

The seven messages given to John on the isle of Patmos were not messages to congregations. They were messages to the pastors, or "angels" of the seven congregations of what was then called "Asia". The only way to rightly understand these messages is to acknowledge them as messages to pastors of the congregations in these seven ancient cities instead of messages to the congregations themselves. (--- John David Clark Sr.)

The congregation in Ephesus had been tested by wayward believers, false apostles, teaching perverse doctrines. This faithful pastor successfully opposed them, but having exposed them as being in error, he lost his love for them. His ability to show others their error overwhelmed his original love of the brotherhood. He had become proud against those in the congregation who were wrong. Jesus admonished him to recover his first love, if he hoped to continue in the service of God.

Lesson: Jesus demands that the messenger of the Lord do all things, even hating and condemning evil, in the love of God. We must remember that, no matter how wrong in doctrine or in deed another is, the only difference between the righteous and the unrighteous is the mercy of God.

Related scriptures: 1Tim.1:3,19-20 & 2Tim.2:16-18; Gal.6:1; Mt.25:40 with Mt.5:19; Phip.2:3; 1Pet.5:5.

The messenger of the congregation in Smyrna had pleased the Lord in all things. He was warned by Jesus to prepare to see some in the congregation be cast into prison. The love of God itself, which this man had for the congregation, would cause their suffering to become his trial of faith. If he could with patience and faith endure their being cast into "great tribulation", Jesus would give him the "crown of life".

Lesson: Obedience to the Lord does not exempt one from suffering. And the faith of a true pastor of the congregation is tried when any member of the congregation suffers.

Related scriptures: Acts 14:22; 2Tim.3:12; Lk.6:20-2-6; 2Cor.7:3.

This pastor had preached the truth here in Pergamos, "where Satan's seat is". However, he had at the same time allowed some to teach erroneous doctrines in the body. The pastor in Ephesus boldly exposed false apostles to be liars, but this pastor unwisely chose to tolerate rather than confront them. Jesus was displeased.

Lesson: A pastor is responsible for more than his own well-being. Not only must the pastor's life and doctrine be pure, but he is also accountable for the spiritual condition of the congregation over which the Lord places him.

Related scriptures: Acts 20:28; 1Tim.4:16; Heb.13:17; Ezek.3:15-21; 33:1-9.

The messenger of the congregation in Thyatira increased in faith and zeal as time passed, yet he had allowed doctrines of seducing spirits to be taught there for an extended period of time. Now the situation was beyond the control of this pastor. Drastic measures were needed, which only Jesus had the wisdom, power, and love of God to take.

Lesson: "A little leaven will leaven the whole lump." The pastor who allows evil to continue unchecked will learn that evil never willingly departs and, left uncor rected, evil can grow beyond the pastor's ability to correct. Also, as much as it hurts him to do so, Jesus will sever a member of his body in order to save the whole.

Related scriptures: Mk.9:42-48; 1Cor.5:1-13; 1Tim.5:20; Tit.1:13; 3:10-11.

The messenger of the congregation in Sardis was spiritually dead, yet had a reputation for being spiritually alive. He had forgotten how he received Christ and how he humbled himself to hear the truth. Still, despite the spiritual blindness of their pastor, some of the congregation in Sardis had maintained a standard of personal holiness before the Lord. Jesus bluntly threatened this man.

Lesson: It is possible to be thought of as a holy, dedi cated man, yet be empty of the righteousness of God. A pastor satisfied with the favor of the congregation will deliver messages designed to keep that favor, and will provoke the fierce indignation of God against himself. Jesus' message also shows that it is possible for individual members of the congregation to keep themselves pure in the sight of God, even if their pastor falls from steadfastness in the faith.

Related scriptures: Mt.23:23-28; Mic.3:9-11; Isa.30:9-13.

The pastor of the congregation in Philadelphia had done well in adverse situations. Jesus promised to expose his adversaries as liars and to spare him from the horrible "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world." He was warned, though, to continue in holiness, or he could lose the glorious crown laid up in heaven for him.

Lesson: No one ever becomes so close to God that he is allowed to become slack in his responsibilities or is excused for disobedience. As Jesus said, "He who endures to the end shall be saved." The Master had no complaints against this faithful servant; yet, he demanded that he continue in holiness or lose the crown of life which was promised him. "It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful," wrote Paul, adding later, "Woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel."

Related scriptures: Mt.24:10-13; Heb.3:14; Lk.12:47-48; Jas.3:1.

The pastor of the congregation in Laodicea was double minded and mistook God's patience for God's approval. He also believed and taught that earthly gain was evidence of faith and godliness. He boasted of his worldly possessions, claiming to be worthy of them all. Jesus threatened to cast him out of the kingdom of God unless he repented.

Lesson: God blesses all men, but chastens only those whom he loves. It is extremely dangerous to one's spiritual health to assume that an increase in earthly goods and prestige is evidence of godliness. That would mean that all poor and despised people are ungodly, and it provokes the saints to pursue earthly wealth instead of "seeking those things which are above."

Related scriptures: Mt.6:19-21,24; Mk.4:19; 1Tim.6:5-11.

(Note: In my second year Greek class at the seminary which I attended, we were given the choice of several books from the New Testament to learn. As our final exam, we were expected to be able to read, directly from the Greek, any passage which our professor might pick. I chose Revelation. When the time for final exams arrived, there was virtually nothing I didn't know about the book, so far as vocabulary, syntax, and other matters of grammar were concerned. I could parse every noun and conjugate every verb. So comfortable did I become with the Greek, that I found that I would rather read Revelation in the original language than in English. However, though I studied Revelation with great care and thoroughness, it took God to open my eyes to the truths contained in the book. I had seen the singular form of the Greek pronoun, "you", many times in reading these messages to the pastors, yet it was God, years later, who brought it to my attention that Jesus was speaking to one man, not to the whole body.

My friends, regardless of the education, the experience, or the reputation a man possesses, if God does not teach him, he has no choice but to be ignorant of the truth which in plain sight is hidden in the Scriptures. When Jesus said that he would send the Spirit to guide us into all truth, he intended for us to understand that without the Spirit guiding us, we would never know any truth. As Paul worded it, "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." And again, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1Cor.2:11,14). For this reason, it is true that only those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Rom.8:14). And for this reason, we pray for a new outpouring of the Spirit of God, that we might truly come to know our heavenly Father and the mysteries of His kingdom.)

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