The seven letters to seven churches from the Lord Jesus are to seven literal churches of the day; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. In each case, the Lord instructs John with "To angel of the church at x, write". The word here "angelo" means "messenger" in Greek. Theologians have argued over the centuries mainly for this word to mean one of three things;
a literal angel that oversees these churches
another heavenly authority overseeing each church
the overseer of the church; the elder or pastor.
Due to the fact that John is literally writing this letter TO the "angel" or messenger of each local, literal, church seems to indicate it is to a man, one of the “stars” or Elders of their respective churches, primarily, rather than an "elohim". It is possible that a component of all three are involved here but we will leave that here. The Lord Jesus threatens to remove their candlesticks lest the Elders and churches repent, their authority and authenticity being removed. Have you ever been to a "dead" church? It probably had its candlestick removed long ago and what remains is a grotesque collection of dead bodies and rituals.
The Lord Jesus has a pattern to each church; a commendation and something He has against them, something they need to repent of. (The exception is Philadelphia which has only commendations and Laodicea which has only things against it).
These are written to churches at a corporate level, though the commendations and things against them can be applied to each of us individually, not just collectively.
It is worth noting the things Jesus called out and praised across the churches;
works
service
faith
endurance
labor
not tolerating those that are evil
tried false apostles and found them liars
Kept the Lord's "word of my patience"
faithful unto death
praise of those that have faithfully refuted doctrines of "Jezebel"
As well as the things the Lord had against the churches;
left their first love
tolerance of those that adhere to doctrine of Balaam
tolerance of those that hold the doctrines of the Nicolaitanes, and a prophetess "Jezebel"
Other key components of this passage include
Commands to repent
Repent and do the first works
He that overcomes will receive a crown, or to eat of the tree of life
Consequence of the elder (star/ angel/messenger) losing their candlestick
With observations behind us, what do we do with this text? Why is it included in the early part of Revelation, a book about things to come? Some have argued these churches represent the overall global Church over the centuries with each representing a time period, or others that is is more narrowly depicting the Western or even American Church. Marvin Rosenthal (The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church)argues the reason the Lord states "to he that overcomes" or "remain faithful unto the end" is that it is casting a vision of 7 different types of churches in any age, but in particular, churches that are in the midst of the greatest trial of all, the 70th Week of Daniel and the Great Tribulation which is a shorter period within the 70th week or 7-year period, and one which will be shortened lest no flesh survive we are informed later in Revelation. This makes most sense in this perspective and why it is front-loaded in Revelation.
May we excel as the Philadelphia church, rich in good works, an open door that God has provided, keeping the Lord's Name, having NOT denied the name of the Lord Jesus. Philadelphia is promised something unique; "3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." This verse has been used and abused in many ways. We know one thing it CANNOT be saying, is that all churches are faithful like Philadelphia therefore ALL are kept from the hour of temptation, meaning the whole 70th week of Daniel. That would make no sense since God's wrath specifically is initiated past mid-point of the 70th week, at the 7th Seal. The most reasonable interpretation is that this faithful church archetype in the 70th week will be saved in/from the Great Tribulation. The Anti Christ will make war and wear out the Saints but not all will perish, lest there be nobody left to be raptured. This remnant, like the faithful Enoch and Elijah before it, will be faithful and pleasing to the Lord Jesus and survive the most troublesome period;
"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." -Matthew 24:22.
While Philadelphia is the Gold Standard of faithfulness going into the 70th Week of Daniel, the Laodicean Church literally makes the Lord sick, saying "I wish you were either hot or cold". Instead they are lukewarm, and Jesus says they make Him want to vomit them out of His mouth. May we press on like the Philadelphia church and repent of being Laodicean in our own hearts and lives. Come Lord Jesus!
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