The raising of the Church of Overcomers. 

1. Ephesus – The Solid Yet Loveless Church

Revelation 2:3-4 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Commended: Strong doctrine, endurance.

Rebuked: Left their first love.

Call: Repent and return to intimacy with Christ.

Promise: Access to the Tree of Life—a reward for renewed passion, not mere survival.

2. Smyrna – The Rescued Church

Revelation 2:10 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. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Commended: Faithfulness under persecution.

No rebuke—only encouragement.

Call: Be faithful unto death.

Promise: The Crown of Life, a reward (not salvation) for enduring love in trials.

3. Pergamum – The Intimate Yet Compromised Church

Revelation 2:16-17 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Commended: Loyal even where Satan’s throne is.

Rebuked: Tolerance of false teaching.

Call: Repent and resist compromise.

Promise: Hidden manna (intimacy) and a white stone (personal approval and new name).

4. Thyatira – The Shining Church with Hidden Sin

Revelation 2:25-29 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Commended: Love, faith, service, growing works.

Rebuked: Tolerance of Jezebel—spiritual seduction.

Call: Hold fast; resist seduction.

Promise: Authority over nations and the Morning Star—symbolizing intimacy with Christ and Kingdom glory shining through them.

5. Sardis – The Honoring Church

Some scholars understand that the 7 churches should be divided into two groups. The first four churches Ephesus, Pergamum, Smyrna and Thyatira, are often seen as churches that are no longer present in a significant way today or represent the early to medieval church ages. They are sometimes associated with corruption, persecution, or compromise (except Smyrna).

The second group, the last three churches, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, are seen as churches that continue until the return of Christ.

Sardis – The Reformation Church, with incomplete reform.

Philadelphia – Faithful remnant, united, missionary and favored church.

Laodicea – Apostate, modern, liberal or self-reliant church.

Let’s dive in.

Sardis was once a symbol of wealth and military might. The city was known for its fortress-like acropolis and its production of textiles and dyes, particularly a distinctive red dye. 

Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

(Revelation 1:4) “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne.”

Isaiah 11:2 prophecy is commonly associated with the sevenfold manifestation of the Holy Spirit:

“And the 1. Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the 2. Spirit of wisdom and 3. understanding, the 4. Spirit of counsel and 5. might, the 6. Spirit of knowledge and the 7.fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2)

The seven stars represent the angels (messengers) of the seven churches. They are held in Christ’s right hand. Jesus has sovereign control and protective authority over the churches. Many people think that the church is under man's power and control, but that is a wrong belief. 

(Revelation 1:20) “As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

a. Wake up 

Revelation 3:1-4 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 

Sardis settled into spiritual apathy. It is a Spiritual stagnation, maybe because of cultural conformity and religious for...