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The book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, features Jesus Christ addressing seven literal, historical churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea). However, the passage explains that these seven also serve as a dual representation. Prophetically, they symbolize the seven church ages throughout history (from the apostolic age to the present). On an individual level, they reflect the various spiritual states and struggles that Christians encounter in their personal faith walks, such as being backslidden, persecuted, dead, or lukewarm. The message to each church is three-fold: it has a local significance to the original church, a prophetic meaning for the corresponding church age, and an exhortation and promise directed both to the church at large and to the individual believer.

Jesus follows a consistent, five-part pattern in addressing each of the seven churches: a commendation for their good works or perseverance; a critique of their behavior or doctrine; a condemnation warning if they fail to repent; an exhortation (a call to action); and a promise to the overcomer. For instance, the church of Ephesus is commended for its hard work and perseverance but critiqued for having "left its first love"; the faithful, evangelical church of Philadelphia receives high praise and the promise of being kept from the "hour of testing" (the Great Tribulation); and the final church, Laodicea, is given no commendation and is severely criticized for being "lukewarm," with the warning that it will be "spat out" unless it repents and seeks Christ's holiness and righteousness.