The lessons from the seven churches are framed around two directives:

1)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Church  Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

2) He who overcomes:  Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

The lessons have four applications

1) Seven churches that existed at the time of Revelation

2) Seven churches which can exist at any time in history

3) Seven types of churches which will exist in the Last Days

4) Seven types of individual believers.

The framework of these chapters form a backbone of lessons and promises to learn from and apply to our individual and corporate lives.