These seven letters we have examined follow a set pattern of writing. There are Seven Key Elements in each letter . They are:
1. The meaning of the name of the church being addressed;
2. The title of Jesus, the author of the letter, each chosen relevant to the message to that particular church;
3. The commendation of the Church- Their strong points and merits;
4. The reproof and rebuke of things they failed in;
5. The exhortation and counsel specific to the condition of the particular church; relevant to the geography and history of the city;
6. The promise to the "overcomer";
7. The concluding phrase, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."
The Meaning of Names
| Ephesus: | The Desired One: full purposed |
| Smyna: | Myrrh; Offering of Sacrifice |
| Pergamos: | MuchMarried; Adultrous |
| Thyatira: | Sacrifice of Labor |
| Sardis: | Remnant |
| Philadelphia: | Brotherly Love |
| Laodicea: | Justice to People; Judgement |
Titles that Jesus uses
General Title: I am the First and the Last.I am the
Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I
hold the keys of death and Hades.
| Ephesus: | who holdsthe seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands |
| Smyna: | the First and the Last, who died and came back to life again. |
| Pergamos: | who has the sharp double-edged sword |
| Thyatira: | Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. |
| Sardis: | who holds seven spirits of God and the seven stars. |
| Philadelphia: | who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. One who opens the door which no one can shut. |
| Laodicea: | the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. |
Commendations
| Ephesus: | deeds, hard work, perseverance, endured hardship, did not tolerate wicked men |
| Smyna: | through affliction and poverty did not leave faith |
| Pergamos: | among the satanists kept the faith and did not renounce faith |
| Thyatira: | deeds, love and faith, service and perseverance |
| Sardis: | deeds |
| Philadelphia: | deeds, kept the word, did not deny my name |
| Laodicea: | deeds |
| Ephesus: | forsaken their first love |
| Smyna: | |
| Pergamos: | teaching of Balaam
teaching of Nicolaitans |
| Thyatira: | tolerates Jezebel |
| Sardis: | dead |
| Philadelphia: | |
| Laodicea: | neither hot nor cold and is lukewarm |
| Ephesus: | remember your first love
repent and do the things you did first |
| Smyna: | be faithful to the point of death |
| Pergamos: | repent, otherwise I will come and fight against them |
| Thyatira: | hold on to what you have until I come |
| Sardis: | Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent |
| Philadelphia: | Hold on to what you have |
| Laodicea: | nuy from me gold refined in fire so you cn be rich;and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your nakedness; and slave to put on your eyes so that you can see |
Promise to the overcomers
| Ephesus: | I will give the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. |
| Smyna: | Will not be hurt at all by the second death. |
| Pergamos: | I will give some of the hidden manna, I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who recieves it. |
| Thyatira: | I will give him the authority over the
nations.
I will give him the morning star. |
| Sardis: | They will walk walk with me , dressed
in white.
I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge him before my Father and his anngels. |
| Philadelphia: | I will make him a pillar in the temple
of my God.
Never again will they leave it. I will write on him the name of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from heaven from my God; I will also wrie ton him my new name. |
| Laodicea: | I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. |
| Ephesus: | Apostolic Period: sowing of the seeds
till 100 AD |
| Smyna: | Persecution Period
Parable of the Weeds |
| Pergamos: | State Church Period
Parable of Mustard Seed |
| Thyatira: | Period of Heresy
Parable of the Leaven |
| Sardis: | Reformation Period
Parable of the Hidden Treasure |
| Philadelphia: | Missionaary Period
Parable of the Great Pearl |
| Laodicea: | End time Apostate Church Period
The Parable of the Drag Net |