Revelation 2:1-29

The Epistles to the Seven Churches (Revelation 2:1 to Revelation 3:22)

Since 'seven' is the perfect number, the 'seven churches' represent all the Churches of the province of Asia. At the same time, the special circumstances of each Church are faithfully pictured in each epistle. Ramsay points out that St. John alludes, as well, to the special circumstances of each city. He suggests that the Churches are mentioned in the order in which a messenger carrying letters would travel. The letters, however, were not to be sent separately to the Churches. The book was to be taken as a whole. St. John adopted the familiar form of an 'apocalypse' through which to deliver his message, and added to that the equally familiar form of 'letters.' In every epistle Christ is described under an aspect, mostly drawn from Revelation 1:12., suited to the special needs of the Church addressed. Each Church is then assured that Christ knows it, whether for praise or blame, but always with love, and receives the exhortation suited to it, followed by a special promise with a special token.

The main purpose of the epistles is to give courage to the Church to pass victoriously through its trials. For this reason it is told of Christ's presence and help, and bid to look forward to the glory that Christ will soon give to those who overcome. The chief trials of the Church consist in persecution from heathen and Jews, and in corrupt teaching within. The false teaching is of the character denounced in 2 Pet. and Jude. It seems to have desired that Christians should be permitted to take part in the clubs and organisations of the heathen society around them, and in their festivals, permeated though they were with idolatrous observances.

1-7. To the Church in Ephesus Christ speaks as He who is present with the Churches (Revelation 2:1). The Church is praised for its work for Christ, its endurance of suffering, and its faithfulness to the truth (Revelation 2:2), yet it is blamed, not because of its deeds, but because the love which used to animate them has cooled (Revelation 2:4). Even for this fault repentance is necessary; a Church without love must perish (Revelation 2:5). To those members of the Church who pass victoriously through their trials, eternal life with God is promised (Revelation 2:7).