"It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
Revelation 1:10-11 NLT
. In chapter one we see Jesus sending this message to the 7 churches. The 7 churches represented 7 physical churches that were present in the days of John, they also represent the 7 fold dispensation of the Gentile church until the rapture. Why is Jesus writing to them specifically? Jesus' message was to both warn and prepare his church for what was coming; a warning because just like the apostle Peter said; "For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
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1 Peter 4:17 NLT. The church is supposed to be like the 5 wise virgins, prepared and ready for their Lord's return so they are not judged. We also see that Jesus is standing in the midst of his church; "And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.
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Revelation 1:13 NLT. This connotes the fact that Jesus never leaves us; no matter what each church was going through; weakness, pride, strength, greed, idolatry, victories, etc. he was standing right there warning and encouraging them. Thank you Jesus that you never leave us. Halleluyah!
