Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14 | PNT | STEP | Letters to the Churches SUMMARY OF REVELATION 2: The Letter to the Metropolitan Church of Ephesus. To the Angel of the Martyr Church of Smyrna. To the Angel of the Church at Pergamos, Persecuted by the. Heathen. To the Angel of the Church at Thyatira, Defiled by Idolatry. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS To the angel . See "The Seven Stars", topic 9652 . The church of Ephesus . They city of Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, and the greatest city. As a great center it was sought by the Apostle Paul, who founded the church and labored there more than three years ( ), and afterwards addressed to it the Epistle to the Ephesians. At a later period he placed Timothy there and addressed two epistles to him. All early church tradition declares that John from about A.D. 70 made this city his home until his death. There is not now standing a single house upon the site of the ancient city, though the ruins are of the most imposing character. The Turkish village of Agasalouk, upon the Smyrna and Aidan R. R., is about two miles distant. These things saith he , etc. See .

Revelation of John 2:1

Letters to the Churches SUMMARY OF REVELATION 2: The Letter to the Metropolitan Church of Ephesus. To the Angel of the Martyr Church of Smyrna. To the Angel of the Church at Pergamos, Persecuted by the. Heathen. To the Angel of the Church at Thyatira, Defiled by Idolatry. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

To the angel.

See "The Seven Stars", topic 9652.

The church of Ephesus. They city of Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, and the greatest city. As a great center it was sought by the Apostle Paul, who founded the church and labored there more than three years (Ac 18:19 19:1), and afterwards addressed to it the Epistle to the Ephesians. At a later period he placed Timothy there and addressed two epistles to him. All early church tradition declares that John from about A.D. 70 made this city his home until his death. There is not now standing a single house upon the site of the ancient city, though the ruins are of the most imposing character. The Turkish village of Agasalouk, upon the Smyrna and Aidan R. R., is about two miles distant.

These things saith he, etc. See Re 1:13,16,20.

Revelation of John 2:8

THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA

The church in Smyrna. The history of its planting is unknown, but it was probably founded by some of the evangelists under Paul's supervision. During the second century the church was prominent, and it has never ceased to exist. When I visited the city in 1889, I was told that there were more than 70,000 professing Christians in the place. The city, so old that its beginnings are unknown, is still the second in commercial importance of the Turkish empire.

The first and the last. See Re 1:17.

Revelation of John 2:12

THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS

The church in Pergamos. The farthest north of the Seven Churches, a city once the capital of the kingdom of Pergamos, which was great and flourishing when John Wrote. It still exists with about 14,000 population, of whom over 3,000 profess to be Christians.

He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. See Re 1:16.

Revelation of John 2:18

THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA

The church in Thyatira. This is the first of the second group of four epistles. Thyatira has been mentioned in Ac 16:14 as the home of Lydia, who was converted at Philippi. It is likely that the church began when she and her household returned. The three churches before named were on or near the court; the others were in the interior. Thyatira was southeast of Pergamos, and northeast of Smyrna. It is still a place of about 17,000 population, of whom nearly 3,000 profess to be Christians.

Like unto a flame of fire. See Re 1:14,15.

Revelation of John 3:1

The Epistles to the Seven Churches Continued SUMMARY OF REVELATION 3: Letter to the Church at Sardis, the Spiritually Dead Church. Letter to the Tried and Faithful Church of Philadelphia. Letter to the Lukewarm Church of Laodicea. THE CHURCH AT SARDIS

The church in Sardis. The city of Sardis, once the capital of the great kingdom of Lydia and the home of Croesus, the rich king, lay in the interior nearly a hundred miles east of Smyrna and Ephesus. Though it had lost its former greatness it was still a considerable city in the first century. The church there was planted, no doubt, by some of the companions of Paul. The former city has now ceased to exist, and only extensive ruins remain to testify of its greatness. Like the church at Ephesus, which had lost its first love, the Sardian church which had "a name to live and was dead", has had its lampstand removed for many centuries.

He that hath the seven Spirits of God. See notes on Re 1:4,16. The perfect number seven denotes fulness. He hath the fulness of the Spirit whom he sends into the earth to do his work.

Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Though nominally Christian and living the Christian life, they were really spiritually dead.

Revelation of John 3:7

THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

The church in Philadelphia. This city was in the interior, southeast of Sardis, and had never attained the eminence of most of the other seats of the Seven Churches. That the church itself was poor and wanting in worldly endowments seems to be indicated by Re 3:8. Yet this church and that of Smyrna alone escape censure. Philadelphia is yet a city of 18,000 inhabitants, though bearing a Turkish name, has five churches and a Christian population of about 3,000.

He that hath the key of David.

See PNT Re 1:18. The key of the kingdom of God as the Son of David. Hence he only opens and shuts, or determines who shall enter in, or be shut out.

Revelation of John 3:14

THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

The church of the Laodiceans. Laodicea was situated in the valley of the Lycus, near Colosse and Hierapolis. All three of these churches are named by Paul in the Colossian letter, and an epistle, now probably lost, was sent to Laodicea. The city of Laodicea was very proud of its wealth in the latter part of the first century, a fact we learn from profane history. The church was probably founded by Epaphras, a companion of Paul. The condemnation of the Lord in this epistle is severe, and its extinction is threatened. The site of the ancient city is uninhabited now, and of course the church has long since cease to exist.

The Amen, the faithful and true witness. See notes on Re 1:5 2Co 1:20.

The beginning of the creation of God. The Being from which the creation begins, the Word that made all things.