Thoughts on 7 Churches in Asia in Book of Revelation

The seven churches listed below can be viewed as

Present at the time John wrote the letters
Present worldwide through the time prism of the last 2000 years, and
Present via all sermons, all preaching, in all bodies of believers in all places (perhaps even in the one Christian in different stages of life)

City English Meaning of Name Viewed as a Time Period Comments about the Scriptures
1.Ephesus
Rev 2:1-7
City in the west Apasus (Hittite word)
City of Mother God and where John is believed to have taken Mary - mother of the son of God - to spend her last years 31AD - 135AD
Day of Pentecost to the forced removal of Jews from City of Jerusalem, currently enslaved but on high free the Mother of us all. God-centred & hard working but forsaking first love.
2.Smyrna
Rev 2:8-11 Myrrh
Bitter Herbs 64AD - 312AD
10 major government persecutions from Nero to Diocletian Politically Persecuted and Suffering
3.Pergamon
Rev 2:12-17
City furthest to the north Fortified (Tower)
A close ally of Rome famous for the Pergamon Altar a luxurious Greek temple. 313AD - 1452AD
Starts with Law passed by Constantine allowing Christian Church to own property — and presenting the Pope, the acknowledged leader (on earth), with the Lateran Palace in Rome, his own residence. Ends with Fall of Constantinople (Eastern Roman Empire). Politically Connected
but allowing priests and pastors who then "control" everyone else.
4.Thyatira
Rev 2:18-29 Sacrificing continually 313AD - Today
Starts with Constantine as Christian Church and Government powers combine. Worship of statues and sexual sin. Charitable but also promoting worldly desires & demonic activity via idols. Typified in James I of England who sponsored the King James Version of the Bible, and both accepted the people's "worship" and took a nobleman to his bedchamber as "wife". And yes, his son, Charles I was killed "with Death" (i.e. by execution).
5.Sardis
Rev 3:1-6 Sardius "precious stone" 1453AD - Today
From the Reformation and the National churches - both Episcopal Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Presbyterian, Congregational.
Separation of Church & State. Spoken of as "Alive" but quite dry and very nearly dead. Typified in Europe 1618-1648 by the Thirty Years War where eight million died, fought by the three separate "schools" of Catholicism, Lutheranism and Calvinism.
Click here for some brief notes on the etymology of the English word "school". Typified in England 1653-1658 with Oliver Cromwell's rule.
6.Philadelphia
Rev 3:7-13 Love of the Family — connected via the womb 1738AD - Today
From John and Charles Wesley (Methodist Revival) in the following century. Faithful and Prophetic and with a little power.
Five wise virgins
7.Laodicea
Rev 3:14-22
City furthest south and east People's Rights 20th Century Churches Man-centred and Positivist but full of lukewarm blather.
Five foolish virgins

City	English Meaning of Name	Viewed as a Time Period	Comments about the Scriptures
1.Ephesus Rev 2:1-7 City in the west	Apasus (Hittite word) City of Mother God and where John is believed to have taken Mary - mother of the son of God - to spend her last years	31AD - 135AD Day of Pentecost to the forced removal of Jews from City of Jerusalem, currently enslaved but on high free the Mother of us all.	God-centred & hard working but forsaking first love.
2.Smyrna Rev 2:8-11	Myrrh Bitter Herbs	64AD - 312AD 10 major government persecutions from Nero to Diocletian	Politically Persecuted and Suffering
3.Pergamon Rev 2:12-17 City furthest to the north	Fortified (Tower) A close ally of Rome famous for the Pergamon Altar a luxurious Greek temple.	313AD - 1452AD Starts with Law passed by Constantine allowing Christian Church to own property — and presenting the Pope, the acknowledged leader (on earth), with the Lateran Palace in Rome, his own residence. Ends with Fall of Constantinople (Eastern Roman Empire).	Politically Connected but allowing priests and pastors who then "control" everyone else.
4.Thyatira Rev 2:18-29	Sacrificing continually	313AD - Today Starts with Constantine as Christian Church and Government powers combine. Worship of statues and sexual sin.	Charitable but also promoting worldly desires & demonic activity via idols. Typified in James I of England who sponsored the King James Version of the Bible, and both accepted the people's "worship" and took a nobleman to his bedchamber as "wife". And yes, his son, Charles I was killed "with Death" (i.e. by execution).
5.Sardis Rev 3:1-6	Sardius "precious stone"	1453AD - Today From the Reformation and the National churches - both Episcopal Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Presbyterian, Congregational. Separation of Church & State.	Spoken of as "Alive" but quite dry and very nearly dead. Typified in Europe 1618-1648 by the Thirty Years War where eight million died, fought by the three separate "schools" of Catholicism, Lutheranism and Calvinism. Click here for some brief notes on the etymology of the English word "school". Typified in England 1653-1658 with Oliver Cromwell's rule.
6.Philadelphia Rev 3:7-13	Love of the Family — connected via the womb	1738AD - Today From John and Charles Wesley (Methodist Revival) in the following century.	Faithful and Prophetic and with a little power. Five wise virgins
7.Laodicea Rev 3:14-22 City furthest south and east	People's Rights	20th Century Churches	Man-centred and Positivist but full of lukewarm blather. Five foolish virgins

Note 1. Ephesus hates but Pergamos allows some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans - which Christ hates. There are no clear historical records anywhere of this teaching. Accordingly, we look at its literal meaning, which is "Victory of/over the laity - the people" as compared with Jesus's words "do not be called Master" and "call no one on earth Father" Matthew 23:8-9

Note 2 on Thyatira: you allow the woman Jezebel to teach .. to cause my servants to go astray .. to practise idolatry
Jezebel's literal meaning is "unmarried or chaste - as if on a higher plane".

Click here for an excellent map of the Roman Empire. Click on Asia (in modern day western Turkey) to see these 7 cities.

**End of Notes