Seven churches

The Bible study I am just finishing is the Chronological one. I'm in Revelations right now. I listen to the Bible being read to me from the app before I go to sleep most nights. It came to me that I should write down what Jesus calls out in the churches because I bet they would apply to us now too. 

Another thing, people in my era think that all they have to do is confess, repent, and be baptized. They can continue living as they are with no discernable change in their life. Well, just by reading the second chapter of Revelation I see that Jesus would not agree with them. 

I just finished writing my notes on what Jesus said to the churches and as I finished the scripture about not adding or taking away from His words in Revelation popped into my head:

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

So please know that what I am placing here are just notes. These notes are NOT what the Bible has written. For that please go to the Bible and see for yourself all the richness and wisdom held there. 

My note-taking is from my view that people need to wake up and pay more attention to what the Bible tells us about God. What you 'think' or 'instinctively know' is not what is true most of the time. God has given us the truth and asked us to read it and to dwell with Him. He says He will dwell with us. 

What Jesus calls out in the seven churches

Ephesus:

Jesus tells them that He knows of their deeds and their toil, their endurance, that they can’t tolerate those who are evil, they test those who say they are chosen and discover if they are false, and they are faithful and have not grown weary. But they have lost their depth of love for Him. Jesus says to remember how far they have fallen and change your inner self, their way of thinking and seek God’s will and do the works they did in the beginning or he will remove them as a church.

*Jesus says that he who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him, that overcomes I will grant the privilege to eat from the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

Smyrna:

Jesus speaks of their suffering and their poverty but in parenthesis, the scripture says they are rich. He speaks of how they are slandered. He tells them to not fear what they are about to suffer and then outlines some of it.

*Jesus says that he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death (lake of fire).

Pergamum:

They dwell where Satan sits and yet they hold onto Jesus and won’t deny Him. But some have started listening to false gods and doing bad things. Jesus tells them to repent and seek God’s will.

*Jesus says that he who overcomes He will give some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name engraved that no one knows except for the one who receives it.

Thyatira:

Jesus knows their deeds, their love, faith, service, and patient endurance. But some of them tolerate a woman who claims to be inspired yet she misleads them. Jesus gave her time to repent but she refuses. He warns the church that they will become sick and suffer many things unless they leave her. Jesus says to the ones who have not fallen for her deceit to hold tightly until He comes.

*Jesus says that he who overcomes and keeps His deeds until the end that Jesus will give him authority and power over nations.

Sardis:

Jesus knows their deeds and how they have a good reputation but in reality, Jesus says that they are dead. He tells them to wake up and strengthen and reaffirm what remains of their commitment to Christ before it dies. They have not completed or met His requirements. Remember, take heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them and repent. Then Jesus warns them that He will come as a thief in the night.

*Jesus says that he who overcomes will be dressed in white clothing and his name will never be blotted out from the Book of Life and that Jesus will confess and openly acknowledge his name before His Father.

Philadelphia:

Jesus knows their deeds and even though they are weak they have not renounced Jesus. Jesus has loved them, and He will make their enemies bow down at their feet. Jesus will keep them safe from the hour of trial that is coming to the whole world. He warns them to hold tight so that no one can take what they have.

*Jesus says that to him who overcomes He will make him a pillar in the temple of God. He will never be put out of it and Jesus will write the name of His God, the name of the new city, and Jesus' own new name.

Laodicea:

They are lukewarm (spiritually useless) and Jesus will reject them with disgust. They think they are rich and that they need nothing which is not true. They need righteousness and for their eyes to be opened. They need to repent and dwell with Him.

*Jesus says to he who overcomes He will grant to him to sit beside Him on His throne as He also overcame and sat down beside His Father on His throne.