Lesson 2

John was told to “write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches”. Chapters 1 and 2 of Revelation are referring to “what is now” (Revelation 1:19). The first of the seven churches addressed is Ephesus which at this time was the capital of the Roman province called Asia. After John was released from captivity on Patmos, he spent the end of his life in Ephesus. The second church to be addressed is Smyrna which is today’s Izmir. These churches were actual churches in John’s day but have come to represent churches throughout the ages and how the body of Christ in each church needs to heed the warnings. Each of the admonitions begins with a characteristic of Jesus. Then the churches are praised for their positive deeds and chastised for any areas that need to be changed. At the end are the rewards for those who “overcome”. Our individual churches today, as well as our own faith walk, can benefit from the advice given to these early churches.