9. Again, What Kind of Church Are We?

Introduction: A Mirror for Every Church

The letters to the seven churches are not merely history lessons. They are mirrors. Each church reveals qualities found in congregations today—zeal, suffering, compromise, complacency, or faithfulness. Together they form Christ’s complete assessment of His people.

Revelation 2–3 ends with a repeated refrain: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, etc., LSB). The plural “churches” reminds us these warnings are for all believers in all times. The urgent question is: What kind of church are we?

Exposition: Seven Portraits of the Church

1. Ephesus: Loveless Orthodoxy — Strong in doctrine but cold in devotion (Rev. 2:1–7).

2. Smyrna: Faithful Under Fire — Poor and persecuted, yet rich in Christ (Rev. 2:8–11).

3. Pergamum: Compromised in the World — Holding Christ’s name but tolerating sin (Rev. 2:12–17).

4. Thyatira: Permissive in Love — Abounding in service but tolerating false teaching (Rev. 2:18–29).

5. Sardis: Dead Reputation — A name for life, but inwardly dead (Rev. 3:1–6).

6. Philadelphia: Weak Yet Faithful — Little strength, but clinging to Christ’s Word (Rev. 3:7–13).

7. Laodicea: Lukewarm and Blind — Wealthy in the world’s eyes, bankrupt before Christ (Rev. 3:14–22).

Together, these portraits capture the range of the church’s spiritual condition; faithfulness, compromise, vitality, and death.

Application: Where Do We Stand?

1. The Danger of Self-Deception

Like Sardis and Laodicea, we may appear healthy outwardly but be inwardly dead or lukewarm. Reputation is no substitute for reality. As Calvin warns, “Many flatter themselves with empty titles while the substance of faith is wanting.”¹

2. The Cost of Compromise

Pergamum and Thyatira remind us that compromise with culture is more deadly than persecution. Tolerating false teaching or excusing sin invites Christ’s judgment. Faithfulness requires resisting the pressure to conform to worldly standards.

3. The Call to Perseverance

Smyrna and Philadelphia show that weakness and suffering are not signs of failure but of faithfulness. Christ delights in those who endure with little strength, clinging to His Word. As Hendriksen notes, “The victors are not those who escape suffering, but those who remain true in it.”²

4. The Centrality of Love

Ephesus teaches us that zeal for truth must be fueled by love for Christ. Loveless orthodoxy is lifeless religion. True doctrine is not an end in itself but a means to deeper devotion.

5. The Universal Call to Repentance

In nearly every letter, Christ commands repentance. Whether from lovelessness, compromise, complacency, or pride, the call is the same: return to Him. Repentance is not optional—it is the evidence of true faith.

The Gospel Anchor: Christ the Conqueror

Each letter ends with a promise “to the one who overcomes.” The victory is not achieved by human strength but by union with Christ, the true Conqueror. He is the One who was dead and is alive forevermore (Rev. 1:18). He shares His victory with His people, securing for them eternal life, fellowship, and a place in His kingdom.

As Beale notes, “The conqueror is not the exceptional Christian but the true Christian; one who perseveres in faith because of Christ’s preserving power.”³

Call to Persevere

The seven churches confront us with a searching question: What kind of church are we? Are we doctrinally precise but loveless? Prosperous but lukewarm? Outwardly alive but inwardly dead? Or are we weak yet faithful, enduring with Christ’s Word?

The voice of Christ still speaks to His church: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.” Let us hear, repent, and persevere. For to the conqueror belongs the crown of life, the hidden manna, the white garments, and the morning star; Christ Himself.

Footnotes

1. John Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, trans. John Owen (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1855), 352.

2. William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1967), 94.

3. G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, NIGTC (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999), 306.