The Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation

The most popular view of the wise and foolish virgins is to interpret the foolish as unsaved nominal Christians – the tares (weeds) among the wheat.[1] However, it is worth considering the parable in the light of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Although these churches may, broadly speaking, represent different churches over the course of history, it is instructive to learn what God is saying to us today through these letters.[2] Presently, here in the West, the established churches tend to be lukewarm and therefore Laodicean, yet we recognise that in other parts of the world the end-times church may be more like Smyrna, suffering persecution. Other churches in these days have lost their first love like Ephesus, and so on. Twice Jesus tells the churches that He strongly objects to the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which He likens to the teaching of Balaam that caused the Israelites to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.[3] The origin of the Nicolaitans is believed to be Nicolas from Antioch who was chosen to be one of the deacons in the early church in Jerusalem.[4] Nicolas was a spiritual compromiser, teaching that Christians could combine paganism with their faith in Christ. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria attest to the existence of the Nicolaitans in the second century.[5] The Pulpit Commentary explains that the view of the Nicolaitans was that those who have been made free in Christ could not be harmed by idolatry and sensuality. On the contrary, Jesus does not want His people living in compromise, and this is a challenge for us to meditate upon if we want to be among the wise virgins.

   Each of the seven churches in Revelation is told of a reward if they overcome.[6] Special privileges are promised to the overcomers, ranging from being given authority over the nations in the millennial kingdom, to being guaranteed to never have their name blotted out of the Book of Life.[7] This is such a challenge for each of us seeking to be wise virgins: to overcome the areas of oppression and sin in our individual walk ranging from bitterness to jealously to self-pity to greed and all kinds of uncleanness. This is an ugly and ill-fitting robe to wear for those aspiring to be wise virgins in these Last Days. Our prayer should be, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”[8] This concept of overcoming is a very important one to remember. As we seek to draw closer to the Lord, we may become aware of circumstances, our old nature, or our spiritual enemy threatening to trip us up in our walk of faith. These discouraging obstacles in our pathway should be viewed as challenges to overcome, rather than an excuse to give up. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”[9] We are exhorted to discard every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily ensnares or entangles us, and to run with endurance the race that lies before us.[10]

   What will happen to the unwise virgins? It appears from the letters to the seven churches that they are not assured of the various blessings promised to the overcomers. Is this because they will be vulnerable to scuppering their salvation through taking the Mark of the Beast out of fear for their lives? It is possible for believers to make a shipwreck of their faith.[11] We are assured that those who persevere to the end will be saved.[12] Jesus instructs us that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth at the end of this age when the unsaved realise that they are consigned to everlasting punishment.[13] Similar extreme expressions of anguish and anger can be expected among the foolish virgins to whom the door to the marriage supper of the Lamb will have been shut at the Rapture.

   We may want to search the Scriptures for clues as to the fate of the unwise virgins who enter the Tribulation and subsequently repent. They did not overcome before the Rapture, thereby excluding themselves. However, for those ones who return to and keep the Faith, enduring until the end, overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, loving not their lives even unto death,[14] what will be their reward? Will they share in the promises made to the overcomers who qualify for the Rapture in Revelation chapters 2 and 3? What will their role be in the Millennium and in the eternal state? Will they be honoured in a special way for their courage in living for the Lord in light of almost-certain martyrdom? Will they be among those referred to in James 1:12 who, having persevered under trial, are going to receive the crown of life? How many of them will be among the glorious group shown to the Apostle John in heaven, “the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,”[15] those who will be honoured with the role of serving God day and night in His temple? In the apostle’s apocalyptic vision, he saw those who prevailed over the beast, its image, its mark and the number of its name. These overcomers were standing, holding harps, on the heavenly sea of glass. An immense privilege was granted to them: “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!”[16]

[1] Matthew 13:24-30

[2] Got Questions website “Seven Churches.”

[3] Revelation 2:6, 14-16

[4] Internet article of RENNER Ministries and Acts 6:5

[5] Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

[6] Revelation 2:7,11,17,26 and 3:5,12,21

[7] Revelation 2:26, 3:5

[8] Psalm 139:23-24

[9] 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

[10] Hebrews 12:1

[11] 1 Timothy 1:19

[12] Matthew 24:13

[13] Matthew 13:42,50

[14] Revelation 12:11

[15] Revelation 7:14

[16] Revelation 15:2-3

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.