Seven Golden Lampstands

The seven churches of Revelation 1–3 as we found them in August 2026, and the word to each: Pergamum, where Satan's throne is; Thyatira and the woman Jezebel; Sardis, a name that you are alive; Philadelphia, an open door; Smyrna, faithful until death; Ephesus, your first love; Laodicea, neither cold nor hot. All seven were great cities. Today the followers of Christ there are at most a small remnant. The God who took their candlesticks can plant them back again.

When John was on Patmos he saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of them One like the Son of Man. The seven lampstands are the seven churches of Asia, and to each the risen Christ sent a letter.

Pergamum: “I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.” The first city in Asia to build a temple to a living emperor. We prayed at the temple of Trajan that the name Antipas would not deny would be confessed there again.

Thyatira: commended for love, service, faith and patience, rebuked for tolerating “that woman Jezebel”. “Hold fast what you have till I come.”

Sardis: “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain.”

Philadelphia: the one church of which the Lord said nothing against, and the last Christian city of Asia to fall, in 1390. “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” We prayed for an open door into Türkiye.

Smyrna: no word of rebuke. Polycarp was burned here at eighty-six: “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong.” “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Ephesus: “You have left your first love. Repent and do the first works, or else I will remove your lampstand.” Here the warning was first spoken, and here it has been most completely fulfilled.

Laodicea: “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” And yet: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

The lampstands have been removed from their place. The God who came and took their candlesticks can build it, plant it back again.