Each of the seven churches received a message aimed at itself, but also received the messages that went to the other six churches. That makes sense because at the conclusion of each letter, there is the phrase “to the churches.” Each church is to benefit from what Jesus says to the other six churches. And all other Christian churches throughout history are to benefit from what’s said to the seven. For in the seven messages, Christ’s intention is to prepare His church, as it moves through time, for the crisis to come. The messages are relevant to all churches at all times in all places.

Another interesting view of the seven messages’ role in history is that some scholars see them as representing seven successive Christian ages: (1) the Ephesus church message represents the fast-growing, apostolic 1^st century church; (2) Smyrna’s message represents the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries’ persecution of Christians; (3) Pergamum’s message correlates with the church’s compromises with the state and paganism in the 4^th and 5^th centuries; (4) Thyatira’s message applies to the 6^th to 18^th century papal church of the Middle and Dark Ages; (5) Sardis’ message covers the Reformation and Counter Reformation era from the 15^th – 18^th centuries; (6) Philadelphia’s message corresponds to the missionary movement of the late 18^th -19^th centuries; and (7) Laodicea’s message relates to the end-time church.

There is overlap of course, and even though there aren’t any chronological indicators in the messages to predict this outline of history, one can see how the seven messages correspond to the nature or character of the seven church periods. I see this, not as a coincidence, but as God’s mind adding another layer to the meaning of the messages. It shows that He indeed is on top of everything. Even the order in which the messages were delivered to the seven churches correspond to the unfolding sequence of the church’s place in history.

Combining this view with the messages’ section that says “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” strongly suggests that the seven messages are not limited to the 1^st century. The messages are relevant for the whole church at any point in time.

By this observation, today we hear Christ speak to us from the seven messages. We hear Him spiritually appraising the condition(s) in our church and in our individual lives. We hear His counsel of correction. And we hear the promised blessing (s) that will follow by hearing and doing His word.