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SEVEN CHURCHES PART 1 29 the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10). The impact of the church at Ephesus stating, “this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia” from idol worship (Acts 19:26NET) to the living God. This was accomplished through the disciples of Paul since the Apostle did not stray from Ephesus during this time (Paul was “reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This went on for two years…” (Acts 19:9-10). Paul’s strategy was an early model of church multiplication through church-based leadership training. Paul reiterated in his exhortation to the leadership of the church at Ephesus to continue his model of ministry (Eph 4:11-12). Though much of the NT was addressed to some of the early churches, these seven churches appear selected for a broader meaning than merely their common beginning and convenient distribution. There were many other churches, such as Colosse, Magnesia and Tralles, but the representative nature of these churches seemed to have been significant. There are three views to the meanings of these churches in this book of prophecy: 1. They were merely seven historical churches described to give the readers a glimpse of the real condition of the early first century churches. 2. They were selected to reveal seven types or conditions of churches throughout the Church Age, since the exhortations appear to be addressed to a broader audience than merely these 1st century church members. 3. The church descriptions in the order given appear to reflect the various periods of church history from the first century until the present. This view could not have been understood until near the end of the 20th century to see in retrospect through historical comparisons. It would have had little to no meaning to the readers of the 1st century. Furthermore, the first three churches may seem to be consecutive, but the last four appear concurrent; at least all culminate in the Rapture of the Church. Each of the churches is addressed in a similar outline: 1) a salutation to the recipients; 2) a representation of the Lord that is unique to each church; 3) an acknowledgement of the “works” of each church with words of commendation or approval (except Laodicea); 4) a special exhortation or rebuke to the churches (except to Smyrna and Philadelphia); and 5) a special promise to the overcomer. Philips uses these titles to represent each church: Ephesus, the loveless church; Smyrna, the persecuted church; Pergamos, the over-tolerant church; Thyatira, the compromising church; Sardis, the sleeping church; Philadelphia, the church with opportunity; and Laodicea, the complacent church.