The seven angels are sent out to the seven Churches in the Roman province of Asia. The seven Churches is also a dual reference to the whole Church that is the body of Christ as in Jew and Gentile, Galatians 3:28, 29, that have been Spiritually born again and baptized in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, John 3:3-6. God knows our works as in our strengths and our weak areas that we slack in and need instruction.
God has given us his seven spirits which begin with the spirit of the Lord that will rest upon us, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear (respect) of the Lord that they might rest on us as they rested on Jesus, Isaiah 11:2, that we remain in Gods will for the works of preaching his word in all truths. It is not we that speak, but the Holy Spirit that speaks through us so we remain a vessel of honor before him. Philadelphia is that undefiled body of Christ that is laid out for us as an example of Gods pure undefiled religion that is unspotted of the world, James 1:27.
To the Church of Ephesus you have left your first love, which means they have fallen into a Nicolaitan heresy teaching things that lead people astray from truth that Jesus already taught. The Nicolaitan were a Gentile heretic sect that converted over to Judaism to dominate others with their heretic teachings. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Epiphanius, and Theodoret mentioned this group, and stated that the deacon Nicolas was the author of the heresy and the sect.
The Nicolaitan are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles in AD 33, Acts 6:5. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence as in eating things offered to idols. The teaching of the Nicolaitan was to dominate the people leading them astray from that of what Jesus taught.
Smyrna make it known to you that I am Christ whom was crucified, dead and buried and as I have suffered for your sake so will you suffer for mine, Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 1:9. You may be poor in the material things of this world, but you are rich in my word as you keep my commands and the testimony of my word. Many among you say they are mine, but yet deceived as they are of their father the devil even if they are unaware that they are.
Fear none of those persecutions that will come against you, especially during the time of Gods final wrath upon the earth for whoever loves his own life will lose eternal life with the Father, John 12:25. Jesus will give us a crown of life, which is life eternal with the Father if we are faithful to him until his that great and terrible day of the Lords return. The second death is those who have no eternal life and will be cast into the lake of fire, Revelation 20:6; 21:8.
The sharp sword with the two edges is spoken of again as a warning of instruction to the church in Pergamos. They never denied their faith in the Lord even as their brother before them whose name was Antipas that never denied his faith when he was killed for the sake of the word of God. Wherever there is a martyr for the sake of the Lord it is Satan that guides the hand of the persecutor. Pergamos has allowed the false teachings of the Nicolaitan to enter their church by giving a seat to Satan to cause a stumbling block to those who lack knowledge so they would fall away from their faith as they are seduced by the spirit of Jezebel.
They are told to repent of this or else the word of God will judge them and find them guilty. If they overcome that which they have allowed to enter in and cast it out of the church they will be given truth of the word of God as they are given a white stone, meaning the Spirit’s witness which no man can know unless they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that teaches us all truths, John 14:17, 26.
Jesus is relaying a message to his Church that there will be a greater need more than ever as Gods final wrath moves over the world. The Church, those who are in Christ and he in them, are here to preach salvation to those who have yet to repent until that door of salvation is closed when Jesus returns for His Bride.
Here again we see a warning against this Jezebel spirit teaching in the church. She is the type of paganism that has crept into the Church and causes a great falling away with her doctrines of Satan, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. God gave Jezebel time to repent, but she never did so God cast her into a metaphoric bed like a whore waiting to seduce those who come to lay with her as they continue to promote her pagan religious ideas. Later in the revelations we will see her being called the great whore of Babylon as she is a harlot who has lead Israel astray as Gods chosen people, but yet even they are given time to repent.
God said that he will kill her children meaning those who promote paganism in the Church that when they fall others will realize that God is the one who judges the intents of the heart. We will be judged by our works whether they be good or evil as only God knows those who are his own.
Jesus relays again to the Church that he will put no more burdens or in another word judgments on those who have never been seduced by these false doctrines as they continue in all truths of the Gospel and overcome that of Satan by maintaining their good works he will give them power over the nations as we will rule them with a rod of iron meaning we are the vessels God works through and as Jesus was made to die by the hands of the accusers so will we be like Jesus in times of great persecutions against the Church. We will receive that morning star, which is Jesus, when he comes in the clouds and we are taken up to him to be with the Lord forever.
You can study about Jezebel and how Israel lost the right to be Gods chosen people as her spirit still enters the house of the Lord to lead many astray from truth as those without Spiritual knowledge will reconcile what they hear with a carnal mind, 1 Kings Chapters 9, 16-19, 21.
The angel tells Sardis you have a name (Jesus) that lives, but you are dead as your works have become lazy and are about to die all together. In the beginning of the ministry God instructed to your care you were strong, but now have been slacking in the work you have been given.
Remember that of your instruction that you hold fast in those things you have learned by the Apostles teaching you first and not fall as you need a refreshing of the Holy Spirit to strengthen you so you are not taken as a thief in the night when the Lord returns for no man knows in what hour that may be, Matthew 24:36, 37.
You have a few in the Church that still stand strong in the Spirit and have not defiled themselves as they remain unspotted that they will walk with me and are worthy, Jude chapter 1. Listen to what the Spirit says to you and allow the Holy Spirit guide you into perfect works that will be completed when the Lord returns.
The key of David means to have power and authority that only comes from God that we speak his word in power and in truth. God is never changing and His word is sent out to accomplish that of what he has already spoke as in the beginning and will never come back void, Isaiah 55:11, even to the end. God gave us salvation by grace in his only begotten Son Jesus that through him we have forgiveness of sin and life eternal with the Father, but only if we make Jesus our Lord and Savior.
God knows our good works that are done unto his glory as we follow his will and our strength is through his power and authority as only God knows the intents of the heart. Those who are of the synagogue of Satan are those Jews who think they are Gods chosen, but we read earlier in 1 Kings 9:1-9 where they lost that right to be called Gods chosen people.
This is the same with many Gentiles as God has rejected them also for they call themselves Christian, but by name only as neither one has the Spirit of God found in them, Matthew 7:21; Acts 19:15. God will make them come to realize who he truly loves as they stand in awe and amazed as they never kept the love of God in their hearts but love themselves more than God.
Because the Church of Philadelphia (Gods pure Church) have kept the word of God and have waited for him patiently God will keep them from being tempted by the works of Satan that will deceive even the elect of God if they are weak, Matthew 24:24. Those who overcome will God make them to sit with him in the New Jerusalem that is waiting to be ushered down.
This particular church is given a warning that you are neither hot nor cold. They virtually have no works that would bring honor and Glory to the Lord as they find themselves materially rich but have lost the richest thing they ever had which is Gods Spirit. Their love of the material possessions has closed that door of God and is causing them to lose the kingdom of God forever if they do not repent of their selfishness.
They do not even realize how unhappy their spirit is as they are blinded by their gain and have not Gods righteousness found in them anymore. They have shamed themselves before the Lord and God advises them to repent and be made pure again before him so that Gods righteousness can be found in them and once again have union with God.
Gods rebuke and chastisements are from his love he has for everyone and as long as Jesus is standing at the door knocking, everyone has a chance to repent and be apart of Gods kingdom. He that overcomes are in Christ and Christ in them and will have eternal life with the Father in his kingdom that is waiting to be ushered down called the New Jerusalem.
The messages given to all seven Churches are messages to all of us. We as one body in Christ are Gods message to the world as we go about preaching Gods salvation to all who will have an ear to hear. The world (Satan) wants to devour that which is Gods here on earth and if we are not in Gods perfect will even the very elect of God can be deceived.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.