7 Churches

Representing the universal Church
[Rev. 1:4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
[Seven is a number symbolizing completeness. There are seven beatitudes scattered through the book of Revelation. The other six are at 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7 and 14.
The seven letters composing the book of Revelation were sent to the seven leading churches of Asia Minor that were earlier founded by Paul and his associates on their missionary journeys. The salutation thus indicates that the entire book, and not merely the portion containing the seven letters is intended for the churches of Asia. This Asia does not refer to the great continent of that name, but to the Roman province of Asia, located in the western part of what we call Asia Minor.
Asia - Proconsular, governed by a Roman proconsul: consisting of Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and Lydia: the kingdom which Attalus III had bequeathed to Rome.
The seven particular churches addressed were, therefore, representative of the whole church in the entire world.
John opens his communication with a dual salutation, grace and peace. The salutation invokes the grace and peace (the two always stand in this order, never peace and grace) that come from G-d, and reminds us of the favor and acceptance that G-d has extended to believers. And it is because of G-d’s grace that His people can enjoy peace – peace with G-d as well as the peace of G-d, resulting in inner poise and tranquility, even amid the hardest experiences of life.
To this dual salutation John identifying the source of the grace and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, he also states it comes from the seven spirits who are before the throne. John uses the expression in order to symbolize the plenitude and power of the Holy Spirit.
Seven Spirits of G-d through understanding would magnify or reveal the Holy Spirit through seven personal descriptive titles or locations. Seven designations of the Spirit of the L-rd are mentioned:
1. The spirit of wisdom.
2. The spirit of understanding.
3. The spirit of counsel.
4. The spirit of might.
5. The spirit of knowledge.
6. The spirit of G-dliness.
7. The spirit of the fear of G-d]
Seven Churchs:
1. Ephesus - the tree of life.
2. Smyrna - the crown of life.
3. Pergamum - hidden manna, and a stone with a new name.
4. Thyatira - rule over nations, and receive morning star.
5. Sardis - faithful, honored, and clothed in white.
6. Philadelphia - a place in G-d's presence, a new name, and the new Jerusalem.
7. Laodicea - share Messiah's throne
The order of the promises in the seven epistles corresponds to that of the unfolding of the kingdom of G-d its first beginnings on earth to its consummation in heaven. To the faithful at Ephesus:
1. The tree of life in the Paradise of G-d is promised (Revelation 2:7), answering to Genesis 2:9.
2. Sin entered the world and death by sin; but to the faithful at Smyrna it is promised, they shall not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11).
3. The promise of the hidden manna (Revelation 2:17) to Pergamos brings us to the Mosaic period, the Church in the wilderness.
4. That to Thyatira, namely, triumph over the nations (Revelation 2:26,27), forms the consummation of the kingdom in prophetic type, the period of David and Solomon characterized by this power of the nations. Here there is a division, the seven falling into two groups, four and three, as often, for example, the L-rd's Prayer, three and four. The scenery of the last three passes from earth to heaven, the Church contemplated as triumphant, with its steps from glory to glory.
5. Messiah promises to the believer of Sardis not to blot his name out of the book of life but to confess him before His Father and the angels at the judgment-day, and clothe him with a glorified body of dazzling whiteness (Revelation 3:4,5).
6. To the faithful at Philadelphia Messiah promises they shall be citizens of the new Jerusalem, fixed as immovable pillars there, where city and temple are one (Revelation 3:12); here not only individual salvation is promised to the believer, as in the case of Sardis, but also privileges in the blessed communion of the Church triumphant.
7. Lastly, to the faithful of Laodicea is given the crowning promise, not only the two former blessings, but a seat with Messiah on His throne, even as He has sat with His Father on His Father's throne (Revelation 3:21).