Introduction

Chapters 2 and 3 contain warnings meant to be delivered to 7 churches located in Asia Minor. There are many interpretations of this passage so this post will contain a prophetic and historic discussion of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (also known as The 7 Churches of Asia Minor).

The Seven Churches

Seven is a popular number when it comes to the Bible, most famously from the seven days of creation. In Revelation, the number seven appears quite frequently and the number of churches involved in this passage is one of those appearances. There are several interpretations of what the 7 Churches represent. The three I have heard the most are the following:

1. The churches represent 7 types of Christians
2. They are specific to the churches at that time; or
3. They represent ages of church history

Honestly, the way prophecy works in the Word and from what I have studied, I believe all three interpretations could hold (even at the same time). God is a master at weaving in spiritual, prophetic, and literal meanings into every passage; it is just another sign of His superiority. As such, we will talk about all three interpretations in this post. Before diving in to the 7 Churches, it is important to note that during the time John penned this, there were many other churches; some of which were larger than the churches listed.

Ephesus (The Loveless Church)

Ephesus is talked about in Revelation 2:1-7. Below are the attributes associated with it:

The Literal Church of Ephesus

The Church of Ephesus is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible (Acts 18-20; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 16:8; Ephesians; 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:18; 4:12), which helps us to get a clearer picture of the church during that time.

The Nicolatians are only mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in Revelation 2. The Nicolatians were an early sect of Christian believers that existed at the time—note here that denominations and splintering based on doctrine is not new. Based on my research, however, there isn’t a clear consensus on what the Nicolatians stood for.[1][2][3][4] Merriam-Webster defines them as being rebuked “for eating things offered to idols and for fornication.”[1] Revelation 2:15 says the Nicolatians held the teachings of Balaam, who is seen leading the Israelites to idolatry in Numbers 31. Others look to the literal meaning of the name in Greek, which could be translated as “to conquer people” or “to overcome people.”[2] From this translation some wonder if the Nicolatians advocated for a more hierarchal structure in Christianity or had beliefs of authoritarianism. There is support for the idea that they took the stance of blending in to the pagan culture of Rome. In essence the Nicolatians believed all they had to do was claim to believe in Christ, but they could go on behaving the way they wanted. Many believe that Nicolas from Acts 6:5 lost his way and began combining his pagan roots with Christianity, eventually spawning this group.[3] I have a feeling it is from this group that Tim LeHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins named their antichrist (Nicolae) in the Left Behind series.

What we do know about the Nicolatians is that God hated their deeds and the Church of Ephesus mirrored that hate. They did not allow the teachings or actions of this sect to taint the faith of their congregation. It would be nice to be able to pin point specific actions or doctrines, but the clear message is that the Church is not to allow false doctrine nor be tolerant of practices God has forbidden among their flock.

The Spiritual Church of Ephesus

Believers in 2024 struggle with some of the same things the people of Ephesus struggled with.

1. We live in a fast paced society that can make it easy for us to lose sight of the things we love—work and other day-to-day routines can quickly overshadow our love for the Most High.
2. There are still false teachers everywhere. With the addition of television and social media, these false teachers are able to get their message even further. We must be extra cautious of who we listen to. It is important to develop our own relationship with the Most High and study to know truth from fiction.
3. The Nicolatians seem to be a group that went with the crowd—almost like they were Christian in name only, but not in deed. In a society that is becoming increasingly polarizing, it can be tempting to “go with the flow” even if it doesn’t mesh with our beliefs. Like the Ephesians, we must stand in our faith and root out false doctrine or the toleration of pagan practices in our Church.

The Prophetic Church of Ephesus

Typically, the Church Age associated with Ephesus is 30AD to 100AD and known as the Apostolic Age. During this time, there were still leaders in the Church who witnessed Messiah's ministry first hand.

Smyrna (The Persecuted Church)

Smyrna is one of two churches that is not chatised for anything. They are praised for their ways and given a message of hope to endure to the end. Smyrna is often referred to as the persecuted church or the suffering church. The name Smyrna actually means myrrh. Myrrh was associated with death, as it was great for embalming bodies. They are told to remain faithful unto the death.

The Literal Church of Smyrna

Ephesus had to deal with people claiming to be apostles when they weren't, and Smyrna delt with something similar. This time God refers to those who say they are Jews but are not. One could (and people do) take this to mean various things. It could be a reference to people literally claiming to have Israelite blood but not actually having that blood. It could be a reference to those who are Jewish by birth but not following God. Or It could be broader and include the newly converted believers, meaning someone who professes to be of God but is walking in the Spirit.

The Spiritual Church of Smyrna

Since Smyrna deals with the saints being persecuted and dying for their faith, it stands to reason that the spiritual churhc of Smyrna would ecompass those who were martyred and (or) heavily persecuted for their faith. Althoguh it is easy to associate this church with extremes, I believe it could also refer to the types of persecution that do not result in death. In our society today,–specifically the U.S.— many would argue that the Christian faith is privileged and not persecuted. However, many ideas central to Biblical faith are frowned upon in our society. Voicing those ideas and adhering to those principles may cost friendships or even jobs. While this is in no way the same as persecution that involves torture, jail time, or even death, it is a form of persecution in that it is meant to disuade us from following the Most High.

The Prophetic Church of Smyrna

What stands out prophetically in Revelation 2:8-11 is that there is a period of increased persecution. God gives this time period as ten days—in many cases of prophecy, a day is given for a year (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34), so this could actually be a reference to 10 years. Picking up where the prophetic Church of Ephesus left off, Smyrna would start at around 100 AD. During this time Christianity was illegal, and all Roman subjects were supposed to be worshipping the gods of Rome. Persecution occurred on and off at the local level for quite some time, however, the wrath of Rome spotlighted on Christianity in the 200s when Diocletian became emperor. Diocletian started with purging Christians from certain positions and evenually declared an edict to persecute Christians in early 303 AD. This time is actually referred to as "the Great Persecution." It is generally accepted that this new wave of heavy persecution ended with the Edict of Milan in 313, exactly 10 years later. Many were martyred and/or thrown in prison during this time.[15][16]

Pergamum (The Compromised Church)

Pergmaum, also known as Pergamos, is the third church discussed in Revelation 2. Pergamos is chastized for harboring two "factions" of believers of whom God does not approve. The first are those who teach Israel the doctrine of Balaam and the second are the Nicolaitans. We discussed the Nicolaitans in the discussion on Ephesians, so we'll skip straight to Balaam. The story of Balaam being hired to curse Israel is given in Numbers 22-24, but Numbers 31:16 is likely what is being referenced in Revelation. We are told that the egregious teachings are to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. This means they had people commiting idolatry and taking part in sexual imorality.

The promise given to Pergamos is that those who overcome will receive two things: hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it that no one else knows. There's a part of me that really wants God to give me a name no one else knows, but nother part of me reminds me that I would probably both forget and disassociate with the name if no one uses it. As for the manna... The fact that it's hidden either means we have to work to find this manna or the manna is not what we would expect. (The video gamer in me would like to point out that in video games manna is usually what gives your character strength or magic—now think about the disciples that healed, walked of water, and also raised people from the dead!)

The Literal Church of Pergamum

Pergamos is another of the churches that isn't talked about anywhere else in the Bible. Looking at historical sources, I found that the city is located on a hill in modern day Turkey. The city rose in importance during the Hellenistic period of Greek history (around 323 BC) and became apart of Rome during around 133 BC. Archealogists have found evidence of a massive library, an altar for Zeus (king of the Olympian gods), and temples for Hera (queen of the Olympian gods) and Demeter (agricultural goddess).[5] There would have been ample opportunity for idolatry in this city.

The Spiritual Church of Pergamum

Idolatry is often portrayed as adultery in the Bible which makes me wonder if the passage is talking about literal fornication or if perhaps it is reference to idolatry. Nonetheless, doctrine dealing with idolatry and sexual immorality have been corrupted over the centuries and many churches today accept behaviors and practices that they should not. From keeping pagan holidays to condoning premarital sex and unequally yoked marriage, it is easy to see the behaviors described in Numbers 31 as teachings of Balaam in the modern church. We may still help the poor and spread the Word but be led into temptation by our fleshly passion. Just a Pergamos is called to repent, so too are we.

The Prophetic Church of Pergamum

The Church Age of Pergamum started when Constantine took over from Diocletian and began to noramlize Christianity. This would be around 313 AD. During this time is in fact when the New Testament movement started by Messiah became heavily tainted with the pagan traditions of Rome. During this time were several councils (including the Council of Nicea from which many churches get the Nicean Creed). The end of this age is considered 606 AD when the pope declared himself the head of the church as a whole (essentially the complete takeover of the church by Rome).[6][7]

Thyatira (The Corrupt Church)

The fourth church, Thyatira, is discussed in Revelation 2:18-29 and is often referred to as the corrupt church. Thyatira is praised for a long list of actions, howwever God has one major thing against them: they have allowed a woman called Jezebel to teach them and she is causing them to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols.

The Literal Church of Thyatira

Thyatira is one of the churches that is actually meanted elsewhere in the Bible—though nowhere as abundantly as Ephesus. Thyatira is mentioned in Acts 16 where we meet a woman named Lydia. Lydia was a businesswoman from the city of Thyatira who sold purple and was already a follower of God. We are told that the women of the region congregated for prayers by the river on Sabbath and Lydia was among these women. While there, she hears Paul, Silas, and Timothy preaching and is moved by their teachings. She and her household are then baptized and she invites the men to stay at her house, to which they accept. The passage is clearly more about Lydia than it is about the church in Thyatira, but it does tell us a few things about the city.

1. Women were allowed to have their own businesses (evidenced by Lydia being introduced as a "seller of purple" in Acts 16:14). This suggests some level of equality for women in this city and thus the notion of a woman teaching in the church here seems very plausible.
2. Lydia was already a follower of God so there were people in the city worshipping God even before the spread of the Gospel.
3. They received a direct visit from Paul, Silas, and Timothy so they received instruction from the early church leaders and where "in the loop" so to speak.

God pronounces a punishment of death for the woman and her children (which mirrors the language of the Whore of Bablyon and her daughters later in Revelation). I am inclined the death spoken of here is the final death (the second death) and not the temporary death believers experience at present. Her doctrine is lumped in with the "depths of Satan" further solidifying that these teachings are not from God. However in this passage we are given hope that there are some who are not tainted by this doctrine. Those who are untouched by this doctrine are keeping God's works (presumably commandments) until the end and will be given authority in the kingdom. They are given the morning star—Messiah is the Morning Star as told in Revelation 22:16.

Thyatira is also in Turkey, about 50 miles north of the region in which the previous churches were (based on the modern boundaries). As a center of trade, there were many trade routes that ran through the city, include routes to many of the other 7 Churches mentioned in this passage.[8]

The Spiritual Church of Thyatira

What does this look like for us today? With the invention of modern technology, platforms like YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify make it very easy for pastors and believer tospread the gospel, but it also makes it easy for Satan to spread confusion. There are a lot of teachers out here teaching both inside churches and online and it is easy to get confused if you don't stay connected to the Holy Spirit. More specifically, the modern church has been thoroughly corrupted by pagan influence. Many of us grew up learning that certain practices (e.g., sunday worship, Easter, Christmas, etc.) were Biblical principles even though they are not. Yet there are people who will argue until they are blue in the face to keep these pagan traditions.

When I was in college I was involved in Bible Studies and community outreach, but I was also participating in pagan traditions. I didn't know any better because I was taught by "Jezebel" to do these things. The same way many people are still being deceived by these teachings.

The Prophetic Church of Thyatira

The complaint against Thyatira and where we end up in history for the Church Age that would represent Thyatira is quite interesting. Starting in 606 AD after the end of the age of Pergamum, we find ourselves in the Dark Ages. Many today spend their energy talking about the Jezebel spirit as a seductive woman with conversations surrounding modesty, makeup, and female sexual expression, but if we pay attention to the context and the Bible there's a much more interesting message. Throughout the entire Bible a woman is indicative of a church (Jeremiah 6:2)—the most famous expression of this is the Church being referenced as the bride of Christ. In Revelation there are two churches at odds with each other, the true Church represented by the woman in Revelation 12 and the false church establish by Satan (the Whore of Babylon described in Revelation 17). What if Jezebel who is teaching the Church at Thyatira is not a literal woman named Jezebel but a false church?

Not only does the idea of Jezebel being a false church fall more inline with the description of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16:31; 18-21; 2 Kings 9), but it also matches what was happening in history. As mentioned in the section on Pergamum, the Age of Thyatira begins with the Roman Catholic Church claiming authority over God's Church. While many changes (like Sunday worship) had already infiltrarted the Church, it is during this time that papacy began having authority over all the churches and the pope's word became "infallible." Rome took over teaching the people and it is through Rome that the idolatry of images and pagan holidays became commonplace in the modern church. This fits the complaint God levies against Thyatira perfectly.

Sardis (The Dead Church)

Sardis is the fifth church mentioned in the passage and is discussed in Revelation 3:1-6. Sardis receives one of the harshes warnings of the churches listed. In reality nothing positive is said about them. At best, we can surmise from Revelation 3:4 that there are at least a few people in Sardis who are still righteous and these are the people who will receive blessings from God. Outside of this ray of hope Sardis is condemned for being dead. They are told to repent, lest Messiah's return and judgment come as a thief. This is not only a statement of how far adrift the people of Sardis were but it is also a reminder that if we are walking with Him, we should not be surprised by His return.

The Literal Church of Sardis

Sardis is only mentioned in the discussion of the 7 Churches of Asia Minor; we don't find any discussion of this city or Church before Revelation. Thus, once again we have to look at secular history to find out anything about this city. Sardis is about 50 miles west of the region in which Ephesus is located and is modern day Turkey. It became part of the Roman empire in 133 AD and was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD. This means that at the time of writing Revelation, Sardis would have been a relatively new city in terms of buildings. The city was eventually destoryed by the Mongols 1402 AD.[9]

The Spiritual Church of Sardis

The crux of understanding what spiritual Sardis looks like is understanding why God described them as being dead. The closest passage in the Bible that comes to mind when I read the rebuke of Sardis is James 2:14-26.

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:14-26 NKJV

Many Christians today argue that they don't have to "do" anything and rely on the fact that we are saved by grace to define their Christian walk. We discussed this a bit earlier in the post. In James we see the greater nuance that while we are saved by our faith if that faith does translate to how we live, it is essentially dead. As it says in James 2:18, our works are evidence of our faith, they are things that happen naturally as a result of us trusting in the Most High. In verse 26 when it says that the body without the spirit is dead, we generally think of the physical body but this is also true of the church. A congregation of believers without the Holy Spirit is also dead.

Think of it like this: the Bible often describes us as fruit trees designed to bare fruit—the fruit of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. If the summer comes and a tree—let's say it's a peach tree—does not sprout leaves and fruit, would you not assume it is dead? If the tree blossoms and produces peaches however, you don't have to ask what type of tree it is.

The warning to the church of Sardis is for those of us who are Christian by name only. Those who pay lip service to the Most High and the Messiah but do not walk the walk. It is a call to repent and to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives.

The Prophetic Church of Sardis

The church age of Sardis is thought to have been from roughly 1520 to 1750 and coincides with the period known as the Reformation. For context, Martin Luthur nailed is 95 Theses to the door on October 31, 1517. During this time many changes were happening within the body. The Word was finally translated into the common tongue for the people to read on their own, and the founding fathers of Protestantism were breaking away from Catholic doctrine.[10] It is interesting to me that this age is described as a dead church, but perhaps that is becasue the era is defined by the few who made major shifts in history during this time.

Philadelphia (The Faithful Church)

Philadelphia is the sixth church in the list and the second church that has no faults. God makes it clear that He is paving the way for their success, from the assertion that He has opened a for for them that no one can close to the promise that they will have God's new name written on them in New Jerusalem after all is finished. The Church at Philadelphia is known for their works, not denying His name and keeping the Word of His patience. What exaclty some of this means is something we'll get in to as we discuss the different angles of this church.

Philadelphia is the second church to have a passage discussing people who say they are Jews but are not. As mentioned earlier, we'll tackle this can of worms in it's own post, but I'd like to point out that the other time these fake Jews are mentioned is with the only other church that is never rebuked (Smyrna).

One interseting bit about the promises given to the Church at Philadelphia is that they will receive Messiah's new name (in addition to the name of the Most High and New Jerusalem). I find this interesting for many reasons, one being the emphasis some put on the distinction between using the Latinized Jesus versus the Hebrew Yeshua. Either would be an old name and not this new name spoken of in Revelation 3:12. More importantly, however, is that throughout the Bible the names of both God and Messiah are given in accordance with a trait or event. What will this name reveal about Messiah?

The Literal Church of Philadelphia<

Not much is known about Philadelphia for two reasons:

1. It isn't mentioned anywhere else in the Bible
2. It was located in an area prone to earthquakes so much of it's ruins are burried beneath rubble

What we do know is that the city was about 30 miles southeast of Sardis. In fact, it was severely damaged in the same earthquake that destroyed Sardis in 17 AD. Like the other cities of Greece and Rome, it is thought that Philadelphia had many temples dedicated to pagan deities. This tells us that the people of Philadelphia struggled with many of the same issues and temptations that those in the other cities (especially Sardis) faced as well. Just like our Messiah, they were able to overcome their surroundings and maintain a righteous Church.

The Spiritual Church of Philadelphia

So far every Church is known for their works, whether good or bad and Philadelphia is no different. This is a testament to the fact that our works are going to speak for us in the end. What is interesting or different about Philadelphia is the fact that the do not deny Messiah and the keep the Word of His patience.

This phrasing calls me back to Peter denying Christ after the crucifixion. When things seemed bleak and it would have been easy to believe that everything was a lie, Peter ran and distanced himself from Messiah. It's easy to succumb to disbelief when things don't go the way you think they should. The disciples though Messiah was going to overthrow Rome and restore the throne of David, and then He died before their eyes. Without faith in His promise that He would rise from the grave, it's easy to see how a disciple would start questioning everything they'd learned while they were with Him.

Much of today's church had succumb to some version of the prosperity gospel, which leads believers to this false idea that following God is about getting what we want. This can lead to a huge disappointment when things don't turn out the way we want. On top of this, the church has absorbed many pagan traditions and idealogies that can lead believers to doubt what is true. We are constantly in danger of denying what the Most High has told us. The spirit of the church of Philadelphia is in those who resist this temptation, those who keep His ways and boldly proclaim His truth.

The Prophetic Church of Philadelphia

The church age corresponding to Philadelphia began around 1750 AD, when it ended it a little more contraversial. Many say it lasted until 1906, while Seventh Day Adventists might argue it ended in 1844.[11][12] In terms of church history the significance of this time would be the spreading of Protestantism and dissolution of the Catholic Church's authority in Europe. 1750 is significant because it is when a stop was put to Rome's Inquisition, giving the Protestant church a chance to breathe and spread its wings. This is also around the time historians would consider the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Although the Industrial Revolution is not specific to the Church the effects of it have had major impacts.

The end of the age, however, seems a bit fuzzier. The last of the pope's authority in Europe was dissolved around 1848, after the French Revolution (the Vatican would gain power agin after World War I, but we'll get to that part of church history later in Revelation). To me, this seems like a logical end to an age however most of my research points to 1906 or 1844 for those who believe the 7 churches represent ages in Christianity. Seventh Day Adventists point to 1844 becasue that is the year they calculate for the 2300 days prophecy in Daniel (another thing we'll tackle in a different post). When I searched for significant events in church history around 1906, I found the Azusa Street Revival. This was a movement that occurred in Los Angeles that came out of the Pentecostal Church and birthed the Charismatic movement. This revival was seen as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, similar to what is described in Acts 1 and is the origin of the belief that one must speak in tongues if they have the Holy Spirit.[13]

Laodicea (The Lukewarm Church)

The final church in the group is that of Laodicea. Laodicea is practically the opposite of Philadelphia in that it receives no praise. Despite not receiving any praise, they are still given the promise that if they answer Messiah's knock at the door, He will join them. This means that even in the midst of what looks like a total absense of God's Church, He is still movie and people will still be answering His call.

The Literal Church of Laodicea

The Church of Laodicea is referenced in Colossians 2 and 4. Laodicea was near Colossae so both churches are referenced in the letter to the church at Colossae. In Colossians 4:16 we learn that letters were written to Laodicea. This just proves there is so much more to the history and teachings of the early church that what we've been left with. It seems a lot of the issues that plagued the Colossians also plagued Laodicea. In Colossians 2, they are warned about deception and the traditions of men. This was likely the reason they were considered a lukewarm church.

The Spiritual Church of Laodicea

Growing up, the pastor at my family's church used to always preach about "knee-deep" Christians. He would say you have to go all the way in the water. When we get baptized we're supposed to be fully submerged under the water and when we come up, we're supposed to be fully covered in the Holy Spirit. The most confusing (and unfortunately common) situation is when believers have one foot in Christ and one foot in the world. When we take on the traits of the world it waters down our walk with Christ. Yet, if we hold to parts of Christ we can never really belong to this world. In this state, we're no good to anyone. This is why He says be hot or cold. If we are on fire for God our light shines for the Kingdom. If we are quiet and subdued, we may go largely unseen. However when we are talking about God one day and passed out drunk the next, we taint His name. The spiritual church of Laodicea is confused and doesn't really know it's Savior. In its confusion, it breeds more confusion. The worst part about possessing this spirit, is that we become unaware and oblivious to our condition.

The Prophetic Church of Laodicea

The church of Laodicea is the end times church, covering the time period from the end of Philadelphia until Messiah's return, which includes our present reality. For me, this is one of the easiest church ages to see and understand. The church is fractured in to so many denominations and they all still contain error from the previous ages. We live in an era where information is freely available, not just to the rich or to the men but people from all walks of life. With the exclusion of certain parts of the world, we have it significantly easier than the churches before us, yet our presence is much more subdued. Many believers today do not actually believe in miracles and try to mix what the world tells us with what God's Word tells us. We are living a more stable world and have forgotten how much we need The Most High. Yet He is still here, knocking on each of our doors hoping we will answer.

Podcast Episodes on The 7 Churches

During season 6 of the podcast I have been creating a dedicated episode for each of the 7 churches:

• The Church at Ephesus
• The Church at Smyrna

References and Footnotes

1. “Nicolatian”. Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited January 2024
2. Hope Bolinger. “Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation? Why Did God Hate Them?”. Christianity Today. January 18, 2024; visited January 2024
3. “Who Were the Nicolaitans, And What Was Their Doctrine and Deeds?” Renner; visited January 2024
4. “Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 14-15?” GotQuestions.org; visited January 2024
5. "Pergamum". Encyclopedia Britannica. July 8, 2024; visited August 30, 2024
6. "The Church Ages - The 3rd age, Pergamos". Church Ages. May 7, 2017; visited August 31, 2024
7. William Branham. "The Pergamean Church Age". The Voice; visited August 31, 2024
8. Clyde E Fant, Mitchell G Reddish, "Thyatira". A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, pages 329–331. November 2003; visited August 31, 2024
9. "Sardis". Encyclopedia Britannica. October 2, 2023; visited August 31, 2024
10. William Branham. "The Sardisean Church Age". The Voice; visited August 31, 2024
11. Clyde E Fant, Mitchell G Reddish, "Philadelphia". A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, pages 300–302. November 2003; visited August 31, 2024
12. "The Church Ages - The 6th age, Philadelphia". Church Ages. August 31, 2018; visited August 31, 2024
13. Doug Batchelor. "Jesus’ Messages to the Seven Churches". Amazing Facts. January 19, 2019; visited August 31, 2024
14. "What was the Azusa Street Revival?". GotQuestions.org; visited August 31, 2024
15. "Diocletianic Persecution". Wikipedia; visited July 9, 2024
16. "Diocletian, Persecution Of". New Catholic Encycolpedia; visited July 9, 2024