Revelation 2,3 - Review of the Letters to the Seven Churches

Let's review the letters to the seven churches. The attributes of Jesus given in them are:

1. He holds the seven stars and walks amongst the lamp stands. Ie it is Jesus who is head of the church.
2. He is the First and the Last, and died and came to life again.
3. He has the sharp double edged sword.
4. His eyes are like fire and His feet are like burnished bronze. 
5. He holds the sevenfold spirit and the seven stars.
6. He is holy and true, He holds the key of David, and what He opens cannot be shut.
7. He is the faithful and true witness, and is the ruler of God's creation.

Now let's look at the rewards for those who overcome:

1. The right to eat from the tree of life.
2. Will not be hurt by the second death.
3. Will be given hidden manna and a new name
4. Authority over the nations
5. Will be dressed in white, Jesus will acknowledge their names before the Father
6. Will be pillars in the temple
7. Will have the right to sit with Jesus on His throne.

These letters, along with the various commendations, rebukes and instructions are a reminder of who is really Lord, and what the eternal rewards will be. We especially need to be reminded of these things when we go through times of trouble, and all the more so when the world persecutes the church. This is what was happening at the time Revelation was given, and is what the rest of the book is about.

Some see the book just as a record of the wrath that will come upon the world. This is a foolish view. It is a book to equip us to overcome in times of trial and tribulation, not a book about escaping tribulation, as the silly pre-tribulation rapture teaching would have us believe.
We should also bear in mind that the book starts with the state of the seven churches, what was right about them, what they needed to correct. In considering the state of the world our priority should always be to ensure that we, as individuals and as churches, are being faithful and true to Christ.