In the first message I noted the literary structure in each of the letters, what I have outlined as five parts:
1. The address – “to the angel of the church in”
2. A description of Jesus – “the words of”
3. Jesus’ review of the church – “I know your”
4. A call to hear – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
5. A description of the reward – “the one who conquers”
Sections #4 and #5 are reversed in letters 4-7.
The letters themselves seem to be arranged in an inverted outline (chiasm):
A. Ephesus – the whole church is lax and is threatened with extinction
B. Smyrna – the whole church is faithful under suffering
C. Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis – some are faithful and some are not
B. Philadelphia – the whole church is faithful under suffering
A. Laodicea – the whole church is lax and is threatened with extinction
Christian teaching 