Repentance and the seven churches
In five of His messages to the seven assemblies in Asia (Rev 2 and 3), the Lord Jesus personally calls for immediate repentance, i.e. a change of mind about their spiritual condition or their deeds, to judge themselves, taking the Lord's view of them, and changing for the better. Indeed, it is here that we find the most frequent use of the word "repent" in the New Testament, with eight mentions in two chapters - 2.5 (twice), 16,21 (twice), 22, and 3.3,19.
First to the Ephesians: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (2.5). The instruction was remember, repent and return; that is, remember their past first condition, change their mind about their present condition, and in the immediate future return to doing their first works. Obviously they were self-satisfied and had to change their mind about this or else face the ultimate sanction of losing their candlestick, i.e. their divinely acknowledged public testimony. Originally this assembly occupied a high place spiritually, so that, for instance, they could receive the heavenly teaching that we read in the first chapter of Ephesians. Even now the Lord Jesus commended their works, unfainting hard toil, and patient endurance, as well as having no time for evil people and false apostles. However, they had fallen from their high position, indicating a sudden downward movement -not a slow drift - obviously coinciding with the loss of their first love (v.4). They were warned to continue remembering their original state and immediately change their mind about their view of themselves.
The very last thing Paul wrote in his epistle to this assembly in Ephesus was about loving the Lord "in sincerity" (Eph 6.24), or literally "in incorruption", or "undecayingly" (Young's Literal Translation). How important it is that we do not let our love decay as they did, and, if we detect any reduction, repent immediately of any complacency, delusion, departure or slipping on our part, however busy and orthodox we may be.
Second, the Lord Jesus noted the works and faithfulness of the beleaguered assembly in Pergamos (2.13-14). However, there was a liberal and open-minded attitude towards doctrinal error. They tolerated those who held the doctrine of Balaam, and also the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which the Lord Jesus hated. For the purpose of our study, we do not need to go into any details about these particular doctrines, but we do need to note that the Lord hated them, and the assembly at Pergamos tolerated them, even though they obviously resulted in sin. If no repentance was shown, then the Lord would come in judgment on those in the assembly who were corrupting the testimony (2.16).
Third, with regard to the assembly in Thyatira, repentance was needed because of the coexistence of good and evil. Concerning the good, the Lord Jesus Himself acknowledged that the assembly at large had shown the expected Christian virtues of love, service, faith and endurance, and had actually become much busier in its activities (Rev 2.19). However, evil was present in the form of a faction called "Jezebel", "her children", and "them that commit adultery with her". The long-suffering Lord Jesus had already given ample opportunity for this party to repent, yet no change had been forthcoming. But now these unrepentant adherents were warned that unless there was an immediate change of mind they would suffer "great tribulation".
Fourth, the assembly in Sardis, because of its incomplete works, had arrived at a state whereby it was on the verge of extinction (Rev 3.2-3). However, immediate and decisive action could halt the decay and stop things getting any worse. Be watchful ("become awake and on the watch", Vincent's Word Studies), strengthen, remember, hold fast, and repent were the Lord's compelling commands, but all the various actions would be incomplete without a clear understanding that what they thought about themselves was mistaken, i.e. they should repent.
Fifth and last, there was the assembly in Laodicea. Having assured the assembly that His actions of rebuke and chastening were only because He loved them, the Lord Jesus commanded them to "be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev 3.19). They were instructed to keep on being zealous, and also to repent at once and once for all. The word zealous comes from the Greek verb "to boil", in comparison to Laodicea's state of being lukewarm (v.16). They must judge themselves, admitting their tepid spiritual condition. The change of mind demanded by the Lord Jesus was quite dramatic; from thinking they were "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing", they should they think they were the very opposite, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (v.17)!
So the only assemblies of the seven to whom repentance was not mentioned were in Smyrna and Philadelphia, since they were probably quite clear about their spiritual state. The Lord's short but encouraging message to Smyrna was one of reassurance in the light of present poverty and future severe persecution, and the only command to them was to be faithful unto death (2.10). To the latter assembly the Lord's command was that they hold on to what they had (3.11), in the light of the fact that with little strength they had kept the Lord's word and had not denied His name.
The last references to repentance in the New Testament are to those unbelievers in the Tribulation who defiantly refused to change their minds about their sins - 9.20-21; 16.9-11.
Overall Conclusion
Today believers and unbelievers alike can have wrong ideas in their minds that need changing. The realisation of these wrong ideas comes from the preaching of the gospel and the reading and ministry of the Holy Scriptures, all as reinforced by the Holy Spirit. Without any needed repentance, blessing can be withheld and/or judgment experienced.
Concluded.
