These letters are addressed to local, visible churches that did exist in the first century. These letters are addressed to all churches at all times as tests by which they may discern their true spiritual condition in the sight of God. These letters are addressed to each of us personally in the saying: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…” and also in the promises: “to him who overcomes I will give…”. These letters are also prophetic, as they reveal seven periods of church history that began around AD 90 and will last until the end of the church age.