Rev 3: 11-13 Jesus promises that He is coming soon. Speaking to that fact from His heavenly perspective ( a day to the Lord is a thousand years to us), the counsel to the Philadelphia church is to hold on … Continue reading
Category Archives: Book of Revelations
Revelation 3: 8-10 As with the Smyrna church, Jesus didn’t rebuke the Philadelphia church. It had not compromised nor fallen into apostasy. It was praised for its faith in God’s word and in Christ. To help it spread the faith, … Continue reading
Revelation 3: 3-6 Apparently, even in its lethargy, the church hadn’t forgotten why it was founded. So Jesus advised it to keep remembering the original love and devotion it had for Him. That would be the church’s hope. For Jesus … Continue reading
Revelation 3: 1, 2 Six centuries before John delivered Jesus’ message to the Sardis church, the city of Sardis was one of the riches cities in Asia. In fact, it’s said that the use of money originated there and it … Continue reading
Revelation 2: 24-29 Jesus described the spiritual condition of the church as divided. On one hand, it was full of love and faith that translated into patience and ever-increasing activities of service. On the other hand, it had also adopted … Continue reading
Revelation 2: 1-25 Jesus walks among the seven churches to keep them awake; to keep them from a slumber of self-delusion. As He casts His penetrating gaze upon the church in Thyatira, He signifies (“eyes of flaming fire”) that He … Continue reading
Jesus made a promise to the Pergamum church. To those who would overcome their major problem, He’d give to them hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name (Rev. 2: 17). Being faithful to the gospel and holding fast … Continue reading
Revelation 2: 13-16 I like the way that Jesus identifies Himself in His message to the Pergamum church. (Of course, there’s nothing I dislike about what He does.) He says that He is the One who has the sharp two-edged … Continue reading
Pergamum was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. It was celebrated for its intellectual, political and medical influence. It was also famous for being a religious center. The city erected temples to almost a handful of gods. … Continue reading
The Smyrna church, though faithful, still had members who were worried about the constant threat of death. Jesus told them not to fear the things to come. He reminded them that they need not fear death. He had conquered the … Continue reading
“Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.” Rev. 2: 10 The church in Smyrna was a suffering church that was under tremendous … Continue reading
Jesus once said that if the world hates Him, it will also hate His followers. We’re seeing that demonstrated across the globe, especially in some countries under Islamic rule. I speak of church and town burnings, imprisonment, torture, rape, beheadings, … Continue reading
But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I Myself also hate. Rev. 2: 6 This is Jesus continuing to speak to the Ephesus church. The group doing the hated works consists of followers of … Continue reading
“I have this against you, that you have lost your first love.” Rev. 2: 4 The church in Ephesus, with an estimated 50,000 members at one time, maintained sound doctrine and fought to expose and fight against heresy and all … Continue reading
Each of the seven churches received a message aimed at itself, but also received the messages that went to the other six churches. That makes sense because at the conclusion of each letter, there is the phrase “to the churches.” … Continue reading
The Apostle John, having written Revelation sometime during A.D. 81-96, is told to send the letter of Revelation to seven churches. The churches – in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodecia – were located in … Continue reading
In the vision, John heard a voice. Turning, He saw a figure that appeared to him throughout Revelation’s 1: 12-20. It was an appearance of a sun-bright, glorified body that could only be described in figurative terms. However, John recognized … Continue reading
John, Revelation’s writer, tells us that he wrote the letter from the island of Patmos – a Roman penal colony; that he was exiled there because of his witness and proclamation of the word of God and testimony of Jesus … Continue reading
The Revelation letter, informing the Christian readers of all generations that it is from God, continues in its introduction to reiterate its theme – that it’s all about Jesus (1: 5, 6). That the readers’ spirit may be lifted even … Continue reading
The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation to the first century Christians; addressing the problems, challenges, and concerns they had for their present and future circumstances. His understanding was that he was speaking to their immediate needs; passing along … Continue reading
Apocalypse is a class of Jewish (and Christian) writing that appeared from about 200 B.C to A.D. 350. These were writings of revelation about the ultimate divine purpose. A common feature of these writings is the claim that its contents … Continue reading