Revelation 1

What Christ Thinks of the Church

Title from book by Rev. Dr. John R.W. Stott.Bold? These chapters are most direct in all

the Bible!These letters will call us to repentance and

renewal, humble and shame us…Warn us of the wiles of the enemy…Urge us to endurance and perseverance.“Hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”Are we a bit afraid of the book of

Revelation?It IS ‘unveiling’ by Jesus for us!

What Christ Thinks of the Church

Seven churches are all churches everywhere.These seven were in ‘circular pattern’ in AsiaVery troubled times under ‘2nd stage persecution’

under Domitian.‘1st stage’ under Nero sporadic and scattered.Would the church survive this severe threat?Another danger- sin & false teachings inside.Persecution, error, & sin= three ‘monsters’This was war, conflict of Christ/antichrist…The same pressures are on the church today!

What Christ Thinks of the Churches

However we’re attacked, we must hold the truth, endure suffering, obey God, and resist evil.

Letters are from Jesus, from first verse to last.See Jesus with us in anything and everything.We’re introduced to him by three of his titles: -see him as ‘faithful and true witness’ -see him as ‘firstborn from the dead’ -see him as ‘ruler of the kings of the earth’Wow, John adds grand doxolgy: he loves us, freed

us from our sins, made us his kingdom!

What Christ Thinks of the Churches

PTL! Give him glory and honor!Opening verses are preview to focus on JesusThen John explains how this happened.Meditating ‘in the Spirit’, vision is symbolic.Told important things first, ‘lampstands’ are

churches with Jesus walking among them.‘stars’ are angels, messengers of Jesus words.Church and messengers are light bearers.Jesus knows us, cares for us, see him with us!Open ears and hearts to him!

What Christ Thinks of the Churches