Revelation 1:11 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

 

The Book of Revelation is one rarely studied because most people do not understand it. It is a written picture of the Vision given by God to John while he was on the Island of Patmos and is believed to be written in the year 96 A.D.

 

In Chapters 2 and 3, Jesus speaks to John about the seven Churches. He tells of their good works as well as where they are falling short. This description is an accurate picture of the Church today.

 

As Jesus addresses each of the seven Churches separately, we get a picture of what was going on there. He gives them credit for the things they are doing right and He addressed their weaknesses and failures. In each of the seven Churches, we find things that pertain to the Body of Christ today.

 

As we read through Chapters 2 and 3 we see that while God is pleased with some things, He is not totally happy with the Church. Jesus instructed John to write down what He said about each Church and send it to the Angel of that Church. This is not referring to actual Angels but to the Pastors who are the overseers of the Churches.

 

The concluding Verses of Chapter 1 tell us that the seven Lampstands John saw in the Vision represent the seven Churches and the seven Angels represent the seven Pastors of those Churches. All Christian Churches belong to Jesus Christ, Who, in His own Words, has the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:18)

 

Over the next several days we will study the seven Churches mentioned in Revelation. This is important because these Churches represent the Church as a whole today. The Rapture of the Church is soon upon us. When Jesus comes back for His Church, we want Him to be pleased with what He finds. Many Churches today are preaching false doctrine and by doing so, they are leading the people away from Christ instead of to Him.

 

Unfortunately, these people could very well be left behind when Jesus comes to Rapture His Church. We don’t want to be among that group therefore we will study the Word of God and seek to understand it to the best of our ability. We trust and believe that the Holy Spirit will give us the understanding of God’s Word and we will put this understanding to work in our daily lives as we seek to put the Kingdom of God first each and every day.

 

 

Let us be ready. Jesus is soon returning to…...….turn the tide

 

Soon and very soon!         Doreen

 

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