THE BOOK OF REVELATION : WHICH OF THE 7 CHURCHES ARE YOU ?

THE BOOK OF REVELATION. Have you read it ? I have read it many times. In the past I spent a lot of time reading it from a cataclysmic perspective. I was focused on the Four Horseman, and the Tribulation, the things to be released upon the earth that would be horrific. The Anti-Christ. What would happen in these times……where would I be ? How could I protect my family ? As I look around today, sometimes it feels as if the “End Times” are here, or right around the corner. I truly Trust God, that the timing of everything IS HIS. The amazing thing is that I have gained a new perspective about Revelation that came from our pastor Jeff Schwarzentraub at Brave Church. He preached an amazing series titled “ The Alpha and The Omega.” Genesis to Revelation. Beginning, to the End. It was truly a life changer for me. What it showed me was the absolute truth of Christ as He Returns, and His message for all who would claim to follow Him. He takes the time in His Vision sent to his Apostle, John, to show the Seven Churches just exactly where they were in relationship with Him. These churches all had some good qualities, but as Christ pointed out, in each, something important was missing, or needed more understanding.

BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS ALOUD THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY, AND BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND KEEP WHAT IS WRITTEN IN IT, BECAUSE THE TIME IS NEAR. Revelation 1:3

I WAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD’S DAY, AND HEARD BEHIND ME A GREAT VOICE, AS OF A TRUMPET. SAYING, I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST: AND, WHAT THOU SEEST, WRITE IN A BOOK, AND SEND IT UNTO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA, UNTO EPHESUS, AND UNTO SMYRNA, AND UNTO PERGAMOS, AND UNTO THYATIRA, AND UNTO SARDIS, AND UNTO PHILADELPHIA, AND UNTO LAODICEA. Revelation 1:10-11

LET ANYONE WHO HAS THE EARS TO HEAR LISTEN TO WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. TO THE ONE WHO CONQUERS, I WILL GIVE THE RIGHT TO EAT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD. Revelation 1:7

Imagine being a member of one of these seven churches, and suddenly you realize that one of the Apostles Of Jesus is writing a letter to you from a prophetic vision he received from Jesus Himself ! There must have been a great deal of amazement, mingled with surprise, excitement, and perhaps fear and nervousness. Each one of these churches had their beginnings in Jesus. His death, His Resurrection, and His Life and Teaching. THEY KNEW HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. THE MESSIAH ! We know that John had his vision in 95 AD. Over those years, the churches had developed a number of thoughts, practices and behaviors that Jesus needed to correct. DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR TODAY ? The churches of Revelation had the following issues that Jesus sought to correct.

EPHESUS : PERFORMANCE DRIVEN - ABANDONED THE LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS TEACHINGS SMYRNA: PERSECUTED CHURCH - A REMNANT THAT REMAINED FAITHFUL PERGAMUM: COMPROMISED CHURCH - BELIEFS IN FALSE TEACHING THYATIRA: IMMORAL CHURCH - COMPROMISED BY THE FLESH / FALSE PROPHET SARDIS: SPIRITUALLY DEAD - NON REPENTANT PHILADELPHIA: PERCEIVED AS WEAK - ENDURED WITH PATIENCE LAODICEAN: APATHETIC - NEITHER HOT NOR COLD - INDIFFERENT

Wow, all these churches were from 95 AD. Frankly, if we are honest, we see these churches all over our villages, cities, and countries today. From America, to Europe, to Africa, to South America, and to Asia and everyplace in between. THE MESSAGE FROM JOHN”S VISION IS ABSOLUTELY RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT TO US TODAY ! Each of us is “THE CHURCH”. We as individuals have the same traits and practices in many ways as the traditional “church”. Are you performance driven, but not really focused on a personal relationship with Jesus ? Do you feel persecuted, and struggle to endure the bashing you take from friends, family, and those who simply reject Jesus ? Have you moved away from the True Gospel and the Word Of God because someone convinced you God was TOO DEMANDING, so you embraced a new, more progressive view of Jesus ? Does your FLESH rule you, even though you are a “Christian” ? Do you feel Spiritually Dead ? Do you feel weak at times, but surprisingly are able to stay Powerful In Your Faith ? ARE YOU APATHETIC ? Christian in name, but really don’t care one way or the other how God sees you or impacts your life ? WHY DID JESUS VISIT JOHN, AND PROVIDE HIM WITH THESE VISIONS FOR THESE CHURCHES ??? BECAUSE HE LOVES US, AND WANTS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US ! WE ARE DEAD IN OUR SIN, BUT IF WE ASK HIM TO BE OUR SAVIOR AND LORD AND KING, WE ARE NO LONGER DEAD, BUT ALIVE IN HIM. HE DIED FOR OUR SINS, AND ROSE; RESURRECTED TO BE AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER. ONCE HIS, WE ARE REBORN AND WE STRIVE THROUGH REPENTANCE TO WALK IN HIS WAYS. PERFECT IN HIM, NOT OURSELVES.

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Romans 6:23

AND PETER SAID TO THEM, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 2:38

WE WERE BURIED THEREFORE WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH, IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MIGHT WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE. Romans 6:4

FIND YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST ! It is a gift from God. Seek Him and give Him the throne of your life. Let Him Direct you. Stop worrying about performance : Focus on Him ! BE ALL IN : Make Him your life, Be on Fire, not apathetic. Keep your Faith and Endure In Him; He is there beside you. Seek, understand and live in the TRUE GOSPEL, not some made up version. BE HUMBLE AND REPENTANT, overcoming your weakness with His help. Give up your Fleshly Desires. They are a waste of time and open us up to a totally wrong path in life. BECOME SPIRITUALLY ALIVE IN JESUS ! Let the book of Revelation open up your heart and mind and see Who You Are In Christ. Tribulation will come, but those who are in Christ will surely have the GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE, and BE WITH JESUS IN HIS KINGDOM. AND THAT, IS WHAT LIFE IS TRULY ALL ABOUT :) BLESSINGS AND FAITH/JAA

AND NOW, WHY DO YOU WAIT ? RISE AND BE BAPTIZED AND WASH AWAY YOUR SINS, CALLING ON HIS NAME. Acts 22:16