The Seven Letters To The Seven Churches

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.

The Book of Acts covers about 30 years: Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation cover the next 2,000. This study will explore the seven letters by Jesus Christ to actual historical churches and the church ages they represent. These letters describe, with amazing precision, the unfolding of all church history in advance. This chronicle fills the gap between the 69th and 70th Week of Daniel. We will also find many insightful personal applications as we apply each letter to ourselves.

What if Jesus wrote a letter to your church? This eight-session LifeGuide® Bible Study helps us engage with the words of Jesus in the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Studying this Scripture with a group or individually allows us to ask some hard questions—of ourselves, of our leaders, and of the Lord.

William Barclay devotes two chapters to each of the seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation. One chapter characterizes the ancient city and the other comments on John's message to the members of that community. This reissue of an older Westminster Press title makes a welcome addition to the highly popular William Barclay Library series. The William Barclay Library is a collection of books addressing the great issues of the Christian faith. As one of the world's most widely read interpreters of the Bible and its meaning, William Barclay devoted his life to helping people become more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, churches need a little help. These days, some don't know who they are and don't know what they're supposed to be doing. Churches today are trying anything and everything to be effective, but are bewildered by worship styles, spectator syndrome, and consumerism. In the meantime, people are hungry for a relationship with a God who has substance--a God with character and integrity, and a God of grace. And they're having trouble finding such a God in churches today. Seven Letters to Seven Churches is written to challenge the church to be what God created us to be and then do what God created us to do: join Him in His mission to save the world.

With a new foreword by David E. Aune, this modern classic by Colin J. Hemer explores the seven letters in the book of Revelation against the historical background of the churches to which they were addressed. Based on literary, epigraphical, and archaeological sources and informed by Hemer's firsthand knowledge of the biblical sites, this superb study presents in the clearest way possible a picture of the New Testament world in the later part of the first century and its significance for broader questions of church history.

A top New Testament scholar, preacher, and tour guide to the lands of the New Testament offers an informed commentary on this challenging portion of Scripture with an eye toward preaching the text. Jeffrey Weima explains the meaning of the seven "sermons" of Revelation 2-3 and provides sample sermons that show how these ancient messages, despite their subtle Old Testament allusions and perplexing images, are relevant for the church today. The book includes photos, maps, and charts and is of interest to preachers, students, teachers, and Bible study groups.

The Apostle John had been exiled to the isle of Patmos because of his stand for Christ. So on the Lord's Day, Jesus had come to him and had commanded him to write the words that appear in the book of Revelation. Revelation 1:10-11 says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and 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." Each of the seven letters had followed a simple but consistent pattern. They had begun with a simple greeting that had stated specific characteristics of Jesus. Those characteristics had been indicated to the specific church based upon what the Lord through John would be saying to the church. Following that opening characteristic, Jesus had reported to each church an assessment of where they had been spiritually. He had then given them a prescription for fixing their problems. Lastly, He had concluded each letter by giving the people in each church a promise to those that HAVE overcome. In chapter one of this book, the author, date, and occasion for the writing of the book of Revelation will be given. What evidence exists to actually show that the Apostle John had written the book? The four most popular approaches for understanding the book of Revelation will also be discussed. Had the seven letters just been written to the seven churches or is there an expanded viewpoint about their applicability? In chapter two, a consideration of Proconsular Asia will be provided. That is the area where the seven churches had been located. So in looking at it, one can better understand when the seven churches had been established. One can also better understand the spiritual problems that had been prevalent in that region. In chapters three through nine, each of the seven letters will be carefully examined. Then chapter ten will present any final thoughts and conclusions that one might draw from this kind of study. As always the purpose of this book is to honor and glorify the Lord. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. He is worthy of ALL honor and glory.