Revelation Part 1: Introduction

We've recently looked at Revelation in Youth Lifegroup, and having heard a Bible Reading series at Keswick, I thought it a good excuse to do a blog series on the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3.

First challenge…can you remember the names of the seven churches?
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No? The first letters are E, S, P, T, S, P, L.
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Still not got them all? Go on then - they're Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Check out a map of the area here:

The letters were a series of transcriptions, John the author having been inspired (told what to say) by the Spirit. Rev. 1:13 says Jesus is there speaking to him, and much of the description of Jesus here is repeated in the letters.
The most likely time of writing was ~90AD, at a time of intense persecution of not only Christians, but also other faiths & philosophies deemed dangerous to the rule of Emperor Domitian. Even astrologers were expelled from Rome, in case they predicted the downfall of Domitian. Funnily enough he died in the end…like the rest of us.

As is clear if you have a quick read through chapters 2 & 3 (go on…I double-dare you!), there's a lot of things Jesus has to say to all the churches (and by inference all Christians). Everything he says is said in love - even the bad stuff.
Second challenge…how can you say negative things in love? We aren't called to be soppy, cheerful, never saying anything types - there is plenty of room for discipline and challenging in the church - the difference is how we do it. Why not read through again and make a note of all the negative things said, and see how they are said, and what accompanies them?
Also common throughout is Jesus saying 'I know where you are at'. I don't know about you, but empathy can sometimes be hard; especially when you haven't chosen to be nice to that person…sometimes you just get a load of emotions dumped on you and all you want to do is run away…Jesus never runs away.

Now to look at the way Jesus speaks to his church. Do you remember what relationship there is between Christ and the Church?
That's right - the church is the bride of Christ, and Jesus speaks to it as a broken-hearted lover. As we'll see, parts of the church were denying Christ in their lives; think for a minute how you'd feel if your boyfriend / girlfriend / parents / sibling(s) denied knowledge of you and completely blanked you…ouch.

Finally, here's a great analogy for who is welcome in Christ's church - a rugby team.
Unlike a football team where everyone looks the same (except Peter Crouch) - no porkers trotting around next to Wayne in the England team - a rugby team has such a variety of people. From the wide-boy front row props, to the beanpole second rowers, slippery scrum half and runt-like winger and full back, there's probably more variety there than anywhere on the planet (except for women, but they don't really count, do they…), and that's a great picture of the church - all are welcome. Unless you play Rugby League.

So there's an introduction for you - keep your eyes peeled for the next seven parts appearing here over the next few weeks.