Simply teaching the Bible, simply

This study, taught by pastor Barry Forder at our Sunday morning service on Sunday 14th February 2016 is the 6th in our verse-by-verse study through the book of Revelation. In chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation we find seven letters that Jesus Himself writes to seven churches that existed in Asia Minor in the first century. As we noted last week, these letters were intended to have at least four levels of meaning and application. They were letters to seven churches that existed at that time, and Jesus was addressing specific concerns in those churches. They are also letters for each and every church, for the issues addressed in each church are experienced by all churches, and the instruction Jesus gives all do well to take heed of. Thirdly, the letters are written to you personally! If you have ears that is! This is worth thinking about for a moment… it means that here are seven letters written by Jesus to you – and to all believers. This means there is a very personal application to the instructions Jesus gives here. Finally, each successive letter lays out the prophetic history of the Church from the first century to the time of the Rapture, and culminating in the final church age that will give way to a one world church – the subject of Revelation 17 & 18. In this study we look at the letters Jesus sent to the churches at Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. As well as having local applications, personal encouragement and admonition, these letters take us prophetically from the time of the Reformation, around 1517 A.D. to the Rapture, and then into the Tribulation.