“You’ve Got Mail!”

That’s the theme for our new sermon series. It is designed as a study of Jesus’ seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation. While these letters were written to specific, historic churches of the day, they offer the words of Jesus for the entire Church, even today.

Many people are understandably nervous about studying Revelation. It is written as apocalyptic literature, filled with symbols and imagery. But Revelation, like every other part of God’s Word, teaches us its meaning. It is a practice described as “letting Scripture interpret Scripture.”

If you read a verse that you do not understand, read the verses around it. If you remain unsure about what it means, read the entire chapter. If it’s still not clear, read the book. And if you continue to have questions about that verse, read the entire Bible. The presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God’s Word will reveal its meaning better than any theologian or commentator ever could.

For example, in His letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus refers to Himself as the one “who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Revelation 2 You may think that you have no idea what that means. But just a few verses earlier, He explained, “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Revelation 1  

Even with the symbolism, the letters to the seven churches contain some of the most significant, straightforward teaching in the entire book.  Be encouraged to read chapters 2 and 3 in the weeks ahead. And God bless your study of the Word!