Exposition Expedition: Revelation James Gear

The seventh, and final church that Jesus addresses as he walks amongst the candlesticks may be the most applicable. It is certainly the most pressing, as it speaks to the church age in which modern believers find themselves. We will look at the dangers of the modern church, and how to rectify the problem. Thank you for listening!

The Church at Philadelphia was an exemplary church, faithfully manifesting the love of Christ for their brothers and sisters and the community in which they lived. In our modern times, this message of love is relevant, as is the warnings that discouragement can bring.

Jesus addresses the Church at Sardis, which had fallen into dead orthodoxy. This represents the time of the Protestant Reformation and subsequent decline of the church as a whole. As such, it speaks as a cautionary tale to our times.

Jesus addresses the Thyatiran church, highlighting the dangers of ecumenism for the believer and church.

This third episode examines the Pergamos church, representing the period of great toleration of Christianity under Constantine. Commendations, condemnations, and answers are given for a church dangerously flirting with compromise and worldliness.

As Jesus walk among his churches, he begins to lay out the condemnations, commendations, and warnings to each of these churches, beginning with Ephesus and Smyrna. In this thought-provoking episode, we see how these churches parallel churches throughout history, and our time as well… Readily applicable in these modern times.