Is there a creator?

The 7 Letters?

The book of Revelation was written primarily for Anointed Christians who would be living at what the Bible refers to as "The time of the end", this period of time is clearly shown via many different scriptures and also many different books of the Bible, to be the time we today are living in - There is no doubt about this! But Revelation chapters 2 and 3 deal with letters sent to the Anointed congregations in existence during the Apostle John's day, though the principles in these letters also apply to all True Christian congregations today, so it is well worthwhile examining these letters and applying what we learn from them? We will do this and examine each letter from an individual persons point of view!

Examine Yourself?

The first letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Ephesus, they had a fairly good report from Jesus Christ the Son of God: But there was one very important quality missing from them?

Revelation chapter 2 verses 3 to 5:-   3 You are also showing endurance, and you have persevered for the sake of my name and have not grown weary. 4 Nevertheless, I hold this against you, that you have left the love you had at first. 5 “‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first. If you do not, I will come to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

We today need to examine ourselves very carefully, because we may be doing everything that is expected of us as Christians, but if we are lacking in love we may well be rejected, because "love" is the most important quality of all for a true Christian, and needs to be shown to ALL people, not just brothers and sisters, and without love you are dead from Jehovah's point of view!

1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13:-   13 Now, however, these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.

Hold Fast Your Faith!

The second letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Smyrna, they received a very good report:

Revelation chapter 2 verse 10:-   10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison so that you may be fully put to the test, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

While we as True Christians do not know what will happen to us during the Great Tribulation just ahead, we do know that we will be tested, but if we remain faithful, even death will not be able to hold us, and we will all be together in the New System just ahead!

Clinging to Wrong Practises?

The third letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Pergamum, they were faithful but had serious problems?

Revelation chapter 2 verses 14 to 16:-   14 “‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, that you have there those adhering to the teaching of Ba'laam, who taught Ba'lak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those adhering to the teaching of the sect of Nic·o·la'us. 16 So repent. If you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war against them with the long sword of my mouth.

Do you watch movies that are suspect or overly violent? Do you read books or magazines that contain subject matter that distorts truth, or puts ideas into your head that are wrong or even sinful for a Christian? - Love of Jehovah should warn you against holding on to worldly practises - Time to wake up and repent!

Bad Thoughts lead to death!

The forth letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Thyatira, Mostly faithful, but had an age old sinful problem in their midst?

Revelation chapter 2 verse 20:-   20 “‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jez'e·bel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

Your mind controls your body, and a Christian must learn to become the master of his own thoughts, because if we fail to do this it would become easy to fall into a worldly practise of immorality, which would end in our being rejected by Jehovah and removed from the congregation!

Are You Spiritually Dying?

The fifth letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Sardis, The congregation was in danger of falling asleep spiritually!

Revelation chapter 3 verses 4 and 5:-   4 “‘Nevertheless, you do have a few individuals in Sar'dis who did not defile their garments, and they will walk with me in white ones, because they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will thus be dressed in white garments, and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

It can start with one or two individuals, and slowly spread to the whole congregation without anyone noticing the decline in carrying out their Christian obligations. But we are warned to look at ourselves as individuals and revitalise our ministry and all other Christian activities so that we do not fall asleep in a death that we will never wake up from!

Make Known Your Faith!

The sixth letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Philadelphia, The finest report from Jesus Christ on their faith and endurance!

Revelation chapter 2 verses 10 and 11:-   10 Because you kept the word about my endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of test, which is to come upon the entire inhabited earth, to put to the test those dwelling on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly. Keep holding fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.

So as this wicked system draws to it's inevitable end, we need to ask ourselves " are we enduring? Do we when the opportunity arises witness to all we meet? Do we freely tell others that we are Jehovah's Witnesses? Or do we hold back because of fear of rejection? - Only we ourselves can answer those questions!

Endurance is Needed!

The seventh letter was sent to the congregation in the City of Laodicea, this was a dire warning to those weak Christians!

Revelation chapter 3 verses 15 to 17:-   15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or else hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired riches and do not need anything at all,” but you do not know that you are miserable and pitiful and poor and blind and naked,

If you are one of these witnesses who thinks that token time spent on the Ministry is enough, then it is time to really look at yourself, and honestly answer the truthfully " Am I really doing all I can to serve my God"? And if the answer is NO! You know what to do before it is to late!

Jesus Christ who now rules as King over the Earth, ends these revealing letters by saying in verse 19:

Revelation chapter 3 verse 19:-   19  “‘All those for whom I have affection, I reprove and discipline. So be zealous and repent.

Conclusion:   We can all do more in so many ways, but often life gets in the way, but zeal for Jehovah and his Son, should help us all to look for ways to improve in our ministry, all we need is the chance and Jehovah's Spirit! There is much more contained in these revealing letters, but we have covered some of the main points only!

The Truth never Fails!