Jesus’s letter to Laodicea was written to a dying church. They were lukewarm in their faith because their wealth had smothered the spark they once had. In their wealth and comfort they had grown stagnant in their faith and no longer did the good works they did at the beginning. Jesus offers them the opportunity to come and store up true wealth and riches in his kingdom.

Jesus’s letter to Philadelphia was written to a struggling church. They were struggling with the persecution they faced, yet they remained faithful. Jesus reassures them of their safety in him and that they will be saved in the judgment that is coming upon the world. Suffering purifies our faith and roots us in Christ.

Jesus’s letter to Sardis was to a dead church. Something went wrong and the church had fallen into the deadness of nominal Christianity. How does this happen to us? What can we learn from Jesus’s letter about he we fall into nominalism and be restored to a vibrant faith?

Jesus’s letter to Thyatira was to a tolerant church. They had allowed Jezebel to operate among them and lead people within the church to sexual immorality. No one addressed her and cast her out. This letter perhaps more than any other, shows how deeply just knows his churches, their struggles, and their sins.

Jesus’s letter to Pergamum was to a church that had compromised. They held fast to the name of Jesus yet they were lax in rooting out false teaching and religion. Jesus calls them to repent and clear pagan rituals from among them and putting a stumbling block before the people.

Jesus’s letter to Smyrna was to a suffering church. They were being persecuted for bearing witness to Jesus Christ and they are commended for their faithfulness in the face of suffering. They certainly weren’t perfect, yet suffering brings about a purity of faith in which Jesus delights.

Jesus’s letter to Ephesus is to a church that had lost its first love, or better yet, the love they had at first. They were adept at theology and knowledge, but they no longer exhibited an evangelistic love they once did. Why is love so central to who we are called to be? Why is knowledge by itself insufficient?

In John’s vision in Revelation the first thing he sees is the glorified Christ arrayed in splendor. The description of Jesus is a powerful statement of who he is and points back to Old Testament promises. Then Jesus begins to speak with John to show him the end of all things. What does this vision teach us about Jesus and who he is?