by Pastor Todd Young
In Christ's letter to the church in Laodicea, He had no commendation for them but only rebuke and a call to repentance.
In Christ's letter to the church in Philadelphia, He commended them for not denying His name and encouraged them because of their little strength.
In Christ's letter to the church in Sardis, He rebukes the church for its lack of witness and for compromise.
In Christ's letter to the church in Thyatira, He commended them for their love but rebuked them for tolerating false teaching.
In Christ's letter to the church in Pergamum, He commended the church for its persevering witness in the midst of persecution but corrected the church for permitting compromise with false teachers.
In Christ's letter to the church in Smyrna, He commended them and encouraged them to be faithful until death.
In Christ's letter to the church in Ephesus, He commended them for their discernment but rebuked them for losing their first love.
John had a vision of the risen, glorified Christ who was aware of the condition of the church.
The Lord announces and anticipates the coming kingdom of Christ to John.
Daniel 2 provides a framework to interpret Revelation as the unveiling of God's Kingdom that was inaugurated with Christ's first coming and will be consummated at Christ's second coming.