“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV).

      The letters to the seven churches in Revelation are also from Jesus, and they include a wonderful description of Him as, “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”...

      “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne” (Revelation 1:4 NKJV).

      How would you like to get a letter from the apostle John, the seven Spirits who are before the throne of God, and Jesus Christ? We did! That’s the book of Revelation. It was a letter to the seven churches in Asia (Minor) that are specifically addressed in it, but it is also a letter to all who...

      Everyone who has faith in Jesus and His sacrifice as the atonement for their sin is redeemed and has the sure promise of eternal life. We can look forward to an eternity that will be far more wonderful than even the greatest earthly life. For this reason, we should consider every believer, regardless of spiritual maturity, to be a brother or sister in Christ with whom we will spend eternity. We should also consider unbelievers as potential brothers and sisters, as the Lord loves all and died for all.

      There are many mysteries in the Scriptures that will...

      The new covenant is a call to become citizens of another realm—the kingdom of God. This is not a realm of this earth but one far above it and above every other realm in heaven and earth. The kingdom of God is preparing to come and assume its authority over the earth as well. When we join this realm, we are committing to live for it by being joined to the will of the King, who is over all. When we join Him and His domain, we agree to put His interests above any others, even our own. 

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      To make some overall points about the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation, I began last week to address one of the most important factors in a successful life or church: the ability to listen to, and truly hear, what others are saying to us—especially the Lord. One of the most common statements the Lord made to His followers was, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

      He said to His disciples concerning the multitudes, “While seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (see Matthew 13:13). Are...