Does God make a choice for us to be saved? What about human free will? Why are there so many different churches? Do we really honor the Scriptures? You decide as you listen to this instruction from Romans 9.

I know that it is hard for some of you to receive what I am about to say, but I believe that one of the greatest concerns of the early church and of the church today is that of "apostasy." "Apostasy" is "the abandonment of a former loyalty to Christ." Balaam turned the people of God to idols (Rev. 2:14). Jezebel turned the people of God to sexual immorality (Rev. 2:20). The Nicolaitans turned the people of God to self-indulgence and idolatry (Rev. 2:15). In Galatians the Judaizers turned people from Christ back to the law as a means of their salvation (Gal. 5:4). In Hebrews the people of God were turned from Christ back to Judaism (Heb. 2:1). I believe we are talking about a major theme in the New Testament.

The opening words, The revelation of Jesus Christ, indicate the subject of the entire book. The word "revelation" is a translation of the Greek apokalypsis, meaning "an unveiling" or "a disclosure." The phrase revelation of Jesus Christ can mean (1) by or from Jesus Christ, (2) about Jesus Christ or (3) both. The revelation was given to John to communicate to others, His servants, and it prophesies what must soon take place.

This greeting - like Paul's salutations in his epistles and the salutation of John himself in 2 John - specifies the book's destination. The recipients of this message were the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia in Asia Minor (Rev 1:11; chaps. 2 and 3). The salutation describes the One Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come.

Hearing the voice behind him, John turned...to see the voice. This is what the Greek text says, but it is clear that the meaning is "to see the person" or "to see who was speaking to me." Among the lamp stands (the seven churches) John saw Someone "like a Son of Man," (someone with a human appearance) an expression used in Dan 7:13 to refer to the glorified Christ.

Christ described Himself as the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. Christ is portrayed as the eternal One who suffered death at the hands of His persecutors and then was resurrected from the grave. These aspects of Christ were especially relevant to the Christians at Smyrna who, like Christ in His death, were experiencing severe persecution. While the Christians of the church at Smyrna were experiencing the bitterness of suffering, their faithful testimony was like myrrh or sweet perfume to God.

Christ recognized the difficulty of their situation. They lived where Satan has his throne. Some Christians at Pergamos had been true to God under severe testing but others had compromised.

Though much was wrong in the church at Thyatira, believers there were commended for their works...love...faith...service, and perseverance. But despite these evidences of Christian life and testimony, the church at Thyatira had serious problems.

The only word of approval is in actuality a word of rebuke as Christ declared that they had a reputation for being alive and apparently were regarded by their contemporaries as a very alive and effective church. Christ quickly stripped away their reputation of being alive by declaring, you are dead. Like the Pharisees, their outer appearance was a facade hiding their lack of life (cf. Matt 23:27-28).

There is no word of rebuke for the Philadelphia church, though Christ said, I know that you have little strength. These words, however, become a basis for Christ praise that you have kept My word and have not denied My name. Despite their lack of strength, the Philadelphia Christians have been faithful to Christ, They have followed His teachings, they have obeyed His commands, they have been faithful to His message, they have been obedient to His instructions and have not denied His Name.

No word of praise was extended to the Laodicean church. They were pictured as utterly abhorrent to Christ because they were lukewarm. This was addressed to the church and also to the messenger or the pastor. In referring to the church as "lukewarm" Christ had in mind that this was its permanent situation. There is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian.

No word of praise was extended to the Laodicean church. They were pictured as utterly abhorrent to Christ because they were lukewarm. This was addressed to the church and also to the messenger or the pastor. In referring to the church as "lukewarm" Christ had in mind that this was its permanent situation. There is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian.

The scene continues from the last chapter. God is seated on his throne and holds in his right hand a sealed scroll. John then sees a lamb that goes and takes the scroll from God. This is an event that provokes praise and worship from the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, countless millions of angelic beings, and all living creatures in the universe.

Does the church go through the Tribulation? What are Jesus' words for the church today? A comparison is given between Revelation 6 (the seals of God's wrath) and Matthew 24. This is an exhortation for all of us.