Who is the true focus of Revelation? In this bonus segment covering chapters 1-3, we explore the glorious vision of the risen Christ and His urgent message to His people. Steve Gallagher explains why the 7 letters from Jesus to the churches aren't just merely ancient history - all of them can be seen in the global church TODAY. Are we asleep like Sardis or enduring like Smyrna? These warnings are vital for believers in the last days. Listen now to hear what Jesus is saying to you.

Host: Steve, as we continue our series in the Book of Revelation, we want to look again at chapter one, which we did in our last show. What is the primary focus of this first chapter?

Steve: There is no question that the primary focus of the first chapter is Jesus Christ. He is mentioned in almost every single verse in this chapter. Just as an example, look at verses 5 & 6 in Revelation 1. It begins by offering three characteristics of Christ and then it goes right into four things He has done for us. When it's talking about Him as a person, He is identified as the faithful witness and that's that word “martyr.” He was the first martyr, but it means more than that. It’s referring to the testimony of our lives.
       He is the perfectly faithful witness and the first born of the dead. This can have a couple of different meanings, but primarily it's just describing His relationship to the Father. Also, He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. And let me tell you, for those first century believers who heard this revelation and for the end time Christians who will go through the tyrannical government of the antichrist, that is very good news to know that Jesus Christ reigns sovereignly over the rulers of the earth.
       So, this description is given about Him immediately and then it starts to talk about what He's done for us. He has loved us. He's redeemed us. He has made us into a kingdom. That of course is what this book is all about. It's all about the creation and the inauguration of His Kingdom on earth. He's also made us to be priests to His God and Father putting us in that tremendous role of representing man to God and God to man. What an awesome thing that Jesus has done for us.

Host: Yeah. Amen. There is a really dramatic image of Jesus portrayed in the last part of Chapter. Describe that and tell us what the significance is of that image.

Steve: There is a vivid and startling image of Jesus Christ that John saw and wrote down in the latter part of the first chapter. And that is a direct throwback to what John experienced on the mount of transfiguration when he saw Jesus 's face shining like the sun and His robes white as light. That was a powerful revelation that Peter, James and John had of Jesus way back some sixty years before this. This vision that John has of Jesus here in Revelation 1 is very reminiscent of that one except that this one has much more detail involved. Since this description was given, artists have awkwardly tried to paint pictures of Jesus with a sword coming out of His mouth. That isn't the right way to see it. These are symbols that are describing different aspects of Jesus Christ, and those details will work themselves out throughout the rest of the book. That's why this image of Jesus is so significant to this book.

Host: Steve, how does the presentation of this image of Jesus relate to the seven letters that are coming to the churches?

Steve: John is in an ecstatic trance. He has come into the Spirit, and he has seen Jesus Christ glorified. Now Jesus tells him to write down what he hears. So he begins writing out these seven different letters to these different congregations, all of which John is very familiar with. And that's what is found in Chapters 2 and 3.

Host: You know, I can't put myself in John's place but based on the description that we have here of Jesus, it's like, man, these letters must be pretty important. Look who they're coming from. And He's telling John, “I AM is telling you to write these letters out.” We need to pay attention to what's in these letters. I've heard a lot about these 7 letters. I've heard a lot of people talk about them. I've heard that they represent different periods of church history. I’ve heard that the Laodicean Church best represents the Church of today. As you were looking at this, what became real to you about these 7 letters?

Steve: Well, it is true that dispensationalists have viewed these seven churches as representing various periods of church history. Personally, I don't hold to that view. I'll tell you what, if you look at the characteristics of these seven churches, you will find that every one of them are alive and well right now in the postmodern church. And when you think in terms of who this revelation is primarily aimed at, the end time believer who will go through the things described in this unfolding story, then you see the significance of these different letters being first written for those churches at the time, but then even more importantly to the body of Christ as a whole that will be alive during the end times.
       For instance, the Church of Ephesus were doing many things right. They were standing for truth, but they had lost their first love. Smyrna is a Church that was being persecuted. Today, much of the body of Christ is enduring terrible persecution in Muslim lands and in communist countries. You look at some of the other churches like Pergamum and Thyatira talking about the false teachers of their day and they are in abundance right now in the Church. Sardis has a reputation of being alive and thriving, but the spiritual reality that Jesus Christ saw about them was that they were spiritually dead. And then Laodicea, yes, absolutely would be a perfect example of the American Church. But you have to look at the whole global Church. You can't just focus on the American experience and try to confine it to that.

Host: Steve, how do these letters then speak to me as an individual, as opposed to a body of professing believers?

Steve: I think that every professing Christian will find himself somewhere in these seven letters. For some, it would be a matter of lost love. For others, they would have an undue tolerance for false teachers. They need a strong warning about that. For others who are facing persecution, they need a word of encouragement that a sovereign God is on the throne. So yes, these are messages meant for individuals who will be living through these difficult days ahead.

Host: As you've gone through the book of Revelation, have you found that God is really speaking to you as an individual? I mean, we can look at, “Okay, what are the worldwide events going to be? What's happening in the Kingdom of Heaven?” But really God is speaking to us individually. Those who desire to know Him and are longing for Him, He has a message for you and that completely changes the way that you read it. It must.

Steve: It's an excellent point you're bringing up, because what is being painted is a worldwide scene of epic proportions and yet, at the same time, a call is going out to you and me individually to walk through faithfully and consistently with the Lord.

Host: When you look at it that way, that just adds tremendous impetus to get into this book. Yes, it can be discouraging at times. It can be frustrating. It can be confusing. But Jesus, the one who was so gloriously described in this first chapter has something to say to me individually. So, no matter how difficult it may be, I need to get in this book and read what Jesus has to say to me. Especially in these last days.

The person struggling with sexual sin faces the same sort of challenges that Abraham faced: How to live for God in a culture that is full of unbelief, idolatry and an abundance of enticing temptations? The answer for him is the same for us: a living, robust faith in God. There is no question but that the level and strength of our faith is going to determine the level of freedom we walk in.

Saving, living faith is birthed through our response to the call from God, begins its journey with a complete break with the old life and lives in an awareness of the unseen realm. No devil from hell can reach a person’s heart who lives with this quality of faith.

Jesus said you can’t serve two masters, because you can only be truly devoted to one. The One all Christians should be devoted to is Christ.

But are we?

Why do so many Christian organizations exist to help Christians out of addictions? Perhaps it has to do with our devotion and who our hearts truly serve. In this week’s episode, Patrick Hudson delves into the seriousness of knowing what our hearts are truly fixed on and encourages us to pursue a life that is wholly devoted to God.

Resources We Mentioned

• Check Out Our Blog
• Check Out Our Bookstore

From the Chapel: Andrew was full of pride. He was enslaved to sexual sin yet saw himself as spiritually superior to those around him including those he was sinning against. But when he came to the Pure Life Ministries Residential Program, the Lord revealed the reality of his condition through the power of His Word and gave Andrew the beautiful gift of repentance and newness of life.

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John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (NIV)

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       Before I arrived at Pure Life Ministries, my heart was full of pride, self-reliance, selfish ambition and fear. In particular, I had a great fear of man. My marriage and family were beginning to crumble from my years of masturbation, pornography, massage parlors, and prostitution that I had brought into my life over the years. Outwardly, I was very religious and thought I was a better person than most, including my wife. I was so deceived. I was actually working right along with Satan's plan to destroy my life and the life of those around me.
       As 2 Timothy 3 says, I was a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God. I had a form of godliness but denied it’s power. Shortly after arriving at Pure Life, I had my first counseling session. I soon realized that I did not look forward to my counseling sessions. They felt like interrogation sessions to me. I was blind to the fact that I did not have love for my counselor and my heart was hard, but God was putting His finger on the sin in my heart. Little did I understand that the Lord’s plans for me were and still are so much more than I can see.
       Things began to change in a subsequent counseling session. I was told to read a portion of John 15 out loud. I began reading and my counselor stopped me. My counselor encouraged me to read it louder and slower. I remember thinking, “What's wrong with my reading?” But I decided to humble myself because the Lord had put this man in my life to help me. After reading a verse or so, something happened. The Lord was helping me to put my guard down and open my heart to His Word.
       I very strongly sensed the presence of God in the room. I lowered my defenses and the Holy Spirit rushed in to convict my heart. God made it clear that my kingdom of self would never stand against such a perfect and holy God. Tears fell from my face. “I'm so full of pride” were the words that came out of my mouth. The Lord was starting to show me who I really was, a self-loving person with little concern for God or others. But the Lord was also showing me who He was, a merciful Father, who, while I was still a long way off in the distance saw me and was running to me so that He could embrace me.
       Still in my counseling session, all I could do was cry and thank Jesus for His loving kindness as He cleansed me with His blood. During that session, Jesus gave me the gift of repentance, even though I intellectually could not tell you what repentance was. The Lord gave me a peace that passed all understanding. My counselor put his hand on my shoulder as I left the session. This meant a lot to me because I had such a fear of him before entering the session. The Lord showed me through this gesture that my Heavenly Father is not a harsh taskmaster. Instead, He is gentle, He is lowly and He is loving.
       I left the session feeling free from all my pride, selfishness, and fear. Nothing else mattered in that moment except for what the Lord had done for me. Throughout my program, the Lord gave me other powerful experiences with Him similar to the one I just described. I also had failures, setbacks, and mistakes, but through the help of staff in the program, the Lord continuously opened my heart to repentance. The Lord has laid a foundation for me to remain in His love and now my eternity is on a completely different trajectory. Now as I walk with Him daily, He always reminds me that He is enough.

In the 40 years Pure Life Ministries has been counseling, we've never stopped supplying Biblical answers to those in sexual sin, to wives in their devastation, and to the sincere believer in their walk with the Lord.

In this episode, we answer some of our most common questions, as well as viewers’ concerns on their personal journey with God. Questions like:

• How can I know my husband has truly repented?

• Am I in a dry time because of hidden sin?

• How can I balance life's responsibilities and my relationship with God?

Joshua Broadhurst and Bernardo Arjona answer questions like these in this month's Q&A.

Resources We Mentioned

• Pure Life Ministries 26th Annual Conference
• #656 - The Modern Face of Idolatry (Podcast) By Pure Life Ministries
• Residential Program Home Page

To the person who is struggling with sexual sin: Do you feel as if you’ve been conquered by the enemy of your soul? The book of Lamentations is surprisingly very applicable because it was written in Jerusalem after it was destroyed by its enemies—and the author finds hope in God. In today’s message, Dr. John Oswalt draws five truths out of this book which still apply today.

David prayed "Search me, O God, and know my heart." What a bold request! What would happen if you asked Him to search your heart? It may feel unsettling to think about—but it can change everything. Could there be hidden idols shaping your life without you realizing it?

On today’s podcast, we explore why this question matters and how it could transform your walk with Christ. Join us for an enlightening discussion you won’t want to miss.

Resources We Mentioned

• The Ten Commandments: Reasonable Rules for Life (Book) By D.L. Moody

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ." From its very first verse, the final book of the Bible presents us with a profound question: Is this a message from Jesus about the future, or is it an unveiling of Jesus Himself?

Revelation is certainly filled with deep mysteries and complex symbolism, but it is not meant to be ignored. It is a book of awe and urgency that every believer is called to read, hear, and heed.

Discover the blessing promised to those who embrace this prophecy as we venture through the book of Revelation with Steve Gallagher in this series of interviews from our archives.

Host: We want to begin a series with you, Steve, looking at the Book of Revelation. I know that this is a book for many of us that we just kind of sometimes look at and go, “Man, I'm not even sure I want to read this thing because it's so confusing and I just don't think I can understand this.” And so, I think it's going to be a good opportunity for you to share and talk about the amount of time that you've looked into this particular book of God's Word and share a little bit about why you spent so much time looking at it.

Steve: I felt the exact same way you just described. What's the point in even trying to understand this book? Because it's got so much symbolism. It’s got so many controversial things going on. It seems so confusing. Why even put the effort into it? But the Lord got it into me back in 1993 to study it and once I started getting into it, it just became an obsession practically. That year I spent about 1200 hours studying it through and looking at all the old-time writers and commentators.
       But about a year ago, that hunger began to rise up again inside me and I started getting into it again. I ended up taking a completely different look at it with newer commentators and I found myself once again obsessed with it. All I can say is I believe it's part of God's call on my life and the message that He wants to convey through me for the end times church. I think that is a crucial and important aspect of the Book of Revelation.

Host: Well, we're going to get into different aspects of Revelation as we go through this series, but as an overview, I want to ask you if you could narrow down just a couple of things that you would say stood out to you most about this book.

Steve: I guess the thing that really stood out to me about this book is that it's really a story. It's a historical narrative book, except it has been communicated through visions about the future. It doesn't seem to make any sense, but I'm telling you, that's what it is. It's a story. And it really goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when rebellion began to break forth amongst mankind.
       That spiritual conflict has been going on in the unseen realm for these past 6000 years and the Book of Revelation describes the culmination of that battle. So, if you could look behind the scenes to see what God is doing and what the enemy is doing and how it's affecting the unfolding of world events, this is what the story is all about.

Host: Well, Steve, as you have read through this story, have there been any real surprises to you?

Steve: Yeah, there definitely have. The biggest surprise I've encountered in the Book of Revelation is the prominent role that worship plays in the story. It really is amazing. Most people have the attitude that I had when I first read through it. It’s like, “Okay, hurry and get through this and let's get into the real juicy stuff.” That’s what I think the mentality people have and I understand that, but worship really plays a significant role in the book. For one thing, you will find that it occurs at critical junctures throughout the story. For example, when something is about to happen or God has just done something, the reaction in heaven is to fall down and worship God. It really shows how much the sovereignty of God plays a part in the unfolding story as a whole.

Host: The way you describe it almost completely shifts the focus from where we normally have it, which is, “Okay, what's going to happen with the one world government?” It shifts the focus completely instead to, “What is God doing?” Man. You got me excited to go read it again!
       Now I know that when you look at the Book of Revelation, of course we've all seen lots of movies, we hear a lot of people talk about what they think it means and there's a lot of controversy about different parts of the book. What's one of the first ones that you encountered as you looked at it?

Steve: There are various controversies that arise with different biblical scholars and their approaches to understanding the different symbolism that is going on. But I'll tell you right off the bat, the very first verse creates a controversy. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Is it a revelation about Jesus Christ Himself? Is that what it's saying? Or is it a revelation about future events that Jesus Christ shares with the reader? Which is it? And it's impossible to tell simply by the grammar. There's got to be something more to it. And I'll tell you the truth, the scholars are pretty much split down the middle over it.
       Some say it's a revelation about Jesus Christ and when you look at the book. I mean, for heaven's sake, almost the entire first chapter is about Jesus. Chapters 2 & 3 are a message from Jesus to His Church. Chapters 4 & 5 are all about Jesus receiving the scroll. Chapters 6 through 19 are all about the unfolding of events as God brings the Kingdom into His hands. Chapters 20 through 22 are a description of His eternal marriage to His bride. So, you can certainly see the argument that it's about Jesus Christ. Yet on the other hand, it is a revelation of the things which must soon take place. I'll just put it this way, the pulpit commentary said, “Christ is both the mystery and the revealer of it.” And that's good enough for me.

Host: Yeah. So, where's the controversy? It pretty much all ends up with Him doesn't it?

Steve: It does. Right where it should be.

Host: Steve, right at the beginning of Revelation 1, there is a promise in verse 3 and I want to ask you about. It reads, “Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it for the time is near.” Talk about that.

Steve: To do that verse any justice, you really have to take it in its historical context. Let me put it to you this way, no one had Bibles. There were a number of scrolls of Paul's letters and some other New Testament writings that were around, but at the most, they had maybe one per church. So, getting into the Word of the God meant that you had to go to church and as part of the service someone would actually read part of one of Paul's epistles. Or in this case, part of John's Revelation.
       So, there was a blessing to the man who would read it to the congregation and a blessing to those who heard what was read. And as part of that is also the actual living out the spirit of the message. But that blessing extends beyond the 1st century. It is a blessing that is extended to us as well. If we will study this and take it inside of us, there is a blessing that is urgently needed by end time believers and I'm not exaggerating it. We need the message of this book resonating within our inner being because with the things we are going to see in the days ahead and the things that we're going to experience and be forced to endure, we are going to be so glad that the Book of Revelation was made a part of our lives.

We live in a universe of cause and effect. As Galatians 6 warns, "Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap."

So what happens when someone continually sows to idols instead of God? This episode, we dig into the patterns of a self-serving life, expose the spiritual dangers, and reveal the inevitable consequences that follow.

Resources We Mentioned

• i: The Root of Sin Exposed (Book) By Steve Gallagher

From the Chapel: It is impossible to serve two masters, for we will love one and hate the other. We cannot hate the world in our flesh. We must see how beautiful Jesus is if we are to turn away from sin.

I'm preparing a study for the podcast. I'll be going through Roy Hession's book, “When I Saw Him.” And I can’t help but think of Paul when he was called by Jesus. He was knocked off his horse. He was knocked off all of his education. Knocked off of everything he had ever known. He was a pharisee trained under Gamaliel. The elite of the elite. It was in a sense his Harvard education. Also, in that book I mentioned, Roy Hession talks about when Isaiah had a vision. In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and the temple filled with smoke and the presence of God came in. And there are stories of other people in this book that I'll be studying about what happened to them when they saw Him.
       Paul was blind for three days and like the Word of God says, he had three days to think about Jesus. In those three days he understood that it was all over for him. The same thing happened to Isaiah when he saw the Lord. “I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips. And I dwell among a people of unclean lips.” His declaration of his filthiness in the sight and the acknowledgement of this God. That's all you can say. And I so hunger for that.
       You guys are on my prayer list and that's one of the things I'm asking God for you. Because until you see Him, it will feel like, “Man, I gotta give up this. I gotta give up that.” As if you've got to do something for God and then He's going to be happy with you and everything's going to change. It's not like that. Until you see Him, I don't know that you will be able to just give up all your stuff. You can and should when you see Him, because it's your reasonable service of worship to walk away from the things of this world.
       But the greater thing is to see Him. And when you see Him, those things are nothing to you. You will understand your life is over. It's not yours anymore and it won't be a chore. It won't be a drudgery to read the Word of God, to pray, or to love other people. It will be Jesus living His life through your life when you have seen Him. But if you haven't seen Him, you're going through the motions. And that is just my heart’s cry for myself and for you guys. God, please open our blind eyes because we’re so blind. We're so in love with the wrong stuff. And we can't see because we love so many other things.
       And if we have a part to play, our part is to walk away as best as we can from the things of this world—God's enemies. And He will provide the sight that you need. But I don't want to give the wrong impression. We have our part to play. You have to seek Him. You have to find Him. You have to ask, seek and knock. Do it every day. Fight for it. But then, I believe He's going to give you a sight that will absolutely, utterly transform you for the rest of your life. And some of you probably have already seen the Lord that way, but you need more. You desperately need more of Him.

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Resources:

• When I Saw Him: Where Revival Begins (Book) By Roy Hession

As we finish celebrating Jesus’ first coming, we invite you to consider precisely why Jesus came to earth in the first place. There’s so much hope for the sinner in considering these things! But there’s also a call: a call to repent of sin and believe the gospel. And it’s this call which our Residential Counseling Director, Luke Imperato, gives in today’s sermon.

Idolatry isn't only for ancient times. Idolatry is alive TODAY! Take a journey through the history of idol worship (and even do a little science) for a deeper understanding of how it works, how the Lord is affected by it, and what it means for your Christian walk. Join Steve Gallagher as he exposes the modern face of Idolatry.

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