Greetings from out of the great city Athens in Greece.
Our journey from Croatia (Dalmatia) through Italy to Greece took us over the Adriatic see which Paul the Apostle probably sailed a few times in his life.
Our ferry took us to the port of Patra, Creece, from where we traveled to Corinth.
At the ruins of Ancient Corinth we were taken back to aprox. 52 AD when Paul lived in Corinth, manning his tent-making shop at the market place, and preaching the gospel to all in the town.
We even saw the Bema(tribunal) from where Paul spoke to the Corinthians.
It was such a privilege to walk in Ancient Corinth while reading about what has been said, about this exact city in the Bible.
Our journey then took us to Athens where all the World Racers were reunited at Areopagus Hill near the Acropolis.
It was there that Paul was taken to, as written in Acts 17:16-34 to present his teachings about Jesus to the men o Athens.
There we also received the instructions for our “Revelation Race” where all the teams will race to Ephesus, with different assignments on the way.
One of these assignments is to tell you our teams thoughts about John’s letters to the seven churches, as written in Revelation 2-3.
In every one of the seven letters, Jesus tells John three specific things about that church.
He tells them that He knows their deeds(ministry), warns them about what they do wrong, and gives a promise to them.
The first letter is written to the church in Ephesus, where Jesus acknowledges their hard work and perseverance.
The church endures hardships for His names sake, but God warns them that they have forsaken their first love.
This is also a warning applicable to us, and many other missionaries in this time.
We tend to focus so much of the things of God, that our focus is drawn away from the God of all things.
Here is also promised that if we return to Jesus, our first love, we will eat from the tree of life, which gives access to the pathway from the gates of heaven to the city, as written in Revelations 22.
The church in Smyrna (currently known as Izmir, Turkey) is the second church that is written to.
God knows their afflictions and poverty, and warns them too not be afraid about what they are about to suffer.
If they are faithful to the point of death, they will be given the crown of life.
We can compare the church in Smyrna to the current church in China which we visited earlier this year.
They too are faced with various afflictions and live amongst poverty, but their reward will be in heaven, as promised in this letter,
Thirdly John is told to write to the church in Pergamum ( Bergama, Turkey).
They have remained faithful witnesses to Jesus.
Their warning is against false teachings, eating sacrificed food and committing sexual immorality.
If they do not overcome this, God will fight them with the sword of His mouth.
Thai is the Word of God.
If they do overcome, they will receive the hidden manna the everlasting life through Jesus.
They will also receive a white stone with their new name on, which means they will be a new creation in Christ.
Thus, if we read the Bible, we will be able to see which teachings are false, and also learn how to be a new creation.
This year, while experiencing the world practically, we are also being formed into a new creation.
The fourth letter addresses the church in Thyatira.
Jesus knows their various good deeds, and that they have grown.
The warning is against their toleration of Jezebel, a prophetess who misleads the people into sexual immorality and eating sacrificed food.
It is written that she will be cast on a bed of suffering, her followers will suffer intensely and her children will die.
The people of Thailand are still caught up in there sins, and we will see the effects of such sins even more in Africa.
Sexual immorality brings AIDS, of wich the effects are depicted in Revelations2:22-24.
These who overcome, are promised to rule over nations and to be given the Morning Star, which is Jesus.
Sardi’s church is called to wake up and strengthen what is about to die.
In the fifth letter they are waned that Jesus will come like a thief in the night, and they will not even know it.
We see this specifically in the Western World, where people are Christians by name, but are spiritually asleep and blend in with the world.
This is also a warning to some of you, to wake up in order to prevent your name from being blotted out of the book of life.
The second last letter is written to the church in Philadelphia.
God knows their deeds, and has put a door in front of them that no one can shut.
The door is Jesus Christ, who leads to eternal life.
Even though they have little strength, they have kept God’s word.
Like this church we must also hold on to our crown and we will be rewarded in heaven.
We have experienced this lack of strength sometime this year, but will keep our eyes on Christ and hold on to the authority and blessings we have in Him.
Lastly, the church in Laodicea is addressed on the fact that they are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm Christians.
They act as if they do not need a thing, but in reality God will spit them out of His mouth because they are wretched and blind.
But what does it meant to be lukewarm?
Test yourself if you have the fire of the Spirit inside you, burning with love and passion, drawing you nearer to God and giving you a love for Himself and His lost sheep.
If you lack that fire, or choose to ignore the calling of God, you will be spit out of God’s mouth just like the church of Laodicea is warned.
“Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcome and sat down with my father on His throne.” Revelation 3:19-21
Hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Test yourself, read the warnings and promises, and be built up in your relationship with Christ.
May you be abundantly blessed by the Father!
Greetings from Greece
The Yellow Team
