Sometimes it's difficult to read the apocalyptic and prophetic sections of Scripture. They can be confusing and some interpretations can be distracting. The Book of Revelation is one of these challenge sections. But the seven letters to seven churches in Asia (modern-day Turkey) is equally haunting and inspiring because of how straightforward, honest, and promising it is. Read all seven letters here.
Stearns finds the most similarities between America and the seventh church addressed, Laodicea. I agree. Laodicea was wealthy, self-sufficient, prideful. But they had a water problem. Nearby Colossae had refreshing, cold, pure water. Another nearby city, Hierapolis, had healing hot springs. Laodicea had neither. With the use of aqueducts they had access to tepid, lukewarm water that was neither refreshing nor healing.
So despite their wealth, self-sufficiency, and pride, they are called 'wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.' Wow! That's a deadly blow. And it is a clarion call to live a useful, refreshing, healed, and healing life.
Please join this Advent book club by reading The Hole in our Gospel
and this blog every day until Christmas.
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