By God’s grace, I’ve been able to upload the second video in my series on the book of Revelation to YouTube. Here’s the link to the video.
As you may know, Revelation chapter 2 continues the account of what John the Beloved saw and heard while he was on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea near the end of the first century. In chapter 1, John tells us that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, appeared to him there in His resurrection body.
John says he fell at Jesus’ feet as though dead. But then Jesus touched him and told him to write what he saw in a book and send it to “the seven churches which are in Asia.”
Like so much of Revelation, chapter 2 contains verses that are poignant, mysterious, or controversial. Among them are these stirring words from Jesus to the church in Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Revelation 2:4) I spend some time in the video talking about this verse and what it means. It has been a special word to me ever since I first read it.
Some passages in Revelation can stir up strong disagreement even among devout Christians. One of the most sensitive questions is how to understand Jesus’ words about Jewish identity in His message to the church in 
Smyrna. In Revelation 2:9, Jesus said, “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Verses like this can bring out passionate reactions. When it comes time to write the script for a video, I have to trust the Lord to give me the words to address passages like this.
I hope to film the next two videos in January after visiting my kids and grandkids in Scandinavia for Christmas and New Year. One video will cover Revelation chapter 3, and the other will cover chapters 4 and 5. Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement.
Your friend in Him,
Mark
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