Revelation 2:1 Through 3:22 – Imperatives to the Seven Churches

Until you know the meaning of a terms, hearing one can cause you to loose attention. I did not know what pesher was when I first heard it but pesher is used in the Church today,  day to day, week to week.  Pesher focuses the reader/hearer on considering how to apply scripture to our lives today.

Toward the beginning of the book of Revelation, the One who was dead and is now alive tells John to write to the angel of seven different churches. The section contains imperatives, promises, warnings, descriptions of current condition, descriptions of previous conditions, as well as if/then statements.

As I read through Revelation 2:1 through 3:22, it is the imperatives which catch my attention. Greek verbs have “mood” attached to them clarifying the action. The imperative is one “mood”, often acting as a command or at least a strong recommendation. Here in Revelations among harsh words to the churches, these imperatives lead to hope. The imperatives here are directed to the ἐκκλησίαις (those called out, those separated, those in the family of God, those who are the body of Christ) often translated as the Church.

When life is tough they were told to:

 

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

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