Before John hears what Jesus has to say to the churches, he sees the One who is speaking. On the island of Patmos, John turns at the sound of a voice and comes face-to-face with the risen Lord. This is the same Jesus John followed through Galilee, leaned against at the table, watched die on a cross, and saw alive again—but now John beholds Him in all His glory. In Unveiling, we walk through John’s breathtaking vision of Christ in Revelation 1, consider the significance of what John sees, and listen as Jesus commissions him to write “the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this.” Before we enter the seven churches and hear His words to them, Revelation pulls back the veil and fixes our eyes firmly on Jesus Christ. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:1–20 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Revelation1 #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #JesusChrist #RootedPathMinistries

DEAR BELOVED: The Letters to the Seven Churches Step onto the rocky shores of Patmos, where the apostle John has been banished because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Far from the churches he loves and separated from the believers he has spent his life serving, John receives a revelation of Jesus Christ—and seven letters addressed to seven real churches in Asia Minor. These are ancient letters written to ancient churches, but the words of Christ still call His church to listen: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Dear Beloved walks through the opening chapters of Revelation and the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor. Each teaching corresponds with a lesson in the Dear Beloved Bible study workbook from Rooted Path Ministries. IN THIS LESSON: Before we open the first letter, we need to set the table. Who wrote the book of Revelation? To whom was it written? Why was John on the island of Patmos, and what was happening in the churches scattered across Asia Minor? In Setting the Table, we step into John’s world, establish the historical and biblical setting of Revelation, and consider the aim of the book itself. Revelation was not given to frighten or confuse the church. It was given as a revelation of Jesus Christ. Before John sees what is coming, he sees the One who is speaking—and before we read His words to the seven churches, we need to know who stands among them. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:1–20 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #JesusChrist #RootedPathMinistries

Our journey through the seven churches begins in Ephesus, one of the most prominent cities of Asia Minor and home to the magnificent temple of Artemis. The gospel had taken root here through the ministry of Paul, Timothy, and John, and the Ephesian church had stood firm against false teaching and endured for the name of Christ. Jesus commends them for their labor, perseverance, and discernment—but then comes the piercing correction: “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” In Abandoned Love, we walk the streets of Ephesus, trace the remarkable biblical history of this church, and listen as Christ calls a faithful, hardworking, discerning church to remember, repent, and return. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2:1–7 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Ephesus #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #FirstLove #RootedPathMinistries

Our journey continues to Smyrna, a beautiful and prosperous city fiercely loyal to Rome and filled with temples honoring its gods and emperors. For the believers living there, confessing that Jesus—not Caesar—was Lord could come at tremendous cost. Jesus does not promise this suffering church an easier road. Instead, He tells them that He knows their tribulation and poverty, reminds them that they are truly rich, and calls them to remain faithful even unto death. In Persecuted, we step into the pressure surrounding the church at Smyrna and listen to the words of the One who identifies Himself as “the first and the last, who died and came to life.” To a church facing suffering, imprisonment, and even death, the risen Christ speaks courage, endurance, and the promise of the crown of life. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2:8–11 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Smyrna #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #PersecutedChurch #RootedPathMinistries

Our journey continues to Pergamum, a city crowded with temples, altars, and opportunities to worship nearly any god of the Greco-Roman world. Here stood shrines to Athena, Dionysus, Zeus, and Asclepius, the serpent-associated god of healing. Jesus describes Pergamum as the place “where Satan’s throne is,” yet in the middle of this deeply pagan city stood a church that had held fast to His name, even when faithfulness cost one of their own his life. But another danger had found its way inside. In Compromise, we examine Christ’s warning to a church being pulled toward divided allegiance. The pressure was no longer simply to deny Christ, but to make room for what could never belong beside Him. Jesus calls His church to recognize the danger of compromise, repent, and remain wholly His. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2:12–17 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Pergamum #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #Compromise #RootedPathMinistries

Our journey continues to Thyatira, a thriving industrial city filled with tradesmen, craftsmen, and powerful trade guilds that touched nearly every part of daily life. Participation in these guilds often came with a cost for believers, as business and livelihood became entangled with pagan feasts, idol worship, and sexual immorality. Yet inside this difficult city was a church Jesus commended for its love, faith, service, and patient endurance—even noting that their latter works exceeded the first. But something deeply corrupt was being tolerated among them. In this lesson, we examine Christ’s warning concerning “Jezebel,” the devastating consequences of allowing false teaching and immorality to remain unchecked, and His call to those who had not followed her teaching: “Hold fast what you have until I come.” SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2:18–29 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Thyatira #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #RootedPathMinistries

Sardis had a reputation for being alive. From the outside, this looked like a living church—there were works, activity, and a name others apparently recognized. But Jesus saw what reputation could hide, and His diagnosis was devastating: “You are dead.” In this lesson, we step into the wealthy and seemingly secure city of Sardis and examine the striking parallels between the history of the city and Christ’s warning to His church. We wrestle with the difference between appearing spiritually alive and actually possessing life, the danger of Christian activity without spiritual reality, and the small remnant whose garments remained undefiled. Christ’s words to Sardis press beyond appearances and force each of us to consider a sobering question: it is possible to have the reputation, the works, and all the outward signs of life—but what does Jesus see? SCRIPTURE: Revelation 3:1–6 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Thyatira #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #RootedPathMinistries

Philadelphia was established with a mission. Positioned as an outpost of Greek culture, the city carried the language, customs, and influence of another kingdom into the surrounding region. Centuries later, the church in Philadelphia found itself with a strikingly similar assignment—but now they represented the eternal Kingdom of God. In this lesson, we examine Christ’s message to a faithful church with “little power” and the open door He had placed before them. They had kept His Word, refused to deny His name, and remained faithful under pressure. Jesus reminds them that He alone holds the key, He alone opens and shuts the door, and He will keep what belongs to Him. Philadelphia gives us a powerful picture of our own position as ambassadors: our citizenship is in another Kingdom, our authority comes from our King, and our assignment is to faithfully represent Him wherever He has deployed us. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 3:7–13 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Philadelphia #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #AmbassadorsForChrist #KingdomOfGod #OpenDoor #RootedPathMinistries

Laodicea was wealthy, self-sufficient, and convinced that it needed nothing. Yet when Jesus looked at this church, He saw something entirely different. They were poor, blind, naked, and—most famously—lukewarm. In this lesson, we step into the world of Laodicea and examine the striking imagery Jesus uses from the city around them: wealth that could not make them rich, garments that could not cover their nakedness, remedies that could not cure their blindness, and water that arrived neither refreshingly cold nor usefully hot. Most sobering of all, Jesus stands outside the door and knocks. His words force us to look beyond the name “church” and ask whether those inside truly belong to Him. Yet even in this severe letter there is an invitation: open the door. Christ offers fellowship and the promise of overcoming to the one who hears His voice and receives Him. SCRIPTURE: Revelation 3:14–22 STUDY WITH US Purchase the Dear Beloved workbook and find additional Bible studies at Rooted Path Ministries: rootedpath.org Rooted Path Ministries exists to disciple, equip, and encourage believers to become deeply rooted in the Word of God. #BibleStudy #Revelation #Laodicea #SevenChurches #DearBeloved #LukewarmChurch #OpenTheDoor #Overcomer #RootedPathMinistries