The first three chapters of Revelation are the favourites of Bible teachers because they are less daunting to tackle than the rest of the book! The foundational themes of the Gospel are all here, including the supremacy and glorious magnificence of Jesus "who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us" and who is "the first to rise from the dead" as part of God's new creation; God's lavish grace; His gift of peace; the comforting words of Jesus: "Don't be afraid! I died, but look – I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave"; the central place of the church as being a kingdom of priests to serve the Father's purposes as a light to the nations; and that the universal church – the family of God throughout the world – will be under constant attack from the evil one.

The messages to the seven churches give us a number of warnings as to what we need to guard against when going through extremely difficult and challenging times, or times of extreme prosperity and affluence in the case of Laodicea. They all involve getting back to basics. This will always be the case. Maturity is not about learning new things, but about plumbing the depths of the simple truths we already know and putting them into practise; it is about dying to self and sharing in Christ's sufferings.

 "I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first [You have abandoned your first love for me and for my people]! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first."

"You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam [a wolf in sheep's clothing] … You are permitting that Jezebel [woman or man], who calls herself a prophet, to lead my servants astray [through sensuality, manipulation and control]. Repent of your sin. I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person."

"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive – but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again."

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing [I am independent and self-reliant]!' And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy [true, not worldy] gold from me – gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness [for your posh clothing cannot hide your inner poverty], and ointment for your [spiritual] eyes so you will be able to see.  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference [your complacency, apathy and half-heartedness]."