We continue exploring Jesus words to the seven churches .

Imagining getting a personal letter from Jesus. Maybe you imagined would be full of harsh corrections, but what if it turned out to be encouraging and hopeful. Even the corrections would come with such love and affection. That's exactly what the seven churches in Revelation receive.

Well, it's been a decade of going through the Bible chronologically this second time and now we're finally here. But where exactly are we? What is happening in this most mysterious of books?

Today we conclude John's written sermon and look at the two (maybe) cover letters that were to go with it.

John continues his sermon on true and false and how to tell who to trust.

Older mature John has learned some ways to know who's telling you the truth about the Gospel and who just wants to exploit you. He also wants to remind us that he's walked with Jesus personally, seen him die and come to life, so he feels (and I agree) that that earns him some credibility this area.

Now it's Peters turn to give much the same warnings that Jude did, only slightly more extensively and with slightly fewer strange (to our ears) references). The main point for both Jude and 2 Peter? Don't let anyone move you from the foundation of the Gospel. Nothing else is better. Nothing else is needed for life and Godliness.

A strange and wonderful book, ultimately reminding us to stay grounded on the Gospel.

Stay alert and Focused. This world is not what it will always be. Soon enough we'll be in a new world with no suffering. For now stay focused.

The beautiful hope of God's judgment. Peter understand the hope in something we often think of as only scary. But the promise that God will make everything right in the final analysis is one that we should take great encouragement from.