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Helen Cook

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Helen.Cook@PrimeStarPublicity.com

 

Christ reissues the seven letters to the seven churches in visionary new book

 

Raleigh, NC—March 2009—In his new book, Is Your Church Heavenly?—A Question from Christ for Every Christian, (Zoë Life Publishing, 2008), author and prophet John Meacham demystifies the seven letters to the seven churches presented in the Apostle John’s Book of Revelation and asks Christians to examine their own churches against the standards revealed there.

 

Anyone who has ever wondered about the seven letters included in Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation need look no further for their meaning, either in John’s day or in modern times.  John Meacham’s book and Group Study Guide combination, Is Your Church Heavenly?, speaks clearly to today’s Christian a timeless message direct from the heart of God:  Reform the church, so that the light of Christ might return.

This work started in January of 2005, when John spent eight days at the Sea of Galilee praying for Christ’s return. There, he received a fresh revelation from Christ – a reissuance of the seven letters to the seven churches from the book of Revelation, addressing the varying states of the Christian church in today’s society.

“The book is more than a Bible study,” says Sabrina Adams, Zoë Life Publishing founder and director.  “It is a group of eye-opening, hard to hear lessons.  It is honest, sometimes harshly so, yet the honesty is straight from the Holy Spirit and needs to be shared with Christians worldwide.”

Using Christ’s letters as recorded in Revelation as a church evaluation guide, the chapters of John’s book “depict seven different types of [New Testament] churches that Christ sought to reform to be heavenly churches,” the author states in the introduction to his book.  Showing the parallels between the churches of the Apostle John’s day to modern day Christian churches, each chapter is part in-depth study manual, part travel memoir, and part spiritual journal, combining to impart a complete image of what Christ wants to say to churches today.

One by one the chapters classify the seven churches in a distinctive manner according to Jesus’ own assessment of them: orthodox but loveless (Ephesus), earthly poor but spiritually rich (Smyrna), part true to Christ and part corrupted by false teaching (Pergamum), loyal but tolerant of immorality (Thyatira), spiritually dead with only a small remnant of believers (Sardis), faithful but with little strength (Philadelphia), and spiritually lukewarm, detestable to Christ (Laodicea).

Chapters 1 through 7 of “Is Your Church Heavenly?” present a historical overview of the budding New Testament church; a review of Christ’s evaluation of the church – both its strengths and its weaknesses – and insightful exposition about the characteristics mentioned; Jesus’ corrective commands and encouragement to the church; and correlations to, and suggestions for modern day churches exhibiting the same traits.  The chapters also include engaging reflective questions to help readers recognize parallels with their own churches, illuminating true life stories, and suggestions for implementing change within the normative church structure.  An eighth chapter offers a summary of the seven churches along with characteristics that would indicate a healthy, vibrant, Christ-centered church.

An Appendix includes a brief description of AIM, a five-year small group program created by the author to “enhance spiritual growth and strengthen the bonds among church members.”  The Appendix also consists of chapter notes, a Bibliography, Websites referenced in the book, and biographies of both John and co-writer Dr. Lon Ackelson.

The Is Your Church Heavenly? Group Study Guide complements John’s book by offering groups gripping review questions and space for personal journaling.  Again, seven chapters correlate to the seven letters in Revelation, with session themes, a description of each church’s characteristics, a discussion of the rewards for those who overcome, stories of John’s trip to Galilee, and group discussion questions.  An eighth chapter is designed to help group members evaluate their own church.  The Appendix contains end notes, photographs from the author’s trip to Galilee, and a biography of John’s divine revelations.

Is Your Church Heavenly? is the “perfect playbook for churches, leaders and members,” says Adams.  The book and accompanying Group Study Guide also work as an inspirational guide to new believers looking for a church home, as well as seasoned church goers, who want to help their church grow to become more heavenly.

“It is our earnest prayer that each reader considers the characteristics of each of these seven churches of the Revelation to evaluate his or her local congregation,” John states.

 

Zoë Life Publishing

Is Your Church Heavenly?, 2008, 199 pages

Group Study Guide, 2009, 95 pages