In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 Jesus gives us a picture of what I believe to be the church as a whole. I know that there a many interpretations of what these two chapters really say. I believe that each one of the churches listed give us an example of what can be expected to be found if you assembled the church as a whole. I believe that you would find someone that fit into each of the categories listed for each church. Regardless of the views and timelines that have been labeled with each church, it is ironic how much the last church mentioned, Laodicea, is a perfect mirror of the church today. The church is lukewarm and sees itself as needing nothing. The church today, has the fancy buildings, the programs, the protocol, but not the substance. My prayer is that this church starts praying for God to allow them to see this church the way He does.

   My prayer is that this work opens eyes to the lack of evangelism and witnessing in the churches today, not just the other things. There is a serious lack of priorities in the church with its placement of soul winning and it creates many other problems that we see today. I pray for people to get hungry for truth, prayer, the Word, and becoming the evangelist you are called to be. The greatest tragedy for any Christian would be to get to heaven and Jesus ask you how many you brought with you and you have to confess, "none." There will be no excuse that is good enough to justify that and no church will answer for that, you will.

   I hope and pray that this is read with an open mind and a willingness to see and act on a much needed change. I have a longing to see the church operate as the one I read about in the book of Acts and I pray that this work has created that same hunger in you. I also pray that it has brought about awareness to things that you may have been hesitant to admit. I am not anti-church; I am anti-religion, politics, entertainment, emotionalism, and all the other garbage that has infiltrated our churches.

Sincerely In Christ,

Adam Bartlett