Living Hope – Music Story

Have you ever been startled, then disappointed by something Jesus said?

Seven churches. Real churches that existed when John wrote Revelation. But they could represent seven periods of church history or seven types of churches that have existed throughout church history.

Seven letters. A letter to each church from Jesus telling them to expect his coming. Except that Jesus didn’t tell all seven to expect his coming. He only told six of the seven. But, repeatedly, Revelation says that Jesus is coming and coming soon.

Rev 1:7 he is coming with the clouds
Rev 2:5 I will come to you
Rev 2:16 I will soon come
Rev 2:25 I come
Rev 3:3 I will come
Rev 3:11 I am coming soon
Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door
Rev 16:15 I come like a thief
Rev 22:7 I am coming soon
Rev 22:12 I am coming soon
Rev 22:20 I am coming soon

Experts on Jesus’ coming cite passages outside of Revelation to show that Jesus’ coming for his church is imminent. It could happen at any time, even today. No prophetic event needs to happen first. And the church is to be encouraged and find hope in this. So, I read Jesus’ letters to the churches with deep disappointment. The church that would find the most hope in Jesus’ imminent return is told to expect something else.

“Do not be afraid 

of what you are about to suffer.

I tell you,

the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,

and you will suffer persecution for ten days.

Be faithful, even to the point of death,

and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation 2:8, 10

Where is the suffering church to find hope, if not in Jesus coming? From the album “Apologia – Answers for Troubled Minds” this song finds an answer in the first chapter of 1 Peter.

Kathy

Peter wrote to a church facing persecution. Click here to discover where Peter found hope.

Click here and here to read the disquieting things the church can expect when Jesus comes.

You can get digital (MusicXML™) and/or print (PDF) sheet music for Living Hope.

Click here for digital sheet music.
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Click here for print sheet music.