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The Jesus Letters: Seven Secrets That Can Change You and Your Church
The Jesus Letters takes the seven letters to the churches in Revelation, lifts them out of their ancient setting, creating a mirror for the contemporary church in which to view her. The image reflected in that mirror just might surprise you. These primitive letters provide a prophetic portrait of the ‘desires’ of Jesus for his church. With picturesque detail Ravenhill depicts what brings the pleasure of His presence and the pain of His absence. Jesus’ words will comfort you and disturb you—they will challenge you as they change you. Open the letters cautiously and carefully. Read them just as they were written-—personally and passionately just for you.
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 26, 2025
To follow the example of Jesus in Revelation 2:20-24, should churches throw a false prophetess onto a bed where men can rape her and God can kill her children? That is a logical question that follows from the thesis of this book.
David Ravenhill's thesis is that modern churches should follow the instructions from the first three chapters of the book of Revelation. They consist of letters written to seven churches in what is now Turkey.
Ravenhill says these letters are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter I of Revelation, however, says that an angel revealed the words of Jesus to John of Patmos, who wrote letters to the seven churches.
Revelation has been called the least read and the most misunderstood book in the New Testament. Revelation differs from the rest of the New Testament in that the entire book never mentions forgiving enemies and turning the other cheek. Instead, divine wrath is depicted in gory detail.
Bart Ehrman, the New Testament scholar and best-selling author, sums it up this way:
"The book (of Revelation) celebrates judgment, bloody vengeance, and divine wrath – not love, mercy, forgiveness, or reconciliation...The love of God – for anyone or anything – is never mentioned in the book, not once."
Ravenhill ignores those parts of Revelation. He describes Jezebel as an actual person – "the woman Jezebel"– from Thyatira who called herself a prophet. She is not to be confused with Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, in the Old Testament, instructs Ravenhill.
What Ravenhill ignores is the punishment Jesus imposes on Jezebel for teaching an immoral doctrine. She will be thrown on a bed of suffering where men will commit adultery, and God will kill her children.
I don't blame the author for not wanting to explain away using rape as a penalty and killing children for the sins of their mother. If the contemporary church should obey what Jesus says to the church in Thyatira, then should the same punishment be imposed on modern heretics?
That's not the only problem found in the seven letters. Ravenhill predicts there will be growing anti-Semitism. Yet Jesus in Revelation twice says synagogues "belong to Satan." (2:9, 3:9). Does that divine declaration promote tolerance and love?
Revelation 2:14 says it's a serious sin to eat food offered to idols. This recalls the food prohibited in the Old Testament. But elsewhere the New Testament says not to worry about those restrictions.
1Tim 4:4 says, "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude."
Matthew 15:11, Jesus states, “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
"Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them." (Mark 7: 15)
Does the Church want to rule the world with an iron rod and smash nations like a clay pot? According to Rev. 2:26-27, that's what those who remain faithful will do. In addition, "To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations." Even the Jews will bow before the faithful rulers
It sounds like an authoritarian one-world government. Is that the real Christian goal?
The threat in Revelations. 2:14-16 is that Jesus will make war on churches who don't repent for eating food sacrificed for idols and for sexual sin. Jesus warns the church of Pergamum to repent from following the teaching of Balaam. If they don't, then Jesus would make war against them. This would seem to undermine the doctrine of eternal security, aka once saved, always saved.
Don't major in the minors, Ravenhill warns. "It is critical," writes Ravenhill, "that we keep in mind the universality as well as eternity of truth contained in these seven letters."
The problem is that the seven letters don't mention loving neighbors, mercy, forgiveness, or reconciliation.
What they do mention, among other things, is gang raping a heretic and killing her children, "Satan's synagogue," and world domination.
Personally, this reviewer prefers the Jesus of the gospels teaching forgiveness, love, and the golden rule. -30-
David Ravenhill's thesis is that modern churches should follow the instructions from the first three chapters of the book of Revelation. They consist of letters written to seven churches in what is now Turkey.
Ravenhill says these letters are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter I of Revelation, however, says that an angel revealed the words of Jesus to John of Patmos, who wrote letters to the seven churches.
Revelation has been called the least read and the most misunderstood book in the New Testament. Revelation differs from the rest of the New Testament in that the entire book never mentions forgiving enemies and turning the other cheek. Instead, divine wrath is depicted in gory detail.
Bart Ehrman, the New Testament scholar and best-selling author, sums it up this way:
"The book (of Revelation) celebrates judgment, bloody vengeance, and divine wrath – not love, mercy, forgiveness, or reconciliation...The love of God – for anyone or anything – is never mentioned in the book, not once."
Ravenhill ignores those parts of Revelation. He describes Jezebel as an actual person – "the woman Jezebel"– from Thyatira who called herself a prophet. She is not to be confused with Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, in the Old Testament, instructs Ravenhill.
What Ravenhill ignores is the punishment Jesus imposes on Jezebel for teaching an immoral doctrine. She will be thrown on a bed of suffering where men will commit adultery, and God will kill her children.
I don't blame the author for not wanting to explain away using rape as a penalty and killing children for the sins of their mother. If the contemporary church should obey what Jesus says to the church in Thyatira, then should the same punishment be imposed on modern heretics?
That's not the only problem found in the seven letters. Ravenhill predicts there will be growing anti-Semitism. Yet Jesus in Revelation twice says synagogues "belong to Satan." (2:9, 3:9). Does that divine declaration promote tolerance and love?
Revelation 2:14 says it's a serious sin to eat food offered to idols. This recalls the food prohibited in the Old Testament. But elsewhere the New Testament says not to worry about those restrictions.
1Tim 4:4 says, "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude."
Matthew 15:11, Jesus states, “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
"Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them." (Mark 7: 15)
Does the Church want to rule the world with an iron rod and smash nations like a clay pot? According to Rev. 2:26-27, that's what those who remain faithful will do. In addition, "To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations." Even the Jews will bow before the faithful rulers
It sounds like an authoritarian one-world government. Is that the real Christian goal?
The threat in Revelations. 2:14-16 is that Jesus will make war on churches who don't repent for eating food sacrificed for idols and for sexual sin. Jesus warns the church of Pergamum to repent from following the teaching of Balaam. If they don't, then Jesus would make war against them. This would seem to undermine the doctrine of eternal security, aka once saved, always saved.
Don't major in the minors, Ravenhill warns. "It is critical," writes Ravenhill, "that we keep in mind the universality as well as eternity of truth contained in these seven letters."
The problem is that the seven letters don't mention loving neighbors, mercy, forgiveness, or reconciliation.
What they do mention, among other things, is gang raping a heretic and killing her children, "Satan's synagogue," and world domination.
Personally, this reviewer prefers the Jesus of the gospels teaching forgiveness, love, and the golden rule. -30-
September 20, 2013
It is hard to believe that this book isn't considered a "must read Christian classic." It examines Jesus' instructions to us regarding our faith life as a community of believers. The book is well written, thought provoking, and logical. Read it, you won't be sorry.
July 1, 2008
Quite good, quite thought-provoking. The Book of Revelation (or a book about the Book of Revelation) is always a good read! David is the son of the famous preacher/pastor Leonard. Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews