Forty years in the wilderness

John begins the book of Revelation with letters to seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Various people give different meanings to these seven congregations. William Barclay, in his commentary, focuses on the history of each city. George Eldon Ladd in his commentary focuses on the phrases in the text.Robert Mounce in…