Figure of speech ?
Eh, that phrase is acceptable for mans general conversation.
However I do not lean on that Phrase (figure of speech), regarding Gods Spiritual Word.
Go to each one and it says thee church at this location
Jn 10:16
7 folds?
7 covenants?
7 kingdoms?
No one universal Catholic Church
I am aware of the early "buildings" described as "churches".
* The teaching of Christ Jesus, began with a handful of Jewish men, no building, and their Teacher, Jesus.
* the Teaching was spread out to other Jewish individual men.
* then further out to Jewish synagogs, converting Jews in the synagogs, to churches, as their members began accepting Jesus.
* then further out to all the Tribesmen.
* then with Paul, sent out to Preach primarily to Gentiles, along with Jews and Tribesmen.
* As Gentiles began joining in the God & Jesus belief...Appointments of Gentiles began being the primary teachers in the newly created/ man-built Churches.
* Gentiles primarily governing over the man-built Churches, began collations, meetings, counsels....resulting in man-made rules, doctrines, appointed "leaders", titling men, exalting men in appointed positions, and calling their "churches'... the ONLY TRUE church of Jesus Christ.....
* men, women, children Flocked to these so called ... ONLY TRUE CHURCHES of Jesus Christ.
(And not to Dismiss, thousands of men, women, children WHO flocked to these so called....ONLY TRUE CHURCHES of Jesus Christ....
were ILLERATE
They were dependant soley on what they were TOLD, without option of access to Scripture to READ and VERIFY what they were TOLD was true of not.).
* The counsels, meetings, of the "appointed" continued, the man-made rules, doctrines, rituals, demands, preaching, teaching to the illiterate, and no option to verify continued exponentially.
* During the passage of time...illiteracy and availability to Verify in written Scripture became materialized.
* Many persons felt duped, by mans made up Doctrines and Received no valid explanations, and were simple booted out of the congregations (of these supposed "only True Churches), or voluntarily left.
* the Same Churches continue today, touting being "the only True Church of Jesus Christ", with the Same and expanded Doctrines, with the Same demand, to follow their man-made Doctrines, philosophies, rules, traditions, rituals... or risk being booted out.
Christ Jesus' ONLY True Church, and His Spiritual Doctrine of His Holy Word, is WITHIN an individual man, and such Individual, IS NEVER booted out.
Glory to God,
Taken