Why are the 7 Churches in Revelation each greeted differently...

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Heart2Soul

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they are historical i guess, but also alive and well today imo
Exactly. I used to think that you could measure what spiritual state your church was in by comparing it to one of the seven. But I am beginning to think that the "church" is actually a progressive entity. Maturing from birth to time of the ressurrection.
 

farouk

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Exactly. I used to think that you could measure what spiritual state your church was in by comparing it to one of the seven. But I am beginning to think that the "church" is actually a progressive entity. Maturing from birth to time of the ressurrection.
There's also the fact that around the world and in history, conditions do vary very considerably.
 

bbyrd009

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Exactly. I used to think that you could measure what spiritual state your church was in by comparing it to one of the seven. But I am beginning to think that the "church" is actually a progressive entity. Maturing from birth to time of the ressurrection.
ah, well, see, i am hearing something diff @ "church" than you are surely meaning, by "church" you obv mean a congregation, right. Imo you can measure what spiritual state your church is in this way, but you get to define "church" for yourself, yeh
 
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farouk

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We should look for the simplest answer. Each church was different from the others, and each church needed a different message, and a different aspect of Christ to be the focus. But there is also a common pattern in each message.
Good comment also.
 

Heart2Soul

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ah, well, see, i am hearing something diff @ "church" than you are surely meaning, by "church" you obv mean a congregation, right. Imo you can measure what spiritual state your church is in this way, but you get to define "church" for yourself, yeh
Not necessarily...I think the 7 churches represent a specific spiritual movement bringing us to a place at some point where we are no longer divided by doctrines but are united by truth.
 

bbyrd009

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True but God inevitably will bring His believers together in one accord.
i'm currently in a town the guy is a farmer and likes tilling his land, got three tillers lol. More Lamb's Quarter than anything else. I am a no-till permaculture type, which is useless for growing for profit, you gotta till if you are going to go soil there, and after all the guy has bills. But we find ourselves of one accord nonetheless, even though we are diametrically opposed, could not be further apart on the farming issue, and this is after all a "farm," bc he does farm tomatoes and...stuff, to sell in local markets (by which i mean 'farmer's markets,' and not the ones with cash registers if you get me).

So, when he looks out in the field he sees tomatoes (somewhere in there under the lambs quarter), and i see lamb's quarter, a sea of lambs quarter, more lambs quarter than i ever seen in one place even, and i herded goats for a year.
 

farouk

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Not necessarily...I think the 7 churches represent a specific spiritual movement bringing us to a place at some point where we are no longer divided by doctrines but are united by truth.
I do think that truth and doctrine unite believers in Christ. Ephesians 4.16 carries this sense very strongly:

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
 

ScottA

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In Chapter 1 all of the characteristics below are used to describe Jesus...but when addressing each church separately only 1 characteristic is used in the greeting to the church....and each church received a different one. WHY? Is there any significance to this?
Refer to Revelation 1:11-20


2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I don't believe this was done by mistake or happenstance. I believe there is a reason and am studying it as best I can. Anyone got an answer?
This is the "flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:24 To each [only] a part in Christ Jesus, until the end.
 
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bbyrd009

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Not necessarily...I think the 7 churches represent a specific spiritual movement bringing us to a place at some point where we are no longer divided by doctrines but are united by truth.
hopefully, yes, i like it. Unfortunately few there are who find it, right, so imo careful where your statement up there leads you ok. Or i mean understand that you might be led to interpret that second part especially in more than one way, and at least what i've found is the Spirit will go along with your interp and lead you into scenarios where the shortcoming of that interp might be revealed. Iow you can be led by the Spirit into a place that seems right at first but eventually the truth becomes manifest to you, and you are forced to make a decision; change your mind or become a hypocrite and cement the interp/belief into absolute truth, if you will. die, iow.

The answer is always "there is no answer"
in a certain way anyway. imo.
 

Heart2Soul

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hopefully, yes, i like it. Unfortunately few there are who find it, right, so imo careful where your statement up there leads you ok. Or i mean understand that you might be led to interpret that second part especially in more than one way, and at least what i've found is the Spirit will go along with your interp and lead you into scenarios where the shortcoming of that interp might be revealed. Iow you can be led by the Spirit into a place that seems right at first but eventually the truth becomes manifest to you, and you are forced to make a decision; change your mind or become a hypocrite and cement the interp/belief into absolute truth, if you will. die, iow.

The answer is always "there is no answer"
in a certain way anyway. imo.
I have a pure heart, one that cannot be moved to hate another for his/her belief. Bottom line is that we stand on the foundation that Christ laid and build upon it.
Any other foundation is not of God. But anyway, back to studying this topic.
 

Willie T

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I love the projection of the characteristics of these churches forward to the problems with today's churches. Thankfully there can only be seven things wrong with churches, instead of maybe eight or ten, or more...….. because poor old John only had seven churches he wrote to.
Lol...oh Willie...be serious. I am studying Revelation seeking a deeper understanding.
I am actually being a little serious. We have a tendency to get a bit too literal with the book of Revelation. And that can (and often does) lead to imagining an entire fantasy crystal-ball world that I don't think was ever intended.
 

Heart2Soul

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This is the "flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:24 To each [only] a part in Christ Jesus, until the end.
There is that sword but the one mentioned to the church of Pergamos is the two-edged sword.
 

Heart2Soul

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I am actually being a little serious. We have a tendency to get a bit too literal with the book of Revelation. And that can (and often does) lead to imagining an entire fantasy crystal-ball world that I don't think was ever intended.
So what do you think the purpose is for addressing each church differently in the greeting.
 

Willie T

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Lol...oh Willie...be serious. I am studying Revelation seeking a deeper understanding.
If you are serious about studying Revelation, be sure to read Before Jerusalem Fell, Paradise Restored, and Days of Vengeance.
(Yes, of course, I have all three on my computer in MS Word format, and can e-mail them if requested to.)
 
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ScottA

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There is that sword but the one mentioned to the church of Pergamos is the two-edged sword.
The word "sword" is the same, but the application is complete in the one, but only in part in the other. The "flaming sword' is "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", but the "two-edged sword" lacks five.
 
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