The Seven Churches per God's Word

[veteran]

Our Lord's Messages to the seven Churches of Asia (Asia Minor), is about a Heavenly pattern.

Rev 1:20
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
(KJV)

The seven candlesticks are the seven churches, per our Lord Jesus.

And there are seven stars (angels) in Heaven over them.

All seven churches existed on earth in the same historical period, and formed a type of circle location in Asia Minor.

Because of that, the seven churches serve as a blueprint pattern for ALL Churches in EACH generation since Christ died on the cross.

It means that pattern exists for all Christian Churches on earth today also. EACH one of Christ's Messages to the seven Churches apply for today also, and especially for the last generation of Christ's return.

Go to any Church today, and ONE of those seven Messages our Lord gave will fit it.

Only 2 of those seven Churches our Lord gave no rebuke, that of Smyrna and Philadelphia. Those two represent the two candlestick Churches that will make a stand during the tribulation along with God's two witnesses, per Rev.11.

If that pattern is applied only in a 'Church Age' sense, you will not be aware of their pattern meant for the end of days. So what is your Church following today? Which one of those seven Messages our Lord gave fit your Church today? That's how you will know if you're in the right Church today.

 

[rockytopva]

Our Lord's Messages to the seven Churches of Asia (Asia Minor), is about a Heavenly pattern.

Rev 1:20
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
(KJV)

Remember that his is a mystery.. mysterion in the Greek which means a hidden thing, secret, or a mystery. Only Jesus Christ knows the complete mysterion in all of this. All we can do is the best we can do to interpret. When we come to the point we have arrived at the complete mystery look for God to reveal yet another part of the mystery.

 

[tomwebster]

Remember that his is a mystery.. mysterion in the Greek which means a hidden thing, secret, or a mystery. Only Jesus Christ knows the complete mysterion in all of this. All we can do is the best we can do to interpret. When we come to the point we have arrived at the complete mystery look for God to reveal yet another part of the mystery.

Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Has He or hasn't He? Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?

 

[veteran]

Remember that his is a mystery.. mysterion in the Greek which means a hidden thing, secret, or a mystery. Only Jesus Christ knows the complete mysterion in all of this. All we can do is the best we can do to interpret. When we come to the point we have arrived at the complete mystery look for God to reveal yet another part of the mystery.

Sorry it sounds like I'm busting your bubble with all the work you've done with your Church Age postings, as you do have some good things in it. But the Church Age interpreation isn't some new doctrine that has appeared just recently.

In Revelation 1:20, our Lord is actually revealing that particular mystery about the seven stars and the seven candlesticks. At that point we then are to know the seven stars are seven angels, and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

Our Lord Jesus emphasizes His holding the seven stars in His right hand 3 times in Revelation, and in Rev.2:1 says He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (seven churches). The stars and candlesticks are about a pattern in the Heavenly, and is connected with the pattern shown in Zechariah 4.

At no point does our Lord refer to each church symbolizing different church ages. Instead that idea is a doctrine of men.

When He told John to write down His Revelation and those Messages, John was to give them to the then existing seven Churches in Asia...

Rev 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
(KJV)

The earthly pattern in John's day was seven types of Churches on earth. That's still the earthly pattern for all of today's Churches too. All seven of our Lord's Messages still apply today, which is why our Lord also gave His Messages to all seven at the same time.

 

[rockytopva]

Sorry it sounds like I'm busting your bubble with all the work you've done with your Church Age postings

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. - Matthew 5:18

But I tell you every dot of the i and cross of the t in Rev 2-3 means something pertaining to the church ages.

 

[veteran]

None of our Lord's seven Messages in Rev.2 & 3 to the seven Churches is dead history today.

Christ gave His Messages to all seven at the same time; all seven Churches existed on earth at the same time in John's day.

To treat those seven Messages as seven different Church Ages can be dangerous. Why?

It's simple. If one believes we today are in a final Church Age, for example using the 7th Message to the Laodicean Church, then that is to wrongly assume all the previous six Messages no longer apply for today. That's a dangerous doctrine.

Christ had no rebuke for only two of those seven Churches. Five out of the seven had problems. That's our pattern for today also.

Messages to the two Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia our Lord Jesus had no rebuke for include some specific prophecies about the last days and the tribulation. They also include a specific subject both of them knew and understood that none of the other five Churches had. To the Church of Philadelphia, Christ had already set an open door before them that no man could open or shut from them. Those two Church types represent His elect, as they were in the midst of battle and those at Philadelphia already were given a crown.

Want to know what 'kind' of Church you're in today? Compare it with those seven Messages and you'll know. It's obvious those who came up with the doctrine of men about Church Ages don't want you to do that. It might help reveal the wolves hiding in sheep's clothing among today's Churches. And that's where the Church Ages doctrine most likely originated, from the "crept in unawares" hiding among Christ's people among five types of Churches today.

 

[veteran]

So what prophecies was our Lord Jesus giving to the two Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia? How do they apply for today leading up to Christ's return?

 

[Charlie]

[quote nChasame='veteran' timestamp='1303019125' post='108096']
So what prophecies was our Lord Jesus giving to the two Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia? How do they apply for today leading up to Christ's return?
[/quote]

Charlie -- The prophecies apply, today, as they did when they were given to John and will continue to apply until after they have been fulfilled.

However, I believe the prophecies in Rev. 3:4 and 3:10 refer to the pre-trib rapture.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Further, those who are 'accounted worthy', as in Luke 20:33-36 and 21:36, will be among that number.

God Bless you. Charlie.