I believe the churches were birthed in the ages. As I believe all these churches are Christian churches I do not mind to visit or read into them. I also believe that as these churches are birthed in ages, that changes could occur within a movement. A Baptist church, for example, can be Sardisean, Philadelphian, or Laodicean, depending on the leadership. As Christ could see into the future so he gave the last word on what he would see as seven churches.
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. 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; -
Revelation 1:20 -
Revelation 2:1
Candlesticks - Seven church congregations
Stars - Individuals within the congregations, all held in the right hand of Christ
Seals - The seven seals sealed each congregation within the lambs book of life
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -
Revelation 5:4
Ephesus - Messianic
Smyna - Martyr - Foxes book of martyrs has the persecutions as ten
Pregamos - Orthodox - Pergos is a tower, needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholic - Took form with Constantine
Sardis - Protestant - Took form with Martin Luther
Philadelphia - Revived - Non-Violent with men like John Bunyan.
Laodicean - Mainly independent churches birthed post 1900
I believe the Catholic Church a Christian church born in Thyatirean times and the spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate. To tell people they must be Thyatirean is something a spirit of Jezebel would do. Are Catholics Christian? Yes! Do they seek control and domination? Sometimes very much so!