Seven Churches in Revelation

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Esther

I was reading this morning about the seven churches in the book of Revelation and was wondering what your thoughts are on this.

One I have heard it taught these are dispensations of the "church" and that we are in the Ladoicean age. I have heard others teach that all of these are prevelant even now.

What are your thoughts on this?

I don't see any evidence of them being 7 church ages at all. They are warnings for those churches that serve as warnings for us as well.

[Ron]

I can agree with a lot posted here.

What Church got the "thumbs up" from the Lord?

Th Church at Philadelpia!

Philadelphia means brotherly Love, so not only will your doctine be right but you need to Love your brother if you want to go to heaven.

Well dats all I have to say bout dat.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

debatable subject...I personally believe they were just churches...

As do I

[Scott Hutchinson]

The seven churches were just that seven literal churches not seven church ages.

[Pressing-On]

I don't believe it is ages being referred to. I believe that, just about, every church can find itself, at some point, having the characteristics of the seven churches as time, growth and transition takes place.

[Scott Hutchinson]

The warnings to the seven churches apply to churches today ,cause Ichabod can be written over a church.
The idealism contained in the book of Revelation does apply to us today.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I don't believe it is ages being referred to. I believe that, just about, every church can find itself, at some point, having the characteristics of the seven churches as time, growth and transition takes place.

So very true...

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I don't see any evidence of them being 7 church ages at all. They are warnings for those churches that serve as warnings for us as well.

Divisions of ages, like both the oneness and trinity doctrines, are nothing more than interpretations of scripture. In this case, we're talking about patterns that have been observed and the divisions or dispensations are merely explanations of those patterns.

The Ephesian church:

Rev 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;


Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:


Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.


Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.


Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.


Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.


Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Here we have a church commended for the following:

1. Works. They were doing many works in the name of the Lord.

2. Labour. they were engaged in evangelism, the "labour" of the gospel.

3. Patience. They were no MacDonald's fast-food religious enterprise - they had patience, and were able to not only put the hand to the plow but were able to patiently wait for the harvest.

4. They were also commended for their testing of ministers and their rigorous examination on the basis of doctrine of those who purported to represent God. They were commended for their exposing and rejection of false teachers masquerading as Christian ministers.

5. Endurance. They worked and laboured for the name of Jesus Christ and were faithful in that respect and held firmly to the work.

But they had some problems...

They had left their first love.

This church had the right doctrine, and the right attitude toward ministry, and the right attitude toward the work of spreading the gospel... but had nevertheless left their first love (which would of course be GOD HIMSELF, Jesus Christ.) Like a man who labours to maintain a "near-perfect marriage" but does so not out of love for his wife, but out of love for the fact he has a marriage...

They were commended because they hated the doctrines that Jesus hated, they hated the practices that Jesus hated, nevertheless..

They were in danger of becoming totally apostate and rejected as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unless they repented, and did the first works, the Lord was going to remove their position from among the churches of God.

We can be doctrinally correct, and steadfast in our labours, as a church, yet slip into apostasy and reprobation if our motive is misplaced....

There is a promise, that to him who overcomes will be given the priviledge of eating of the tree of life... the true power of the gospel, resident in the Cross (the tree of life), is available to those who overcome the tendency which enshrines apostasy within the garb of perfect obedience and doctrinal purity.

Doctrinal purity and obedience and patience and steadfastness are necessary, but cannot be used as replacements for our first love, the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

The Smyrnan church:

Rev 2:8 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;


Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.


Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.


Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

This church was commended for the following:

1. Works. They were no inactive social club religious group. They were involved in spreading the word, and being obedient to the ordinaces of Christ.

2. Tribulation. They were persecuted, as the Lord said - all who live righteously will be hated and persecuted by the world system.

3. Poverty. They were poor as far as material wealth was concerned. This was no gloriously wealthy and fashionable assembly. They were not "up scale" at all. But ...

4. They were rich. True wealth comes from spiritual communion with God. Their wealth was not in the material world of things, but in the spiritual power of the Holy Ghost and in the things of God. Definitely not a "prosperity church" in view here, but a genuine, old time life changing world impacting old fashioned religious Holy Ghost powered church of Jesus Christ.

This church was also being forced to deal with blasphemy being committed by pretenders. "Those who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of satan." That is, those who CLAIMED to be the people of God but who in reality were of the devil, opposed to the real plan and work of God. This materially poor but spiritually rich church were going to suffer increased persecution. some folks were even going to jail for a time, to try them (demonstrate the power that rested upon them and the grace of God that was resident in their lives).

But, if they were faithful in the midst of these tribulations, even unto death, no matter the cost, they would receive the crown of life. Those who overcome the evil false religions and the persecuting world system, will not be hurt of the second death.