Which Of The Seven Churches Or Church Age Christian Are You?

Which Of The Seven Churches Or Church Age Christian Are You?

 

NOTICE THE COMMENDATIONS, THE CONDEMNATIONS, AND THE CORRECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS from Jesus to these Christians:

In the Bible is located a beautiful testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is His bookend of the books of the Bible and His personal testimony to the individual Christian and His bride the church. Our Lord's own epistle to His Beloved. In the opening verses, the tone is set for the individual Saint and the church. This is a letter from Truth Himself and Jesus makes it clear in the opening verses, the magnitude of what He is sharing with the Saints:

"1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

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;

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:1-6 KJV)

These opening verses, when taken in context, in proper translation, in sound heart, must needs

garner and grasp the attention of the Saint in Christ as it is read out loud. Consider that starts with: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..." and it piques the reading Saint's ear automatically.

"11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." (Revelation 1:11-13 KJV)

In the practical sense of all simplicity our Lord informs the reader to whom this is written. In the last verse of chapter 1, Jesus tells the reader the seven candle sticks are the seven churches of Asia. Each address from Jesus is an individual epistle so to speak as Christ individually addresses each church by name. Their names being Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philedelphia, and Laodicea. In the opening chapter it is obvious that this epistle is from Jesus, to seven specific churches and there is no guess work in establishing this fact.

These seven churches can be viewed as literal because they were seven actual churches with whom Jesus addressed. Looking back at over two thousand years of church history, and in the "plain sense" of interpretation it can be seen that the church has passed through seven specific ages. It is logical that as she has come through these ages, she has remenants unfortunately left of the six church ages that aren't so good. (LaHaye 17)

The first address or letter from Jesus is to the church at Ephesus which covers the church at Ephesus and represents the Apostolic Age (A.D. 30-100). The manner or form in which Jesus approaches each individual church with begins what the possitive or commendation of what that particular hurch was getting done properly. For example, Jesus commends Ephesus for the work she had done in His name. He praises her for being separate, pure, and a church of endurance for His name's sake.

The church was singled out for being His church, she was autonomous and separate from the sensual worldly port of Ephesus. It must be noted that at the time John wrote what Jesus was saying, that Ephesus was a great commercial port of Asia. She flourished with goods, merchandise, money, and people. (Swete lx) With the worldly influences encroached all around Ephesus, and idolatry aknown fact from Paul's writings, this church had avoided such and even stayed away from the "deeds of the Nicolaitanes" as Jesus said. Ephesus and the church of the Apostolic Age had avoided the dreaded church heirarchy and structure that would soon plunge Christians into an age of persecution by those who would claim to be Christian, but actually were Satan.

   Jesus also called out the church's error by condemnation. The church at Ephesus had gotten many things right but she had forsook the One Whom helped her do that. She had left her "first Love." It is not that Ephesus did not love Christ but other things had begun to take prominence in their hearts. God demands our first fruits, our entire devotion, and our first love or most love for practical matters. He must be loved more than we love ourselves. 

       Jesus then challenges Ephesus with "renew the broken vow and return to me..." (Simmons 6) God always has offered His people a chance at repetance before the chastening iron rod. It is in his mercy and love He warns us, before He punishes us. It

is never that our God is without mercy. Jesus praises the church at Ephesus, condemns her errors, offers the solution, and promises the reward for being obedient. (Revelation 2:7)

The second church letter is to the church at Smyrna, or the second church age known as the Persecuted Church Age (A.D. 100-312). It is no coincedence if one looks back in history books that this is the age of Rome that had tyrants for emperors and devils on the throne to attack the church. The church of Smyrna was a persecuted church yet she was consistent in her faith despite persecution.

Jesus' commendation for Smyrna was "I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich)." (LaHaye 29) What solace the Saints at Smyrna must have felt as these words from Christ were read. They are today to the Saint who has taken a step from the world system of economy and lifestyle to serve Christ for little or no money. Smyrna was poor financially anf one of the aspects of her persecution was financial. Because they were steadfast in the Lord, the world would not associate with them in business. They were outcasts in the economic society. No different from Christians in places like Asia or the Middle East today. It is no shock that Jesus had nothing in rebuke to say to Smyrna. They had lost the things that could steal their affections for Christ. They had lost them because they stayed true to the King. Jesus offers the counsel to her, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer...Be thou faithful unto death." (LaHaye 29) Jesus promises that he who overcomes this will not be hurt in the second death, or cast into hell. As Christians, we have absolutely nothing to fear in death.

    The third church or church age was Pergamos or the Indulged Church Age (312-606 A.D.). This is the age that Christianity became a state church. This opened the

door for tremendous persecution, idolatry, and wickedness for centuries to come against the true church of Jesus. This is the age pagan influence and postmillenialism was introduced into the church.

Jesus' commendation to Pergamos was that He knows who are truly His. He knows who has and has not denied Him. He knows those who hold fast to His name. He is aware of the martyred for His name's sake. And He also knows who tabernacles with Satan. (LaHaye 35)

Jesus condemnations to Pergamos are two fold. He rebukes and condemns the doctrine of Balaam which is idolatry and the doctine of the Nicolaitians which He hates. Imagine how horrendous this doctrine is that it warrants the word hate from our Lord. These two doctrines are nothing new under the sun. It is the renamed doctrines of Babylonian mysticism. Satan and humanity have always paired together for the most part to commit high treason against the Most High.

     There is of course the chance of repentance in Jesus' counsel to Pergamos "Repent; or elseI wil come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (LaHaye 36) This doctrine is so terrible and hated that He will combat it Himself quickly. To the genuine Saint or church, this is an eye opener! Jesus challeges the Beloved to be overcomers and He will feed them with His manna from heaven. God is the supplier of the Saint's needs. Spiritual, physical, and emotional needs are met in Christ. He will also give them a new name which none other can read, and in a white stone that denotes innocence derived from the righteousness of faith in Christ. Not guilty is the verdict when at the bar of God's justice for second death sentence. That in itself is one defintion of hope for the church, Christ meeting our needs, and imputing His righteousness to usward. In the scope of eternity, what else matters?

    

Jesus' letter or address to the church in Thyatira is one that really registers to the student of world and church history. This is also known as the church of the Dark Ages (606A.D. until the Tribulation). This means that the church Jesus addressed here is still wreaking havoc and heresey on this earth. In this era of church history it is well documented that paganism, offices, and ordinances of men and Satan swept in. As noted in the research on the church at Pergamos, the door was opened there or then, to allow a toe hold for this to happen.

In Jesus' commendation of this church is the beginning of rebuke: "I know thy works, and love, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first." (LaHaye 43) Not much of any commendation from our Lord. Perhaps, this is because of the the bloody history and future of this church age, and her involvement in the moving of humanity from the truth towards the enemy and liar.

Jesus' condemnation cannot be described as harsh after considering history and looking into the book of Revelation. "Thou allowest that woman, Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols." This is a graphic, yet all too true description of this church. It would be during this age that the edicts of Satan and man would sweep in and pervert Truth. Too many to note in a single paper, and still to this day, and future to come will be introduced. Horrendous if one were to sit and muse the consequences.

Our Lord in His mercy offers solution and counsel again. For God is not arbitrary when justice is handed out. It is addressed to the true Christians that are mixed into this Papal heresy. "Hold fast till I come." (LaHaye 48) That pretty sums up the advice and counsel Jesus gives. To those who heed this, is the challenge to overcome and keep His works untill the end. They will recieve the reign in the Millennial

and to have the Morning Star (Jesus). Awesome reward for the Saint involved Kingdom in the Christ-less church.

Church in Sardis is a dead church. This church or the church age started at the time of the Reformation (1520 A.D.- Tribulation). Jesus' only positively commends this church with "I know thy works, and thou hast a name that thou livest." The very name Sardis means escaping ones. This along with scripture and history points to the obvious. These are the Reformation churches which came straight out of the Catholic church, but did not finish the work of tearing heresey out of her doctrines. Jesus instructs the church to be alert, be strong in what truth is left, stand in that truth, and repent from all else. In all church ages there have been true and genuine Saints. Jesus reminds theses that the soul that accepts His counsel will recieve their clean white linens and inherit eternal life.

The church at Philadelphia or the age lasting from 1750 A.D. to rapture is the clostest to the good attributes of the church at Ephesus and Smyrna. Jesus commends them for their works and sets before them an open door which no one can close. Jesus promises to come quickly that no person or thing can steal their crown. This church recieved no condemnation from our Lord. Jesus promises to make us a pillar in the Temple of God and write His name upon us. This is the faithful church. The true church to be raptured.

The last letter or church is addressed to the church at Laodicea. This afe persists from 1900 until the Tribulation. She recieves no positive remarks from our Lord. In her rebuke, she is promised to be "spewed out" of Jesus' mouth. This appears to be the money focused church, ornate mega-churches, that think they are rich but are destitute. They think all is well but it isn't. No mission purpose or evangelism. Self focused and

and self promoting church. This has the appearance of the social club society church. Jesus counsels these to buy hold of the Truth, medicate their eyes to see Truth, and if they recieve Truth, it will be allowed unto them to have audience with Him on His throne.

In careful study of the Seven Churches in Revelation, the individual Christian, church, and denomination can steer clear of false doctrine, correct what is already wrong, and lay hold to the promise of and in Christ's return.

In His Service, Jason