So, many local church's today are being built, leaders are being chosen, visions being wrote, missions being wrote, and a whole lot of construction going on to be eye appealing but no true character. In scripture has anyone noticed in Revelations 1-3 that the seven churches were way over there own heads. I found an article that breaks down the seven church's in 4 different ways. These ways are Christ speaking as, acknowledgement, rebuke, and goals for those who overcome themselves.
1. Church of Ephesus - No Love Church
He, "who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands"
hard work, perseverance, cannot tolerate evil men; "disgust Nicolaites as he disgusts****", and discerned false apostles; pacience and bearing up for his name's sake; and has not grown weary.
"...you abandoned the love you had at first." ..."repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
"To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
2. Church of Smyrna - Suffered Persecution Church
"he who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life"
"I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich - and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. "
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.'"
3. Church of Pergamum - No Repentance Church
he "who has the sharp two-edged sword".
"you remain true to my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was put to death among you, where Satan dwells."
Some who hold the teaching of Balaam: Balak- cult with eating food sacrificed to idols and practices of sexual immorality; some Nicolaitans. "Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth."
"To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it."'
4. Church of Thyatira - Jezebel Church
"the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze"
"I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your latter works exceed the first".
They tolerate the false prophetess Jezebel practicing temple prostitution and eating food sacrificed to idols. Threat: to suffer intensely, unless they repent, and strike her children dead. "I will give to each of you as your works deserve". To the rest who do not hold her teaching: "I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come."
"To him who overcomes and does my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; I will also give him the morning star."
5. Church of Sardis - Dead Church
He, "who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars"
"I know your works". "You have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy."
"you have the reputation of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what is about to die, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God." Remember what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief".
"He who overcomes, like them, shall be dressed in white, and I will not remove his name out of the book of life; I will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."
6. Church of Philadelphia - Endured Patience Church
"the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens"
"I know your works. I know that you have a little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Because you have kept my word of enduring patiently, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is going to come on the whole world, to try those who live on the earth."
"I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you." "Hold fast what you have, so that no one may take your crown.
Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he leave it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
7. Church of Laodicea - Lukewarm
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation"
("I know your deeds"; but here is no clear positive acknowledgement.)
"because you are lukewarm****, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth". "...You don't know, that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire...", "and white clothes...", "and salve to anoint your eyes...". "Those whom I love, I rebuke and chasten; so be zealous and repent."
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I myself overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
We don't need a lifestyle of just making church a checklist. We need the 5 fold to rise in unity and start cleansing houses, meeting the people where they are, making hospital visits for non members, going to prisons and igniting fires and so forth. I mean Jesus did it so Daddy lets go! I'm tired of sugar coated messages, opinions, and nothing but condemnation going on. It is time to move forward. The Local Church might be stuck in park but daddies church knows how to go from neutral to drive pretty darn good. So, ill say this its time to rise.
I see a few things in each place that relates to toady's church, Jezebel, dead, lukewarm, fear, no love, no repentance, unforgiveness, rebellion, and so much more. We tend to throw these things off because we either have a fear of man, trying to shine, or are we try to be man pleaser's. This is a constant devaluing of Godly character. I will leave you with this question how can we be the Church if we are are lukewarm, have no love, are led astray by Jezebel, are dead, cannot endure patience, are persecuting each other, fearful of persecution from the world and are walking around with no true repentance? Truth is we better start seeking Gods face and stop trying to be the face of these local churches. Truth is he is the only face the world needs to see.
Credited Resource: http://www.ways-of-christ.net/b/churches.htm
1. Church of Ephesus - No Love Church
He, "who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands"
hard work, perseverance, cannot tolerate evil men; "disgust Nicolaites as he disgusts****", and discerned false apostles; pacience and bearing up for his name's sake; and has not grown weary.
"...you abandoned the love you had at first." ..."repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
"To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
2. Church of Smyrna - Suffered Persecution Church
"he who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life"
"I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich - and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. "
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.'"
3. Church of Pergamum - No Repentance Church
he "who has the sharp two-edged sword".
"you remain true to my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was put to death among you, where Satan dwells."
Some who hold the teaching of Balaam: Balak- cult with eating food sacrificed to idols and practices of sexual immorality; some Nicolaitans. "Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth."
"To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it."'
4. Church of Thyatira - Jezebel Church
"the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze"
"I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your latter works exceed the first".
They tolerate the false prophetess Jezebel practicing temple prostitution and eating food sacrificed to idols. Threat: to suffer intensely, unless they repent, and strike her children dead. "I will give to each of you as your works deserve". To the rest who do not hold her teaching: "I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come."
"To him who overcomes and does my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; I will also give him the morning star."
5. Church of Sardis - Dead Church
He, "who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars"
"I know your works". "You have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy."
"you have the reputation of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what is about to die, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God." Remember what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief".
"He who overcomes, like them, shall be dressed in white, and I will not remove his name out of the book of life; I will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."
6. Church of Philadelphia - Endured Patience Church
"the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens"
"I know your works. I know that you have a little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Because you have kept my word of enduring patiently, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is going to come on the whole world, to try those who live on the earth."
"I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you." "Hold fast what you have, so that no one may take your crown.
Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he leave it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
7. Church of Laodicea - Lukewarm
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation"
("I know your deeds"; but here is no clear positive acknowledgement.)
"because you are lukewarm****, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth". "...You don't know, that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire...", "and white clothes...", "and salve to anoint your eyes...". "Those whom I love, I rebuke and chasten; so be zealous and repent."
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I myself overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
We don't need a lifestyle of just making church a checklist. We need the 5 fold to rise in unity and start cleansing houses, meeting the people where they are, making hospital visits for non members, going to prisons and igniting fires and so forth. I mean Jesus did it so Daddy lets go! I'm tired of sugar coated messages, opinions, and nothing but condemnation going on. It is time to move forward. The Local Church might be stuck in park but daddies church knows how to go from neutral to drive pretty darn good. So, ill say this its time to rise.
I see a few things in each place that relates to toady's church, Jezebel, dead, lukewarm, fear, no love, no repentance, unforgiveness, rebellion, and so much more. We tend to throw these things off because we either have a fear of man, trying to shine, or are we try to be man pleaser's. This is a constant devaluing of Godly character. I will leave you with this question how can we be the Church if we are are lukewarm, have no love, are led astray by Jezebel, are dead, cannot endure patience, are persecuting each other, fearful of persecution from the world and are walking around with no true repentance? Truth is we better start seeking Gods face and stop trying to be the face of these local churches. Truth is he is the only face the world needs to see.
Credited Resource: http://www.ways-of-christ.net/b/churches.htm
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