What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for? | GotQuestions.org

[@aprilwhite1794]

The interpretation I hear about the seven churches is: each of the LORD'S people represents one of the churches and we are to examine ourselves daily to see where we are falling short because we, his church, is suppose to be in agreement about his word as if we had one mind. 🕊️

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

Exactly. There are two purposes of the Seven Churches. Not three. It was instructions for the seven literal churches of Asia, and a warning to all future Churches. That's it. It isn't "Church ages". Stop listening to people who tell you what you want to hear. Listen to people who tell you the truth instead. Got Questions is a very good source of truth. They are stubbornly wrong on occasion, but not as often as most.

[@parsleyfarm328]

You know this "for sure?"

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

@@parsleyfarm328 Should we add to scripture? Should we make scripture say things that it does not say? Should we interpret prophecy in a way that the text does not require? Or, should we believe the plain meaning of the text? Look at the last two churches. Philadelphia and Laodicia. Philadelphia is the one that was given the promise to not be here during the time of testing. But the final church is Laodicia. If they are church ages, and not just seven churches (and warnings), then there is an inconsistency in the Bible. Why would God tell the church age before the final one that He would Rapture them if there was another church age after? Don't most followers of this false interpretation believe that we are currently in the Leodicia age? Why didn't the Rapture happen 100 years ago, during the (false) Philadelphia age? So, am I sure? Yes. 100% sure. Because we shouldn't add to His words, and because this interpretation does not work.

[@parsleyfarm328]

@@Kahless_the_Unforgettable Your reply shows that you don't even understand what the theory even is. I know of a professor of logic that told his kids that they could not hold an opinion of something unless they could argue the opposing viewpoint. You might want to investigate it before you make statements about it being false. I really wish Christians (and even Pastors) could say "I don't know" rather than always acting like they have all the answers.

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

@@parsleyfarm328 Of course I know exactly what the viewpoint is. I was trained in it for thirty years. I fully believed it for the entirety of those thirty years. I have thousands of hours of study on end times viewpoints. So your ad hominem attack was not only incorrect, but patently absurd. I stated EXACTLY what the seven church ages theory is. Argue against my statements. Answer my questions. Don't shoot the messenger. Goodness sakes man! The incorrect theory isn't that complicated!!! Seven church ages, with Ephesus representing the first church age, and Leodicia representing the last church age. What part of your lie did I get wrong?

[@parsleyfarm328]

@@Kahless_the_Unforgettable People who believe this theory generally believe that the seven different Churches in Revelation represent the seven different Church eras and the predominant Church-types that started in those eras, but they don't believe the types of Churches that were predominant in those eras ended with the end of those eras. The Church of Ephesus represents Churches of that first era because they lost their love for Jesus but were still concerned about doctrine and simply because it's axiomatic that Churches like Ephesus existed in the era that the Church of Ephesus existed. Smyrna represents the Church Era when Churches were greatly persecuted, Probably the best example that comes to mind would be Nero persecuting the Christians in Rome. Smyrna comes from Myrrh which is a dried sap that when crushed gives off a sweet aroma which represents persecuted Christians and the amazing character they 'give off'. Pergamos could mean perverted marriage or height or elevation and represents the era when Church and State were joined together. The best example of this might be when Constantine started the process in which the Church was eventually married to the State. Thyatira could mean perfume of labor or sweet savor of sacrifice and represents the Medieval Era (Roman Catholic Church...) But good works don't save you. Sardis could mean a precious stone or those escaping and represents the denominational Protestant Churches that came out of the reformation period. They look alive, but many of them are dead. Philadelphia means brotherly love and represents the small missions-minded Bible Churches. Laodicea represents the Era we are in right now that started in the mid to late 1800s. The Laodicea era represents Churches that believe they are self sufficient, They think they have everything they need. When you brought up Philadelphia and Laodicea in your last post it shows that you do not have a clear understanding of this theory. Jesus promises the Church of Philadelphia that it won't go thru the Great Tribulation meaning a majority of the people who go to those small missions-minded Bible Churches will be raptured. I've gone to this type of Church. Most of the people who attend are saved. Jesus promises the Church of Thyatira that they will go thru the Great Tribulation. I grew up in The Roman Catholic Church. The vast majority of Roman Catholics are not saved, They won't be raptured. There are overcomers in each of the Churches so there are at least some believers in the RCC. It doesn't matter that we are in the Laodicean Era, There still are Catholic Churches, there still are Protestant, there still are Persecuted Churches... To say the idea you are promoting is wrong because of your ignorance is not an Ad Hominen attack. If someone calls someone ugly or stupid or senile as part of their debate, that would be an Ad Hominen attack. To attack an idea is different than attacking a person. Could you please give me the name of the Church or Institution who has been teaching this theory for 30 years? Please give me a website or a phone number. I am skeptical of that claim.

[@soteriology400]

John was an apostle to the Jews. He was actually writing to the scattered Jewish Christians (stick of Joseph) in those 7 churches. Letting them know, the time was near. It wasn’t until Peter wrote to the 5 churches in the same area, letting them know it was time for their gathering. Peter referred to them as “scattered”, which was a subtle way of telling them it was time. Peter was in Babylon Egypt and Mark was in Alexandria Egypt. So they were to greet Mark first, then to see Peter, who escorted them to Petra for their gathering. The stick of Judah fled the temple a few years after that. They became one stick for exactly 1260 days per revelation 12:6, fulfilling Ezekiel 37. Their last day was on September 22, AD73. This was the day 1 Thessalonians 4 was fulfilled.

[@seanmazhindu9793]

Not really. The only apostle who was directly aiming at Jews I believe was Mathew. U can even tell with the way he traces the genealogy of Jesus' life he begins with Abraham whereas Luke began with Adam who is basically the father of the human race. There were both Jews and Gentiles in the seven churches that John was writing to.

[@soteriology400]

@@seanmazhindu9793 No, only Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul did not come on the scene until after the Cornelius household was preached by Peter. This was only a one time deal with Peter, and was never an apostle to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:7 was written after Acts 10 occurred. Acts 10 was the official transition of the gospel going from Jew to Gentiles. Prior to Acts 10, it was all of the house of Israel and only the house of Israel.

[@SDsc0rch]

this is good I've heard all of those explanations before but you're saying there's no reason why all couldn't be true at the same time interesting "sh'ma yishrael..." hear! LISTEN to what God is saying

[@newcreationinchrist1423]

Amen GQ 🙂🙏

[@Raeodor]

But how do you know that's what any of that means?

[@angayonpepe6056]

LOOKS LIKE THOSE DOTS I'VE SEEN IN THE SKY AS STARS🤩

[@rosemary7084]

Ammmmmmmen 2 nd church meaning pls help me

[@otearoa]

The church of God represents the body of Jesus with Jesus as the head. These 7 churches represent the Christians in the body or church of God. John is speaking the word of God that Jesus commissioned John to tell the church.

[@aprilwhite1794]

🎯💯🎯💯🎯💯🎯💯

[@jensonho3968]

If paul was alive today "Greeting brother and sister in christ i no longer need to write anymore letters regarding the teaching....i see how u have been faithfully serving the Lord but some of u is getting into my nerves . I hope this letter ✉️ find u before i do !!!! Thanks be to God our Father and glory to Christ jesus our Lord

[@MrMac6375]

It literally is representative of the 7 churches.

[@Brad-gk9jd]

Some think that John may have been Bishop over these churches.

[@BrockJamesStory]

Right, so good works or your doomed. Wait

[@jonathanagee9319]

Thanks 😂