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Originally Posted by Unregistered
I did not take the time to read all of the above submissions, but I would like to just toss in a couple of thoughts from the teachings that I received during my youth at the Bible church.
First, we were taught that these were churches that occurred or "came up" during various times of church history and that they were sequential or chronological with the last four remaining until the coming of the Lord and existing at the same time. Would those who received this message in those times have been able to understand all that it meant? No. Many prophetic utterances are left to be interpreted as time rolls on and circumstances become clear. We note the following verses in the book of Daniel from chapter 12 in a conversation directed at the great prophet himself:
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Even though the aging Apostle John did write to 7 distinct churches which he was well familiar with, Nee's proposals that, "
they were sequential or chronological with the last four remaining until the coming of the Lord and existing at the same time," is highly suspect and not a little self-serving to his cause.
Looking at the church in the Mooslim world, one would have to agree that Smyrna is very much alive. Looking at the divisive character of the exclusive Plymouth Brethren, it's hard to agree that they are the fulfillment of Philadelphia.
Church history tells us that Christians have been hearing the speaking of the Spirit in the book of Revelation for 2 millennia. The 7 letters were written to all God's children for all time, and thus the general admonition, "
he who has an ear, let him hear." The following well confirms this fact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
So, then, what COULD they have received from these letters to the churches? Well, another teaching that I received and to this day believe is correct is that at any one time, ANY church could find itself in these descriptions to some degree and, after having done so, find the Lord's own prescription, so to speak, about how to cure/correct it. Finally, we were also taught that WITHIN each church there were different groups of believers fitting these church descriptions based on their spiritual condition. And is this not true today? I know that when I read them, I consider the sad state of my own spiritual life and how it compares to these churches and I am always sobered and even terrified to see myself in Sardis, Thyatira, or Laodicea.
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