Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ
We may also want to discuss Lee’s equating each church as being symbolic of consecutive church ages:
Ephesus = early church led by “the church fathers”
Smyrna = the church persecuted by Roman government
Pergamos = the early Roman Catholic Church
Thyatira = the later Roman Catholic Church
Sardis = the reformed church (today’s denominations)
Philadelphia = The early Brethren then “the recovery”
Laodicea = today’s Brethren
And, did Lee take this teaching from the Brethren and adapt it?
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Yes, of course!
But reading Brethren history one is forced to question how anyone could connect them with "Philadelphia." If you want "Philadelphia" in prophetic church history, then take a look at the Moravians under Zinzendorf. The Brethren emphasized truth and light over love and life, the Moravians emphasized love, prayer, and the gospel over everything else.
Personally I no longer ascribe to this sequential and prophetic view of church history. These seven churches existed during John's later life, and geographically they were not randomly selected. One could take a day trip starting in Ephesus and pass thru all of these towns in order. I suggest that aspects of each church have been applicable over the entire course of church history. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is speaking . . ."
According to Nee's and Lee's interpretations of Revelations chapters 2-3, we are supposed to believe that the condition of the apostolic church (Ephesus), the suffering persecuted church (Smyrna), and the worldly church (Pergamos) can no longer exist on earth today.