Examining LSM's Eschatology - Revelation's 7 Churches TOMES

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:

8 I heard, but I DID NOT UNDERSTAND. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?"
9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the END."
13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

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.

The inescapable fact is, based on our life experiences (if we have lived very long) and Daniel 12, among other Bible references, is that NO ONE can be absolutely certain of every single thing and be "THE Prophet or Minister of the Age" because some things will only be revealed by time and events that occur solely during that time.

Regarding the Pentecostal movement not being mentioned or being described in a way so that we can definitely pinpoint them, we would have to also say that there is no real sign of the Baptists as a separate group--along with others. I find it hard to believe that the great majority of Pentecostals, Bible churches, or Baptist churches would be Sardis because they DO preach the gospel and the gospel is LIFE. They could easily be Philadelphia (at least some and at least in their beginnings) and some could now be numbered among the Laodiceans.

And regarding Laodicea: time after time when I read that portion that states that they are "rich and have need of nothing", I think of how the LC often speaks of having the ultimate truths and do not need ANYTHING from other Christians. I see the same lack of brotherly love (that Philadelphia DID have) as other churches, despite these "great truths". If you are not young, "blazing in prophetic utterance" or (yes!) "popular", you will find yourself very much alone during times of distress or sorrow.

This is why I am glad to hear what others who love the Lord believe and think, but I reserve judgment concerning who has the "absolute truth" until the end. We are certainly no better than Daniel. We must all "go our way" with less than perfect understanding due to this time factor--and it was meant to be that way.