Identifying the Spirit of the Age
 

1. Ephesus – The desirable church that left its first love (Revelation 2:1-7). Ephesus was the influential capital city of Asia Minor on the Aegean Sea. Ephesus is now known for its huge metropolis of ancient streets, arches and ruins.
2. Smyrna – The persecuted church that suffered poverty and martyrdom (Revelation 2:8-11). Smyrna was located north of Ephesus in a powerful trading position on the Aegean Sea known for its harbors, commerce, and marketplaces. The primary ruins of Smyrna are located in the modern Turkish city of Izmir.
3. Pergamum – The worldly church that mixed doctrines and needed to repent (Rev. 2:12-17). Pergamum is located on the plains and foothills along the Caicus River in Western Turkey. It was considered a major city in Asia Minor since the 3rd century BC, and became a Greek and Roman hub for temple worship.
4. Thyatira – The false church that followed a seductive prophetess (Rev. 2:18-29). Thyatira is located in western Asia Minor about 42 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. The ancient city was known for its textiles and dyeing trade, and is now known as the Turkish city of Akhisar.
5. Sardis – The "dead" church that fell asleep (Revelation 3:1-6). Sardis is located on the banks of the Pactolus River in western Asia Minor, 60 miles inland from Ephesus and Smyrna. Popular ruins include the decadent temples and bath house complexes.
6. Philadelphia – The church of brotherly love that endures patiently (Revelation 3:7-13). Philadelphia is located on the Cogamis River in western Asia Minor, about 80 miles east of Smyrna. Philadelphia was known for its variety of temples and worship centers.
7. Laodicea – The "lukewarm" church with a faith that’s neither hot nor cold (Rev. 3:14-22). Laodicea is located in the Lycus River Valley of western Asia Minor, a primary trade route between the cultures of the West and East. Laodicea was known as a primary hub for the Roman aqueduct system.

Which of these churches is most representative of the current Apostolic church?

depends on the church. each church takes on a certain persona that is usually directed by the leadership. Sometimes all 7 work in the same church.

sardis and laodicea


lao comes from the word " laity" which means " laity rules".
that;s the day were living in. can't say anything or people
are offended and ready to pack their bags

Good point.

Amazing that when the laity rules, the church ends up lukewarm.

Just asking...

Isn't this concept from William Branham

My pastor (G.D. Thompson) used to teach that Laodicea, layity rules, didn't mean that the laity would rule the pulpit by telling the pastor what to preach and what not to preach, but that they would rule by simply ignoring what was preached. So they ruled not by vote or mandate, but in their response, or lack thereof to the preached word.

Still makes a lot of sense to me. :D

What concept?

The cities I mentioned are found in Revelation 1-3. I thought maybe we could learn something from the letters written to them, that's all.

Are you referring to dispensationalism?

I have never thought of it that way, but it may make sense when you consider the letter was written to their pastor. Apparently, there was some
ministerial leadership there.

William Marion Branham believed and taught that he was the 7th angel to the 7th church age. However, this dispensational view of the 7 churches corresponding to the 7 church ages did not originate with him.

seems everything in life is a balance though don't you think ?

IF a man is given too much power they often abuse it and the people & the church suffers. but if the people rule, it's as you say, the church ends up lukewarm.

I've seen churches with no boards, no trustees, the pastor was like King Tut, then I've seen board ran churches and what a distaster that was too

Does anyone have any information on the teaching of the 7 churches in revelation being indicative of church ages going on before William Branham.

Also... is there any reason that we would view these letters as church ages?

Arthur Pink's prophecy book pre-dates this. I can't remember the name of it. ARRRGGGGH!

I also know that dispensationalism has been around for over a century.

FYI, these letters are literal.

Absolutely.

i have the book that Branham wrote about the 7 churches and him being the 7th angel of course. as i've stated many times, my Bro in law's family are all branhamites we use to have C'mas with them and they gave me this book.
what PP wrote is not the same thing

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pi...ks_archive.htm

Click on this link and read "A Study of Dispensationalism" by Arthur Pink

Yes sir... I probably have a completely wrong view of dispensationalism. I have always thought of dispensationalism as what was taught in Search For Truth.... dispensation of grace... dispensation of law etc.

That is why I have seen a difference between dispensationalism and the church ages... I guess I had that wrong.

I too feel that the letters were literal.

I see no biblical reason to view these letters as church ages.

I think there are attitudes found in these churches that have resurfaced throughout church history. I guess I am a dispensationalist in that regard.

But, I'm with you, these letters were literal - and meant for the pastors of specific churches at the time.

When we look carefully, we can glean lessons regarding the grace and judgement of God towards his pastors and churches. I see no other specific examples in the Word, of direct communication from God to His pastors, that compares to the events of Revelation 1-3.

Yes sir... everything is so subjective to me.

I wonder if there is any point in Christian history that someone in that age wouldn't have tagged it as "Laodicean".

Probably not...

We can see anything in any particular part of time that we want to.

If someone wants to take lessons from the letters that would be one thing... but it just seems too flimsy for someone to make a belief of it.