neologist wrote:RexRed wrote: . . . The seven churches were old testament churches and in no way relate to the Christian church of the first century. . .
Old Testament churches - they would be synagogues, right?
Why would Jesus have messages for them?
But you are night that much of the book of Revelation has already happened.
I was sure you might pick up on this Neo.
Certain key words cement the idea in my mind, that the "seven churches" are old testament churches of sorts.
As in the word synagogues The Greek word for church is ecclesia which biblically interpreted simply means a grouping of people. Biblically defined ecclesia can even be a mob of people.
"Key words" like John's reference to their works.
It is well known that the church of the epistles is saved by grace (the spirit) and not works. Also the rewards given to the seven churches are all things which were sought after by old testament peoples.
The bible keeps saying what was and what is and what is to come
The Christian church never "was" (except in God's mind). It only began after the day of Pentecost the only churches or groups were the peoples of the old testament.
At the time of the Christian churches beginning, the old testament churches or groups no longer held the authority of God.
This was why Christianity (or some form thereof) eventually ruled Rome.
The seven churches of the past before Christianity may not have all been comprised of Jewish people.
The churches were centers of civilization where people had the fortune or sometimes misfortune to rise above the impossible anti societal norms of the ancient times.
Thus their inheritance is not a place in heaven but a place here on a future NEW EARTH where they can live in the simple liberty that their life deprived them of.
The "new Jerusalem" will have occupants from this old church. (that is what is to come)
So we see this old church in three stages of time.
One stage was in antiquity, the other was as it was being held aside by Christianity and the third is where it is restored in paradise.
These seven churches of the past will someday be brought to the throne of judgment. Those who have prevailed over the pitfalls of the ancient world will be rewarded in paradise.
While in the Christian church "no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law"...
The present church of Christ's believers will someday take on a different form just as the ancient churches do.
The church of grace will not inherit Jerusalem as "occupants" but we well be as lights or stars within the holy temple of this future new Jerusalem. It will be the peoples who prevailed in the ancient churches that will grace the streets and mansions of paradise.
Those who accept the gift of God spirit though Christ Jesus inherit a heavenly place instead of an earthly one.
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
