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| Prophetic Vision of the churches of God |
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Prophetic Vision of the Churches of God
These days, the people of God throw mud on, accuse and condemn one another. Some denominational churches find fault with the other denominational churches in matters concerning doctrines, methods of worship, etc. All these people thus forget that they are of the same body of Christ. Recently, I came across a book written by a servant of God in which he made a critical study of the ministries of certain renowned servants of God, quoting many instances to prove that their ministries were based on false doctrines. He dared to brand the whole Pentecostal or the Catholic Church’s Charismatic movement as occult movements triggered by the Devil in these last days.
Golden lamp-Stands
In this context, it is worth looking at the present-day churches of God through the prophetic vision of John in the 1st chapter of Revelation. John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when, on hearing a loud voice and turning to see the voice, he saw first the vision of the seven golden lamp-stands and then the vision of one like the Son of Man. While describing the vision of the One like the Son of Man, he says, “He had in His Right Hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged Sword……….” (Rev.1: 16)What a glorious vision! Firstly, he hears a loud voice proclaiming, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last”. Secondly, he gets a glimpse of the seven golden lamp-stands likened to the seven churches in Asia. Only after seeing the lamp-stands, he sees the One like the Son of Man. He does not choose to call the Person seen by him as the Son of Man but merely calls Him as the One like the Son of Man. Here, the blessed Holy Spirit attaches more importance to the churches of God, which represent the body of Christ than to the image of the Son of Man.
The churches of God existing today are likened to the seven golden lamp-stands. Those who have been baptized by one Spirit into one body by repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Saviour do form part of the body of Christ, irrespective of whether they are affiliated to different church denominations or not (I Cor.12: 13).
The Holy Spirit calls these churches as “golden lamp-stands”. In the eyes of God, the churches of the living God are as precious as gold. By virtue of the spiritual state of these seven churches in Asia, the Holy Spirit rates the church in Ephesus as the loveless church, the church in Smyrna as the persecuted church, the church in Pergamos as the compromising church, the church in Thyatira as the corrupt church, the church in Sardis as the dead church, the church in Philadelphia as the faithful church and the church of the Laodiceans as the lukewarm church. Except the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, the other five churches fall short of the standards fixed by God. Let us now look at the spiritual state of these five churches through the prophetic eyes of John.
The church in Ephesus left her first love for God. The church in Pergamos believed in the doctrine of Balaam “who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality”. The church in Thyatira allowed “that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Rev.2:20). The church in Sardis had a name that she was alive but was dead, and had not her works “perfect before God”. The church of the Laodiceans was neither cold nor hot. Son of Man in the midst of the churches In fact, there may be a number of churches or servants of God in our midst who believe in those doctrines, which put a stumbling block before His children; who allow themselves to be influenced by the prophecies/teachings of false prophets or teachers like Jezebel. Nevertheless, the Son of Man is “in the midst of the seven golden candle-stands” and is not seen in the proximity of the candle-stands of Philadelphia or Smyrna. Stars in His Right Hand Before proceeding to describe the Person of the Son of Man in the subsequent verses, John mentions about the seven stars in His Right Hand likened to the seven angels of these churches. Who are these angels of the seven churches? They are none but the ministers of God in these churches whom John calls as the angels. John does not refer here to “His angel” sent by God to “His servant John”. The Son of Man is holding all the servants of God including them who are of these five churches in His Right Hand. He has not forsaken any of them. He still loves and holds them in His Right Hand. This shows that He loves all the children of God in all these seven churches alike and without an iota of partiality. Sharp two-edged Sword John saw a sharp two-edged Sword coming out of His mouth. This shows that we should not quote the Word of God from one angle only. The Devil quoted the Word from its one side only while tempting Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus defeated the Devil by quoting the Word from its other side. The servant of God whom I have referred to above did quote the Word from its one side to prove that certain evangelists were the end-time false prophets. Let us be careful when we interpret the Word of God (II Tim.2:15) |
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| Yes, this was a good message.However, I don't believe a blanket statement covering all Pentecostal or Catholic Church Charistimatic movement as occult movement is a wise statement. God has his unknown servants in various churches denominations or not, people can still repent and believe the gospel of Christ. We have to watch one side of the word of God, and must rightly dividing the word of truth. Letting the Holy Spirit lead us in what to preach or teach. Brethren must love and walk in the truth. People need the whole truth, not part truth or pick and choose what to believe or not believe in. |
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Chung Lam, It is not my view but the view of that particular author branding the pentecostal or charismatic movement as occult.
Job Anbalagan |
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We are too much occupied with the system of the different churches, than with what the church is...you and me....how is our heart in the eyes of GOD ? how is our conduct and lifestyle in reference to GODS word and will and design ? Do we live in the secret place ? Do we live and have HIS presence with us ? If yes, I believe we would be so busy in the harvestfield around us, that the question about the church system would be secondary and it is....it is about us and our obedience to the calling HE put on our lifes and the way HE wants to move in and through us, for HIS glory alone. GOD bless all. |
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I sometimes am so overwhelmed with all the different camps.....every where there is this one and that all thinking they have more truth....I learned long ago to take everything to Him...but my spirit is saddened by the fact that people long to be right more than they long to love...and sometimes when folks meet up with other like minded they seem to revel in this fact that they have been more enlightened than the rest....and yet in this I run to Him...cling tighter to Him....because there are so many voices...all claiming to have more of Him....perhaps we are all that much closer to the day when He will give us one heart and one way.....only He can. |
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maxie37 |
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November 02, 2007 at 4:48am |
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| It is the last days. We are here for one thing, to pray, to witness, and to love one another. The evil in this world is enough to deal with without worrying about who is in what church and what they believe. Each on of us will be held accountable for OUR walk with Christ, which leaves us little room to be critical or judgemental of someone else. We must remember some are babes in the word, where others, like myself ,are older. I thank God that I am filled with his spirit and that I know that I must watch myself and how I conduct myself each day. |
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This is such a great blog. I hope a good deal of people understand it. The so-called "churches" of today may claim to be Christian. It is who leads the flock who is to be punished in the end.
The people being taught the "traditions of men" can not be held responcible for their ignorance.
Judegement will start with thouse who on the pulpet.
May I ad. The number "seven" refers to spritual completnes, or profectness. From a book by Dr. Ed F. Vallowe named, "Biblical Mathamatics" he says as for seven. "In the book of revelationtion number seven is used throughout. There are Seven seals, Seven trumpits, Seven vials, Seven personages, Seven dooms, and Seven new things" The word seven is used "700" times in the Bible and 54 times in the Book of Revelation. When you take away the 5 churches that did not have favor. You have five, which is the number for grace. I don't believe this is in favor of the angles who led the churches. But, I do belive. They can be for given if they repent. Those who are members of these churches. Will certainly find grace in Gods eyes and be taught in the "Lord's Day". Also, the two edeged sword is the truth as, you may well know. I ad for those who don't.
Thanks for a great read!! |
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aservant, we are more concerned about the church systems than about the Body of Christ, the universal Church, of which you and I are members.
InTheHands, no single church should claim to have all the revelations.
Maxie, our personal walk with Christ is more important that our belief in some church doctrines.
Golden2100, seven means perfectness. The seven kinds of churches in our midst do constitute the universal Body of Christ. The Body of Christ has already been glorified when Christ the Head was glorified. Let us remember that though we are part of some imperfect local church, we are part of this glorified Church. |
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