What Is A Church?

It is very well known from the Holy Scriptures that the term “Church” refers to the body of Christ (Colossians 1:24). Christ gave up His own body (physical) on the Cross in order to receive another body (A spiritual one), which as it stands out is now the Church. This assertion cannot be closer to the truth. The Church includes people with specific spiritual gifts to edify the entire the body of Christ “…Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-14). 

The list of such gifts is given in 1 Cor.12:28: “And God has appointed these in the Church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then the gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” These gifts are further discussed in detail in 1 Corinthians 12-14.  

Many people have miscellaneous misconceptions about what the word ‘church’ means. Most equate it with a building. But throughout the Scriptures, church and congregation refer to people, and never to a building. In fact, we find several verses in the New Testament where the “church” (people) were meeting inside certain members’ homes (buildings) in the local area (Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; and Philemon 2). The Church is made up of people called to follow Christ. That group of people collectively is called “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12). 

The church is a spiritually transformed body of believers not limited to a particular locale, organization or denomination. The Holman Bible Dictionary, in its article “Church,” explains the background of the word church: “Church is the English translation of the Greek word ekklesia or ecclesia. The use of the Greek term prior to the emergence of the Christian church is important as two streams of meaning flow from the history of its usage into the New Testament understanding of the church. “First, the Greek term which basically means ‘called out’ was commonly used to indicate an assembly of citizens of a Greek city and is so used in Acts 19:32, 39. 

The citizens who were quite conscious of their privileged status over slaves and non-citizens were called to the assembly by a herald and dealt with matters of common concern; like the ‘national assembly’ in most countries today. When the early Christians understood themselves as constituting a church, no doubt exists that they perceived themselves as called out by God through Jesus Christ for a special purpose and that their status was a privileged one in Christ (Ephesians 2:19). The word “Church” was derived from Ecclesia, because Jesus Christ called out some special people from the world to make them kings and priests in His coming government. “Ecclesia” literally means a special congregation or a group of people who are “called out” from the society for special functions. 

The story is not different when you take the Old Testament church as a case study. God called out Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the twelve tribes of Israel popularly called the ISRAELITES. This ELITE group of people were separated from the world and highly favoured by God above all other nations of the earth. The Greek term ‘ekklesia’ was used more than one hundred times in the Greek translation of the Old Testament in common use in the time of Jesus. The Hebrew term (qahal) simply means ‘assembly’ and could be used in a variety of ways, referring for example to an assembling of prophets (1 Samuel 19:20), soldiers (Numbers 22:4). 

The use of the term in the Old Testament in referring to the people of God is important for understanding the term ‘church’ in the New Testament. For the first Christians to use a term given by Christ in Matthew 16:18, that was common in the Old Testament for the people of God, reveals their understanding of the continuity that links the Old and New Testaments. The early Christians, Jew and Gentile, understood themselves to be the people of God, who had revealed Himself in the Old Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2), and the true children of Israel (Romans 2:28-29) with Abraham as their father (Romans 4:1-25), and as the people of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:1-13). 

God purposely chose the Israelites for Himself, so that they can worship Him in truth, and also trust in Him (Deuteronomy 7:6). The Old Testament Israelites served as a pattern of the New Testament Church. Then, God led the Israelites by the hand of Moses, but now He is leading the Church by the hand of Jesus Christ –His Son- who said, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20)” 

As a consequence of this broad background of meaning in the Greek and Old Testament words, the term ‘church’ is used in the New Testament for a local congregation of called-out Christians, such as the ‘church of God which is at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 1:2), and also of the entire people of God, such as the entire body of believers. Thus, affirming that Christ is ‘the head over all things to the church, which is his body’ (Ephesians 1:22-23)”. The Church therefore, can best be described as where God dwells. More so, the Church of God is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Church of God is a spiritual gathering of an elite group of people, filled with the Holy Spirit and great authority. The Church is the body of Christ, and not an embodiment of old relics or beautiful Church buildings. The Church is also not found in the name of an organization like: ‘The Apostolic, Evangelical, Revival, Healing, Prophetic, (or any other name) Church of God Ministries.’ 

The earliest church on earth was founded at the time when men began to call upon the name of the Lord (this started towards the end of Genesis 4). Then, men started a search for God. The first Church in the Scriptures was established as early as Genesis 5:22, which states that “Enoch walked with God.” The whole essence of God is worship. God is always seeking for those who are worshipping Him. The more an individual worships God and gives glory to His name, the more Church that individual has inside of Him. Before the days of Enoch, men had not known the Church because they had not known God. Enoch was the first after Adam to find God. And he became a friend of God by constantly worshipping and walking with Him. The Bible also states in Genesis 6:9 that “Noah walked with God.” This is what God expects from every Church of His today. At the same time, the devil has also been seeking for worshippers; because he always wants to mimic God’s style. The Creator seeks your worship, and Satan, seeking to be like the Creator, wants your worship too, so which will you choose? 

The true founder of the church is God, as opposed to the dubious idea that Peter founded the Church. It is sacrilege to believe such heretical doctrine because Peter never founded any Church; neither was he the head of any Church. Like all true Believers, Peter is a living stone in the temple of God –which is the Church. So he says in 1 Peter 2:4-5: “Coming to him as a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. God used Peter and the other apostles, to lay the foundation of the spiritual temple of God. 

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, together with one hundred and twenty others, including Mary the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:13-15) were gathered in “one accord” (Acts 2:1) when the New Testament Church came into existence, and 3,000 converts were baptized (vs. 41). They formed the very foundation (Spiritually) of Christ’ Church. The initial description given was “…and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (vs. 42), “… all that believed were together” (vs. 44) and “…they, continuing daily with one accord…did eat their meat (food) with gladness and singleness of heart” (vs. 46). 

Do you know of any Church organization in the world today that does this? From the above verses, we can clearly see that the Church Jesus built began in unity—agreement—over doctrine, and were together. Now verse 47 concludes: “And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” In the true Church, the Lord Jesus Christ guides and directs it. He is the One who adds to it and builds it! Though the Church has changed her way and manner of worship over many generations, this has done little to wear or tear God’s unfailing affection for His Church. The way and manner Enoch, Job, and Elijah worshipped God in the Old Testament has not changed a great deal. The emergence of the New Testament church came as Christ died on the cross. The veil of the temple was torn open, marking the end of worshipping God in temples and synagogues as the only way to worship God (John 4:20-24). 

One noticeable change between now and the New Testament Church, was that believers worshipped God in small groups then. It is sufficient to gather as a family and pray daily; or worship together with few like-minded believers in a designated house or location like the Apostles did. God wants all believers –Jews and non-Jews – to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24). 

Therefore, you who profess to love God, worship God in the Spirit through Jesus Christ wherever you go. And like the patriarchs of old, erect an altar (a holy and sincere heart) to the Lord wherever you pitch your tent. We do not need more denominations or organizations. Nor do we need to participate in the institutions engaged in apostasy today. The home Church that was established in Eden, affirmed in the Gospel, and was maintained by early commandment-keeping Apostles. 

It is a common belief that many Churches were founded by the apostles, especially Paul. How true this may be, I cannot tell. However I know from scriptures that it is only God that can form a Church. The apostles won converts for Christ in diverse places, and anywhere those converts worshipped God, that place was called ‘the Church of God at ‘place of worship’. For example, Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:2 writes: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours.”    

There are twelve separate places where the New Testament records that the true Church is kept in the name of God. Five refer to the entire Church, or body of Christ, as a whole. Another four speak of a specific local congregation, while using the same term “Church of God.” Three other references speak collectively of all the individual local congregations combined.  All these references use the term “Churches of God” (Acts 20:28; I Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:16, 22; 15:9; II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; I Tim. 3:5, 15; I Thes. 2:14; II Thes.1:4). 

In modern days, various mainstream denominations may have adopted the name “Church of God” with a few affixes, but are teaching variety of false doctrines. The Church Jesus built is not exclusive to any body or religions. The true Church knows what lies ahead for humanity—including both the short-term bad news and the long-term good news. True Christians understand prophecy and do not take matters into their own hands to try and play the role of Christ by organising followers after themselves. The Church Jesus built is not involved in the ‘image laundering’. The Church of God portrayed in Revelation 12, shows man that he is utterly incapable of governing himself or solving his problems without the help of God! We read how Christ prayed in John 17, “Sanctify them through Your TRUTH: Your word is TRUTH.” The Church that Christ founded, believes and teaches the plain truth, only the truth, and nothing but the truth!

·    Be it, Catholicism, (For more than a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church was the principal church   of Christianity, and have since divided into different sects like Protestantism, Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, Baptist, Methodist, and more);

·    Islamism (founded by Mohammed 622 A.D.); 

·    Judaism (originated from Moses, and assumed its modern form in 586 B.C.) 

·    Buddhism (founded in 6th c. B.C. by Gautama Buddha); 

·    Bahaism (founded by Baha’u’llah in 1863 and incorporates Christian and Islamic tenets); 

·    Confucianism (by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, at the end of 6th B.C.);

·    Hinduism (one of the oldest religion, founded since 2000 B.C. by the indigenous Indians; it spreads into Brahmanism, Krishnaism, Shaktism, Shivaism, Vishnuism, Vedism, and Yoga. It is a religion of the majority of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal); 

·    Shintoism (indigenous religion of the Japanese, characterized by a veneration of nature spirits and of ancestors, founded in the 6th c. and was revived in the 17th c.);

·    Unitarianism (developed in Poland in the late 16th c., stresses individual freedom of belief and rejects the Trinity); 

·    Animalism (holds the doctrine that there is a no distinction between man and animal); 

·    Atheism (a godless religion); 

·    Shamanism (Any animistic religion);

·    Pantheism (a religion that tolerates all gods or The doctrine or belief that God is the universe and  regards the universe as a manifestation of God)

·    Second Adventism (Adventism is strongly Protestant and observes Saturday as the Sabbath, while Second Adventism holds the view that the second coming of Jesus as Judge for the Last Judgment is imminent); 

·    or any other new age “ism”; including Scientism or (associated with American writer, L. Ron Hubbard in 1955 and characterized by a belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfilment); 

·    and Traditionalism (a religious teaching that strictly believes that all cultural and traditional knowledge of doctrines are divine revelation and that it is transmitted from ancestral generations, it is a common religious practice of most of Africa): 

The Emerging “Third Way” of Apostate Religion and Globalization

The campaigners of one of America’s fastest growing religious spiritual movements, “The Emergent Church” champions the neo-Marxist call for a utopian society through spiritual evolution where good and evil merge to form a better “third way”. This idea derives from the belief system of German philosopher, George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and finds its contemporary manifestation in the “Third Way” movement of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Barak Obama. In the Third Way, capitalism, socialism, and communism merge to form a misanthropic combination of the three. This blending is now represented in simple terms like “The New World Order” and “The New Enlightenment.”

The Third Way promotes a toxic blend of communism, socialism, atheism, and cosmic humanitarianism. The Third Way believes in universal health care, government-subsidized housing and education, global radical environmentalism or “green politics”, Fabianism, Socialism, and the likes. To hear evangelicals tell us that we need practices that were never spelled out in the Bible to become more like Christ or to get closer to God is astonishing. What is more astonishing is that colleges, seminaries, and church denominations are requiring their students and members to study practices that are relics of Medieval Rome, not found in the Bible, and closely akin to the practices of manly pagan societies. The bottom line is that the Interfaith Church Movement, the Emergent Subversive Church Movement, and the Spiritual Reformation Movement all lead to the richly endowed Harlot Church of Revelation chapter 17. 

The true Church of God was inside God from the beginning. Jesus Christ was inside God from the very beginning of creation. Just as the body cannot live in isolation from the head, even so, Jesus Christ cannot live in Isolation from the Church, since He is the head of the Church. The Church basically is a conglomeration of true worshippers of Jesus Christ who are gathered together to seek the face of God. 

It has always been God’s plan for the Church to be a spiritual body of authority. In the fourteenth chapter of the gospel of John, while all the disciples were gathered together with Jesus, and as such, forming a Church, Phillip, one of the twelve said to Jesus: “Lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us” (Verse 8). Jesus understood that what Phillip was requesting was a normal craving for all true worshippers of God (to see God); therefore Jesus replied: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me… Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father. (John 14: 11-12) ” 

Let’s take a closer look at this very technical passage of Scripture. Sensual knowledge will tell us that the two statements: “I am in the Father” and “the Father is in Me” are mutually exclusive. Howbeit, through desperate attempts to break down this scripture, and by grace, I found out that Jesus Christ was talking about His body (the Church of God) being inside of God: “I am in My Father”. Also, the Holy Spirit Being inside His body – the Church: “And the Father in Me”. 

Most people who refer to the Trinity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit often have a hierarchical view of God. Some will say God the Father is the first God, followed by God the Son –Jesus Christ, then God the Holy Spirit is third Person of the Godhead. This assertion is not true, as it has the capacity to cause the Church to derail. The truth remains that there is only one God. Isaiah calls Him “the Holy One of Israel.” 

Now, God the Everlasting Father is God. Jesus Christ is God and the Holy Spirit is the same One God with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and He is also the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Because of the scope of this book I will stop there and encourage you to believe that for a start. As you read on I hope you will understand. Due to the fact that it was the Holy Spirit who empowered Mary’s womb to carry the Holy Seed of God –Jesus Christ; He (Jesus) also found it appropriate to refer to the Holy Spirit as His Father, even after referring to God, the Eternal Creator, as His Father. 

How Religion has Derail the Church of God for 2000 years

So who is behind this suppression of the Church which could have unleashed crucial knowledge that could have restored humanity to its previous glorious state? Is the Church in complete apostasy now? How can you identify with the true Church now? Answers to these questions and much, much more are herewith revealed.

Religion has been responsible for the ‘in-action’ of the Holy Spirit for most part of 2000 years. The truthful and trustworthy knowledge that would have completely erased mankind’s problems was held back from the world since the first century, leaving humanity dumbfounded on how it could have solved its problems –disease, poverty, and death. This amazing understanding is now revealed—along with the conspiracy to suppress it. Billions are now being deceived. Previous billions have been! Even you and I have been lied to. A complete seduction has taken place, and all the world’s religions have played a big part in it. The leaders of these religions are being deceived that they are on the right path to solving the world’s problems, but they are not. The vital knowledge of the gospel would have shown mankind the solution to its most insoluble problems. And yet, except for the apostle John, all the original apostles were martyred for teaching the truth of God’s authoritative gospel. 

Every supposed “great religion” of the world has helped suppress it. Theologians neither comprehend nor are willing to teach the truth. A correct understanding of the true gospel reveals crucial knowledge. It contains a dimension of understanding that cannot be discovered by scientific inquiry. The Bible states that, since his rebellion prior to the creation of man, Satan has greatly “deceived the nations” (Revelations 20:3) and “weakened the nations” (Isaiah 14:12) in understanding the critical knowledge explaining God’s true purpose for His Church. His deception has been complete. We will explore how he deceived the Church into believing another gospel. “The entire world remains deceived about the fact that it is deceived!” (David C. Pack, the Awesome Potential of Man, pg. 10)

Philadelphia: The Faithful Church

About 25 miles southeast of Sardis lay the city of Philadelphia, newest of the seven cities. An imperial road passed through it from Rome to the east, so it became known as “the gateway to the East.” Christ says to this Church: “These things says He who is holy, He who is true . . . (Revelation 3:7). 

Christ emphasizes His loyalty to His true followers and reminds them to be equally faithful to Him. If they persevere in His Word, He will give them a crown that they may rule with Him in His Kingdom. The Philadelphian brethren could well identify with this admonition. Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” The city was named after the love the king who founded the city for his brother. The city was established by Attalus II (159-138 B.C.), who was called Philadelphus (brother lover), in honour of his loyal affection toward his brother, King Eumenes II of Pergamos. 

During his brother’s lifetime Attalus II was his most loyal assistant. He successfully commanded his brother’s forces in several wars and later became the trusted ambassador to their ally, Rome. There he won respect and admiration from the Romans for his brotherly fidelity. We find a definite theme of brotherly fidelity in this section. The New Bible Dictionary comments: “As Philadelphus was renowned for his loyalty to his brother, so the Church, the true Philadelphia, inherits and fulfils his character by its steadfast loyalty to Christ” (“Philadelphia” 1982, p. 926). 

Many New Testament verses show that the Church that Christ built is unified—with all its members and congregations walking together in complete agreement with each other, and with the word of God. Another important scripture, demonstrating that the true Church is unified and teaches the truth emerges from Christ’s prayer in John 17, on the night of His betrayal. 

He prayed: “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth…That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me” (vs. 19, 21-23). 

These are powerful statements! Christ intended that His Church be unified—“one”—no less than were He and His Father! There is no room for disagreement in a Church that is this unified. These verses describe a perfect oneness through the truth—the same kind of oneness that the Father and Christ enjoy. It is only the word of God that can keep the Church completely unified. It is this kind of unity that allows true Christians to be “in Them” —Christ and the Father (vs. 21). 

Men have their own differing ideas of where the Church actually is, but only the Bible’s view—God’s word—matters. Read it for yourself. Paul wrote to Timothy the evangelist, “…that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15). God’s Church is a unified body and teaches “the truth.” In the end, no other view devised by men is acceptable. 

We read that Christ promised that when false leaders, whom He refers to in John 10 as “thieves and robbers,” have been able to get into the Church, “the sheep hear His (Christ’s) VOICE: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.” His voice is plainly defined in Scripture as “the truth” (John 18:37). He went on in John 10 to add, “He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His VOICE. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (vs. 3-5). Christ continues by describing certain ministers: “The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep” (vs. 13). 

This remarkable promise shows that Christ will never abandon His sheep and will always protect those who hear His voice and willingly follow Him when they are in danger of false doctrines! God wants His sons to understand His purpose. God has given us basic comparisons that are easy to grasp. He compares His love for the Church in Ephesians 5: 25-27 as the love a Husband has for His wife. God concludes in Genesis 2:24 that “a man Shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” —to make ONE human body. “For as the BODY IS ONE, and has many members, and all the members of that ONE BODY, being many, are ONE BODY: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY...” (I Cor. 12:12-13). Colossians 1:18 and Ephesians 1:22-23 revealed that “one body” means the Church. There is only one Church with many “little flocks” and like the human body, all the flocks are connected by the truth. Notice, 1 Corinthians 6:19 adds, “… your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” and in chapter 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually”. The Church is an organized, structured and combined body of individuals, put together by Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit —it has Jesus Christ as the Head of its government! God’s purpose to make the Church a Bride of Christ, is of lasting value to the entirety of the true Church at any time in its history.

After Christ returns to re-establishes the kingdom of God on earth (Rev. 19:11-16), He becomes Ruler and Governor over all nations on earth forever and ever, with His Church. Notice: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever”’ (Rev. 11:15). But this is not all. Immediately, upon His Return, here is what Christ does: “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude… saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He says unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…” (Rev.19:6-9). Of course, the Lamb of God has always been Jesus Christ (John 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6). 

Exactly what happens to the Church immediately after the resurrection of the dead? The answer is staggering. But first, to answer this question, we must define exactly who and what the members of the Church are. Return to Romans 8 and now read verse 9: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” To be a true Christian, one must have the Spirit of God. It is that simple. Recall that I Corinthians 12:13 revealed that all members of the Church are “baptized into one body.” Baptized means ‘immersed, put into’. Therefore, a Christian is put into God’s Church by receiving the Holy Spirit. This Spirit makes him a begotten son. 

Those without God’s Spirit, regardless of their church affiliation or denomination, are “none of His.” We have seen that all of the Spirit-begotten become “heirs” of salvation (Rom. 8:17). But there is more important knowledge to understand. It is tied directly to the purpose for human marriage and family. The way a husband loves, works with and leads his wife is intended to be a reflection of Christ’s leadership over His Church. The New Testament actually identifies the Church as Christ’s betrothed Bride. 

The eternal purpose of God for the Church is for her to be His Bride, forming a magnificent building in the holy city of the new Jerusalem that will descend out of heaven from God (Revelations 21: 10 - 13). Many verses reveal this. First, notice the following parallel between Christ and His Church, and human husbands and their wives: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church…That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:23, 27). The Bible reveals that the husband’s relationship with his wife is a parallel of Christ’s relationship to the Church! Christ works with His Church the way husbands are to work with their wives. He intends to “present the Church to God,” in a marriage ceremony, with all spots, wrinkles and blemishes gone. But this wedding is only attainable for those learning the lessons of this life—those who gain experience through suffering and building character now! 

Now fully comprehend this awesome knowledge: Christ is God. He is of the “God kind.” Just as God and Christ could not reproduce outside their kind (Gen. 1:24-26), anymore than any animal could reproduce with any other kind, Christ could not marry outside the God kind either. At His Return, in one of the most awesome events in all history –The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Christ will marry His Church! This is the plain truth from God’s Word—and you have just heard it! God calls His Church, His future Bride, “a building” that is “fitly framed together” (Eph. 2:21). Christ is literally “building a temple” consisting of “living stones” (I Pet. 2:5). Christ is continuing His building of the Church today, and you have come in contact with it. 

We saw that the true Church is depicted as a type of Jerusalem and as the Mother of all the brethren in the Church (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22-23). Like any Mother, she cares for and feeds her children. We have also seen that the true Church is also pictured as a Bride prophesied to marry Jesus Christ at His Return (Rev. 19:7-9). She is described as, at that time, having “made herself ready” for this wonderful and glorious event! Will you be among those who strive to “make yourself ready”? 

Finally, we have already addressed the actual meaning of the Greek word translated “Church” in the New Testament. This needs no further clarification. Most have supposed it means a building or an organization, when it means neither. The word “church” is ekklesia, meaning Christians are indeed “called out” of this world—its ways—its customs—its practices— its traditions—its false knowledge—and into the true Church, and fellowship with God and Christ (I John 1:3). Take time to savour this marvellous understanding! 

God thunders this message to all people everywhere: “Therefore come out from among them, and be you separate…and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17-18). May God help you to come out of the Babylon of this world (Rev. 18:4), that you may qualify to rule with the all-powerful, living Christ in the wonderful, utopian new heaven and earth that lies ahead! 

Some few are choosing to come out of the world. They are willing to seek God with all their hearts. These are those called of God at this time. Let’s understand. The Bible does plainly speak of those who have been called by God. Notice what Paul said to the Thessalonian brethren: “Faithful is He that calls you...” (I Thes. 5:24). As a warning to the Galatian congregation, who were losing sight of the true gospel, he said this: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (1:6), and later added, “This persuasion comes not of Him that calls you” (5:7-8). To the Corinthian congregation he wrote, “For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (I Cor. 1:26). 

When you read or hear things like these in books such as this one, do they have meaning to you? Are you grasping them? Are they plain to your understanding? Do you see them as special knowledge others do not have? Do you feel tempted to pinch yourself in disbelief that you could be shown things of which the masses have no idea? If the answers to these questions are “yes,” then God is calling you! The mysteries of the kingdom of God are being given to you! 

In the end Christ beckons those who have faithfully responded to His call, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name My God, and the name of the city of My God, and the New Jerusalem, which comes out of heaven from My God, and i will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:11-12).

Remember, satan is a master deceiver. He has forged many forms of false religion all over the earth. He counterfeits the truth in endless ways, and God’s calling process is no exception. Be certain of whether you are being called at this time. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:10). You must decide whether you grasp the truths of this book—whether you are being given your opportunity for salvation now!

Christ' Message to The Seven Churches In The Book Of Revelation

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show his servants –things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1)  Revelation was written specifically for God’s servants, the Church of God. So it should come as no surprise that the Church itself is the primary topic of discussion in the first three chapters. Jesus commissioned His Church to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16).


In the book of revelation, Jesus symbolically introduces seven specific congregations of the Church as seven lampstands (Revelation 1:12, 20). This imagery reminds us of the seven lamps on the golden lampstand in ancient Israel’s tabernacle and later in its temple (Exodus 25:37; Zechariah 4:2). There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven Churches. It is obvious, that there were many other churches located in the areas where these churches were found (There were about five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches); but that God divinely selected seven and seven only, is logical that seven is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection.



Jesus commissioned His Church to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). In Revelation, He symbolically introduces seven specific congregations of the Church as seven lampstands (Revelation 1:12, 20). This imagery reminds us of the seven lamps on the golden lampstand in ancient Israel’s tabernacle and later in its temple (Exodus 25:37; Zechariah 4:2). Now, however, God regards the Church itself as His spiritual temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). Since seven often represents completeness in Scripture, these seven lampstands seem to portray a composite picture of the Church of God as the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). 

Paul explains that the Church is one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4). However, it has multiple members scattered throughout the world (Romans 12: 4 & 5). Therefore, these seven specific assemblies of believers appear to effectively represent the overall members of the Church. It appears likely that the letters sent to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have multiple meanings and applications. There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven Churches. It is obvious, that there were many other churches located in the areas where these churches were found. There were about five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches; but that God divinely selected seven and seven only, is logical that seven is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection. First of all, each church needed a particular message, and the spiritual state of each church corresponded precisely to the exhortation which was given. The selection of the churches was also governed by the fact that each church was in some way normative and illustrated conditions common in local churches at that time as well as throughout later generations. 

Church Historian Will Durant writes: “The influence of the Book of Revelation was immediate and profound. Its prophecies of salvation for loyal believers, and of punishment for their enemies, became the sustenance of a persecuted Church. Its theory of the millennium solaced those who mourned the long delay in the second coming of Christ. Its vivid images and brilliant phrases entered into both the popular and the literary speeches of Christendom.” (‘The Story of Civilization’: Part III, Caesar and Christ, p. 594, 1972). The messages to the seven Churches therefore embody admonition suitable for churches in many types of spiritual need. Along with the messages to the Churches were exhortations which are personal in character constituting instruction and warning to the individual Christian. Each of the messages given to the churches therefore ends in a personal exhortation with the phrase “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” 

“Many expositors believe that in addition to the obvious implication of these messages, the seven Churches represent the chronological development of church history spiritually. They note that Ephesus seems to be characteristic of the Apostolic Period in general and that the progression of evil climaxing in Laodicea seems to indicate the final state of apostasy of the Church”. “…The order of the messages to the Churches seems to be divinely selected to give prophetically, the main movement of Church history” (John Walvoord, 1989, pp. 51-52). The overall message is, of course, that Christ reveals the dominant strengths and weaknesses of the Church both in John’s day and through the ages. He plainly tells each congregation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). He reveals what appears to be a sweeping picture of the future of His Church until the end of this present age. 

At that moment in time, Christ’ true followers –the Church- were a persecuted and discouraged body. They longed for Jesus to return in power and glory to judge their adversaries and establish the Kingdom of God. They desperately needed encouragement and desired a better understanding of what their future held. And this is what the book of Revelation provided for the Church. 

Revelation, sometimes called the Apocalypse, is viewed by many as a mysterious book of strange symbols. Yet it has a clear and definite historical background. The apostle John, writing under the inspiration of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1), mentions where it was written and that it was addressed to congregations in seven Churches in Asia Minor. Seven cities mentioned in Revelation apparently formed an ancient postal route connected by Roman roads stretching from the port city of Ephesus to Laodicea. John received his visions while on the island of Patmos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey.

While on Patmos, John received a long and complicated vision from Jesus Christ (Revelation 1: 1-2, 10-20) with the instructions: “…What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea” (verse 11). Interestingly, Jesus used some of the characteristics of each city to spiritually evaluate its congregation and to prophesy the history of the Church up to His second coming. 

The seven spirits, seven golden lampstands, seven angels, seven Churches, seven stars, seven seals and seven trumpet sounds, are all signs of a complete rotation of renowned earthly events. There are certain numbers in the Bible that are very significant, and seven is one of them. Some call it the number of completion. Though these seven signs may literarily exist in the spiritual kingdom, however, the crucial thing to know is that they can only exist one at a time. 

Just as we have seven days a week on earth, of which there can only be one day at a time, these seven events can only occur one after the other and not simultaneously. The order is very important. Sunday, for example comes first in the week, before Monday, Tuesday, and ending on the seventh day, which is Saturday. 

Saturday and Sunday cannot co-exist simultaneously. This basic principle of a seven-day complete weekly rotation is the key to unlocking the mystery of the seven letters sent to the seven Churches, and it can also be applied to the seven seals, seven angels, and seven trumpet sounds. The seven cities mentioned in Revelations 2 and 3, apparently formed an ancient postal route connected by Roman roads stretching from the port city of Ephesus to Laodicea. 

John received his visions while exiled on the island of Patmos off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Since seven often represents completeness in Scripture, as earlier noted, these seven lampstands seem to portray a composite picture of the Church of God, the light of the world. Paul explains that the Church is one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4). However, it has multiple congregations and individual members scattered throughout the nations (Romans 12:5). Therefore, these seven specific assemblies of believers appear to effectively represent the totality of the Church. It appears likely that the prophecies of the Church in Revelation 2 and 3 have multiple meanings and applications.

There has been some debate concerning the theological significance of these seven churches. It is obvious that there were many churches located in the area where these churches were found, but God divinely selected seven and seven only, and did not send messages to other churches that conceivably might have been more important. There were from five hundred to one thousand townships in the province of Asia in the first century, some of them far larger than the cities of Thyatira and Philadelphia, and undoubtedly a number of them had Christian churches. 

It is understandable that the number of churches should be limited to seven as this is the number of completeness or universality in the Scripture, but there undoubtedly were other principles which determined the selection. 

At that moment in time Christ’s true followers were a persecuted and discouraged body. They longed for Jesus to return in power and glory to judge their adversaries and establish the Kingdom of God. They desperately needed encouragement and desired a better understanding of what their future held. They also needed to be put back on the right path spiritually. That was exactly what Christ did for them through these letters. During this time of extreme adversity, directly instigated by Satan, Christ reveals to the Church the framework of future events and reminding His faithful servants what He expects of them. 

He is particularly complimentary toward those who “have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary” (verse 3). He makes His point: “… The churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (verse 23). He appreciates those who “cannot bear those who are evil” and “have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (verse 2). 

Notice Christ’s promises to the faithful: (1).They will “eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (2) They will “not be hurt by the second death.” (3) They will receive “a new name.” (4) They will be given “power over the nations.” (5) They will “be clothed in white garments.” (6) They will be pillars “in the temple of My God.” (7) They will “sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). 

These promises, along with the assurances in the remainder of Revelation, must have strengthened and encouraged those early Christians. But there is an ominous side to Christ’s evaluation of His Church. He begins with the congregation in the city of Ephesus: “I know your works, your labour, your patience …” (verse 2). In the preceding verses Jesus evaluates the works and faithfulness of each congregation. 

He compliments the members for their strengths. But He also uses expressions like “Nevertheless I have this against you …” (verses 4, 14, and 20). He tempers His praise with words of warning. He refers to the active influence of Satan in drawing Church members back into the idolatrous and sinful society from which they had just escaped. To “the church in Pergamos” He says, “I know … where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is” (Revelation 2:12-13). He also reveals that some in Thyatira had strayed into “the depths of Satan” (verse 24). False teachers posed a major problem. The congregation in Thyatira is censured for allowing “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (verse 20). The congregation in Ephesus is also accosted by “those who say they are apostles and are not,” but are “liars” (verse 2). 

The Smyrna congregation experiences problems from “those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (verse 9). And Pergamos has “those who hold 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.” He adds, “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (verses 14-15).  To the congregation of Sardis Christ says, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). This description is of people who are Christians in name only. Yet He adds: “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (verse 4). 

Those in Philadelphia “have little strength” but they at least remain faithful (verse 8). But the Laodicean congregation is described as lukewarm; “neither cold nor hot” (verse 16). Christ tells Laodiceans: “… You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (verse 17).

Significantly, Christ seven letters to the seven Churches in Asia reveals His Everlasting Covenant with the Church. For it is written: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah –not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke … I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No more shall every man teach His neighbour, and every man his brother saying, ‘know the Lord’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jer.31:31-34). The Philadelphian church generally worship God in the Spirit, and faithfully keep His commandments through the New Covenant of grace established by Jesus Christ on the cross.... that was the prevalent system of early Christianity, before imperial Romans started building large structures in order to more easily control people and indoctrinate them with apostasy. 

These many references and warnings tell us, both from external sources and from within the Church of God itself, that a corrupted form of Christianity was developing through the influence of the devil and those he managed to deceive. Peter had warned of this dangerous development some years earlier when he wrote: “But there were also false prophets among the people [of ancient Israel], even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1-2). 

Satan masterminded and manipulated an apostate religion that began to masquerade as false worship of God far back in the Israelite camp. The messages to the seven congregations in Asia Minor also seem to imply that a counterfeit Christianity would be one of Satan’s main instruments of deception across the centuries until the end time.