The
7 Types of Churches: The 7
Churches of Asia
Introduction
Chapters 2 and 3
of the book of Revelation
presents us with the letter
from the Lord Jesus Christ
to seven churches in Asia
Minor, i.e. modern day Turkey.
These churches, (Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira,
Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea)
were actual churches in different
districts of Asia Minor to
which Apostle John had ministered
in the first century. The
book is full of imagery and
symbolism, and due to its
futuristic or prophetic format,
is prone to grievous misinterpretations
if a careful study is not
made.
After the introduction of
Himself in chapter one, the
Lord proceeds with His message
to each of the seven churches.
The letters which are obviously
for the whole church are addressed
to the "Angels"
(That is Agellos, the Greek
word meaning messenger/minister,
in this case, pastor), and
deals with specific issues
prevalent in these churches.
A close study of the book
reveals that what was true
of each of those historical
churches in Chapters 2 and
3 is applicable to churches
in every generation. Consequently,
a proper appreciation and
application of the lessons
drawn from especially from
these two chapters will prove
invaluable to any local church
that desires to glorify the
Almighty God.
The Spiritual Life
and Practice of the Local
Churches
Akin to the seven
churches in Asia, every local
church no matter how big or
small it might be is equivalent
to one or more of the seven
types of churches described
in Revelation 2 and 3. These
are The Loveless Church, The
Persecuted Church, The Compromising
Church, The Corrupt, The Dead,
The Faithful and The Lukewarm
Church.
Hence like the churches in
Asia, we always need to seriously
consider and act on what the
Lord is saying to us as leaders
and members of local churches.
This so as to avoid the discipline
that befell some of the churches.
Whether you are a leader in
the church or not, every member
of the church of God has a
part to play in helping the
church become what the Lord
desires it to be. I trust
that by the time you go through
these articles, you would
be able to identify what sort
of traits are prevalent in
your local church.
A Synopsis of the
Local Churches:
The Loveless Church
~ Rev. 2:1 – 7.
The church at Ephesus
was one whose love for Christ
had grown cold. Prior to that,
she was zealous for doctrinal
correctness. (…underpinning
the importance and need for
soundness of doctrine) This
can be partly seen by their
resisting false Apostles and
teachers. She was fervent
in maintaining the moral purity
of the church, i.e. hating
sin with a passion.
She was enthusiastic about
evangelism, etc. (“I
know your works, your labor,
your patience, and that you
cannot bear those who are
evil. And you have tested
those who say they are apostles
and are not, and have found
them liars; 3
and you have persevered and
have patience, and have labored
for My name’s sake and
have not become weary. 4
Nevertheless I have this against
you, that you have left your
first love…”)
The Ephesian church was a
Christ-honouring church. How
could she have been anything
else? After all, she was founded
by the Apostle Paul, (about
four decades before Christ
wrote this letter to them)
pastored by Timothy and ministered
to by Apollos, and Aquila
and Priscilla. Alas, her story
is a very serious reminder
that any church that stops
being watchful and becomes
overconfident of her spirituality
is susceptible to becoming
cold and legalistic. The spiritual
life can so easily drift into
mere dutifulness as a result
of loss of affection for Christ
and the things of God. Going
to church, praying, reading
the bible and other forms
of spiritual services become
a chore or mere activities
done out of a sense of obligation.
In the worst case scenario,
they cease altogether and
severe sinfulness comes back
alive. As an individual or
a church, if that is the position
you find yourself in today,
remember that to love the
Lord is to keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not
burdensome. Christ says: “Remember
therefore from where you have
fallen; repent and do the
first works…”
(Rev. 1:5)
The Persecuted Church
~ Rev. 2:8 – 11.
The church at Smyrna
was a church that persevered
amidst severe persecution.
Despite the persecution she
went through, she continued
to love and serve the Lord.
The more a true church is
persecuted, the more she leans
on Christ for strength and
comfort. Examples of such
churches include the underground
church in China and those
in other parts of the world
where individual Christians
often have their homes burnt
down, are raped and even killed
for their love of Christ.
(Talk about bad things happening
to God’s people) A Christian
is tested indeed not necessarily
when his/her local church
is persecuted, but when he/she
is affected by it personally.
Persecution has a way of purging
the church of hypocrites so
that majority of those left
behind are the true lovers
of Christ.
Quite unlike most of the other
churches in Asia Minor, the
persecuted church received
no criticism or reprimand.
Instead, she got a word of
encouragement…a call
to remain steadfast till the
end. “Do not
fear any of those things which
you are about to suffer. Indeed,
the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that
you may be tested, and you
will have tribulation ten
days. Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown
of life. “He who has
an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes shall not
be hurt by the second death.”
(Rev. 2:10 - 11)
If you are
undergoing some persecution
for your faith today, receive
the comfort of Christ today
as He knows what you are going
through. In verse 9, when
Christ says, “I know
your works, tribulation, and
poverty (but you are rich)…”
The Greek word He uses for
"know" is “oida”,
which relates to knowing by
experience. Remember Hebrews
4:15, "For we have not
an high priest who cannot
be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities, but was
in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin"
Therefore, I encourage you
to draw nigh the throne of
Grace today as He is able
to meet you at you point of
need.
The Compromising Church
~ Rev. 2:12 – 17.
The church at Pergamos
compromised the teachings
and practices of the kingdom
of God. In verse 14 - 15,
it reads, “But
I have a few things against
you, because you have there
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.
Thus you also have those who
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate.”
The church allowed false and
erroneous teachings to flourish
in her midst and these lead
to immorality as things moved
from bad to worse. She was
right in the middle of a satanic
stronghold would have had
to deal with very ungodly
philosophies, activities and
lifestyles. These no doubt
crept into the church and
influenced some, leading them
to apostasy. The early church
fathers say Nicolas, an Elder
mentioned in Acts 6 was an
apostate who propagated false
doctrine that became known
as the “doctrine of
the Nicolaitans.”
It cannot be over-emphasised
how churches today need to
be careful of not just those
they appoint as leaders (Pastors,
Elders, Deacons, etc.), but
also of the “Apostles”,
“Prophetesses”
and “Reverends”
they invite to minister in
their pulpit. We are living
in days where “ministers”
with obvious questionable
character are brought in to
teach the flock of God. Amongst
other things, recently, the
world has heard of ministers
divorcing their spouses at
the first instance
of adultery or physical abuse.
Though no credible counselor
would advice anyone to stay
in an abusive relationship,
the truth is if ministers
and spiritual leaders cannot
forgive their spouses for
such sins, then where does
the ordinary Christian stand?
Regardless of the crowds that
these ministers pull, the
church of God should cease
inviting to her pulpits, those
who casually walk out of their
marriages without valid biblical
reasons for divorce…This
is because when the leadership
goes astray, the whole church
goes with it. (More dangers
of such compromise will be
dealt with when we look at
the corrupt church at Thyatira
~ Rev. 2:18 - 29)
The church at Pergamos unlike
the church at Ephesus, was
a friend of the world. She
did not place a high priority
on moral purity. Just like
many of today’s churches,
she accommodated messages
from “ministers”
who were nothing more than
Prophets for Hire. Compromising
churches have a tendency of
doing this because of some
kind of gain she hopes to
obtain thereby. This would
include the desire to boost
the church numerically. It
could also include the quest
for more respect and recognition
locally and internationally.
God however says in His word
that friendship with the world
is enmity with God ~ James
4:4. It must be noted that
compromise inevitably leads
to an increase in the number
of unregenerate (Non born-again)
believers in the church membership.
This in turn produces a church
that does not glorify God.
In the next edition
due by the end of September
2008, we would seek to explore:
- The Corrupt, The Dead, The Faithful & The Lukewarm Churches
- Hallmarks of the False Prophetic Order
- The Marks of Genuine Revival
- The Key to Revival
- Prayer points for the church and nations
Pastor Francis Obasogie
Editor
