Jonathan_Gale
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In the bible, names are significant, a name often denotes the character and the destiny of the name bearer, especially those who receive a new name from God. This applies to the seven churches - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, all located in Asia Minor, which is today's Turkey. They are known for their characters - loveless, persecuted, compromised, corrupt, dead, faithful and lukewarm. I don't know about your bible, though, in my NKJV those are the titles for the seven sections in Rev. 2-3. These characters are reflected in the meaning of their names.
Ephesus - Desirable. This is the church that received the letter of Ephesians from Paul, it was really passionate for God. They disciplined their members and cast out false teachers like those Nicolaitans. By the way, Nicolaitan means conquest of commoners/laymen, Nicolaitanism is basically the same as technocracy, ruling of the experts. Sound familiar? Ironically and unfortunately, over time they went astray, their desire and love for the Lord was lost, they turned to doctrines, politics and other issues, and for that they were chastised by the Lord.
Smyrna - Myrrh. Myrhh was one of the three gifts brought by the wise men to Jesus, it was used to embalm dead bodies, and it symbolizes death. This church was under intense persecution, members were martyred for Christ.
Pergamus - Married. In this church, Balaam was introduced, the same Nicolaitan rejected by the Ephesian church was accepted by this one. Balaam was the false prophet who led Israelites to commit sexual immorality with Medianite women, and in this church they committed spiritual adultery with pagan deities. Historically this was the marriage of the church and the state when Christianity became the Roman Empire's state religion, in order to accommodate the pagan parishioners, you've got all those pagan deities and holidays brought in, disguised as saints and church holidays. Nowadays this has a new name known as the New Age.
Thyatira - Tyranny of a Goddess (Theia). Despite of its good works, this church is corrupted by the equivalent of queen Jezebel, who is the Theia, and the whole church is under its tyranny.
Sardis - Escape. This one is commonly believed to be the Reformation church which "escaped" from the corrupt Thyatira church, and they were surely famous as the Reformation was revered as a turning point in human history, but in the eyes of God, they were dead, they've got nothing but a name, their work was disapproved by God.
Philadelphia - Brotherly Love. As Jesus commanded his church to love one another, this is the church that has truly lived up to God's expectation, and it will inherit the kingdom. Also, notice this is the only church that will be spared from the Great Tribulation, while all the other ones, especially Thyatira, will go through it.
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 3:10)
Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Rev. 2:22)
Laodicea - Judgement of the commoners/laymen. This is the most infamous one which dares to boast before God, and the only one that received zero compliment. It's the worldly church with no authority and full of narcissists. Instead of worship and fellowship, you've got rock concert and TED talk, while Jesus is shut out of the door, and that's the majority of today's churches.
Ephesus - Desirable. This is the church that received the letter of Ephesians from Paul, it was really passionate for God. They disciplined their members and cast out false teachers like those Nicolaitans. By the way, Nicolaitan means conquest of commoners/laymen, Nicolaitanism is basically the same as technocracy, ruling of the experts. Sound familiar? Ironically and unfortunately, over time they went astray, their desire and love for the Lord was lost, they turned to doctrines, politics and other issues, and for that they were chastised by the Lord.
Smyrna - Myrrh. Myrhh was one of the three gifts brought by the wise men to Jesus, it was used to embalm dead bodies, and it symbolizes death. This church was under intense persecution, members were martyred for Christ.
Pergamus - Married. In this church, Balaam was introduced, the same Nicolaitan rejected by the Ephesian church was accepted by this one. Balaam was the false prophet who led Israelites to commit sexual immorality with Medianite women, and in this church they committed spiritual adultery with pagan deities. Historically this was the marriage of the church and the state when Christianity became the Roman Empire's state religion, in order to accommodate the pagan parishioners, you've got all those pagan deities and holidays brought in, disguised as saints and church holidays. Nowadays this has a new name known as the New Age.
Thyatira - Tyranny of a Goddess (Theia). Despite of its good works, this church is corrupted by the equivalent of queen Jezebel, who is the Theia, and the whole church is under its tyranny.
Sardis - Escape. This one is commonly believed to be the Reformation church which "escaped" from the corrupt Thyatira church, and they were surely famous as the Reformation was revered as a turning point in human history, but in the eyes of God, they were dead, they've got nothing but a name, their work was disapproved by God.
Philadelphia - Brotherly Love. As Jesus commanded his church to love one another, this is the church that has truly lived up to God's expectation, and it will inherit the kingdom. Also, notice this is the only church that will be spared from the Great Tribulation, while all the other ones, especially Thyatira, will go through it.
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 3:10)
Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Rev. 2:22)
Laodicea - Judgement of the commoners/laymen. This is the most infamous one which dares to boast before God, and the only one that received zero compliment. It's the worldly church with no authority and full of narcissists. Instead of worship and fellowship, you've got rock concert and TED talk, while Jesus is shut out of the door, and that's the majority of today's churches.
