I have come to believe in the seven churches as congregations birthed as ages as given in the book of Revelation...
Ephesus - Messianic - Beginning with the Apostle to the Circumcision, Peter
Smyrna - Martyr - Beginning with the Apostle to the Un-Circumcision, Paul
Pergamos - Orthodoxy formed in this time... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholicism formed in this time - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestantism formed in this time- A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism formed in this time - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Charismatic movement formed in this time - Beginning with DL Moody, the first to make money off of ministry
This is not to say the congregations are any certain denomination, but it is to say they came down in time. The first church was Messianic and it existed that way until the Apostle Paul. I believe most churches these days are Laodicean, except for those who have kept their traditions birthed to them in time.
Messianic - I believe the Messianic church was divinely inspired on the day of Pentecost with Saint Peter
Martyr - I believe the early Gentile church was divinely inspired with Saint Paul's conversion
Orthodox - I believe the Orthodox church was divinely inspired with Constantines victory against Rome.
Catholic - I believe the Catholic church was divinely inspired along with the reign of Charlemagne.
Protestant - I believe was divinely inspired with Martin Luther's vision that, "The just shall live by faith."
Wesleyan - Along with other names, I believe began with John Bunyan's, "The Pilgrims Progress"
Laodicea - I believe the Charismatic movement came out of these times. Most people these days could care less about church doctrine.
Seven congregations! Here in the Laodicean church age the Messianics have reformed the first congregation, and I cannot blame them for doing so.
The church existed in a Messianic congregation until the Apostle Paul. And it was clear that the congregations were indeed two at this time, the Messianic founded by Saint Peter, and the Gentile church founded by Saint Paul....
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2
Some Messianics declare themselves "Non-Pauline" in which they have the right to do. I, however, as a Gentile, delight in the writings of the Apostle Paul. I must say, though that the second congregation is different then the other seven....
Messianic - Messianic congregation beginning with Saint Peter
Martyr - Gentile congregation beginning with Saint Paul
Orthodox - The Orthodox church beginning Constantines victory against Rome.
Catholic - The Catholic church beginning with the reign of Charlemagne.
Protestant - The Protestant church beginning with Martin Luther
Wesleyan - The awakened church beginning with John Bunyan
Laodicea - The Charismatic church time, in which the Messianics pull out to reform the first congregation.
