Church Types

 

    The church is a group of believers, not the building.  It is the people that come together and live life together as warriors for God.  It is our spiritual support system and accountability partners.  It is the group of people that we are vulnerable enough be open to worship honestly.

    The first church type is represented by the Church of Ephesus.  It is one of the largest groups of people.   This church is known for it's perseverance and evangelism.  They do not tolerate evil and call out the liars.  There people have been tested and endured hardship in God's name and still did not become weary.  Their sin is that forsook God as their first love.  Before it is all over they are called to repent, so they can have their right to the tree of life.  They need to remember why they hate evil.  They Holy Spirit is calling out for them to hear His voice.  They conquer death by faith and obedience.

    The second church is amount to the Church of Smyrna.  This church died and resurrected.  The city represents the Jewish nation that opposes Christianity.  The Christians are afflicted with poverty, but are rich in faith.  They are slandered and suffer spiritual warfare.  Satan who attacks them to the point of death.  For 10 days they will be in the hands of Satan, but they will receive their crown from God.  They will overcome if they listen to the Holy Spirit's call.  They will not be hurt by a second death: eternity with Satan.

    The third church constitutes for the Church of Pergamum.  This church seen as double-edged sword.  Christians are persecuted severely for their faith.  Their world is controlled by Satan, but they remain faithful to God.  Their purpose is to oppose false doctrine.  Their sin is that they allow some people in the church to hold onto pagan teachings and sexual immorality.  This will cause some people to stumble and fall away from God.  They are called to repent and if they do not, then God will turn against them and they will become the representatives of what will happen to oppose God.  If they do repent, then they will represent God's mercy and faithfulness to His people.

    The fourth church is regarded as the Church of Thyatira.  They burn with love for Jesus.  They live faithfully in service, love for God, perseverance, and growth.  However, their the world around them pressure them to an idolatrous lifestyle.  Their sin is tolerance of sin which is misleading.  They do not practice church discipline with false prophets or sexual immorality.  God is giving them time to repent, but if they are unwilling, then they will suffer in health for their sins.  Adulterers will suffer greater by the suffering of their children.  Hold on to what you have until Jesus comes and takes everything away.  Or listen to the Holy Spirit now and repent.  

    God is searching all of our hearts.  Tomorrow I will go into the last three church types, but we need to know where we fit into these churches.  They all have strengths and weaknesses.  We have to face it and turn it over to God to move in the right direction.  God knows our minds and hearts.  He will make us all face a reckoning, so we might as well know and understand ourselves that way too.

Revelations 2