TROUBLES IN THE CHURCH - ENDTIMES CHAT with GJ and DAN

What troubles the church today?

The same thing that troubled the churches 2000 years ago. In Revelation 2-3 are found seven letters from Jesus to the churches in seven cities.

Jesus Christ is described in the Bible as the Lord of the churches. A particular title is given to Him to impress deeply upon our minds sovereign authority and power. The church, composed of all believers in this age, is described as the body of Jesus Christ of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24; Colossians 2:9-10).

As head of the church, He has the right to tell us what is wrong and what we should do about it. His headship is clearly depicted as He addresses each of the seven churches portrayed in Revelation, beginning with the church at Ephesus.

What Is the Significance of Seven Churches? To some, the number "seven" indicates perfection or completed action. Seven churches would, therefore, represent the total church throughout history. While we must remember that there were seven actual churches by these names existing in John's day, what the Lord says to these seven churches is what He would say to any of us living at any period of time. Many Bible teachers have concluded that all of church history is being pictured between chapter one and chapter four.

They relate these churches to the outline that the writer John gave to us in Revelation 1:19 "Write the things which you have seen" (Revelation 1) "and the things which are" (Revelation 2-3) "and the things which will take place after this" (Revelation 4-22) This outline may suggest that the seven churches, while a part of the events of John's day include everything which characterizes the church age until the future events start unfolding, beginning with Revelation 4.

Some teachers have even placed these churches within given historical time periods, such as Sardis representing the period of the Reformation. While interesting, such a formula cannot be conclusive. Church history has been marked by periods of revival and growth as well as periods of corruption, decline, and apostasy. The lessons of these seven churches in Revelation must be carefully observed by Christians in every age, regardless of the brand name on our church door or the repute of our religious tradition.

What Troubles the Church? When we examine carefully the churches to which John wrote, we see the following things that can trouble the church: Ephesus: neglected priorities Smyrna: satanic opposition Pergamos: religious compromise Thyatira: immoral practices Sardis: spiritual apathy Philadelphia: lost opportunities Laodicea: material prosperity These troubles affect all Christians and churches, not only when such matters specifically begin to influence us, but also when a given period of time is generally characterized by these problems.

We need to continue to pray that God keeps us all, as His church, on the right track with Him, so we will not MISS His return.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

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