Expert: Patricia Burns - 1/16/2005

Question
Somewhat confused about the 7 churches that Apostle John wrote about. Are these 7 churches during the history of Gods time frame that were started and replaced finally ending with the seventh and final church being (raptured) here when Christ returns? Revelations mentions that Christ can remove the Church (candlestick) if it did not correct it wrongs. Surely there won't be 7 churches here at end times? Could you clarify this matter? Thank you very much for your help and service to our Lord, cork locklear.

Answer
My study of the Scriptures has been concentrated on the subject of Bible prophecy, so I have not studied Scriptures pertaining to the letters to the seven churches in any depth.  I have not found those Scriptures relevant to understand end-time Bible prophecy.

As regards the church, I submit the following Bible study for your consideration -

We in Christ Jesus ARE the Church -

The world refers to the living body of Christ as Christians (Acts 11:26).  The term “Christians” cleverly dilutes the power of who we are in Christ.

God refers to His living body as the church of God (1 Cor.10:32, 1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13 below).  

We who are in Christ Jesus ARE the church of God.  The church of God are a people, a people chosen by Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph.1:4); the church of God are saints of the most High (Dan.7:25, 1 Cor.1:2), throughout all ages (Eph.3:21), found in every locality throughout the entire world.

Scripture confirms that God has divided mankind into three separate and unique bodies.  One is either a Jew, or a Gentile, or the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 below).

When we come to Jesus Christ, believing on Him as our personal Savior, whether we are Jew or Gentile, we BECOME a NEW creature (2 Cor.5:17, Eze.36:26 below).  We in Christ have BECOME, individually, as well as collectively, the living body of Christ, the church of God (1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13 below).

In Christ Jesus we are no longer Jew nor Gentile  (Eph.2:16 below).

1 Cor.10:32   Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

2 Cor.5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eze.36:26    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

1 Cor.1:2   Unto the church of God  (1 Cor.10:32 above) which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

1 Cor.15:9   For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 above).

Gal.1:13   For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 above), and wasted it:

Eph.2:16   And that he might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body (the church of God - 1 Cor.10:32 above) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:



Pat (ndbpsa ©)