So many people connect the Church to a specific denomination for example, the Baptist, The Pentecostal, the Church of God, the Catholic, the Presbyterian and so on. This is not what the Bible is talking about, instead it is talking of the believers in Christ. I don't know why anyone wants to put themselves in a certain class as it sure will not be that way when they get to Heaven, if they do.
In the past I have heard some Pastors make the statement that if you did not belong to their particular church you would not go to Heaven. Where do they get this? Not from the Bible I assure you.
Sure in the New Testament it does mention several different churches, true it does indicate they have some differences in their beliefs, but these differences caused problems between each other and that is why Paul and Peter got into problems over it. A denominational dispute has always caused troubles. Look at the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Gentiles, the Jews, all had different views, all had problems.
The Bible teaches us that all born again Christians makes up God's Church, That the Bible is the only guide for our beliefs.
2Ti 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
No where in the Bible does it take out certain portions and use to come up with a doctrine, it says all scripture is given for this portion.
No where does it say to take different verses and rearrange them in order to make a doctrine for a certain denomination.
Some Churches try to say we are living in the Philadelphia church period, yet others say we are living in the Laodicean church period.
Well in reality we are not living in any of them, as these churches mentioned were particular churches in John's time.
One can look back at each of the Churches that existed then and see the same qualities in the different churches through different time spans and the last two, the Philadelphia church and the Laodicean church is examples of how are churches have been in the past century and what God has to say to them. I guess one could say our present church society has become like the church of Laodicean, look at what God told John they had become, now remember the message God gave John was to the Preachers not the church itself. Read the article on the Seven Churches.
Re 3:7
And to the angel (Preacher) of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Re 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Re 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and
worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Re 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (do not interrupt this wrong, it does not say they will not go through the tribulation period), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Re 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Re 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and
the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name.
Re 3:13
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Re 3:14
And unto the angel (preacher) of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Re 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Re 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Re 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Re 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
Re 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Look what was said in verse 19 be zealous and repent, what does repent mean. This word in the New Testament was in the Greek Metanoeo met-an-o-eh-o to think differently or afterwards. i.e. reconsider (feel compunction) repent. Metanoia met-an-oy-ah from metanoeo compunction (for guilt, include reformation) by implication reveral of decision - repentance. In other words to think different about a situation and turn back to the correct way of thinking.
Now if the churches of today are living in the state or ways of the Laodicean Church, notice that God told them to repent, or turn around and go back where they were at, now if they turned around to go back where they came from where would that be? The Church of the Philadelphia, the Church of Brotherly Love.
Re 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Re 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Re 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Notice God told John to him that overcometh, in other words to him that will turn away from this church and repent that He would allow him to set with Him in His throne, now notice again it said set in His throne, not on it.
In closing of this article, I hope you can see that none of our churches today or maybe I should say denominations of today is God's Church, only the truly born again Christians makes up the true church. None of the denomination churches are all right or all wrong, most all of them have gone into the Laodicean type church and if they do not repent and turn around and go back to the first love, they will be cast out.
