The Seven Churches of Revelation

CHART OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES - ComingOne.com - HOME

THE SEVEN AGES OF THE CHURCH

Ephesus : 1st Century "you have lost your first love".	The Lost Love Church	Apostolic age comes to an end. False Apostles appear. New Testemant written.
Smyrna: 2-4th Century "Be loyal though it means your death"	The Persecuted Church	Gentile expansion. Persecution. False doctrines introduced. New Testement collected.
Pergamun: 4th-6th Century "those who...throw a stumbling block"	The Stumbling Church	Roman Empire takes over the Church. Creeds, orthodoxy established. Papacy instituted
Thyatira: 6-11th Century "you tolerate that woman Jezebel"	The Church of Jezebel	Paganized traditions replace the authority of the Scriptures. Power and wealth corrupts the clergy.
Sardis: 11-16th Century "you are said to live but you are dead"	The Dead Church	Papal tyranny, inquisitions. Repression of Scriptures. Bible printed. Reformation begins.
Philadelphia: 16-21st Century "I have provided an open door "	The Open Door Church	Protestant Reformation reawakens the Church. Evangelical doctrines revived. World Evangelism.
Laodicea: 21st Century "Buy from Me gold tested by fire"	The Lukewarm Church	Arrogance of wealth. The Church looses its zeal, needs to be purified. Christ is at the door.

The Lord makes a point of telling the Philadelphia church that they will be "preserved from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world." The Laodicean church does not get this guarantee but will be put to the test in the Tribulation.

The Tribulation begins: the Lamb opens the first of the seven seals