The Chronological Church Age Model based on the seven churches of Asia Province.
That the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 represent seven consecutive ages of church history.
- Ephesus
- Smyrna
- Pergamos
- Thyatira
- Sardis
- Philadelphia
- Laodicea
It's an idea with some logic to it but it is also flawed. I've heard this model taught but had no idea where it originated.
A little research reveals it's a Scofield commetary idea that goes along with dispensational doctrine.
I have no doubt that the seven letters to the West Anatolian churches have important messages for us today.
But are they representative of seven ages of church history with our present time being the "Laodicean Age"
I remain skeptical but am curious what other Christians think about this model.
Dear Lucy,
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction."--2 Peter 2:1
We have so much false doctrine in the church--I didn't realize how much until I actually began studying it--this was and is during a hiatus from the Institutional Church.
For me, the angel explains what many of the visions mean in Revelation, others he doesn't. I think as we read Scripture we do need to ask the Father to take off the lens of long held doctrinal beliefs and ask Him to reveal the mystery of the gospel--I prayed that once after leaving a denominational church and it was like the 'scales fell off my eyes'--and there was a domino effect as I began to investigate other denominations and their doctrines.
The passage is curious as it is a message to the a
ngels of those churches--this I'd like to investigate further. Scripture was written both to the individual and to the body of Christ. All those churches existed in Turkey and surrounding areas in John's time. So I believe it was to those churches, but also to all churches, past and present--where are we in those descriptions?
In any case, I like these two sayings about discovering Truth.
"Truth is ever to be found in
simplicity and not the multiplicity and confusion of things."--Sir Isaac Newton
Occam’s razor states that
the simplest explanation is preferable to one that is more complex.
Note that when someone believes a false doctrine they often will quote verses and then go on at length in their own words to explain their false doctrine. Or simply explain with out any scripture to support their position--if it sounds confusing, well consider....