Really! I hate that, when I use the wrong word, spelled right. You'd think that, at some point, this artificial intelligence they carp about would reach a place to make a more sophisticated spell checker. It would be nice, actually, if one could just tell their Christian program to set that person straight, but, then again, this would likely lead to only scripture being posted, which wouldn't be understood, because it can't possibly say what it says.
I've always believed the historical interpretation of the seven churches, I recall first studied this in a book by a Mennonite scholar. Like you, we're clearly a combination of Philadelphia and Laodicea, as we speak, there no way to make sense of Revelation 3:10 but some real sparing from tribulation (as opposed to being spared by death of that generation, as some claim, but therefore no substance or uniqueness to such a promise to one church). Neither would there be anybody to rapture, if the Loadicean church were all that's left at the end of the Church Age, as others claim, usually trying to support some weirdly timed or anti-rapture scenario.
The first thing that ever struck me about the Philadelphia church is how there's the statement, "for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." This is a very modern, comfortable situation we find ourselves in, doing alright to just hear our Lord's name not as a curse word, anymore. This is opposed to the earlier churches that had to have much strength to overcome fierce persecutions as a course of things, don't believe having little strength a virtue nor anything that could be said of the early church that was fed to the lions or made lamps of. Many of us are sort of the tail end Christians of the creature comfortable, self sufficient, hedonistic, apostate world, where you're supposed to sit around the campfire, popping beer cans, announcing, "This is as good as it gets." Sometimes one seems all dressed up with the gospel, but nowhere to go! Let's face it. We have a church on every other corner, but really aren't doing very strongly these days.
Whatever, doesn't it all fit like a glove, this Bible that doesn't say what it says? Hmmm. Maybe God even knows how to write a book?
NO, all Seven Types can be found at every point in Church History, is the way Dr. John MacArthur teaches it. It is just that at any point, one TYPE makes up the majority of that age's Churches. For Example the Philidelphia and Macadonian Churches were OBVIOUSLY of the Philadelphia Type, while the Corinthian Church was of the Laodicean Type because their focus was on SELF edification, and therefore they had to be retaught about LOVE for the LORD. Paul even had to threaten to SPANK THEM, because of their condoning sin in the Church, bickering about who is greater, focusing on edifying SELF instead of others, etc.
An Example of a Philadelphia Type of Church:
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV)
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1 [/SUP] And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
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2 [/SUP] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
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3 [/SUP] For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
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4 [/SUP] they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
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5 [/SUP] And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
NOTICE the Focus is NOT on Self, but rather on edifying and meeting the needs of others.
An Example of a Laodicean Type of Church:
1 Corinthians 4:21 (ISV)
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21 [/SUP] Which do you prefer?
Should I come to you with a stick, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (ASV)
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23 [/SUP] All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but
not all things edify.
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24 [/SUP]
Let no man seek his own, but
each his neighbor's
good.
NOTICE, the word
good is NOT in the original language, and I think they did us a disservice by adding it. I would say that IF you had to put a word in italics to clarify the understanding, it should have been:
edification.
1 Corinthians 1:11-15 (ISV)
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11 [/SUP] My brothers, some members of Chloe's family have made it clear to me that there are quarrels among you.
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12 [/SUP] This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
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13 [/SUP] Has Christ been divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? You weren't baptized in Paul's name, were you?
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14 [/SUP] I thank God that I didn't baptize any of you except Chrispus and Gaius,
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15 [/SUP] so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NASB)
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1 [/SUP] It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
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2 [/SUP] You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
NOTICE the Focus is on Self, instead of on edifying and meeting the needs of others.