Now you probably noticed we are coming at this from a different angle !
Usually we would read "the Church is the Light or come out of the world"
But notice here I am suggesting a representation of the city .....
The angel of each Church is the "messenger" of [pastor/teaching/preacher]
This is the seven Churches of Asia....
You see
Ephesus had Forsaken its first love in
Revelation 2:1-7 and in Ephesus Diana was worshiped
Looking in more detail into the history of
Smyrna mentioned in
Revelation 2:8-11 we discover a wealthy city known for the manufacture of myrrh - it had been invaded and rebuilt - hence we begin to see the relevance of the message to the "messenger" by a "Messenger" about suffering persecution .....
Find out more about these cities and you begin to see the relevance behind these messages to "The Church of _______"
Pergamum allowed allowing false teachers in
Revelation 2:12-17 Thyatira had a false prophetess in
Revelation 2:18-29 Sardis had fallen asleep in
Revelation 3:1-6Philadelphia endured
Revelation 3:7-13 And finally
Laodicea was lukewarm and as mentioned - we know this city was wealthy and had running water suplied through a pipeline which when reaching its destination was "Lukewarm"
Revelation 3:14-22At this point I want to refer to the "Prophets" and specifically to certain prophets who were the "beacon light" to
the nation - or the "lamp" now turn to
Isaiah 20:2-3 ? at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, "Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet." And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot. - Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush,Now too another Prophet of a nation [notice prophet of a nation and Church of a city]
Hosea 1:2 KJB The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORDNow read
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ?Would you see Hosea as living a Holy Life [marrying a prostitute and saying "GOD TOLD ME TOO"]
Again the names of the children are important and are "prophetic"
Jezreel meant to be "Scattered" as Israel was to be scattered [future tense but now past]
Lo-Ruhamah meant to have "No Mercy" and would you believe Lo-Ammi meant.....you are "Not My People"
So the same God who prophesied this through His "beacon lights or stars/messengers"
Later became the same God who redeemed and brought back His people and showed mercy....
You see God's Love is not a pretty pretty Love - it is a deep Love
As this is an interactive
http://www.biblebuddies.co.uk study - I will wait for some interaction.- but as it is deep-
consider the answer before posting...
You see I am putting across - that "as Hosea was not living a Holy life and was a reflection of a nation as the Church
of a city reflected that City" - I have reversed the "usual notion" and turned it upside down.
Now these cities are reflected by the Churches of.......
It is for you to reverse this notion....
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