Dear Family,
Today is Sabbath, April 18, 2020; this is Day 7, Week 1, as we continue our Count to Pentecost. This is the end of the first week of seven full weeks of the counting.
Today we will begin looking at one of the many series of sevens in the Bible. Some of them are related; like the 7 days of the week is related to the 1000-year plan for man; however, it would be a mistake to attempt to relate all series of sevens. For example, it would be extremely difficult and probably completely erroneous to relate the 7th church era (Laodicea) in Revelation to the 1000 year reign of peace of Jesus Christ. So, let us be careful in our approach to these series of sevens and not over interpret what we find in Scripture; and, let us not make as Doctrine any unwarranted comparisons.
Still, looking at series of sevens in the Bible can help us understand much about the Bible and how we are to live our lives. And, in the upcoming weeks before Pentecost, I hope to share some information regarding series of sevens.
Today, we will begin with the series of seven Church eras. While these Church eras all coexisted on a mail route in New Testament times, all may still exist at the same time in some form today. Also, these Church eras may be sequential or chronological in how Jesus Christ works with them; in their timed appearance on the world scene; and, in their level of influence on the world. I do not consider these statements to be a matter of essential doctrine at this time. They are just food for thought.
Name of Church Era: Ephesus
Description/Characteristics: Ephesus was the Church of first love and had hatred for doctrine of Nicolaitan
Gift: The Spirit of the Lord
Warning: Return to first love and works
Reward: The tree of life
The Church at Ephesus was an Apostolic Church. And, this Apostolic Church was where Christ began to build His Church on the Day of Pentecost. This Church era was the first one in existence and had the opportunity to be the first to leave spiritual Egypt.
People in the Ephesians era of the Church turned the world upside down! It was a Church of Jews and Gentiles, multicultural in many respects. It was a Church with mighty leaders, many of whom had been directly educated by Jesus Christ. It was a Church of great faith that witnessed fantastic supernatural interventions; like healings, resurrections back to life (Acts 9: 39-42 and 20:7-12); and, supernatural transportation (Philip, Acts 8). This Church era saw great physical hardship at times, such as persecutions (Acts 8:1), and famine (2 Corinthians 8:1-4), etc. And, it was a Church that also witnessed the beginnings of terrible false doctrine.
One thing we can learn from surveying the experiences of the first Church era is that God is completely in charge. God has safely tucked away in a temporary death the members of the Body of Christ from that early Church beginning in the first century. They were not wiped out. They overcame to the end. Jesus’ Church will never be overtaken by the gates of hell. The early Christians are waiting for us to be perfected and for all “eras” to be completed.
As we count toward Pentecost, let us consider our ways and our current circumstances and make the count profitable! Our God is a God of profit. And, we are His workmanship. We are His profit. May we all submit to God’s fruitful and profitable building process. After all, we are the temple He is building. Ephesians 2:8-22
Ben Faulkner
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