Tues.’s Devo - The Church Ages

Read: Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 29:19-20
Amos was a sheepherder from the Southern Kingdom, Judah. He lived in Tekoa which was 12 miles south of Jerusalem. The Northern Kingdom, Israel was being ruled by a number of evil kings. Judah was ruled by Uzziah who was right in the sight of the Lord through most of his reign. At the end, he became proud and tried to go into the Holy of Holies and offer incense to the Lord. He was struck with leprosy. He was a picture of Judah who started out worshipping the Lord but got puffed up in pride and went after other gods.
God sent Amos to speak judgment on particular cities. The first was Samaria which was the capital of Syria. Hazael and Ben-Hadad were leaders in Syria who oppressed Israel and made them pay the tribute under the rule of Jehu. Their victims were thrown before the threshing sledges, whose teeth would tear their bodies.
The next city was Tyre. Tyre was a Phoenecian city of trade. They had forgotten their treaty with Israel. Hiram of Tyre had a bond of friendship with David and Solomon. He had supplied cedars for the building of the temple and king's house in return for oil and corn. Now, they had turned over the captives to Edom, forgetting their former treaty.
Edom was next on the list. Edom was from Esau who was Jacob’s brother. They had no pity on their own flesh. The descendants of Esau kept their grudge against Jacob’s descendants first by not letting them pass through their land when they came out of Egypt with Moses (Numbers 20:14,21) and when the Syrians attacks Jerusalem under Ahaz (2 Chon. 28:17) and when Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem.
They even tore open the wombs of pregnant women in Judah trying to stop them from increasing.
Moab was next. He had taken Edom’s king and burned him alive as revenge.
Judah was fifth on the list. Her sin was rejecting God, her king. She had rejected his law and chosen to worship strange gods. Jerusalem would burn to cleanse her of her sin.
Israel was next. Her sins went on and on. She was ruthless and uncompassionate on her own people. She led her people into sin.
God told this first to his prophets to warn the people so they would understand why it was happening and they would repent. That is always God’s heart. He tears down only to restore.
In Revelation, God addresses seven churches which stand for seven church ages. John spoke the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. He saw the angels of the seven churches. The first lamp stand was called Ephesus which represented the first church age. Ephesus was known as the Apostolic church since the apostles led this age which started at the Pentecost of Acts 2 and lasted till 100 A.D. The angel or messenger of the church was Paul. During this time the church grew, but persecution also escalated especially during Nero’s reign. The church was commended for its perseverance and its hatred of the false doctrines of the Nicolaitans, but rebuked for leaving their first love, Jesus.
The next church was Smyrna which was described as the “Persecuted Church”. It represented the age of 100-313 A.D. During this age religion became very liturgic and ritualistic. Bishops and Presbyters were elected to lead the church and rules were made. Polycarp was a bishop that was martyred for Christ starting a flame of persecutions. Many were killed as gladiators and all manner of torturous ways. Gnosticism was started during this time which had to do with knowledge and mystical experience. They believed that Jesus was no the Son of God in human form. Timothy warned the church not to fellowship with them. This church was encouraged of their eternity. They were poor in the world’s standards but rich in God.
Pergamum was the “Indulge Church or State Church. Pergamum was a city totally given over to Greek idols. This age was from 312-606 A.D. Christianity became the state religion according to Constantine and worship became very ritual and ordered. The worship of Mary, making the sign of the cross, the rosary, mass, purgatory, services in Latin, worship of angels and saint and prayers for the dead started during this time. The church became rich and powerful in the natural but poor and week in spirit. The doctrine of Balaam was their sin - receiving money for spiritual gifts. The doctrine of Nicolaitians grew making the leadership stronger and the laity weaker. God promised hidden manna to those who remained true to him.
Lord, thank you for your sovereignty.