Revelation 2:23 (KJV) All the Churches

Revelation 2:23 (KJV)
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 

I was struck by the phrase, “all the churches” today and intended to invest my meditation on what it is that all the churches shall know. In study however, I came to see the hardness of hearts concerning that thing Christ loves so much. This passage says churches but with few exceptions the writers see church, as in Catholic.

Pulpit CommentaryThough treating the actual verse pretty fairly, the Pulpit Commentary introduces their study of the seven churches thusly, “They refer primarily to the actual condition of the several Churches in St. John’s own day, and then are intended for the instruction, encouragement, and warning of the Church and the Churches throughout all time. The Catholic Church, or any one of its branches, will at any period find itself reflected in one or other of the seven Churches.”

Jameison-Faucett-BrownDoesn’t even attempt a fair show by writing, “implying that these addresses are designed for the Catholic Church of all ages and places.”

Adam ClarkeAvoids the church issue altogether and applies it directly to individuals, “That is, the design of this judgment will be so apparent that it will convince all that I know what is in the hearts of people, even the secret acts of wickedness that are concealed from human view.”

John GillInterprets these seven letters strictly as a prophecy against Papacy and writes of all the churches, “that shall be in being at the time of Rome’s destruction.”

I see these seven churches:
As literalThey literally existed and literally received these letters as their own.

As representativeThe strengths, weaknesses, and sins of each of the churches may be found in churches throughout history. Any church can find some instruction for themselves in the letters to the seven churches.

As doctrinalThe Lord said “all the churches” because there is no such thing as a Catholic Church, visible or invisible. The doctrine of the universal church into which all believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit is a doctrinal error. It is dangerous and destructive to the souls of men. The forefathers of our Baptist faith were willing to die rather than concede to this heresy. Believers today ought to at least acknowledge that it is heresy. The only sort of church the Bible speaks of is the local church.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others

Revelation 2:23 (KJV) All the Churches

Please consider helping our church’s teen department by signing up for cash back shopping at Bible Baptist Church Fundraiser. This program has three levels of participation, the first being completely free.