The Church in Babylon

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" Revelation 3:14-17 KJV

Babylon means worldliness and confusion. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 revealed 7 churches in Asia which represented the 7 Church ages from the early church to the rapture day.  Let me briefly talk about these 7 Church ages before I now focus on the church in Babylon.

The Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7): This is the early Church which began on the day of Pentecost in 33 AD and ended in 100 AD when the last Apostle, John the beloved, died.

The Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11): This is the next Church after the early Church.

The Church in Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17): This is the next Church after the Church in Smyrna, possibly the one that began in 325 AD when Emperor Constantine established the union between the Church and the Roman Government.

The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29): This is the Church during the Great Tribulation.

The Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6): This is the Church next to the Church in Pergamos.

The Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3: 7-13): This is the Church that will make ready the second coming of Jesus Christ, the perfection of the Church of God. The Church that shall come out of the Babylon. It is the Church upon which the latter rain shall fall. This is the Church we are awaiting now.

The Church in Laodicean (Revelation 3:14-22): This is the Church at present. The Church that boast of material riches but lack spiritual riches. It is a lukewarm Church. It is a Church in Babylon.

The era of the church age we are now is the church in Laodicea, the church in Babylon. These days the progress of church denominations or a church parish is measured by how big the church building is, the number of the church members, how wealthy the church members are, how wealthy the Pastors are etc and not on the spiritual riches and growth of the members and the church. This is the Church in Laodicean and Jesus warned the church to repent. There is lukewarmness in the church of these days. Different worldly activities including dressing and habits that have entered into the church. At times, it is difficult to differentiate between the church and the world. This is the perilous times spoken in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Israel in the old testament went to Babylon after they had sin against God and the Temple built by Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonian forces but after about 70 years in captivity, God set them free from their captivity and through King Cyrus, the first set of captive Jews led by Zerrubbabel were released to rebuild the Temple of God, then another set led by  Ezra to teach the released Jews about the laws of God and then Nehemiah was released to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. So, what the Babylonian powers destroyed were rebuilt. So, also, shall happen to the Church of God. The era of the Church in Babylon will soon be over and the end time Church shall be manifested which shall prepare the way for the Rapture/second coming of Jesus because Jesus is coming for a united Church (John 17:20-21), a perfected church (Ephesians 4:11-13), a church without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). The Lord Jesus shall drive out all the wolves in sheep clothing worldwide that have turned His Church into business ventures and devouring His sheep as He did when He triumphantly entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

May the Lord fully rebuild His church worldwide and cause His church to fully fulfill His end time purposes for His Church in Jesus name.

Shalom