The 7 churches

[micah7:9]

Are or were the 7 churches of Revelation, literal churches, in the sense did those churches actually exist?
Or were they in a sense prophetic, of how the church- ekklēsia- called out, would be within the circumstances that they faced,  in The Way, and in the world?

[jabcat]

They actually existed.

What the message is? 

Ask one person, and they'll say the message was for those churches in the first century only.

Another says it was to the first century churches, with a secondary spiritual message for us.

Another says it's definitely intended for us in these "last days", leading up to Armegeddon.   

Another says it's only spiritual, and a picture of what's occurring in each believer.

Don't ask me...    :mblush: 

[micah7:9]

The Book of Revelation is a spiritual offering. So what, "another says," means what.
"Another says it's only spiritual, and a picture of what's occurring in each believer."
Perhaps we have found something here.

[Beloved Servant]

I knew a long, long time ago that the entire Bible takes place between your ears.

[micah7:9]

I knew a long, long time ago that the entire Bible takes place between your ears.

Yours or ours, or someone elses?

[Beloved Servant]

I meant individually.

But that, of course, would then naturally be a corporate event, wouldn't it?

[micah7:9]

I meant individually.

But that, of course, would then naturally be a corporate event, wouldn't it?

In time, my friend, in time. :bigGrin:

[WhiteWings]

Are or were the 7 churches of Revelation, literal churches, in the sense did those churches actually exist?
Or were they in a sense prophetic, of how the church- ekklēsia- called out, would be within the circumstances that they faced,  in The Way, and in the world?

The churches existed. All had their own flaws. I think it's the flaws what it's about.
Ray wrote something about them.

[WhiteWings]

Howdy soldier!  :laughing7:

http://bible-truths.com/lake7.html
http://bible-truths.com/lake8.html
http://bible-truths.com/lake10.html
http://bible-truths.com/lake13.html
http://bible-truths.com/lake14.html

More

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: How about the 7 (fullness of anything) churches represent the fullness of His body, the flesh of which He is busy circumcizing off of He, who is SPIRIT? So therefore it's a personal message, as well as a corporate one, revealing His plan of the manifestation (uncovering, unveiling Him in our midst) of the Sons of God = Him in the overcomers. My  :2c:

[eaglesway]

Are or were the 7 churches of Revelation, literal churches, in the sense did those churches actually exist?
Or were they in a sense prophetic, of how the church- ekklēsia- called out, would be within the circumstances that they faced,  in The Way, and in the world?

Both. They existed in their time and were prototypical of conditions in churches throughout the age. :2c:

[sheila]

ALL of the above!