Should a Christian congregations be administered on a global or a local level? For instance, given that Christian congregations are scattered across the face of the earth, should there be an international headquarters in a specific city to oversee them regarding doctrinal matters? Or does this administration rest with the local overseers of the Christian congregations? Christ’s answer is clear: those responsible for administering Christian congregations are the local administrators or overseers.
In Revelation chapter 1, the seven congregations are represented by seven lampstands. The angels of the seven congregations are represented by the seven stars in the right hand of Christ. In Revelation 2 and 3, the encouragements but also the reproaches, sometimes very serious, made by Jesus Christ, are written to the seven « angels » of the seven congregations. In that case, the « angels » are not those in heaven who have no sinful tendency. In Revelation 1:1, John wrote that the Revelation has been transmitted to him by an « angel » (ἄγγελος « angelos » (Strong’s Concordanc G32): « Messenger, by implication pastor »). According to the context, this angel was a heavenly messenger. In Revelation 1:20, the same word « angelos » is used to designate, this time, a human « angel » responsible for a Christian congregation. These seven angels therefore represent the stewards, the shepherds, the elders or human messengers responsible, before King Jesus Christ, for the administration of the Christian congregation (The translation of the Bible Chouraqui « messenger »), (« messenger » (« messengers), « human leaders » Expanded Bible (EXB); (GOD’S WORD Translation « messenger »)) (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
These « angels » or « messengers » are the intercessors between Jesus Christ and the congregation (Jesus Christ being the only mediator between God and the humanity (1 Timothy 2:5)). In this vision, Jesus Christ stands in the « Holy » of the spiritual temple, the usual place of priests who burned incense. These « angels » or « messengers » are also « priests » for the congregation, under the authority of the high priest Jesus Christ. Moreover, in Malachi 2:7, they are « human messengers » or « angels » of Jehovah: « For the lips of a priest should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth, because he is the messenger of Jehovah of armies » (Malachi 2:7).
The priests, in the former Israel, had three major functions, burning incense (prayers (Revelation 8: 3,4)), teaching and judgment (Deuteronomy 17:8,10-13; 21,1,2,5 ; Numbers 5:11-31). The elders, the shepherds or the pastors of the congregations have exactly the same priestly functions in the spiritual temple, the Christian congregation: the prayer (James 5:14), the teaching (1 Timothy 3:2 « qualified to teach »), judgment in the congregation (Matthew 18:18).
Before the Great Tribulation, King Jesus Christ will directly ask for accounts to the « angels » of the different congregations scattered around the world. According to Revelation chapters 2 and 3 these overseers of local congregations have a great responsibility (Matthew 25). This is why the disciple James wrote: « Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment » (James 3:1).
In the illustrations of the administrators of the « talents » (but also of the « minas »), who will render an account just before the great tribulation, they are these human « angels », of Revelation 1 to 3. However, in that illustration there are only three administrators, probably to illustrate the three main judgment, two are favorable and one is condemnatory. Two administrators have done their job, one better than the other, however both will have the same reward from the master. A third who will not have done his job and will be seriously condemned by the master (Matthew 25:14-30 (talents); Luke 19:12-27 (minas)).
Jesus Christ will judge the congregations of a town or village and with their respective administrators. Consequently, the administration of the Christian congregations is described as decentralized. They will have a direct responsibility before Jesus Christ, for the whole congregation of a town, or a village: « Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you » (Hebrews 13:17).
Regarding the different religious denominations of the Christian congregations, the Bible is clear, the disciple of Christ is quite simply a « Christian », without additional religious denomination: « It was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians » (Acts 11:26).
In his concluding prayer on the evening of the last Passover, Jesus Christ made this request to his Father: « I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word, so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me » (John 17:20,21). All Christian congregations should unite before the great tribulation, doing as possible in the best way, the will of God written in the Bible: « Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will » (Matthew 7:21-23; « She did what she could » (Mark 14:8)).
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The Administration of the Christian Congregation, According to the Bible (Colossians 2:17)
Christ and the apostles give specific instructions for administering the Christian Congregation…
Jesus Christ first commends this congregation for its endurance and vigilance, but then warns it against its lack of love…
Jesus Christ does not reproach this courageous congregation, but encourages them by showing them the extraordinary reward that awaits them…
Jesus Christ commends this congregation for its courage in the face of trials, but he reproaches it for its spiritual deviation regarding teaching and sexual morality…
Jesus Christ commends this congregation for its good deeds, but reproaches it for tolerating the presence of a woman who behaves like Jezebel…
Regarding the congregation of Sardis, Jesus Christ says something terrible: it is spiritually dead…
Jesus Christ expresses his « brotherly affection » toward the members of this congregation…
The message addressed to the congregation of Laodicea is particularly harsh: « you are miserable and pitiful and poor and blind and naked »…
The messages of Jesus Christ to the seven congregations are indications on the administration of the Christian Congregation…
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Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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