An overview of the concepts underpinning a study on the Five Churches. Incorporates synopses about the Most Ancient Church, Ancient Church, Israelitish Church, Christian Church, New Church, and an overview of the universal and specific churches.
The Most Ancient Church comprised the first people to know and worship the Lord. They did not have a Written Word, but spoke to the Lord through angels and saw Him in all creation.
The Ancient Church had a written Word part of which survives in the early chapters of Genesis, and in the religious beliefs and practices of many nations. This Word was filled with correspondences or symbols which played an important role in their life and worship.
The Israelitish Church descended from Abraham and opened one God, Jehovah. The Lord gave the Israelitish Church the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament.
The Lord started the Christian Church when He was on earth and sent twelve disciples out to spread the news of His coming. Early Christians ate and worshiped together, enjoying strong friendships.
The Lord established the Christian Church through His life on earth and the Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity as the faith of Rome. However, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which changed the trajectory of Christianity and made it necessary for the Lord to come again.
The Lord Jesus Christ made His second coming through the Writings for the New Church, which reveal the nature of the Lord, the Word, and life after death. Throughout the world, readers of the Writings started New Church organizations and spread
the message of the Lord’s second coming.
