(1)AD1 - AD30 Jesus' Period
(2)AD30 - AD100 Apostle Period (Early Church Period)
AD100, The last apostle, John martyred.
• The church was birthed on Pentecostal day.
• Recorded the ministry of the apostles.
• Manifestation of five fold ministries and other spiritual gifts, preached the full gospel, planted churches; power manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
(3) AD100 - AD 313 Persecution Period
(AD 313 Constantine ordained as King.)
3 Types of persecutions:
1. Jewish people
- more and more people converted to Christianity from Judaism... persecution more on religion
2. Roman kingdom
- In the beginning, the Roman government did not really care about the Jewish people except for taxes paying and keeping laws. Later on, the Roman Emperor set himself as lord and wanted people to worship him as "Ceasar is Lord".
3. Occult
- Cults are not saved (They do not recognized Jesus as Lord. They always betray the Christians, causing them to be caught.)
- Only true Christians survived during this period because they have a strong spiritual foundation.
> AD30 - AD313 was the most glorious period for church. (full of manifestations of power) The church expanded and turned into underground.
(4) AD313- AD590 National religion
AD 313 Constantine ordained as King, AD 590 first pope ordained.
- Constantine is a soldier, he dreamed that he saw a cross. He promised that someday if he can defeat other soldiers (armies) then when he becomes King, he will make Christianity as a national religion.
1. Constantine set Christianity as a national religion. He did the following:
(i) He released the "the mandate of forgiveness" (something like, forgive those who repent that kind of thing) and release Christians from jail.
(ii)He gathered the Father to compile the Old and New Testament
(iii) He built many church buildings. He treat Christianity as a religion, did lots of religious things. 25th December was originally the birthday of sun god who was worshiped by Romans. He compromised (just to avoid people's rebellion because now the national religion is Christianity) and put it as the birthday of Jesus. He gave benefits to Christians which messed up the sincere and simple faith.
(iv)He set Sunday as the day to go to church.
-He divided the empire into 5 zones, making Rome the strongest with the highest authority to control the other four. He wants to power over them and made himself the Pope - Father of the church.
-He had both religious and political power, becomes like God, higher than a king.
2. Pope the first set the following:
• (i) The Pope is never wrong.
• (ii) No one can read the Bible except the clergy. The bible was locked up.
• (iii) Many creeds and rules are set up to replace the Bible.
• (iv) No one can give explanation to the Bible verses besides the Pope. (Clergy can read but cannot give explanation into what the verses meant.)
- In the end the glorious period of the church i.e. miracles, spiritual gifts, healing, salvation by grace and other truths... by AD590 are all covered, hidden. The church fell completely.
-The church had a wonderful outward appearance (lots of cathedrals and churches and fancy worship styles and rituals) but lost most of the truth.
(5) AD590 - AD 1517 Dark Period/ Roman Catholic Period (about 1000 years)
(AD1517 Reformation by Martin Luther)
- Because of huge building funds, they started selling "redemptive ticket" (you must buy the tickets to pay for your sins, to get forgiveness.)
• 1. Pope system was set up.
• 2. RC controlled the universal churches.
• 3. Idolatry worship (RC take a lot of elements from other religions and put it into their system, compromising with other religions to make it look the same to gain control over everyone.)
• 4. Lost most of the bible truth.
(6) AD1517 - AD1648 (131 Years) Church Reformation Period
(AD 1648 Treaty of Westphalia)
1. Martin Luther - Reformer
- Found the truth of justification. God enlightened him as he read the bible after so many attempts to find justification. (He did all kinds of thing that was said that will bring a relief or peace of forgiveness but he found none. Then he went to the bible. That time the bible is more available.)
- He wrote 99 statements to prove that the pope was and put on the wall (that's the start of printing so he printed a lot.)
- He was sentenced to death but rescued by four men that came to him in the middle of the night and sent him to a cave where he started translating the bible to English. (It is said that he's rescued by German soldiers)
2. Treaty of Westphalia
- For a period of more than 100 years, RC did not allow the existence of Christianity (Protestant) until the Treaty of Westphalia. War between RC and Protestant happened. 1648 the strongest RC country - Spain and the British (Strongest Christian Country) warred. In the end the British won so they signed the Treaty or Westphalia - the RC allowed the existence of Christians and no more killing of Protestants.
3. Restoration of the Truth on the way.
- Martin Luther - restoration of justification
- Methodist - go back to the bible for the right way to do things
- Presbyterian - Church lead by elders (Elders system restored)
(7) AD1648 - AD1900 World Mission Period
- 1648 The Protestant church becomes "legalized" and then started mission work.
1. John Wesley, sanctification movement - restore the truth of living a Holy life (Not keep sinning although salvation by Grace)
2. Baptist church - baptism by submersion
3. Restoration of the truth of healing.
4. Restoration of evangelism.
(8) Holy Spirit Period/Movement
1. 1960 - Pentecostal movement: Restoration of speaking in tongues and baptism of Holy Spirit (but not systematic teaching)
- AOG - Pentecostal church
- Christians who were baptized by the Holy Spirit were chased out of the church but God assembled them. So it is name "Assembly of God" (AOG).
-Their belief:
(a)Speaking in tongues
(b)Interpretation of tongues, miracles, healing
(c)Evangelism
- Restoration of the "teacher" and "pastor" of the five fold ministries.
2. 1948/1960 - Charismatic movement: Restoration of baptism of Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts (with systematic teaching but no activation)
- Restoration of the five fold ministries especially the apostle and prophet. Other spiritual gifts are also restored. But it mainly teaches about the restored things. Not yet activated.
3. 1980 - Prophetic movement: Restoration of spiritual gifts especially the prophecy and activation of other spiritual gifts
- The work of the Holy Spirit started entering a lot denominations. Due to the fact that a lot of former established churches cannot accept the 2nd movement, a lot of independent churches are formed.
- Restoring people to hearing the voice of God again and activation of spiritual gifts.
4. 1990 - Apostolic movement: Restoration of the authority of the church and send the church into market place.
- God is working very hard now. Everyone is given the authority by God.
- The apostolic - sent out to do God's work. I actually means everyone is sent out into the world (into our own work place, our own place of influence, not only mission-sent-out that kind of thing)
5. (Now. This era.) Starting of the Saint Movement. - All saints (Christians) are called/motivated to stand up and serve God.
- Marketplace movement.
Now, there are five main denominations:
(i) Denominations that do not believe in miracles.
(ii) Traditional denominations, remain on 1517
(iii) Holy Group i.e. don't want the gift of tongues, only want to achieve a holy life
(iv) Charismatic
(v) Apostolic and prophetic
Where are you today?
No comments:
Post a Comment