Revelation 2 and 3 present seven church eras progressing from Ephesus through Laodicea, encapsulating conditions within God's church across time. The Philadelphia era, marked by Herbert Armstrong's vigorous work, gave way to the materialistic, self-satisfied Laodicean era, possibly beginning in 1971. Originally unified during Acts 1-12, the church scattered as it expanded among Gentiles, and the Worldwide Church of God's collapse under Mr. Tkach produced today's fragmentation. This scattering was God's own act, disciplining His people through the pattern shown in Israel's history. Christ founded His church in Acts 2, promising it would endure despite corruption, which later became the Roman Catholic Church. The antichrist spirit, active since apostolic times, will culminate in the Beast and False Prophet before Christ's return. Also see sermons and articles about Church History.
Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:9-11 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Acts 6:5-6 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
