At the end of the day the churches on earth will not be classified according to denominations, but into seven categories. Jesus Christ is against the state of some of the churches but not against the members of the church who continued to practice the true faith. This was the revelation given by Jesus Christ to John.
Grace and peace to you from God, who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
I heard a loud voice asking me to write to the seven churches in Asia; namely Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadephia, and Ladiocea. The voice was from the son of man, standing in the midst of seven lampstands. In his hand he held seven stars. He said the seven lampstands represent the seven churches and the seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches. He asked me to write to the seven angels of the seven churches.
Ephesus
A doctrinal church, zealous to practice the correct doctrines so much so that it has lost its initial calling; the love for souls. Repent or I will remove your lampstand.
Smyrna
A persecuted church slandered by Jews. You will be tested and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life.
Pergamum
A church in a land ruled by politics of a different faith. Even in death you have not denied me. However some members have practiced incorrect religious rituals; eating food sacrificed to idols and immorality. Repent.
Thyatira
A dynamic church seeking after the power of the Holy Spirit. You have tolerated false doctrine under the leadership of your charismatic leader. To those who have gone astray, repent or I will throw you into great tribulation. As the members who have been true to the faith, hold fast till I return.
Sardis
A dead church. I want to remind you that you do not know the hour of my coming. To those members who are worthy I will not blot their names out of the book of life.
Philadelphia
An ordinary church, with very little power, yet had continued in the word and had not denied Jesus Christ. I will make the Jews come and worship in this church. Be patient for I am keeping you for the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world. Hold fast, for I am coming soon.
Laodicea
A ceremonial lukewarm church contented with rituals. I will spew you out of my mouth. I counsel you to seek for the anointing of your eyes that you may see that you have lost your calling. There is always hope for I will continue to knock on your door. If you hear my voice and open your door I will come in and have fellowship with you.
New York Times - In 1985, Louisiana Roman Catholic priest Gilbert Gauthe confessed to molesting dozens of children and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Then more cases of priests accused of being paedophiles emerged. The Roman Catholic Church made a mistake of quietly reassigning many of the alledged priests to new parishes. In January, 2002, The Boston Globe disclosed that Rev John J. Geoghan Jr, 66, who was accused of molesting children, had been shifted from parish to parish. In February, 2002, he was sentenced to nine to 10 years in prison for fondling a 10-year-old boy. After the Church's role in protecting Geoghan became known, Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston gave prosecutors the names of more than 80 priests accused of sexual abuse over decades. Within weeks, bishops across the country began purging their dioceses of priests who had been serving despite accusations of child abuse. Since January, at least 55 priests in 17 dioceses have been removed, suspended or forced to go on leave, resign or retire.
In January, 2002, the Catholic Church in Ireland agreed to a US$110 million payment to children abused by clergy over decades. More than 20 priests, brothers and nuns have been convicted of molesting children. At a Vatican news conference Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos cited a study showing that 3 per cent of American clergymen had the tendency to abuse minors and that 0.3 per cent were paedophiles.
The Pope has been described as particularly saddened by sexual harassment allegations levelled against the archbishop of Poznan in his native Poland. Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, who worked with the Pope at the Vatican and was sent by him to Poland in 1982, denied the allegations in a letter read in parishes last Sunday. On March 21, 2002, in an annual message to priests worldwide, the Pope John Paul II said 'as priests we are personally and profoundly afflicted by the sins of some of our brothers who have betrayed the grace of ordination'
