The Church Through the Ages - John H. Ogwyn

The Church that Jesus Christ built has faced challenges throughout history, as depicted in Revelation 2 and 3, where Christ addresses the seven churches of Asia Minor. These churches symbolize both literal first-century congregations and different periods of Church history. The first, Ephesus, represents the Apostolic era, where the Church struggled with false teachings and lost its zeal after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD. Smyrna, the second church, illustrates faithfulness amid persecution, with leaders like Polycarp standing firm against Roman influences.

By 325 AD, under Emperor Constantine, the true Church was largely driven out, symbolized by its flight into the wilderness for 1,260 years (Revelation 12). Groups such as the Paulicians, Bogomils, and Cathars kept the faith in remote areas, despite persecution. In the Middle Ages, groups like the Waldenses and Lollards continued to observe the Sabbath and reject Catholic traditions, though many were eventually absorbed into the Protestant Reformation.

In the 1500s, Sabbatarian Anabaptists, including leaders like Oswald Glaidt, spread the truth of God’s commandments despite intense persecution. By the 1600s, Sabbath-keeping churches appeared in England and America. However, doctrinal divisions in the 19th century led to further fragmentation, especially within the Adventist movement.

The 20th century saw significant growth, with the Church of God incorporating in 1900 and Herbert W. Armstrong’s Radio Church of God expanding the Gospel through radio. Despite internal struggles and doctrinal disagreements, Armstrong’s teachings spread globally. After his death in 1986, the Church split into multiple groups, with the Worldwide Church of God adopting Protestantism.

Today, the Church of God continues the mission of preaching the true Gospel worldwide, embodying the Philadelphian spirit, despite spiritual lethargy and apostasy in some areas of the Church. As Christ’s prophecy foretold, the Gospel will be preached to the world (Matthew 24:14), and faithful believers will finish God’s Work (Daniel 11:32).

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