The Original Apostles - Leadership of the first congregation.
The Apostle Paul - Leadership of the second congregation
The Apostles basically handing the second congregation over to Paul -
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. - Galatians 2
What was the second congregation in for? Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. - Revelation 2:10
If you study the Foxes Book of Martyrs you will find ten defined persecutions...
Ye Shall Have Tribulation Ten Days…
Time
Persecutor Description
67 AD
Nero The Smyrna Church Age begins with Nero setting fire to Rome, and then blaming the Christians
81 AD
Domitian Declaration that no Christian should be exempt from punishment, Paul’s Timothy died in 97 AD.
108 AD
Trajan and Adrian Severe persecution against Christians from 108 to 138 AD during the time of the Bishop Ignatius
162 AD
Marcos Aurelius Marcos Aurelius, commendable in study of philosophy, sharp and fierce towards Christians.
192 AD
Severus This persecution was carried out by the will and prejudice of the people and extended into Africa.
235 AD
Maximus Numberless Christians were slain without trial and burned indiscriminately in heaps
249 AD
Decius Began because of the amazing increase in Christianity, and with the heathen temples forsaken.
257 AD
Valerian The martyrs that fell during this persecution were innumerable, their tortures and deaths painful.
274 AD
Aurelian A brief persecution that ended with the emperor’s assassination.
303 AD
Diocletian The last persecution ended with Constantine’s triumph against Rome in 313 AD
Constantine was no friends with the Jews or the Romans so he created the church at Constantinople. Because of the barbarian onslaught during this church age it was necessary for it to move into castles or towers, which is purgos in the Greek. It is recorded that half the human population would die from the barbarian onslaught, the church therefore would need to dwell in fortified structures.The third church would become different than the first two.
I find the original Messianic church dissipating away very quickly due to persecution. I bring these things up as I would not be surprised of the reformation of the first congregation. In which I find seven congregations...
Ephesus - Messianic - Beginning with the Apostle to the Circumcision, Peter
Smyrna - Martyr - Beginning with the Apostle to the Un-Circumcision, Paul
Pergamos - Orthodoxy formed in this time... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholicism formed in this time - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestantism formed in this time- A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism formed in this time - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Charismatic movement formed in this time - Beginning with DL Moody, the first to make money off of ministry
My recommendations for today's Messianic would be to...
1. Look up a local Messianic congregation
2. Blend in the best you can with the other six congregations.
I had a Messianic friend who would both attend our Pentecostal Holiness bible studies and visit Messianic fellowships as well. He got his doctorate degree and would teach at the local university as well. I have also heard an evangelist from Georgia who would speak at whatever churches would have him, and also fall back into a Messianic church in Georgia where I believe he held membership. In which I praised him for.