The church traces its origins to a vision of the “Foursquare Gospel” (or “Full Gospel”) during a sermon delivered in October 1922 in Oakland, California, by the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. She was originally an ordained evangelist in the Assemblies of God, where she once held considerable influence before the separation.

According to Chapter 1 of the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of God revealed in four different forms: a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. These also symbolize the four aspects of Christ: Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon-Coming King.

This vision inspired the name and message of the Foursquare Church, which McPherson founded in January 1923 in Los Angeles during the dedication of the Angelus Temple in Echo Park, a church building that seated about 5,300 people.