The presecuted Church didn't have the
same miraculous faith that the Church of
the apostles had.

They suffered the persecution, and died
true to their faith. Jesus only had praise
for the Church of Smyrna.

It was a holy, godly, faithful church that
continued in the faith during the greatest
of trials and tribulations.

The Church of the apostles, in its day, had
a very dynamic miracle-working faith. When
they were thrown into prison, angels of God
released them and sent on to preach again to
the confusion of their enemies. (Acts 5:17-26)

When Paul persecuted the Church (he was
Saul of Tarsus then) who was a mortal enemy.
The church's faith and prayers brought about
his conversion,

When Peter was put in prison and condemned
to death, the prayers of God's people resulted
in the angel of God setting him free.
(Acts 12:3-10)

And when Paul and Silas were cast into prison,
they prayed and sang praises unto God, and
the prison doors were opened by and earthquake.

The Church of the apostles, because it had
left its first love, had lost their full miracle-
working ministry and had ended up martyrs..

So it couldn't leave that ministry to the next
church, Smyrna, the persecuted Church.

So the Smyrna Church didn't have the faith
for deliverance like the apostles once had.

One would think with such awful persecu-
tion, that took place during the 2nd and
3rd centuries, that Christianity would have
been wiped out.

But it was just the opposite. Despite the
violent persecution under several emperors,
the Smyrna church stayed strong. And
more important it kept its dedication so that
the Lord, in his letter to them, found no
fault with it.

The Smyrna Era was a

terrible time of suffer-
ing for the Christians.

To quote one author,

"The Christians were in
all parts of the Empire

driven from habitations,
and tormented in their

bodies; racks and prisons, axes and halters,

fire and wild beasts, scalding pitch and melting

wax, sharp stakes and burning pincers, were

but some of the methods of their treatment."

Jesus comforted this martyred church by remind-
ing them that He had suffered death, but was
alive forevermore.

Jesus said, "Ye shall have tribulation ten
days". It could mean that the Early Church
had suffered ten major persecutions under
ten different rulers.

Or it could mean that the Church experienced
severe persecution from 303-313 A.D. (A day
is sometimes considered a year in prophecy.)
Numbers 14:33-34 In 303 the emperor issued
destruction of the churches, burning the the
scriptures and death to the Christians. It ended
when Constantine came to rule. He accepted
Christianity in the year 312 A.D. and became
emperor the next year.

The Jews argued that their traditions were
the only truth on earth and all others were
false.

But the fact was that they were Jews accord-
ing to the flesh, not Jews according to faith.
So Jesus said they were children of the devil
and that they were of the "synagogue of Satan".

They blasphemed the Christians (Acts 18:6),
and claimed their miracles were of the devil
(Matthew 12:24). They were stubborn and
hung on to their traditions, making it hard to
reach them with the truth of the gospel.

The Jews claimed that they were the seed
of Abraham, as proof , when they spoke to
Jesus. "We be Abraham's seed", they said.
John 8:33.

Jesus agreed that they were Abraham's seed
according to the flesh (vs 37), but denied
that they were Abraham's seed by faith.

Jesus said they were of their father, the devil!
John 8:39, 44

While the Bible admits that salvation was
of the Jews, they were careful to explain
that this was to the Jews of faith, not to Jews
after the flesh.

Paul said, "They are not all Israel, which are
of Israel." Romans 9:6 And "for he is not a
Jew that is one outwardly. . . .but he is a Jew
who is one inwardly". Romans 2:28-29

The term "Jew", at that time meant the
religion of Jehovah to the world.

The Jews prided themselves on the idea
that just their being Jews meant they had
salvation. Those who walked in the faith
of their fathers, in a sense was true, for
Jesus, Himself, said,
"Salvation is of the Jews". John 4:22

The term "Jews", or, "not Jews" doesn't have
the meaning that it had before. The church
in the days of the apostles didn't have a part-
icular denomination to identify with.

It wasn't until a long time after Pentecost that
the disciples were even called Christians, Acts
11:26.

The name, Smyrna, means "myrrh". Myrrh
was used in Jesus' burial. It was a spice,
which was broken into fine pieces to give off
a fragrance.

It stands for the Christians who were perse-
cuted. The more they were persecuted, the
more fragrance they gave out by their testi-
monies.

The Church of Smyrna symoblized the Church
of the Persecution.

Jesus gave encouragement to the martyrs of
Smyrna by speaking of Himself as the "first
and last, which was dead and is alive". It was
very fitting to those who were going to martyr-
dom.

Jesus' letter to the Church at Smyrna speaks
of tribulation, poverty, sufferings, imprison-
ments and death; the very things that the
church suffered during the 2nd and 3rd Cen-
turies.

During this time an unknown number of
martyrs gave their lives for Him.

At the beginning of the 2nd Century, a
new era in Church History began. The
last apostle, John had died. With his
death a period of two centuries of per-
secution took place.

Caesar-worship was a way of uniting the
Empire and had become law. Christians
had refused to worship the emperor, and
were given severe penalties, their goods
were taken from them, they were tortured,
imprisoned and killed.

The church at Smyrna represents the time
of the persecution 98-312 A.D.

Although John's death was A.D. 98, there
was no distinct time when the apostles
ministry ended. The gifts of the Spirit also
gradually stopped being manifested in the
church.

Jesus told the church at Smyrna to "fear
none of the things which thou shalt suffer.
. . .ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death and I will give thee
a crown of life." Revelation 2:10

This prophecy was symbolic. Smyrna has
suffered many thing, and even appeared to
die, but it is one of the most prosperous
cities
of the
land
today.






click picture to view city in background

Polycarp was a martyr of the typical terrible
persecution of the Christians of Smyrna. He
was a noted Christian there. The Jew led the
persecution.

On a festival day he was ceased and given the
choice to sacrifice to Caesar or be burned.
His words, "Eighty and six years have I
served Christ, and He has never done me
wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who
saved me?"

As he was being burned alive, he prayed,
"I thank thee that thou has graciously
thought me worthy of this day and this hour,
that I may receive a portion in the number
of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ."

It was on the Sabbath Day and the Jews who
were involved broke their own Sabbath Day.

It was at the time that John was on Patmos,
that Caesar-worship was demanded. 96-98
A.D. not only marked the end of the era of
the apostles, but it marked the beginning
of emperor worship.

Roman citizens were to burn a bit of incense
on the altar of Caesar, and was given a
certificate that they had done so. Then they
were free to worship their own god.

Christians refused to burn the incense and
that made them outlaws.

Dictators and rulers who were able to make
themselves as gods usually had the power to
elevate themselves and their office over the
people.

That is what the Antichrist will do when he
takes control of the nations at the end of this
age.

To understand Christian life when the Book
of Revelation was written, we have to under-
stand how Caesar-worship came to be and
how it worked.

Rome's greatest problem was to how to put
together its huge empire. It was a mixture
of cities, states, and nations of every religion
and race. Something had to be done to bring
them altogether.

The church at Smyrna was the second of the
seven churches to be addressed by Jesus in
His letters.

Smyrna has always been from ancient times.
It was near Ephesus. It was outstandingly
beautiful and a number of pagan temples were
there. The Christians who lived in Smyrna saw
heathen worship everywhere they looked.

It was politically important. The people were
pro-Roman and it was one of the great centers
of emperor-worship.

The Church of John's day didn't listen to
the warning of the Lord, its power was
fading fast.

Something happened that worked for good.
It was the terrible persecution by pagan Rome
that lasted over two centuries.

There was no place for lukewarm believers
in the Church during this time which marked
the deaths of millions of martyrs. Christians
who had lost their first love wouldn't remain
in it for very long.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against
thee, because thou has left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou
are fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will remove thy candlestick out of this
place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:4-5

Jesus' warning to the Ephesians should
give all of us a reality check.

At the time Paul left the church at Ephesus
they were at the height of their spirituality.
It showed Paul's consecration, sincerity, and
devotion.

Now thirty-six years had passed and a new
generation was there. The children that were
there with Paul were now the leaders. Only a
few of the older members were left.

The wolves that Paul warned about had not
yet gained a foothold. But something had
been lost that could be disastrous to their
future.

Paul seemed to have a dreading that the
Ephesian church would lose its first love.
His last instructions were against spiritual
decline, and to be looking out for false
shepherds, wolves in sheep's clothing, that
would try to weaken or change them.

"For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock. Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by
the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears."
Acts 20:29-31

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However, the church of Ephesus had one
flaw which ended up being fatal. They had
lost their first love.

Religion had become a substitute. Other
things were taking the place of their intense
devotion to Jesus.

Without it, there can be miracles and super-
natural ministry, but the church will come
short of His standard and lose the prize He
had for it.

Jesus wasn't displeased with the Ephesians
works.They had worked hard. The didn't
tolerate evil in the church. Worldly men
weren't allowed to hold office.

The Ephesian christians had been faithful
and had not grown weary of well-doing.

It was to Ephesus, that Paul wrote his
most profound epistle, the letter to the
Ephesians. He tells the mysteries of God's
plan for the church.

Mysteries hid during the past ages, but
now revealed unto "his holy apostles and
prophets."

Paul shows that the full development
and perfection of the church required the
ministry gifts of the apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers.
(Ephesians 4:8-16)

The church at Ephesus, before it lost its
"first love," was the kind of church we
must have at the return of Christ, if it is
to come up to this standard.

Ephesus was also a church that was per-
secuted for being devoted to Jesus. Had
they worshipped the goddess Diana, they
might have gotten by but there was no
place for the immoral goddess in their
Christianity.

They preached the whole gospel. Paul
said that he had "kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you."

The members of the church at Ephesus
were believers who had been baptized in
water. They also received the Baptism of
the Holy Spirit with speaking in other
tongue. (Acts 19:5-6)

It was a church where miracles of healing
had occurred. (Acts 19:11-12)

It was a holy church that stood against the
goddess Diana and the evils of that day.
They burned books of curious arts valued
at 50,000 pieces of silver. (Acts 19:19

The Lord had warned that unless the church
at Ephesus repented, He would come quickly
and remove its candlestick out of its place.

Today it is in
utter ruin.

Its destruction
was regarded by
the Christians
of that day as a
fulfillment of prophecy. The extinction of the
first candlestick of Revelation; the desolation
is complete.

Among the ruins of Ephesus there is nothing
to identify the church of John's day; and
today is a picture of what happens to those
who leave their "first love".

Ephesus was a great commercial city in the
days of Paul. It also was very political. It was
a capital of a Roman province.

Acts 19:28-29 tells of it being the site of the
Temple Diana.

The worship was often weird and hysterical.
Shameless and immoral practices took place
there. It also was a haven for criminals and
fugitives of every kind.

The church at Ephesus is the only church
of the seven of which there is a record that
it was founded by an apostle.

(Acts 19:1) Paul lived there for three years
and founded it as a strong mother church.

The term, "apostle" in verse 2, indicates the
Apostolic Period. "Thou hast tried them that
say they are apostles, and are not, and have
found them to be liars."

In 96 A.D. the Apostolic Age with its Holy
Ghost ministry and gifts of the Spirit, was
quickly ending because of its losing its "first
love".

He said, "Repent. . . .or else I will come
quickly and will remove thy candlestick out
of his place except thou repent".

The Church of Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7 (suggested reading)

John, one of Jesus' apostles, was still alive
at the time the revelation was given to the
church that also was still in existence.

John died two years later.

So if the Apostolic Era was to include Church
Age, it was then.

Notice the periods in church history which
these messages to the Seven Churches show:

Ephesus: Apostolic age 96 A.D.
Smyrna: Church of the Persecution 2 century
Pergamos: Church of Imperial Fave 313 A.D.
Thyatira: Church of the Papacy 450 A.D.
Sardis: Church of the Reformation 1517 A.D.
Philadelphia: Church of the Latter-Day out-
pouring. End of the Age
Laodicea: Lukewarm Church End of the Age

The Book of Revelation is a prophetic book,
so the letters to the Seven Churches should
have a prophetic meaning more than just a
message to the existing churches in 96 A.D.

The messages to the Seven Churches are a
preview of the Church all through the church
age. So we are interested in their meanings
for today.

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Here is an important truth to the under-
standing of prophecy. Circumstances that
existed at the time of a prophecy is often a
foreshowing of the events which will occur
much time later.

In the study of the Old Testament, the things
that happened in the lives of many like Joseph.
Moses, David and others stand for the ministry
of the Messiah who was to come.

Jesus spoke to John

"Write the things that

thou hast seen, and

the things which are,

and the things which

shall be hereafter."

He is telling John to

write down:

the things he had seen;

the things which are, (at that time 96 A.D.)

the things which shall be hereafter (future)

So we see that the vision of the Seven

Churches concerns the things that was at

that time and the things in the future.

The seven stars in Jesus'

hand

are the "angels"

or "messengers" of the

seven churches.

The word angel means messenger.

Surely, John wasn't to give a message to

heavenly beings but to the human guardians

of the churches. The pastors, and not to just

one individual.

We think of Jesus who lived and walked, as

the Son of Man on the earth.

But in Revelation we see Jesus of today!

He sits on the right hand of God. This is the

Jesus we are waiting and looking for when

He comes back.

His countenance is as the noon

time sun.

His feet shine as the white light

of a furnace.

His eyes are as flaming fire.

John "fell at his feet as dead", when he saw

the glorified Jesus who is to come back to

earth.

VETERANS DAY

November 11, 2009

The vision of Jesus standing in the middle
of the seven candlesticks representing the
seven churches of Asia Minor. But we will
see that they will represent more than the
local churches that existed then.

They are a portrayal of the churches down
through the whole church age.

Almost a century had passed since John
had receive Jesus on the shores of Galilee.
All the other men had been gone for many
years. The city of Jerusalem had been des-
troyed.

The old generation that he had grown up
with was just about completely gone. He
realized the uselessness of earthly things.

In the middle of poverty and tribulation on
this deserted island he could only find a
comfort in being with God. So on this the
Lord's day while he was in the Spirit he re-
ceived this great prophetic vision.

John tells us that he was in the Spirit on the
Lord's day in Revelation 1:10

This shows us that when God reveals Himself
to His people, He does it when they are in the
spirit.

On Patmos, John speaks of himself as "your
brother and companion in tribulation". There
weren't many comforts and his only consola-
tion came from communing with God. That's
how he happened to be the Spirit on the Lord's
day.

The Book of Revelation chapter 1:4-8
stresses the New Testament doctrines that:

Jesus is the Son of God;
He died and rose again; (vs. 5, 7 18)
Salvation is through His blood;
All true believers are priests; (vs. 6)
Jesus has power over death and hell; (vs. 18)
He is coming again in glory; (vs. 7)
All kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him.

The Book of Revelation does not change or
add to the plan of salvation taught to us in the
gospels and epistles.

There are false teachers who will use any excuse
to pervert the way of salvation. Peter says in
2 Peter 3:16, ". . .In which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do the
other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

Believers who study the bible would be able
to understand prophecy. Unbelievers will not
be able to understand the meanings.

The Roman Church which has forbidden the
reading of the Bible to its people, must be
unaware of the judgment on those who speak
against it as in chapter seventeen.

Symbols veil the actual time of the Second
Coming of Christ, so that Christians would
always have that hope.

The mysteries of God are revealed to the
humble, to those who are reverant and to
to those who believe. They are withheld from
the "wise and the prudent" as Jesus said in
Matthew 11:25 "I thank thee O Father. . . .
because thou hast hid these things from the
wise and the prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes.

When Jesus was on earth He sometimes
taught by parables. His disciples didn't
understand some of them, so they asked
Him why and He said to them, "Because
it is given unto you to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is
not given. . . .Therefore speak I to them in
parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing, they hear not, neither do they
understand. . . .For this peoples's heart is
waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them."
Matthew 13:11, 13, 15)

Jesus plainly tells us the meaning of the
candlesticks in verses 13 and 16 and states
that the Seven Candlesticks are His Seven
Churches.

We will be finding other symbols in the
same way. There meaning will either be in
the context or revealed in some other place
in the scriptures.

In Chapter One, Jesus

is walking in the

middle of seven candle-

sticks. He compares

himself to a candlestick

giving light to men.

(Matthew 5:14-16)

Here the candlesticks refer to the Churches

with individuals giving light.

Some of the people and events in the Book
of Revelation are shown by signs and symbols,
however, they can be identified and under-
stood revealing there meanings in other parts
of the bible.

So the rule for understanding them is simple.
When one is used, we can find some where
else in the bible what it means.

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HALLOWEEN IS DEATH AND HELL

The last words of the Book of Revelation is
the direct command. "Seal not the sayings of
this prophecy of this Book; for the time is at
hand." Revelation 22:10 Revelation is not a
sealed book.

It is a privilege, a solemn obligation of every
Christian to study the Book of Revelation.
It is the open door to the future and to the
understanding of events soon to come to pass.

The difference between the Old Testament
prophecies and the New we see in Daniel.
The angel declared that the prophecies given
to Daniel were for the time of the end and not
for his generation. "And he said, Go thy way
Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end." Daniel 12:9

But the Book of Revelation, starting with the
4th chapter refers to the opening of the proph-
ecies that had been sealed.

Though no man was found who was worthy to
do this, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus)
Himself opened the book and loosed the seals.
(Revelation 5:5)

A special blessing is promised to those who
read the words of the prophecy.
(Revelation 1:3)

A blessing is promised to those who keep
these words.

The fact that we are commanded to obey it,
tells us that the message can be understood.
The seals are opened and we are specifically
told to read and keep the things written
therein for the time is at hand.

Christians are obligated to study the Book
of Revelation.

In the opening words we are told that this
revelation is given "to shew unto his servant
things which must shortly come to pass."

A revelation is to reveal something, not to
conceal it; to make it manifest and not to
hide it.

The Lord anticipated that Satan would try
to discourage people from reading this vital
message that He has given to the Church.
Therefore, He promises a special blessing
to all who read and keep the things written
in it:

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for
the time is at hand." Revelation 1:3

Since the Book of Revelation was written
after the First Coming of Jesus, its prophe-
cies must refer to later events.

The first words of the book speak of "things
which shortly must come to pass."

Therefore we can reasonably assume that
the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation
began immediately after 96 A.D. And that
the first three chapters refer to events that
successively happened during the Church
Age.

Most of the Old Testament prophecies are
about two separate events:

the First Coming of Jesus
in His earthly ministry; and
the Second Coming when He
will appear in glory.

The Jews confused these two events and
thought that when the Messiah came He
would fulfill all prophecies at one time.
Even to set up His visible kingdom. When He
didn't do it, they were disappointed and as a
nation rejected Him.

The Isle of Patmos is in the Mediterranean
Sea off the coast of Turkey. Today there is a
Monastery of St. John that stands on a hill.
There also is a cave where John was supposed
to receive the vision of Revelation. It is now
used as a monument of ancient manuscripts.

In 95 A.D. John was banished to this island
by an Emperor of Rome and eighteen months
later released by a different ruler. It was at
this time he was vistited by Jesus.

It has been told that John was exiled there
after he had miraculously survived immersion
in boiling oil. But did later die in 98 A.D.

History tells us that John did die just
before the end of the first century, 98 A.D.
So he didn't live until the Second Coming
of Jesus.

Which is an event that is yet to come.


But Jesus did visit
John, on the Isle of
Patmos, and
delivered to him
The Revelation.





" I John, who also am
your brother, and com-
panion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus
Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos,
for the word of God, and for the testimony
of Jesus Christ."
Revelation 1:9

Some of the disciples took what Jesus said
to Peter to mean that John would not die,
that he would live until Jesus returned to
the earth.

But John hurried to correct them. He pointed
out that Jesus didn't say that he would not
die, only, that if He willed, John should tarry
until He came.

Rather than saying that John should live
until the actual Second Coming which he
denied was the Lord's meaning; it was that
the world could expect a visit to John from
Jesus.

We know that the Book of Revelation was
given to (the apostle) John when he was in
exile on the Isle of Patmos. (Revelation 1:9)

John may or may not have had any idea that
he would be given this remarkable visit from
the Lord.

But John 21:21 may refer to it. Jesus had
spoke the words, "Feed my sheep", Peter,
looking at John asked, "Lord, and what shall
this man do?" Jesus had answered, "If I will
that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Follow thou me." (verse 22)

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If we are wise we will take advantage of this
opportunity. The precious hours that we
have been given should be used to prepare
ourselves to be overcomers, to have oil in
our vessels, that we may be ready to enter
into the marriage supper of the Lord.

That we may do our part in reaching the
lost. That we help contribute to the fulfill-
ment of the Great Commission and the
evangelization of the world.

Then when the Lord says, "Come up hither",
we will leave without regret and enter into
the joy of the Lord and "So shall we ever be
with the Lord."

We who are living today are interested in
the future which concerns events now
about to happen.

This is to alert God's people to the hour
that we are living in, and help them with a
practical knowledge of things shortly to
come to pass. We compare this hour to the
time before the Flood.

Some interpretations are unrealistic and
not compatible with the total revelation.

The understanding or misunderstanding
of these prophecies must effect for good
or bad our eternal destiny in this spect-
acular time in human history.

We will see that the order of events will
all fit beautifully into place. This book
inspires wonder as the great revelation
of God to man.

Most writers of this book are evangelical.
Those not born-again have little interest
in it. But respect and consideration is given
to other men of God whose views may not
be the same.

All interpretation must stand on scriptural
evidence.

Revelation has a double witness as it did in
Pharaoh's two dreams. Both spoke of the
same thing. " And for that the dream was
doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because
the thing is established by God, and God
will shortly bring it to pass."
Genesis 41:32

The same in Daniel; the two prophecies of
the four successive world empires. This is
the same plan that is followed in the two
great divisions of the Book of Revelation.

The mystery of God is the sum total of
revelation that God has given man by
His prophets concerning His plan for the
ages.

". . .the mystery of God should be finished,
as he hath declared to his servants the
prophets." Revelation 10:7

These prophecies concern things which
are "shortly to come to pass."

It's clear that they are arranged in order.
Events must follow one another in seq-
uence to be understood.

If they are taken out of order, it raises
confusion.

The Book of Revelation can not be taken
from the rest of the Bible. It messages is
rooted in the Old Testament prophecies.

It takes the Old Testament prophecies,
unfolds and brings them together into a
grand plan that shows how Jesus will take
over the kingdoms of this world and set up
the kingdom of God.

The Book of Revelation uses symbols. It
may upset and confuse the average
reader. But they are not unexplainable.

They are explained either in the context or
some where else in the scriptures.

Because symbols are used, a good knowledge
of the Bible is required to make an accurate
representation of these prophecies.

It's important that Christians know and
understand the meaning of its prophecies.

Ignorance will affect the believer's destiny.

Our place in eternity to come will depend
a lot on how we heed its message.

The Book of Revelation was written to be
understood. It is not a sealed book.

The angel told John, "And he saith unto me,
Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of
this book: for the time is at hand."
John 22:10

It is a book that uncovers the future, and
makes known the things "which must shortly
come to pass."