Revelation Chapter Two Part One
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As we study these seven messages, we cannot help but realise that there
is something far more significant in them than that they merely
concerned local churches in Asia. Why should so much attention have
been given to seven Asiatic churches in John’s day, and no mention be
made of the great churches at Jerusalem, Rome and other centres? Those
Asiatic churches also passed away and even the cities from which they
took their names ceased to exist. Most futurists also see that the
seven churches were also typical of seven successive stages in church
history from John’s day to the Second Advent.
In order that the prophetical character of Christ’s seven messages may
be more easily grasped by showing(I) the names of the local churches;
(2) what the names mean by which the spiritual character of each church
is revealed. This is quoted from “The Return of the Jews, and the End
of the World” by Nathan Cohen Beskin, a Messianic Jew; (3) the periods
in church history corresponding to the descriptions which Christ gave
of the local churches; (4) Christ’s peculiar titles qualifying Him to
judge the churches by which in five cases a silent rebuke was offered
to five of the churches, (5) His eulogies; (6) His admonition; and (7)
His rewards to faithful overcomers out of each church.
UNTO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS. REV. 21 to 7.
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he
that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (always lamp stands) I know thy
works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear
them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and
hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not
fainted. Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou
repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give
to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of
God.”
Christ commended their labour and patience, and refusal to accept false
apostles, but warned them that they had “ left their first ... love.”
The name “Ephesus” means a letting go or relaxation of effort.
We see here a picture of the church of John’s day with its faith being
tested by antiChristian doctrines, and persecution at the hands of
Imperial Rome as well as by the Jews. Moreover Christ did not return at
the destruction of Jerusalem, 70 AD, as many erroneously expected. Such
a combination of circumstances tempted the early church to lose the
first enthusiasm of Pentecost.
Individual overcomers would some day have the reward of everlasting
life living in paradise completely restored after the millennium, as
described in Revelation 21 & 22.
UNTO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA. Revelation 2:8-11
“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith
the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works,
and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the
blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the
synagogue of Satan. 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. He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Christ here described a martyr church of poor people who would suffer
terrible persecution, imprisonment and death for Christ. “Smyrna”
means “anointing oil” so that God would strengthen His martyr saints by
His Spirit upon them.
The identity of the “Smyrna” period of church history is unmistakable
as the martyr church under Pagan Rome which carried out ten distinct
persecutions all told. As an example, Foxe in his “ Book of Martyrs”
describes the seventh persecution (236 AD) as follows: “The Christians
were in all parts of the Empire driven from their 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.”
The special “tribulation,” lasting ten prophetical days “ (i.e., ten
years) was accurately fulfilled during the years 303-313 AD when the
church experienced the fiercest persecution it had ever had to endure.
In 303 the Emperor Diocletian issued an edict decreeing the destruction
of Christian churches, burning of the scriptures, and death to
Christians by means of all kinds of devilish tortures. In 313 AD,
Constantine, who hat been converted the year before, became Emperor of
Western Rome so that the last great Pagan persecution came to its end.
At the same time Licinius, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire also
issued a decree of toleration to the Christians.
Christ comforted this martyr church by reminding them that He too was
put to death by the soldiers of Rome, but that He rose again in triumph
over death. Likewise those in the “Smyrna” Church who died as martyrs
will some day be given a “crown of life,” that is be resurrected, and
will also “not be hurt of the second death.” The latter is described as
the destiny of the wicked in Revelation 20:14 “And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” It is the final
judgment at the end of the millennium. In Revelation 20:6 it is shown
how the overcomers out of the “Smyrna” period will not experience the
second death, for they will have been resurrected at the commencement
of the millennium; “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.”
TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS
Revelation 2:12-17, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;
These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know
thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and
thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those
days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you,
where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac
to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also
them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give
to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the
stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth
[it].”
The Bible clearly demonstrates that the Gentile kingdoms of this world
belong to Satan in that he is worshipped by them in one way or another.
Daniel the prophet was shown by God that during Israel’s 2, 520 years,
which is seven times or 7 X 360 years, for breaking the Mosaic laws,
there would succeed four great Gentile Empires one after another,
likened to “four beasts” in Daniel chapter 7. The fourth Empire since
Daniel’s day was Rome which was approaching the height of its power in
John’s day. Therefore “Satan’s seat” was the city of Rome, the capital
of that Empire. It had also been the seat of those worshipped as god-
kings have the title “Pontifex Maximus.” The last of these was King
Attalus III who having no heirs bequeathed all his dominions and title
to Rome in 133 BC. When Julius Caesar became Emperor he was
also “Pontifex Maximus.” This was how Rome became “Satan’s seat.”
Mention is also made of “Antipas,” “even in those days wherein Antipas
[was] my faithful martyr.” This interesting because priests in the
Roman Catholic Church became Papas or Father. The Bishop of Rome became
the Holy Father or Pope, and “Antipas” therefore represents those who
were against the Pope and died for their faith.
Christ commended the “Pergamos” church in that she was maintaining the
Christian faith right in the very centre where Satan was worshipped.
Therefore the “Pergamos” stage in church history was clearly the years
following the decrees of toleration in 313 A.D. which naturally made
the capital city of Rome the centre of Christendom. Yet at the same
time it was the very place “where Satan dwelleth,” and hence fraught
with danger for the church.
A liberal translation of the name “Pergamos” is “married to power.” By
337 AD half the inhabitants of the Roman Empire professed Christianity
which became the STATE RELIGION. Worldliness and loss of spirituality
automatically resulted when Christians were thus honoured, and such a
union of church and state clearly fulfilled the title “married to
power.”
Christ accused this church of imitating “Baalam.” Let us go back to the
original incident in Numbers 22 to 25. When Israel were about to enter
into the promised land in about 1445 BC, Balac the king of the Moabites
whose land adjoined Canaan, became fearful of Israel’s power, and
requested Balaam to curse the Lord’s people. Balaam apparently had a
supernatural gift of effectively cursing anyone! However when he opened
his mouth to curse, there carne forth instead prophetical blessings for
Israel. Balac thus failed to obstruct Israel, but rather brought
blessings. This is recorded in Numbers 25:1-2, “And Israel abode in
Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of
Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and
the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.”
The Period of 1,260 years of Papal Supremacy.
This period of 1,260 years agrees with History and is also the reason
Christ condemned the “Pergamos” church in that she was likewise leading
Christians or spiritual Israel to worship idols and thus commit
spiritual fornication. This analogy perfectly fits the church period
from 313 to the rise of the Papacy in 606 AD, ending 1,260 years later
when in 1866 AD Victor Emmanuel became the first king of Italy since
the Caesar’s and began to wield power formerly held by the Popes in
Italy. Although most historicists believe history fulfils this exact
period, there is an even earlier date called “The Pragmatic Sanction”
or “The Imperial Restoration” of Emperor Justinian issued on August
13th 554 AD. This confirmed and increased the Papacy’s temporal power.
It was 1,260 years prior to 1814 AD when Napoleon was forced to
abdicate as Emperor in 1814 and was banished to the island of Elba.
Napoleon therefore ended the “Holy Roman Empire” in 1814.
Satan by using as his instrument Imperial Pagan Rome, failed to weaken
the church by cursing, i.e., by persecution, which brought blessing to
the church. Satan changed his tactics, and compromised with the church
after the conversion of Constantine.
When the Empire then embraced Christianity thus providing a feast as it
were for Christians, they lost their strict adherence to the
scriptures, and acknowledged the idols of Pagan Borne by worshipping
them with the extra ornamentation of Christian names. Satan’s second
plan of compromise, like Balaam’s second plan, succeeded in enticing
spiritual Israel into idolatry. The nominal conversion of the Roman
Empire produced, in the succeeding centuries, a religion which was a
combination of Pagan idolatry and Christian ceremonies and names. Thus
Christ accurately foretold this in His description of the “Pergamos”
church period. This was also the “falling away” which prepared the way
for the coming of the. Papal “man of sin” foretold by Paul in 2
Thessalonians 2.
To individual overcomers Christ promised to give a “white stone” which
probably signifies membership in that spiritual temple or church of
living temples through which God will some day reflect His glory to all
nations. END OF PART ONE
Welcome to the Historicist-Futurist, Pre-Millennial, A-Millennial,
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David's Royal Throne, Zechariah 12:3, "And in that day I will make
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