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The echo of the Prophecies

The echo of the Prophecies. The seven Churches of Revelation Their Historical and prophetical significance. The Apostolic church, Church of Ephesus (desirable) Rev. 2:1-7 (33-100-130 AD) The Church of Smyrna (bitterness) Time of Persecution Rev. 2:8-11 (100-313 AD)

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The echo of the Prophecies

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  1. The echo of the Prophecies

  2. The seven Churches of RevelationTheir Historical and prophetical significance • The Apostolic church, Church of Ephesus (desirable) Rev. 2:1-7 (33-100-130 AD) • The Church of Smyrna (bitterness) Time of Persecution Rev. 2:8-11 (100-313 AD) • The Church of Pergamos ( forced marriage) Rev. 2:12-17 (313-590AD) • The Church of Thyatira (incense) Rev. 2:18-29 (590 AD-the rapture) • The Church of Sardis (remnant) Rev. 3:1-6 (1517-the rapture) • The Church of Philadelphia (brotherly love) Rev. 3:7-13 (1750-the rapture) • The Church of Laodicea ( the people’s rights) Rev. 3:14-22 ( the present age)

  3. The Apostolic Church • The beginning was in Jerusalem (the preaching at Pentecost) Acts 2 • The entering of the Samaritans by Phillip Acts, 8 • The Gospel to Africa through the Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8 • The saving of Cornelius and the entering of the Gentiles Acts 10 • The Church in Antioch Acts 11 • The Gospel to the Roman Empire , Greece, and Spain Paul’s three missionary journeys • The seven churches in Asia and their prophetical history. • The Martyrdoms of the apostolic church, Stephen, James, Paul, Peter, James the brother of the Lord.

  4. The church of Ephesus • It was the most prominent city of Asia • It was second to Olympia and it’s rival in the famed Asian games • The church was the result of the preaching of the Apostle Paul (52-55) – Paul stays for two years, writes 1 Corinthians and possibly Galatians. The school of Tyrannus. The Silversmith riots dictated his departure (Acts 19:1-20:1), additionally the Apostle John was the 1stBishop until the close of the 1st century. • It used to be a seaport is now 5 kms from the sea. • It had one of the 7 wonders of the old world, the Temple of Artemis which is the Roman Diana • The 1st brothel was built in Ephesus. • It became a fallen church where the 1st large church was named after the Virgin Mary.

  5. Ephesus in its golden age

  6. The Apostolic church (YEAR 33-120 AD) • The church of Ephesus. The beloved, the desired. Rev. 2:1-7 • It starts with the apostles and continues with the church fathers who were contemporary to the apostles. • Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Dionysius, and Anianus of Alexandria who followed Mark the 1st Bishop of Alexandria • The Jewish persecution of Christians, instigated the death of Stephen, James the son of Zebedee by Herod Agrippa ii, and the martyrdom of James the bother of the Lord by the instigation of the high priest. • The Roman persecution Started by Nero, who was the emperor preceded by Augustus 63-26 BC -14 AD, followed by The weak paranoid Tiberius 14-27, followed by Caligula 37-41 AD, followed by his uncle Claudius 41-54 AD (the apostle Paul conducted his ministry during his rule) • Vespasian followed Nero from 69-79 AD and his son Titus who sacked the Temple followed him from 79-81, these were a quit time for the Christians, but Domitian 81-96 the younger brother of Titus was vicious despot and persecuted Christian and Jews

  7. Ignatius 35-108 Clement of Rome Bishop 90- 99 Polycarp 69-155 Bishop of Antioch Bishop of Rome Bishop of Smyrna Eaten by the Lions in Rome Thrown by an anchor from a ship Burnt on the stake during Emperor Trajan rule 98-117 by the same Emperor ? Emperor Marcus Aurelius

  8. The status of the church of Ephesus • Character of the Lord: He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstand. • Commendation: I know thy labor, and thy patience.. And for my name’s sake has labored and has not fainted. Thou hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans • Criticism: Thou has left thy first love • Council: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent. Unfortunately it had the beginning of the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which the Lord hates. • Condemnation: repent and do the 1st works, or else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand. • Call: He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches • Challenge: The Promise to the overcomers is to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. This contrasts with paradise lost in Geneses and now gained in Ephesus.

  9. The Church of Smyrna (Bitterness) Rev. 2:8-11The church of the persecution ( 100-331) You may have tribulation TEN days? • The first persecution was in rule of Emperor Vespasian (90) • The second was at the end of rule of Emperor Domitian (96) • The 3rd was at the beginning rule of Emperor Trajan (107) • The 4th was during the rule of Marcus Aurelius (177) • The 5th was at the end of the rule of Emperor Commodus (192) • The 6th was during the rule of Alexander Severus (230) • The seventh was at early rule of Valerian (251)

  10. Cont. 8. The 8th was at the end of the rule of Valerian (258) • The 9th persecution was by Emperor Diocletian (284) The severest persecution of the Egyptian Coptic church, and they based their calendar from that date. It is called the calendar of the Martyrs. Appended A.M. ( Anno Martyrum) 10. The 10th which continued for 10 years by the another Emperor Diocletian starting (303-313)

  11. The Chiefs among Christian martyrs • Justin Martyr of Palestine (103-165) • Clement of Alexandria (150-216) • Origen Adamantinus of Alexandria (185-254)

  12. The church of Smyrna • Christ’s character: The first and the last, which was dead and is alive • Commendation: I know thy work, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou are rich. • Criticism: none • Council: Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer • Condemnation: none • Call: He that has ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches • Challenge: He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

  13. Justin Martyr 103-165 Clement of Alexandria (Egyptian) Origen Adamantinus Born in Nablus (West Bank ) Born in Athens year 150 Born in Alexandria 185 Died beheaded in Rome Died in the year 216 in Alexandria Died in Caesarea 256

  14. The church of Pergamos, 313-590(the compromising)Rev. 2:12-17 Ushered by the the adoption of Christianity by emperor Constantine. It is been said that Constantine “found the church dressed in poor cloths, and he left it dressed in purple and gold” • 1st the teaching of Balaam the entry of the spirit of the world into the church. • Second the teaching of the Nicolaitans: the heretical teaching and the major one is the heresy of Aryanism. His system was condemned in the council of Nicaea year 323. The glorious defense of the apostolic Athanasius for the true faith and the person of Christ.

  15. Cont. • The many heresies were including Gnosticism. The heretical writings of many different unauthenticated Gospels which were discovered in 1945 in Nag Hammadi in Egypt. • Another heresy was related to the development of the church hierarchy and the clerical system, preparing the way for the establishment of the Papacy.

  16. Varieties of teachings • Montanism, Montanus and 2 women with him proclaimed new prophetic knowledge. • Ebiontism, Jewish Christianity • Docetism, Christ had an appearance of a body, but not a real one. ( Simon Magus) • Gnosticism, salvation through knowledge (Marcion who mutilated the gospel) • Jovinianism, 393 AD , anti-monasticism, the sinless of the regenerates • Plagianism , the salvation as a personal responsibility, vs.. Predestination. • Novatians, they stood against priest's corruption and the papacy. • Donatist Strictest, judgementalists , called those who denied the faith during persecution (trditors) from which the word traitors originate. • The controversy of the Monophysitism . • The development of Monasticism. St. Anthony 251-356 • Nestorianism, patriarch of Constantinople (428 431) Dyophysitism He died in 451 AD • Manichaeism (Manes, c216-276)

  17. St. Ambrose, Born 339 AD Trier, Germany Died April 4, 397 Milan, Italy Honored in Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodoxy Anglican Communion Lutheran Church St. Jerome Born c. 347 Stridon, on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia Died 420 Bethlehem, Judea Honored in Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodoxy Anglican Communion Lutheranism Oriental Orthodoxy

  18. St. Augustine Born: November 13, 354 Thagaste, Numidia (now Souk Ahras, Algeria) Died: August 28, 430 (aged 75) Hippo Regius, Numidia (now modern-day Annaba, Algeria) The city of God Athanasius Born: around 296-298 Alexandria, Egypt Died: May 2, 373 Alexandria, Egypt The counsel of Niasea Antony the Monk Born: ca. 251 Herakleopolis Magna, Egypt Died: 356 Mount Colzim, Egypt Establishing celibacy and And the hermetic life

  19. The status of the church of Pergamos • Christ’s character: He which has the sharp sword with two edges. • Commendation: thou held fast my name, and has not denied my faith. • Criticism: thou has there those who who hold the doctrine of Balaam.. To eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality, You have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. • Condemnation: But I have few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam…. Thus you also have those who hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate. • Council: Repent; or else I come unto thee quickly • Call: He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches • Challenge: to him that overcomes I give to eat from the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it

  20. The church of Thyatira, Rev. 2:18-29(Incense or continual sacrifice)(388 AD-the rapture) • The longest message to the smallest church • Started well by great saints, then introduced Jezebel (adulterous worship) 2 Kings 9:30-37,and Rev. 17&18 • Introduced paganism into Christian worship (Christmas & Easter), and the feasts. • The use of the word Pontiff for the Pope was borrowed from the Roman religion • The Lord uses the name the Son of God only in his message to that church in contrast to the worship of god Apollo the god of the sun. • The Lord uses the sentence of who has ears to hear let him hear from the beginning of this church to the rest of the following 3 churches. • The promise of the coming (till I come 2:25) of the Lord (the rapture) from this church to the following 3 churches.

  21. Thyatira Thyatira was the smallest and least important of the seven cities; it had no special political or religious significance. However, the city was known for being a commercial center with a much commercial industry. Lydia, the seller of purple, was from Thyatira Trade guilds were very strong in this city. It is speculated that the guilds required members to participate in festivals at pagan temples – those who weren’t members were most likely ostracized. Most of the people were very poor laborers.

  22. The claims of the bishops of Rome. • There were Worldly divisions for the church, not unlike the division of the Roman Empire. 1. bishops for the small villages 2. bishops for towns 3. bishops for capital cities 4. patriarchies for counties within the Roman Empire. • At the end of the 4th century there were 5 patriarchs. 1.Rome 2. Constantinople 3. Alexandria 4. Antioch 5. Jerusalem • Damasus (366-84) was the first to claim and affirm Rome as the Apostolic See, and that the authority given to Peter by Christ, Matt. 16:18 • Leo I (440-96) insisted that Peter had the primacy among the apostles • Gelasius I (492-496) was the first to be called the “Vicar of Christ” after the apostle Peter

  23. Emperor Justinian During the Pergamos Period, the Roman church grew stronger and stronger while the Roman Empire grew weaker and weaker. In A.D. 538, Emperor Justinian shared much of his power with the Pope. For the next 1,260 years, Papal Rome ruled the world. In 1799 France invaded the Vatican and the Pope was exiled.

  24. The trial of Galileo before the holy office (right) ) John Huss burned on the stake (left). William Tyndale strangled and burned, saying Lord open he eyes of the King of England (right)

  25. Reformation Voices And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Revelation 2:21 More than 100 years before the reformation, God raised up men who called the church to repentance. The call strengthened with the reformation. However, the church would not repent. Instead she launched the counter reformation. See Jeremiah 51:9 The mystery of Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth.

  26. Consequences for Jezebel Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great __ , except they _______ of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the _________shall know that I am he which __________the reins and _______: and I will give unto every one of you according to your _____. Revelation 2:21-23 tribulation repent churches searcheth hearts works What was Jezebel known for? Leading the Children of Israel into idolatry. It is not hard to see the similarities between this church and Jezebel, and so they are in their demise. 2 Kings 9:30-37, and Rev.17,18

  27. The church of Sardis (1517- the Rapture)The remnantRevelation 3:1-6 • There never was a reprimand of any of the previous churches like unto this church. • The church was not reprimanded about it’s doctrine, but rather it’s life and works. She was called as dead.( you have a name that you are alive but you are dead v. 1)., (I have not found your works perfect before God v. 2) • The revival of the Biblical teaching that the man is justified by faith, was not accompanied by the purifying power of the spirit. • There were the few (the remnant) that did not defile their garments . They had the promise (to walk with Christ in white v.4)

  28. The outrage As part of a fund-raising campaign commissioned by Pope Leo X(1513) to finance the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican priest, began the selling of indulgencesin the German lands. Albert of Mainz (the Archbishop of Mainz) in Germany had borrowed heavily to pay for his high church rank and was deeply in debt. He agreed to allow the sale of the indulgences in his territory . Luther (1517) was outraged that they had paid money for what was theirs by right as a free gift from God. He felt compelled to expose the fraud that was being sold to the pious people. This exposure was to take place in the form of a public scholarly debate at the University of Wittenberg. The Ninety-Five Theses outlined the items to be discussed and issued the challenge to any and all comers. The Ninety-Five Theses were written into a book.

  29. THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA • Christ’s character: The Son of God, who has the eyes like unto the flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass. • Commendation: I know thy works, and charity, and service, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. • Criticism: thou sufferest that woman Jezebel: which calls herself a prophetess to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols • Council: hold fast tell I come • Challenge: he that overcomes and keeps my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron as the vessels of the potter shall be broken to shivers even as I received from my father. • Call: he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

  30. Ted Beza MARTIN LUTHER ULRICH ZEWINGLY JOHN CALVIN JOHN KNOX

  31. The four major Genevan reformers: Guillaume Farel, the first to introduce the Reform in Geneva, Jean Calvin, the father of the reform;; Théodore de Bèze, successor of Calvin; and John Knox, founder of Scottish Presbyterianism

  32. ERASMUS He fired 2 shots: 1.The praise of folly 2. Greek Bible translation • Full name Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus • Born October 28, 1466 • Rotterdam, Burgundian Netherlands, Leo Belgicus • Died July 12, 1536 (aged 69) • He is called the canon of the reformation

  33. The unfortunate wars of the reformation Wars of religion would continue in Europe for well over a century after the Reformation. All of the major power centers calling themselves Christians--Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed alike--would look to the power of the state and the sword to preserve and advance their interests. The 30 years war of Germany between Protestant and Catholics. It extended to Spain. Other wars in France and Holland. The rise of the Jesuits, and the inquisition

  34. THE MESSAGE TO SARDIS • Christ’s character: He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars • Commendation: Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and thy shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. • Criticism: Thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead. • Council: Remember therefore how you have received and heard: hold fast and repent • Condemnation: Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you • Challenge: He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the book of life; and I will confess his name before My Father and before his angels. • Call: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

  35. The Church of Philadelphia (1750-the rapture)Brotherly love • In the previous 2 churches there was 2 opposing doctrines, or disciplines. • In the following 2 churches the Lord is speaking about their 2 opposing conditions. • The Lord reveals himself to it as the Holy and the true. The holy is an old testament title of God Is 40:25, 43:15, 6:3,compare to John 12:41. The true is a new testament title John 14:6, Titus 1:2. • He has the key of David, refer to Isaiah 22:20-22, 23.

  36. The Church of Philadelphia Alasehir is a small town of about 40,000 people with narrow winding streets and a Byzantine wall. Few ruins remain at the site of ancient Philadelphia.

  37. The church status • The church has an open door, no body can shut. The freedom of evangelism John Wesley, George Whitefield, JN Darby, CH Spurgeon in England, and Charles Finney, DL Moody, in America 1 Cor. 16:9, 2 Cor. 2:12 • He praises the church for keeping the word, not denying his name. • He describes their weakness, as related to non political influence. Nevertheless many famous politicians were converted. E.g. Prime Minister of England WE Gladstone (through Darby’s preaching), and in America 3 presidents were evangelical preachers, James Garfield, A McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson. • He warns them of those who are of the Synagogue of Satan. Those that mix the teaching of grace with the teaching of the law. SDA& JW.

  38. The promises to the church of Philadelphia • Keeping the church from (not during) the trial which shall come upon the whole world (the tribulation time) v. 10 • He is heralding his soon coming , The parable of the 5 wise virgins. Mtt. 25:2 • The overcomer will have: 1. the crown of life. 2. Pillar in the temple of God 3. Write on him 3 names, a) the name of My God, b) the name of the city of God the new Jerusalem, c) My (Christ’s) new name (1Jn. 3:2)

  39. The Philadelphia Status • Christ’s character: He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. • Commendations: for you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name…. Because you have kept My command to preserve. • Criticism: none • Council: behold I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. • Condemnation: none • Challenge: He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and she shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, from my God. And I will write on him My name. • Call: He who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.

  40. The Church of LaodiceaPeople judged Rev. 3:14-22 (the present state) • Laodicea was in Turkey. a city founded by king Antiochus II king of Syria around 250 BC and named after the name of his wife, Laodicea. It was a city on a commercial route and very rich. It produced wool clothes and it was a big banking centre. The church was living in that rich opulence and those aptitudes were permeating the whole church. The majority of the citizens believed and worshipped the cult of Zeus, but it had a large and important Jewish presence. During the time of John it had one of the most important Christian church in the area. Today it is a desert place called "old castle". • The church at Laodicea were to read Paul's letter to the Colossians, Col 4:16, they had not met Paul personally, Col 2:1. The city had a profitable business from the production of wool cloth and when it was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60 it was able to rebuild itself without outside help (Walvoord). It had a widely known medical school and produced an eye-salve (Mounce). It got its water from hot springs almost 6 miles away and by the time it got to Laodicea it would have been lukewarm. It was also a centre for banking. The church lived within this affluent society and the attitudes of its citizens rubbed off onto the church.

  41. The Church of Laodicea We don’t know how or when the gospel came to Laodicea. Paul most likely never visited the church and thus it seems probable that Epaphras, servant of the Lord in Colossae, initiated the work there. Colossians 4:12-16 indicates that Paul wrote a letter to the congregation at Laodicea, a letter now lost to us (Laodicea is mentioned five times in the letter to the Colossians: 2:1; 4:13,15,16.

  42. The Church of LaodiceaPeople judged Rev. 3:14-22 (the present state) Some believe that this started with the American revolution, and the many sects and denominations that sprang from this continent. There are at least 800 denominations in the USA, examples, SDA, JW, Mormonism, Spiritualism, and new age. Nonetheless there are close to 25000 divisions of so called Christian cults in the world The Church of Laodicea is described as: • Lukewarm v. 15&16 • Has the Spirit of self sufficiency v. 17 • As knowledge is ignorant and foolish in its understanding of the truth about her selfishness v. 17

  43. Annotated historical table

  44. The Church of LaodiceaPeople judged Rev. 3:14-22 (the present state) v.18 - I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; an salve to put on your eyes, so you can see v20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me. v21 - To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne 

  45. The status of the church of Laodicea • Christ’s character: The Amen, the Faithful and true witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: • Commendation: none • Criticism: you are neither cold nor hot.. Because you are lukewarm. I will vomit you out of my Mouth , That you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. • Council: I council you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, and that you may be rich, and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see. • Condemnation: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. • Challenge: To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My father on His throne. • Call: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

  46. the PROMISES TO THE FAITHFULSin the 7 churches • The church of Ephesus: Who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. • The church of Smyrna: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. • The church of Pergamos: To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. • The church of Thyatira: He who overcomes and keeps my work until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, they shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels, as I also received from My Father, and I will give him the morning star.

  47. Cont. the promises to the churches • The church of Sardis: He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not plot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before His angels • The church of Philadelphia: He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. • The church of Laodicea: To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne

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