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Biblical Church History . Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan . T h y a t I r a . “Odor of affliction” . Revelation 2:18-29 c.500-1000 A.D.
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Biblical Church History Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan
ThyatIra “Odor of affliction” Revelation 2:18-29 c.500-1000 A.D.
(Rev 2:18) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Thyatira “Appendage” The other things that were going on in the Thyatira Church age “Odor of affliction”
NOTES • Almost every time in the New Testament that the word “council” is used; it is referring to a group of Bible rejecting religious leaders whose job is to stop the work of the Lord • (Mat 10:17) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Christians & Jewish martyrs say; "I will die for what I believe". A Muslim martyr says; "you will die for what I believe"....
ThyatIra • It’s founder Mohammed • His birth • Born in Mecca in the year 570 A.D. • His Life • Had violent convulsions which he attributed to demon possession, but later, to the overpowering presents of God. • Schaffs, History of the Christian Church, Vol. IV, 164
ThyatIra • His “Call” • In 610 A.D., after a supposed visit from the angel Gabriel, he declared himself to be a prophet, and founded the religion of Islam. • (“Submission to the will of God”…i.e. Allah.)
ThyatIra • His influences: • Mohammed was influenced by Jews and Christians, and incorporated some of their teachings in his beliefs. • Islam sees: • In Abraham, the friend of God • In Moses, the law of God • In Jesus, the Spirit of God • In Mohammed, the prophet of God
ThyatIra • Mohammed’s enthusiasm was directed against idolatry • He lived at a time when “Christianity” was very catholic, and in one sense, his mission was against “Christian idolatry” • Robert J. Sargent, Landmarks of Church History, Vol. 1, 129
ThyatIra • His “Bible” • He prepared and dedicated the Koran, which became the most powerful rival of the Bible in the Eastern hemisphere.
ThyatIra • Key ingredients the Quran lacks: • The Quran never predicts a prophecy that is not already base out of the old Testament • Supernatural elements, such as it contradicts itself multiple times. • The fact is, if it only had one writer, Mohammed, then it should of never had any contradictions. • In contras, the Bible was written by 40 different authors, over the space of a 1800 year period, and not one contradiction.
ThyatIra • His conquests: • In 620 A.D., Mohammed began to propagate Islam by the sword. • The conquests of Islam: • 634 A.D.- Syria • 637 A.D.- Jerusalem • 638 A.D.- Egypt • 640 A.D.- Persian • 689 A.D.- North Africa • 711 A.D. –Spain • These conquests will prompt the Crusades of the Roman Catholic Church in the Sardis Church Period.
Author’s Introduction The Risen Lord Jesus is visiting the Muslims through dreams and visions in fulfillment of Joel Chapter 2, which proclaims that in the Last Days the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all peoples, and young and old alike will experience dreams and visions.At the same time, on a number of occasions over the past 20 years, the Lord has been directing me to nations through the divine agencies of dreams and visions to preach Revivals among the Muslims, specifically in the Holy Land, on the Arabian Peninsula, in Egypt, in the Philippines, and more recently in Iraq and Pakistan.
Since the first edition of “The Jesus Visions,” the phenomena of dreams and visions outpoured in the Middle East have increased—I would almost dare to say--exponentially. We can hardly keep pace with reports of dreams and visions of our Lord Jesus! An article published in “Mission Frontiers” magazine reported the following, based on questionnaires completed by over 600 Muslims who had placed their faith in Jesus:
(Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(1Pe 1:23-25) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever… But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
“Though dreams may play an insignificant role in the conversion decisions of most Westerners, over one-fourth of those surveyed stated quite emphatically that dreams and visions were key in drawing them to Christ and sustained them through difficult times.” According to the dictionary, a dream is defined as “a sequence of images, passing through a sleeping person’s mind,” whereas a vision is simply a “mental image.” A typical “Jesus dream or vision” with innumerable variations is usually described by Muslims as a peaceful face that they somehow recognize as Jesus. Often they encounter a compassionate figure in a white robe, calling them to come to Him. Sometimes His hands and arms are extended wide, or Jesus reaches toward them in love and invitation. Many dreams are preparatory experiences to encourage Muslims with the possibility of following Jesus. Other visions or dreams are “epic” experiences of such magnitude that the person knows unquestioningly that he or she is destined to walk the lonely path of faith, even martyrdom, with Jesus
Why is the Lord favoring Muslims with an extraordinary move of the Holy Spirit, often preceding traditional methods of Gospel activity, and aiming straight at their hearts through dreams and visions? Although Muslim lands have been closed to traditional Gospel preaching, it is time for the Lord to fulfill his promise to the patriarch Abraham to bless the descendants of Ishmael. While it is also the set time for the Lord to favor the descendants of Isaac and Jacob with the restoration of their homeland, he is concurrently remembering his faithful promise to the other side of Abraham’s family, the Arabs.
A dear friend of our ministry, a former Muslim from Rajasthan in India, envisioned a Cross moving toward him and growing brighter and brighter in a dream. But he came to personal faith in Jesus because a street evangelist also witnessed to him.
"Never before in history has God moved so supernaturally to draw millions of Muslims to himself throughout the world," declared Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ in a recent letter regarding the outreach of the "Jesus" film that is being shown throughout the Muslim world. He is reporting an astounding phenomenon. "His office has received thousands of letters from Muslims," says Bright. "Many tell of a dream they had: `I saw Jesus. He declared to me "I am the way." Moved by this compelling dream, they are writing the Campus Crusade's Middle East office to find out just who Jesus is. Once they know, they freely respond...
…In Algeria, a number of people discovered they had the very same dream. They began to talk with one another and discovered each had experienced the same dream. The details were the same, and even the words Jesus said to them were the same. On their own, they have formed a Bible study and are following Christ. "A fanatical Muslim woman had spent four years in prison for her political activities. While there, Jesus appeared to her in her cell. He personally explained redemption and the gospel…
…She is now on the Campus Crusade staff, totally sold out to reaching her Muslim people for her Savior." Bright continues: "I could tell you other stories--miraculous, incredible stories of visions. Muslims are seeing the risen Christ. Can there be any doubt? Our great, wonderful Lord is calling the Muslim world to himself. Praise his holy name." Campus Crusade for Christ, March 1999
Catholics and Muslims August 4, 2009 by R.F. Lucey The Catholic Church, contrary to what some critics might think, teaches that non-Christians, including Muslims, can be saved by God and enter heaven some day. Now this isn’t to say that Muslims are saved by following the Islamic religion – no – but that those Muslims who follow the natural law that God has “written on their hearts,” can be saved. And that “saving action” is done through the grace that flows through the Catholic Church.
The Catechism states regarding Muslims: 841 “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” Catholics, like all Christians, should admire the dedication that Muslims have toward daily prayer. Additionally, many traditional Muslims share many of the moral concerns that Catholics have regarding abortion, gay marriage, birth control and sexual license in our day.
SCHULLER: Tell me, what do you think is the future of Christianity? GRAHAM: Well, Christianity and being a true believer--you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival, that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. I think James answered that, the Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name…
…And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven.
Do They Need The Gospel? 356 million Buddhists worldwide 800 million Hindus worldwide 1 billion Catholics worldwide 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide
Both Islam and Christianity expect the return of Jesus at the end of times, and both expect trials and tribulations to occur at the time. Many of the themes of these trials are similar, but they are also very different in detail and definition. Both religions expect the nation of believers to be the final victors, but the Christian believes that these are defined as the believers in the Gospel of the New Testament and in Christ as ‘the Savior’ and ‘the Incarnation’ of God, whilst the Muslim knows that it refers to those who believe in the pure monotheism entailed in submission to the One and Only True God. • www.islamreligion.com/articles/363/ NOTES
“God gives you tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be Jesus Christ, son of Mary, held in honor in the world and in the hereafter, and one of those who are nearest (to God). He shall speak to the people in infancy and when middle-aged, and shall be of the righteous.” (Quran 3:45-46)
“The Hour will not come until you see ten signs: the smoke; the False Messiah; the Beast; the sun rising from the West; the descent of Jesus son of Mary; the Gog and Magog; and three tremors - one in the East, one in the West, and one in Arabia, at the end of which fire will burst forth from the direction of Aden and drive people to the place of their final assembly.” (Ahmed)
“A group of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection. And Jesus son of Mary will descend and their (the Muslims’) leader will say, ‘Come and lead us in Prayer.’” (Saheeh Muslim)
“A group of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection. And Jesus son of Mary will descend and their (the Muslims’) leader will say, ‘Come and lead us in Prayer.’” (Saheeh Muslim)
“God will send the Messiah, son of Mary, who will descend at the white minaret on the eastern side of Damascus wearing two garments, lightly dyed with saffron, his hands resting on the wings of two Angels. When he lowers his head, beads of perspiration will fall from it, and when he raises it up, beads like pearls will scatter from it. Every non-believer who smells him will die, and his breath will reach as far as he is able to see.” (Saheeh Muslim)
“When the Gog and Magog swoop down from every ridge, and the true Promise draws near, you will see the disbelievers, their eyes staring fixedly, in horror; They will say, ‘woe to us; indeed were heedless of this – and we were wrongdoers.’” (Quran 21:96-97)
“When he reached a valley between two mountains, he found a people who could barely understand a word. They said; O DhulQarnayn! Verily, Gog and Magog are doing great mischief in the land. Will you accept a tribute from us so that you build a barrier between us and them?” (Quran 18:93-94)
