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7 Churches - Prophecy

7 Churches - Prophecy. Format of the Messages. 1. Address – Angel (messenger) in the church in_______ 2. The words of … Description of Jesus Christ 3. Appraisal of the church 4. Words of counsel 5. Listen to what the Spirit says 6. Promise to the overcomer. Ephesus.

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7 Churches - Prophecy

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  1. 7 Churches - Prophecy

  2. Format of the Messages • 1. Address – Angel (messenger) in the church in_______ • 2. The words of … • Description of Jesus Christ • 3. Appraisal of the church • 4. Words of counsel • 5. Listen to what the Spirit says • 6. Promise to the overcomer

  3. Ephesus • 3rd wealthiest city in Roman Empire • Temple of Diana • Treasury of safe deposit • Wonders of ancient world • Temple prostitutes • Right of asylum • Magical arts, Acts 19:19

  4. Ephesus • 31-100 AD • New Testament church persevered, did good works, and preached the gospel in many new places • Rejected false teachers • Model for all reform movements • However, abandoned first love

  5. Ephesus

  6. Ephesus Library

  7. Amphitheater at Ephesus

  8. Paul in Ephesus

  9. Nicolaitans • Irenaus – 2nd Century minister near Ephesus • Claimed to be Christians, but they considered it “a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.” • Christians that don’t obey 10 commandments

  10. Smyrna - Izmir • Seaport • Cultural center for science, medicine, politics, religion • Wealthy and beautiful • Center of emperor worship

  11. Smyrna • 100-313 AD • Main thing Christ commended Smyrna for was their endurance under persecution • Rev. 2:9 – Jews “who say they are…but are not” – during that time there were many Christians known as ‘Gnostics’ that rejected many Bible truths • Ten days – 303-313 AD, Diocletian persecution • Persecution sporadic during this time

  12. Smyrna - Izmir

  13. Smyrna Port

  14. Christianity 100-313 AD Expressed Christianity in Greek philosophical terms Centers of Christianity developed – Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Rome Works of “church fathers” respected Gradual usage of images in worship Theological disagreements began to arise

  15. Pergamum • Compromise, church and state (Jesus has double-edged sword) • 313-538 • Capital of Roman province in Asia • Religious center, 4 temples to pagan gods • Government, cultural center • Imperial cult of emperor worship • Center of healing

  16. Altar of Zeus – Berlin Museum

  17. Asclepius – God of Healing

  18. Asclepion – Place of Healing

  19. Pergamum • Vs. 13 Throne of Satan • Zeus – king of the gods • Asclepius represented by a serpent • Rev. 12:9 Satan the ancient serpent • Vs 13 Antipas my faithful witness • Christian martyr • Tradition - burned to death • You remained true-holding the teachings

  20. Pergamum (313-538) • Christ is pictured as having a “two-edged” sword – Bible (Eph. 6:17) • During this time the church began to stray from the teachings of the Bible

  21. Pergamum (313-538) • Balaam (Numbers 25:1-9, 31:16) • Was going to curse Israel for a bribe from king of Moabites • Led the Israelites into sin • Got involved in politics and business

  22. Pergamum (313-538) • Constantine became a Christian and made the Roman Empire “Christian” • Became political – example: Sabbath to Sunday for political convenience

  23. Pergamum (313-538) • God calls them to repent • Otherwise He will come and fight against them with “the sword of my mouth” • Reward: Manna, white stone with new name

  24. Thyatira • Middle ages to 1500’s • Non-biblical religious practices • Smallest, least important of 7 churches • Trade guilds, not wealthy city • Royal purple and woolen goods • Lydia from Thyatira, Acts 16:14

  25. Thyatira • This church did do many good works – better at the end than at the beginning • Most hospitals, orphanages and schools at the time were sponsored by the church

  26. Thyatira (538-1560) • However, Christ has eyes “like a flame of fire” and is walking among the churches • He knows the true condition of the church

  27. Thyatira (538-1560) • Church tolerated Jezebel (1 Kings 16-21) • Pagan queen that married Ahab and became queen of Israel – brought her own priests and led the Israelites to practice pagan rituals

  28. Thyatira (538-1560) • Christian church during this time: 1. Made pope “God on Earth” 2. Changed Sabbath to Sunday 3. Legalized worship of images 4. Gave indulgences for forgiveness of sin 5. Taught eternally burning hell and purgatory 6. Didn’t publish Bibles for common people 7. Got seriously involved in politics 8. Sanctioned torture as legitimate tool of church

  29. Thyatira (538-1560) • 2:21 – “time to repent” – 1260 years of Daniel 7 • Calls for reformation were made through general councils, monasteries, Francis of Assisi, Huss, Waldenses, and finally Martin Luther • Council of Trent (1545-1563) – some changes made, but basically same theology remained as in Middle Ages

  30. Thyatira (538-1560) • 2:22 – “sickbed” • 1320 – biggest famine of Middle Ages in Europe • Black death – 1350’s – 40% of Europe died • 100 year War – 14th-15th England – France – introduced modern weaponry • 1618-1648 – 30 Year’s War – Catholics and Lutherans – 10 out of 18 million people in Germany alone died!

  31. Thyatira (538-1560) • 2:23 – Jesus talks about the judgment – which is soon to start • 2:24 – Not all held to these doctrines – they needed to just remain firm (Huss, Wycliffe, Milic, Waldenses, etc.)

  32. Fight Against With “Sword of Mouth”

  33. Contributions of Muslims – Middle Ages 1. Called Christians to return to simple act of worshipping God – “spirit of compassion” – said some were “apostate” 2. Saved ancient Greek and Hebrew: Bible 3. Provided refuge for dissident Christian groups 4. Aided Protestant movement 5. Had culture of learning, education

  34. Thyatira (538-1560) • Reward: the people that overcome during this time will RULE with Christ – they will have power over those who persecuted them

  35. Sardis

  36. Sardis

  37. Sardis

  38. Sardis 3:1-6 • Protestant reformation to loss of fervor • 1500-1700s • Lifeless church • 550 BCE Sardis had been a great city • King Croesus “as rich as Croesus…” • Vitality, a force in the world • Now living in the past, not the present

  39. Sardis • Temple dedicated to Cybele • Restore the dead to life • Oracle of Cybele – answers to questions • No commendation for Sardis • Vs 2 Wake up, strengthen what remains • Spiritually dead, Holy Spirit is absent • Church with no answers • Your works are not complete

  40. Sardis • 1560-1740 • From 1520-1560 – there was a huge renewal of knowledge of the Bible in Germany and all over Europe that stemmed from the ministry of Martin Luther

  41. Sardis (1560-1740) • However, after Luther’s death they became lifeless and stagnant and mainly argued about theology • Melancthon, Luther’s closest friend, was glad to meet death to escape the “rage of the theologians” - 1560

  42. Sardis (1560-1740) • They had a “name” but were largely “dead” • They needed the Holy Spirit (3:1) • People only attended church and emphasis was on the ‘correctness’ of belief, not on practical Christianity

  43. Sardis (1560-1740) • Example: England in early 1700’s – amusements were vile, illiteracy widespread, law savage in it’s enforcement, jails were centers of disease and iniquity and drunkenness was more widespread than at any other period in its history.

  44. Sardis (1560-1740) • 3:3; If they don’t repent, Jesus will come like a thief – sign of the approaching of the second coming and judgment

  45. Sardis (1560-1740) • 3:4 – There are some that have not soiled their clothes • John Calvin and his followers -Reformed Christians (Central Europe) -Huguenots (France) -Puritans (England and America)

  46. Sardis (1560-1740) • 3:5 – Is a picture of the approaching judgment – Christ will give us His righteousness and be our advocate in the judgment

  47. Philadelphia Rev. 3: 7-13 • Late 1700s through 1900s • Protestant awakening • Youngest of 7 churches • Prosperous city on the imperial road • Gateway to the east • Exported Greek culture and language

  48. Philadelphia • 3:8-10 Church with great opportunity • Open door for preaching the gospel • Little power (of yourself) • Zech. 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit • Kept my word, did not deny my name • No compromise or apostasy • Vs 10 patient endurance, Rev. 14:12

  49. Philadelphia • 1740-1850 AD • Have kept God’s Word, not denied the faith, and have endured patiently • This was a time of religious revival in England, parts of Europe and America

  50. Philadelphia (1740-1850) • John and Charles Wesley – Methodists • George Whitefield – Great Awakening – Baptists • France reacted against French Revolution • William Carey – missionary to India • Most mission and Bible societies were started during this period • William Miller, James and Ellen White

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