A Walk Into The Future
The Island Of Patmos in the Mediterranean Sea just off modern day Turkey. This is where John received his revelation from God when he wrote the book of Revelation while been held in prison.
Map of Asia Minor showing the location of the seven Churches.
In this study I would like to take a walk through history, although for John the author of Revelations this was a walk into the future of the church age. John is writing to the churches in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey. he is, as you would, grading them on their performance. But judging by the amount of times he says, " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" I believe there is more to what John is saying than writings to these churches
- Ephesus - The Apostle and Post Apostle Church 35ad - 200ad
- Smyrna - The Persecuted Church 200ad - 325ad
- Pergamos - The Lax Church 325ad - 500ad
- Thyatira - The Neglectful Church 500ad - 1000ad
- Sardis - The Powerless Church 1000ad - 1300ad
- Philadelphia - The Revived Church 1300ad - 1910ad
- Laodicia - The Materialistic Church 1910ad - Rapture
Now lets study each church age, beginning with Ephesus.
Revelations Chapter 2
The Church of Ephesus ( 35ad - 200ad )
This was the church period that saw the word of God been taken from Judah to all parts of the known world, and given to the Gentiles, as prophesied. All of the apostles except for John had paid with their lives preaching the Gospel, and John despite many attempts on his life died in prison on the island of Patmos.
Jesus Identifies himself as holding seven stars (angels to protect the churches)walking among the seven golden candlesticks (seven churches providing light to the world)
The root of the word Nicolaitans in verse 6, comes from Greek nikao, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people from which the word laity comes from. The two words together means the overcoming of the lay people which refers to the earliest form of what we call a priestly order or clergy which later on in church history divided people and allowed for leadership to lord power over the lay people. Shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God, Early church leaders were established as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy. Here we see the first signs of man trying to control Gods church but it was rejected by the early Christians, which received praise from God.
Despite the fervent evangelism of this church they were chastised for replacing worship with works, and told to repent and come back to their first love.
Despite the fervent evangelism of this church they were chastised for replacing worship with works, and told to repent and come back to their first love.
The name Smyrna refers to Myrrh. In order for the fragrance to be released it must be crushed, this refers to the crushing of the church through persecution by the Roman Caesars that lead to the greatest of all the church eras. Gods true church has always thrived during times of persecution.
Verse 9 of this chapter speaks of the the synagogue of satan, this refers to those who tried to pervert the gospel of grace with Jewish law or works in order to obtain salvation.
The 10 days referred to in verse 10 refers to a 10 year period ( there are many examples in prophecy where 1 day = 1 year ) from 303ad to 313ad when the persecution of Christians had reached its peak under Ceasar Diocletian
Verse 9 of this chapter speaks of the the synagogue of satan, this refers to those who tried to pervert the gospel of grace with Jewish law or works in order to obtain salvation.
The 10 days referred to in verse 10 refers to a 10 year period ( there are many examples in prophecy where 1 day = 1 year ) from 303ad to 313ad when the persecution of Christians had reached its peak under Ceasar Diocletian
Church Of Pergamos ( 325ad - 500ad )
17 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].
Pergamos was the capital city of Asia Minor at this time and a hotbed of pagan worship. That is why verse 13 tells us it was the place satan has his throne and where satan lives.
This church era starts with the elevation of christianity to the state religion by Augustine. To make the new religion more acceptable to the masses many pagan practices were adopted by the new state religion. Many of these pagan practices still plague our churches today to some extent or another. Verse 14 refers to Balaam, the full story can be read in Num 22 to 24, and deals with Balaam who new the truth of Gods word but chose to reject it and the stumblingblock of denominational christianity is still with us, the rest of the verse I leave to you, the reader to draw your own conclution.
Pergamos was the capital city of Asia Minor at this time and a hotbed of pagan worship. That is why verse 13 tells us it was the place satan has his throne and where satan lives.
This church era starts with the elevation of christianity to the state religion by Augustine. To make the new religion more acceptable to the masses many pagan practices were adopted by the new state religion. Many of these pagan practices still plague our churches today to some extent or another. Verse 14 refers to Balaam, the full story can be read in Num 22 to 24, and deals with Balaam who new the truth of Gods word but chose to reject it and the stumblingblock of denominational christianity is still with us, the rest of the verse I leave to you, the reader to draw your own conclution.
In verse 15 we read about the Nicolaitians again this time we see they have a foothold in the church, and like a bloodsucking parasite ready to take over. In 440ad we have Pope Leo1 declaring papal superamacy in governing christianity.
This church located in the rich city of Thyatira which history tells us was wealthy because of it`s trade in color dyes.
This period in history was known as the dark ages because of the spiritual state of christianty during this period. Verses 20, 21 and 22 need to be studied by the reader and their own conclusions drawn but I believe this is the same Jezebel as the whore of Revelation 17.
Revelations Chapter 3
The city known for it`s wealthy carpet industry had almost no spiritual treasure and had a dead church. This church era was best known for the crusades against the Muslims, and we know the crusades had nothing to do with spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
The Church Of Philadelpia
Church Of Laodicea
Now we have arrived at the last church of Asia, the lukewarm church, the get rich quick church. In 100 years we went from Gods beloved church to, the wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked church. In this church age it is obvious that this is the lukewarm church, and that God is challenging us on our very salvation. Look around you America, look at the morale decline we are in and where is the church? Getting richer and richer. Like Judas who took the 30 pieces of silver to betray the Son of God we have taken our wealth and sold out to the world. We no longer stand for anything, we no longer want to offend anybody we are to scared to call sin sin as it might offend somebody.
The reason I have put this bible study on my Blog is so people will see that, as a nation and even more important, as a nation with it`s roots firmly placed in our Christian heritage we are now lukewarm, blind and miserable.
The Last Pope
I have studied many different sources of prophecies but I only stand by biblical prophecies as completely reliable. However there is one prophecy by a Roman Catholic Priest, by the name of St Malachy that I believe is worth mentioning.
St Malachy was a Bishop in Ireland and, with some monks from his flock he went on a 16 month pilgrimage to Rome. Just before entering the city they stopped and gave thanks to God for his travelling mercies. The year was 1140ad, and as Bishop Malachy prayed he suddenly started having a visions. One of his faithful flock, a scribe took out parchment and began recording his utterances. When he had finished there were 111 Latin phrase recorded on the parchment. When St Malachy awoke from his vision he told his little flock that God had given him a vision of every Pope that would reign till the end of the world when God would come back to judge the world.
In total St Malachy described 111 Popes, and many with amazing accuracy. Lets look at the last Pope. Pope John Paul II who is third from last on ST Malachy list. In St Malachy vision he was described as, "De lobore solis" or, from the suns labor. Pope John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920, a day of the total eclipse of the sun, and was entombed on a total eclipse of the sun. But maybe it was his travels to over a 102 different countries and his celebrating of many Masses around the world many under the hot burning sun of African and Asian countries that earned him description he was given by St Malachy.
The second last Pope, Pope Bernedict is described as, "De gloria olive" from the Glory of the Olive. The Order of Saint Benedict has claimed that this pope will come from their ranks. Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil. The olive braunch also represents Greece and in Israel it represents peace. This Pope has done much to reunite the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox church which split in 1054ad.
The last Pope is described by St Malachy as, "Petrus Romanus" or Peter of Rome. St Malachy went on further to say, "In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter of Rome, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge the people."
The final Pope will take the Name of Peter, something no Pope in History has done, as they have felt they are not worthy of this Name. When Pope John Paul died I had already studied the prophesies of St Malachy, and watch with anticipation to see who the "Glory of the Olive" would be. But what struck me even more was the comment of the Vatican after Benedict`s appointment, when asked why they had chosen such an old and sickly Pope, the spokesperson said, he was an interim Pope!
I predict the last church will meet the last Pope very soon, and I fear that this lukewarm church that stands for nothing will fall for anything.