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The Messages to the 7 Ecclesias THEN and NOW The messages to the 7 ecclesias in Asia are contained in Revelation 2 and 3...they were primarily directed to those ecclesias in approximately the year AD96 by the Lord Jesus Christ via the apostle John - see Revelation 1v1 - & link to'Fellowship and the Seven Ecclesias' However the principles evoked in these 7 messages contain lessons for all time, and each message points, in order, to a future period (or periods) which reveal similar circumstances, doctrinally and morally. Three distinct future applications of the messages have been identified. The most important for us today is the application to "the last days" of Gentile times...these applications are set out below. In the same way that the seals encompass the trumpets, which in turn encompass the vials, so also does the first time-application of the messages encompass the second, which in turn encompasses the third. The periods of both are similar, endorsing the parallel. One aspect we would like to emphasize. The pattern of the 7 messages is not new in the Apocalypse (Revelation). This same pattern is revealed from the beginning at the time of Creation. It is indeed a vast subject, encompassing the whole of scripture - for more link to 'structure'. There is a connection between the Book of Proverbs and the 7 messages. We are covering this subject, as God wills, & when time is available...link to APPLICATION 1: AD96-324 & to the return of Christ NOTE– dates given are as accurate as possible - and the author acknowledges that this application was first set out with almost the same epochs by John Thomas in 'Eureka an Exposition of the Apocalypse' Vol.1 pages 419-454 ('Logos' edition). 1 Ephesus: AD96-185 ch.2v1-7 Paul wrote to this ecclesia in Ephesians 2v4-6 that God had through Christ "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus". Now Christ informs them that they had "left their first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works". The period shows that they had "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars", thus obeying the inspired advice of John himself in his 1st epistle ch.4v1-6. However, the original "love of (their) espousals" was being lost, leaving them open to more subtle temptation - Jeremiah 2 (whole chapter) cp 2nd Corinthians 11v1-4 & Ephesians 5v22-33. 2 Smyrna: AD185-217 ch.2v8-11 This period marked a further decline. We see that a formal division creating two parties had occurred - the faithful were contending against "the synagogue of (Greek = "the") satan". These were false professors of the Truth - link to 'satan'. There was persecution from the pagan authorities - "the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried". 'Devil' simply means 'false accuser'- link to 'devil'. This enemy had caused tribulation previously - cp 1st Peter 5v8, but would later "be taken out of the way" - 2nd Thessalonians 2v7 - which duly happened in AD312-324, cp Revelation 12v9-11 - and link to 'departure'. 3 Pergamos: AD217-248 ch.2v12-17 The Truth in Christ had now been fatally compromised by a mixture of Jewish formalism with pagan philosophy. It became common for so-called 'Christians' to mix with the world on its terms ("the doctrine of Balaam") and to adopt the philosophical teachings of the corruptors of that age ("the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes" - sig. 'the conquerors of the people'). And so those who adopted these heresies became absorbed into the society in which they lived, instead of being a separate people, dedicated to God through His Son Jesus Christ. One of the perverters wrote thus - "the notions which I derive out of the writings of the Gentiles serve first to water and soften the earthy parts of the soul, that the spiritual seed may be the better cast in, and take vital root in the heart of men". With "friends" like this, the Truth needed no enemies, and the slide into disaster became irreversible. 4 Thyatira: AD248-273 ch.2v18-29 This period of time sealed the fate of nominal "Christianity". It seems to have been noteworthy mainly for the pursuits of pleasure and present possessions. The stark contrast between the call of the Truth and worldly evils seems to have been largely lost - and there remained only a few who steadfastly set their gaze upon the new world to come. Jesus Christ warned that "Jezebel" (representing apostacy) would be tolerated, bringing in with her, as in ancient times, all manner of pagan influences and consequent idolatry. He prophesied that "great tribulation" would fall upon those who continued in such an evil way of life. Such false teachings as "immortal souls" were becoming common-place within nominal "Christianity". The number '4' represents Divine authority & organization - rebels suffer judgment - link to 'the Lord's day' - 4th Vision. 5 Sardis: AD273-303 ch3v1-6 We learn from contemporary writings that various false doctrines soon became embedded in what was no longer an ecclesia, but was in reality a "church". This was clearly identified in the affirmation by 66 "leaders" re "immortal souls" and its consequent associated error "infant sprinkling". (Was the number significant? Here is a false representation of the 66 books in the Bible - re '6' link to 'structure'). Later a supreme apostate qualified as '666' cp ch.13v18. Other pagan teachings such as a pre-existent Christ and "a force of evil" were likewise undermining and replacing the purity of the Faith. Jesus Christ condemned them thus - "thou hast a name that thou livest, and (but ) (thou) art dead" - for although outwardly there was growth of numbers, this only equated inwardly to spiritual death. The birth of the "man child" was about to occur, when "the church" would finally abrogate any claim to being separate from the world, by integrating into the armies of Constantine in a 'grab for power'. After one prophetic "hour" (= thirty years, link to Bible - p.2 and also 'the Lord's day' - 6th Vision) this judgment would come upon them -see below. 6 Philadelphia: AD 303-313 ch.3v7-13 The crisis foretold above had now arrived, and the Roman emperors unleashed a fierce persecution against all those called "Christians" -this occurred during ten day-years of "birth-pangs" resulting in the birth of the "man child" Constantine - link to 'departure' - especially 'as it happened' for further details re this epoch. Some living at the time realized that this persecution was the judgment of God because of declension...Eusebius writes - "the dreadful persecution of Diocletian was then inflicted on the church (AD 303-313) as a just punishment, and as the most proper chastisement for their iniquities". Those who remained faithful to the Truth had "an open door"* of escape, through which they fled to the extremities of the Empire. And when the Catholic apostacy gained power under Constantine, they took upon themselves the role of persecutors - thus fulfilling the prophecy of 1260 day-years of ch.11v3;12v1-6,14...one day in prophecy represents one year - Numbers 14v33,34; Ezekiel 4v1-6 *also see below 7 Laodicea: AD313-324 & to Christ's return ch.3v14-22 The "church" had by now been revealed in all her iniquity, having taken up arms in the service of Constantine, the new ruler of the Roman Empire. This patron of the apostacy thus became the first in a long line of worldly rulers with whom the Roman harlot has "committed (spiritual) fornication" - Revelation 17v1,2. John Thomas, to whom we owe so much under the hand of God for our understanding of the Apocalypse, wrote in 1861 in his exposition 'Eureka' - "The characteristics of this (original Laodicean eldership) are equally those of Laodiceans from Constantine to the manifestation of the presence of the Christ - "miserable, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked". The Spirit, in the present advocacy of the gospel of the kingdom, counsels them to buy of him "gold tried in the fire, that (they) may be rich; and white raiment, that (they) may be clothed, and that the shame of (their) nakedness do not appear, and (to) anoint (their) eyes with eyesalve, that (they) mayest see". Thus He "stand(s) at the door, and knock(s)", and is ready "to come as a thief" - Revelation 16v15. But for the most part they pay no heed. Yet, if any will open, He will enter in and sup with him. Who then will hearken to what the Spirit saith to the ecclesias?". *a gracious invitation was also held out to those in this Laodicean epoch of compromise, when the door was shut - "if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" - this promise involves the restoration of fellowship - see page 3, and also link to 'foundation' for further explanation. |