Commentary on the Book of Revelation 1:10b-1:20

By COGwriter

1:10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day,

This is not a reference to Sunday as many think--see Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? 

1:10b

10 ... and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

The cities mentioned are all in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.

Related to verse 11, Roman Catholics teach:

These seven churches stand for the whole Catholic Church. ... That he should choose SEVEN cities is quite intelligible, because it is God's sacred number and the fundamental number of the Apocalypse. ... The seven cities are all situated on the grand circular route that connects up the richest, most influential and most populous provinces os Asia. (Kramer, Herman Bernard. The Book of Destiny. Nihil Obstat: J.S. Considine, O.P., Censor Deputatus. Imprimatur: +Joseph M. Mueller, D.D., Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, January 26, 1956. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1975, p. 51)

Well, that is partially correct. 7 looks to be God's number for completion and the seven churches are representative of the entirety of the true church throughout the church age.

Now, it should be pointed out that the original catholic church was the Church of God in Asia Minor--not the Church of Rome.

The first time the term “catholic church” has been found in ancient writings is in a letter from Ignatius of Antioch to the Church of God in Smyrna (Holmes, footnote 109, p. 191). It was not in a document related to the Church of Rome until almost a century later (Ibid).

Here are some quotes from Bishop/Pastor Ignatius of Antioch in the early 2nd century:

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ at Smyrna in Asia ... Wherever the bishop appears, there let the congregation be; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church. (Ignatius. Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 0.0., 8.2. In Holmes, pp. 185-191)

Being raised Roman Catholic, this author was surprised to see that the earliest references to the “catholic church” were not references to Rome. But Roman Catholic scholars understand this as well.

The Catholic Encyclopedia specifically states (bolding mine):

The combination “the Catholic Church” (he katholike ekklesia) is found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110. The words run: “Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the universal [katholike] Church.” However, in view of the context, some difference of opinion prevails as to the precise connotation of the italicized word ... by the beginning of the fourth century it seems to have almost entirely supplanted the primitive and more general meaning ... The reference (c. 155) to “the bishop of the catholic church in Smyrna” (Letter on the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, xvi), a phrase which necessarily presupposes a more technical use of the word, is due, some critics think, to interpolation ... (Thurston H. Catholic. Transcribed by Gordon A. Jenness. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York)

Although Ignatius did use the transliterated expression, he katholike ekklesia (ή καθολκή ἐκκλησία) in his letter, understand that he used it when addressing the Church of God at Smyrna in Asia Minor. That is the main region through which the Continuing Church of God traces its descent after the deaths of the apostles Peter, Paul, and John. The name “Continuing” captures how this church continues to faithfully preach their message in an unstable world influenced by Satan’s deceptions.

Ignatius did not use the term for “catholic” in his letter to the Romans. Therefore, in a historical sense, the Church of God in Smyrna was (or at least an important part of) the original “catholic church.” Please read that factual statement again. This is later confirmed by those in Smyrna who later wrote:

The church of God which sojourns at Smyrna to the Church of God which sojourns in Philomelium and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place … the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. For every word that went out of his mouth either has been or shall yet be accomplished. (The Smyrnaeans. The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp, 0:1, 16.2. In Roberts A, Donaldson J, eds. Ante-Nicene Fathers. Volume 4, 1885. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), printing 1999, p. 42)

Therefore, by looking at Ignatius’ Letter to the Smyrnaeans as well as the Smyrnaeans Martyrdom of Polycarp, it is clear that it was Polycarp’s church, the Smyrnaean Church of God, that the oldest literature points to as the original “catholic church.” (Note: this book has used lower case for the term “catholic church” in many discussions here because the term, according to most scholars, was used originally as more of as a description than a title.) By the time of Polycarp’s death, though, the churches in Asia Minor and Antioch were in communion with each other, yet they were NOT in communion/fellowship with the predominant churches in Rome or Alexandria.

But also note that Polycarp was listed by the Smyrnaeans as “an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna.” This points to the declaration that Polycarp had apostolic succession and should have been considered to have a/the mantle of top leadership of the known faithful prior to his death. Polycarp was ordained by the Apostles and succeeded the Apostle John who reportedly died in Ephesus. Thus we see early information connecting two of the seven churches.

1:12

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

We find out in verse 20 that the seven lampstands are the seven churches. The seven golden lampstands pertain to the seven eras of the church age.

1:13

John further saw:

13a and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man,

So, we see that Jesus is in the midst of the seven lampstands. There is a connection between Jesus and the seven churches. These churches represent the Christian churches during the church age. The church age began on the day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit was given and lasts until the return of Jesus.

1:13b

13b clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

This is a view of the glorified Jesus. Notice He has in His right hand seven stars--those are the angels of the seven churches in Revelation 1:20.

Some have asked about this vision of Jesus, in view of the following that John wrote:

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2-3)

Yet when John wrote 1 John 3:2, that was before he saw what he did in Revelation.

1:17

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

1:19

Jesus again tells John to write what he saw:

19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Note that some of what John would see would be relatd to the present, yet other things were for the future. Revelation is mainly a prophetic book.

The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

Seven Church Eras The book of Revelation records seven messages to seven churches that existed is Asia Minor toward the end of the first century A.D. These churches--Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea--were located along one of the mail routes of the old Roman Empire. Riders would follow the route--carrying messages from town to town. The messages to the seven churches have words of both encouragement and correction and they clearly show the dominant characteristics of each of the congregations at that time. But these messages were intended for a wider audience than the Christians in these small towns. They are a series of remarkable prophecies, by which the future of the true Church was foretold in outline form, from the day it began on Pentecost, A.D. 31, until the Second Coming of Christ. The history of the Church would fall into seven distinct eras--each with its own strengths and weaknesses and its own special trials and problems. Just as a message could pass along the mail route from Ephesus to Laodicea, so would the truth of God be passed from era to era. It was like a relay race--in which the baton is passed from runner to runner, each one doing his part, until the finish line is reached. Some time during the early decades of the second century, the baton was passed from the Ephesian era to the people that God had called to the Smyrna era of his Church. (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages, 1985, pp. 282-283).

Let it be noted that various Protestant and Roman Catholic scholars also teach what can be called "church eras," though their dates and attributes mostly differ from those held by the Churches of God.

Although the original New Testament church began in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection (thus beginning the Ephesian era), Christians spread to many lands, with many ending up in Asia Minor in the first two centuries A.D. (more details of the earliest times is included in the article The Ephesus Church Era), with the last of the original apostles (John) settling in Ephesus.

"Ephesus was the most important city in Asia minor when Revelation was written" (The Nelson Study Bible, 1997, p. 2166).

But Ephesus did not stay that way. Nor did the Ephesus Church remain predominant. The city of Ephesus was the first stop of a consecutive mail run that ran through Laodicea (in the order that Jesus listed the Churches). Each era is connected through the laying on of hands, which in the New Testament church began with the apostles (see Laying on of Hands; see also Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).

And The Catholic Encyclopedia notes who its leader for a time was,

... the Apostle and Evangelist John lived in Asia Minor in the last decades of the first century and from Ephesus had guided the Churches of that province.

It is logical that the first, predominant church would be listed first, in a listing of seven churches. John moved to Ephesus.

Thus, it is logical that John, the last of the original apostles, was the last known apostolic leader of the Ephesus church.

1:20

Now Jesus gives an explanation to John to assist him and us to understand some of what John saw:

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

The seven stars are angels of the seven churches as is directly stated. So are the seven spirits. There are not seven Holy Spirits. 91 verses in the NKJV have the expression in English "THE Holy Spirit." The New Testament repeatedly speaks of "the Holy Spirit" as a single entity.

Now which churches? Here are scriptures related to each of the seven:

1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 "I know your works, (Revelation 2:1-2a)

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 "I know your works, (Revelation 2:8-9a)

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know your works, (Revelation 2:12-13a)

18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, (Revelation 2:18-19a)

1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, (Revelation 3:1a)

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

'These things says 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": 8 "I know your works. (Revelation 3:7-8a)

14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, (Revelation 3:14-15a)

Now, the NKJV does not make it clear enough that the mystery involves both the seven angels and seven churches. This is a grammatical issue with many English translations as even Roman Catholic scholars also realize (e.g. Kramer, p. 58). So, let's look at this with a Roman Catholic and Protestant translation:

20 The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20, DRB)

20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20, NIV)

What is the mystery of the seven stars, which "are the angels of the seven churches" and "the seven lampstands" which "are the seven churches"?

Consider that while there are millions of angels, there is one for each of the seven churches.

The 7 churches have at least two roles to fulfill in Revelation. One role is that they are the things which are, in that they were in existence at the time of this vision and they were also the things which will take place after this--like their predominance in that being the 7 eras.

Note that Revelation 1:20 also tells us that these lampstands represent churches.

And these are the same seven churches that the seven angels are connected to.

Remember that the Book of Revelation is a prophetic book, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place" (Revelation 1:1).

Revelation 22:18-19, along with Revelation 1:3-4, makes it clear that the message is NOT only for those who happen to have been alive in those seven physical churches when John was alive:

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

Yes, the Book of Revelation is prophetic and messages to the seven churches were also prophetic.

As far as lampstands go, consider the early Christians have been claimed to use a seven lamped lampstand as a symbol. Notice what the Roman Catholic scholar and priest Bagatti reported:

In reality for many centuries the candelabrum has been a symbol of the Jewish people. But in ancient times it was common also among the Judaeo-Christians. (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970.  Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p. 202).

It may be because there were seven lampstands, with apparently seven lamps each, that part of the message to the seven churches of Revelation is that in each 'era,' there would be some with characteristics of other eras. Others believe that despite the seven lamped lampstand being mentioned in Zechariah 4:2, that Revelation 1:12 is referring to seven individual lampstands as the Greek does not distinguish (see Pulpit Commentary). Presuming it does, as candles go out, the light/flame can be passed from one to another. But presuming that what was shown in Revelation 1:12 and 1:20 is something like a menorah, that helps demonstrate that there was/is a connection between all of the eras from Ephesus all the way through Laodicea.

Since several statements made to the seven churches (e.g. Revelation 1:19; 2:10; 2:22; 3:3; 3:10) simply could not have been intended to be completely fulfilled by the physical churches they were addressed to in the late 1st century, scripture itself proves that many of the messages to those churches were prophetic, with some of those prophecies intended for those in the 21st century.

The Bible clearly shows that Jesus walks in the midst of these seven churches (Revelation 1:9-13), showing that somehow they represent His church for the church age. The fact that there are seven churches addressed and the number seven suggests completion, combined with the fact that the churches are listed in the same order as they would receive mail in the Roman times, is also consistent with the view that these churches were to represent the true church throughout the ages in a type of sequential order of predominance.

It is also of interest to note that the Book of Revelation was written to seven churches that were in seven different cities.

While groups such as the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox suggest that they are the true church because they both claim successions of bishops from certain single cities from the time of the original apostles to present, they seem to not understand that the Book of Revelation shows that there would be a succession of churches in different locations. Nor are any of their five claimed 'apostolic sees' (Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, or Jerusalem) in any of those cities or towns.

Jesus also prophesied this Himself in the Book of Matthew:

And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:22-23).

Jesus seems to be clearly prophesying that it would not be possible that the headquarters of the true church could permanently remain in any one city for hundreds or nearly two thousand years. These statements from Jesus would suggest that only a church whose headquarters moved relatively often could possibly be the true church. And that is consistent with the messages in Revelation 2 & 3.

It should also be understood that Jesus taught that the true church would have to be quite small as He stated:

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

This statement from Jesus also strongly suggests that we should not be afraid of the fact that the true church would be a little flock. Notice also what the Apostle Paul taught:

5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5)

It was not God’s purpose that His true Church grow into a great, powerful organization in this age that would “Christianize” the world per se.

Jesus taught that His true Church was to remain a “little flock” (Luke 12:32) as a “witness” (Matthew 24:14) until the time of “the restoration of all things” (Acts 3:17-21) as God will save most of humankind (all spiritual “Israel”, Romans 11:26-32) (for more details see the free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).

The continuity of the Church of God in this age, could not occur through a succession of proud, powerful, presiding bishops in a particular city like some teach. Why?

Well, in addition to pride being denounced (e.g. Proverbs 29:23), the New Testament teaches:

14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

Thus, continuity of the true church would occur through a succession of faithful, converted people in different locations. The faithful, though scattered and persecuted, would continue to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24) (see also Apostolic Succession).

It should be noted that although the Bible in twelve places describes the true church by the name "Church of God," the detractors of the true church have tended to call those in it by different names. One historian noted:

Dissenters who kept the Sabbath, existed under different names from the time of the Pope to the Reformation. They were either the descendants of those who fled from the heathen persecutions previous to the time of Constantine, or else those who, when he began to rule the church and force false practices upon it, refused submission, and sought seclusion and freedom to obey God. In their earlier history they were known as Nazarenes, Cerinthians and Hypsistarii, and later, as Vaudois, Cathari, Toulousians, Albigenses, Petrobrusians, Passagii, and Waldenses ... These widely scattered Sabbath reformers were our denominational ancestors (Lewis A.H. THE SABBATH FROM THE TIME OF CHRIST TO ITS APPEARANCE IN ENGLAND. Reprinted from "Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America" Volume 1, 1910 pp 11-18).

It should also be noted that the Roman Catholic church freely admits that there were Sabbath-keepers within many of those groups--though all within most of them were not.

It needs, however, to be clearly understood that just because the Roman Catholics (or others) tended to use a particular name in order to label their opponents, this does not mean that all with that designation had the same beliefs or that most were specifically in the Church of God. But the above quote does show the fact that various writers understand that within the groups that the Romans have considered to be heretical, there were Sabbath-keepers throughout history.

The same is the case today. When I was growing up as a Roman Catholic, I was essentially taught that all who professed Christ, but who were not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, were Protestant. However, as everyone knows, there are so many doctrinal differences within Protestantism (even among those that consider themselves to be Protestant), that to truly define all Protestants by the same statements of doctrine is simply inaccurate.

Also, as most realize, there are many groups amongst those that profess Christ, such as the Church of God that are not Protestant (please see the free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). Hence, just because Roman or other historians tend to lump opposition groups together, this does not change the fact that there were (in accordance with Christ's promises in Matthew 10:23 and 16:18) true Christians throughout history. And that they would often be hated and persecuted (Matthew 10:16-22).

Consider that most of the Books of the New Testament were written to or from Asia Minor. Asia Minor is also the area where the Apostles John and Philip were in the latter portion of the 1st century.

 from the point of view of the New Testament, it appears that Asia Minor, not Rome, was a major focus of the Christian community in the late 1st century.

The apostles, or their disciples, did go to many lands, and there are indications that at least some version of Christianity touched much of the Eastern Hemisphere. However, Asia Minor seems to have been the focus for many of the original apostles.

It should be pointed out that some Roman Catholics do believe in church eras. Here is a report from a Roman Catholic priest:

According to Holzhauser's pattern, we would now be approaching the end of the Fifth Age, that of the progressive destruction of Christendom by the working out of the ferment of protestantism. There would follow only the relativitively brief Sixth Age, or final triumph of the Catholic Church and then the also brief last age, or the arrival of the Anti-Christ. If we said the end of the world could be for around the years 2030 to 2040, we could easily have got the dates wrong, but Holzhauser's over-all reading of the church's history from its beginning to its end. A most logical and persuasive. (http://www.leofec.com/bishop-williamson/102.html#sthash.Hih42A1M.dpuf viewed 09/27/14)

Notice also something related to the book from a Roman Catholic source, titled AFTER THE WARNING 2016, which chooses different dates:

Bartholomew Holzhauser was born in Laugna, Germany in 1613. He experienced ten visions and explained the Seven Church ages, particularly about the fifth Church age of affliction, desolation, humiliation, and poverty that we now live in. He also had visions of the sixth Church age of Peace that few Catholics have heard about, but Mary, Mother of Jesus who appeared at Fatima and Medjugorje asserts a future time of Peace. He states that the seven Church ages reflect the seven churches related in Revelation and have time fames or periods of time decreed to them.

Seven Church Ages

Summary

The seven Church ages described, are a correlation to the seven churches from Revelation in Chapters 2 and 3. Although these seven churches reflect a variety of meanings, each church also reflects a period of years, unfolding in a chronological order of Church history to its completion. This information is based largely on Venerable Holzhauser's visions.

First Church Age	Christ and the Apostles to Pope Linus and Emperor Nero	4 BC - 79 AD
Second Church Age	The Days of Persecution	79 - 314
Third Church Age	Pope Sylvester to Pope Leo III	314 - 795
Fourth Church Age	Pope Leo III to Leo X	795 - 1520
Fifth Church Age	Pope Leo X to a Strong Ruler and a Holy Pope This is the present Church age of Sardis coming to a close.	1520 - 2038
	Mary reveals 10 Secrets (events) to unfold,	2016 - 2038
	that Includes: First 3 are admonitions and are good events from God	2016
	Next 5 are punishments and are a recoil of our sins upon us	2016 - 2038
	Last 2 are chastisements directly from God	2037 - 2038
	The Great Catholic Monarch (strong ruler) rises up taking back Europe in the late 2030s. The Holy Pope with a sign of redemption on his forehead will reign in 2038 and afterwards. St. Bridget exclaims: " the world will cry, Woe " in the year 2038.
Sixth Church Age	A Strong Ruler and a Holy Pope to the birth of Antichrist This is the future Church age of Philadelphia After the 10 secrets (events), Mary claims a "certain period of peace" on the earth. It will be the Reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Holzhauser says – All Nations will be united in the Catholic Faith Under the protection of the great Monarch and his Successors He will submit everything to his authority, He will show great zeal for the true Church. The Monarch will break the empire of the Mohammedans	2038 - 2383?
Seventh Church Age	Birth of Antichrist to end of the world This is the last Church age of Laodicea Antichrist The Two Witnesses, Elijah, and Enoch will be sent back to earth The Coming of Christ on the clouds The end of the Gentile Church A time for the Jewish People in the last Church Age Last Church age is 1000 years or longer Second coming of Christ	2383? - 3483?

http://afterthewarning2016.com/catholic-prophecy.php viewed 09/27/14

Bartholomew Holzhauser was a German Roman Catholic priest. And while the above does show a belief in church eras, it is highly flawed. The above will get Roman Catholics to believe that the end is not coming in the 21st century. It also points to the Philadelphian age to not start until 2038.

The above chart also suggests that a time of chastisement is upon us now. That is at least partially consistent with the "beginning of sorrows" Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:4-8. This may lead to more confusion among those who think the above is accurate.

That said, the Bible, of course, does not endorse the idea of Pontifex Maximus's leading the true church (see also Where is the True Christian Church Today?), and even the Church of Rome did not adopt that title until the late fourth century (for some details, see What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History?).

The Bible also does not teach about an 'immaculate heart of Mary' (see Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From? and Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions) and certain other Roman Catholic beliefs.

It perhaps should be mentioned that the one that Greco-Roman Catholics refer to as the "great Monarch" sounds a lot like the King of the North that the Bible warns against (Daniel 11:22-45). According to Bible prophecy, this the King of the North will persecute Philadelphia Christians, and according to Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy their Great Monarch will persecute those that oppose a claimed "Catholic" faith which the Great Monarch will have changed.

Those who would like to learn more about church history to determine the true vs. false Christian church can find the following two documented, and free, online pdf booklets of value: Continuing History of the Church of God and Where is the True Christian Church Today?

As far as the original catholic faith goes, check out the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Although the original New Testament church began in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection (ca. 31 A.D. thus beginning the Ephesian era), Christians spread to many lands, with many ending up in Asia Minor in the first two centuries A.D. (more details of the earliest times is included in the article The Ephesus Church Era), with the last of the original apostles (John) settling in Ephesus.

"Ephesus was the most important city in Asia minor when Revelation was written" (The Nelson Study Bible, 1997, p. 2166).

But Ephesus did not stay that way. Nor did the Ephesus Church remain predominant. The city of Ephesus was the first stop of a consecutive mail run that ran through Laodicea (in the order that Jesus listed the Churches). Each era is connected through the laying on of hands, which in the New Testament church began with the apostles (see Laying on of Hands; see also Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).

And The Catholic Encyclopedia notes who its leader for a time was,

... the Apostle and Evangelist John lived in Asia Minor in the last decades of the first century and from Ephesus had guided the Churches of that province.

It is logical that the first, predominant church would be listed first, in a listing of seven churches. John moved to Ephesus.

Thus, it is logical that John, the last of the original apostles, was the last known apostolic leader of the Ephesus church. Remember it was John who Jesus had write to Ephesus "you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4). It is well known that John had a reputation in his last years of always teaching about love. This admonition in Revelation that Ephesus had lost its first love would perhaps explain why its last apostolic leader felt the need to always teach the church about love.

According to Roman Catholic sources, such as the "Venerable Bede":

"John ... literally observed the decrees of the Mosaic law … So John, in accordance with the custom of the law, began the celebration of" Passover "in the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month, regardless of whether it fell on the sabbath or any other day .. .(Bede (Monk). Edited by Judith McClure and Roger Collins. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Oxford University Press, NY, 1999, pp. 156-157).

Jesus, in Revelation 2:5, warned Ephesus:

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

Apparently Ephesus did not repent sufficiently. An interesting historical note about Ephesus is that its physical 'lampstand' was also removed. Ephesus originally was a port city, but a local river kept pouring so much silt at the end, that Ephesus is no longer on the coast but is now inland (my family actually visited it twice)--that silt totally devastated it from being an important city.

Some place the end of the Ephesus era around 135 A.D. when Jerusalem ceased having Jewish bishops and when Polycarp of Symrna became the dominant leader in the true Church. (More on the Ephesus portion of the true church can be found in the article The Ephesus Church Era. Also you can see Photos of Ephesus.)

The Smyrna Church became predominant after Ephesus c. 135. Interestingly, the Apostle Paul wrote many letters to those of Asia Minor (including one to those in Ephesus). According to something from a 2nd/3rd century document (that was probably altered in places in the 4th century), titled The Life of Polycarp, the Apostle Paul endorsed keeping the  Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost:

In the days of unleavened bread Paul, coming down from Galatia, arrived in Asia, considering the repose among the faithful in Smyrna to be a great refreshment in Christ Jesus after his severe toil, and intending afterwards to depart to Jerusalem. So in Smyrna he went to visit Strataeas, who had been his hearer in Pamphylia, being a son of Eunice the daughter of Lois. These are they of whom he makes mention when writing to Timothy, saying; Of the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice; whence we find that Strataeas was a brother of Timothy. Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection. For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians...but named the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel (Pionius. Life of Polycarp, Chapter 2. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488-506).

Thus, the "apostle to the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13), taught Gentile Christians in Asia Minor (such as Smyrna) to keep the Holy Days. Days many now consider to be Jewish and not Christian--but apparently Paul considered them important for all Christians to keep (see also 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 where he told the Gentiles in Corinth to keep them as well).

It is of historical note that Polycarp of Smyrna, who was trained by the Apostle John and who for a long while was the physical head of the Smyrnaean Church (under Jesus), was known as the Bishop of Smyrna. Hence there was a historically relevant transition from Ephesus under John to Smyrna under Polycarp.

Polycarp is unique among any claimed to be a direct successor to any of the apostles. Polycarp had a letter written to him while he was alive, clearly wrote a letter himself that still exists, and had a letter written about his death right after he died. None of that information exists for any of the so-called Bishops of Rome (there is a letter claimed to have been written by Clement of Rome, however, it does not say that he wrote it, nor is Clement considered to be the direct successor of any apostle--the Roman Catholic Church claims that Linus was Peter's direct successor; there are also letters written by Ignatius of Antioch, but the two Antiochian Churches I am aware of claim that Evodius, not Ignatius, was Peter's direct successor).

Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians contains a lot of information about what he believed and taught. There was also a letter written about his martyrdom by the Smyrnaeans which gives some insight into him. He is also discussed in writing by such early writers as Ignatius who write an entire letter to him (circa 108 A.D.), Irenaeus who claimed Polycarp was faithful (circa 170 A.D.), Polycrates who claimed that Polycarp was faithful (circa 190 A.D.), Tertullian who claimed that the true Christian church could be traced through Polycarp (circa 200 A.D.), and later Eusebius who wrote that Polycarp was faithful to the apostolic traditions (circa 330 A.D.).

Polycarp refused to change Passover from the 14th of Nisan to Sunday as the Roman Bishop Anicetus insisted on keeping. Polycarp was the one who went to Rome and denounced the gnostic heretics Marcion and Valentinus. He and the other Smyrna leaders continued to accept scripture above Roman pronouncements.

The Greco-Roman Catholic writer Eusebius recorded that Polycrates of Ephesus, around 195 A.D. wrote the following to the Roman Bishop Victor who wanted all who professed Christ to change Passover from the 14th of Nisan to Sunday:

We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ' We ought to obey God rather than man' (Eusebius. Church History, Book V, Chapter 24. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two, Volume 1. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, 1890. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Hence it is clear that throughout the second century, that Polycarp and the churches in Asia Minor continued to observe the Passover on the 14th of Nisan, unlike the Romans. Various second century writers reported that the Smyrnaeans observed the Passover on Nisan 14 and refused to accept the Roman observance on Easter Sunday. The ones that history records that were faithful to apostolic tradition that stood up to the Roman Bishops in the second century and refused to accept their authority were the leaders of Smyrna era of the Church!

Regarding the true church, the historian Tertullian wrote:

The real question is, 'To whom does the Faith belong? Whose are the Scriptures? By whom, through whom, when and to whom has been handed down the discipline by which we are Christians? The answer is plain: Christ sent His apostles, who founded churches in each city, from which the others have borrowed the tradition of the Faith and the seed of doctrine and daily borrow in order to become churches; so that they also are Apostolic in that they are the offspring of the Apostolic churches (Liber de praescriptione haereticorum, circa 200 A.D.).

To further answer those questions, Tertullian then concluded that there were only two possibilities at the time (around 200 A.D.), "the Smyrnaeans count from Polycarp and John, and the Romans from Clement and Peter"--he claimed no other group could prove they were the church started by the apostles. And of course, those of us in the Churches of God do not believe that the true church could have been the one of the Romans, hence we agree that the after John died, his leading follower in Smyrna, Polycarp, took the lead. Details on the original faith are also documented in the free online book:
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

According to the letter The Martyrdom of Polycarp by the Smyrnaeans, "on the day of the preparation, at the hour of dinner, there came out pursuers and horsemen" and the Polycarp was killed "on the day of the great Sabbath" (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Verses 7.1 & 8.1. Charles H. Hoole's 1885 translation. © 2001 Peter Kirby). The use of these two expressions ("day of the preparation" and "the day of the great Sabbath") strongly indicates that those in Polycarp's area were still keeping the Sabbath in the latter portion of the 2nd century.

Even the Roman Catholic supporter Irenaeus recorded that Polycarp kept the Passover as he learned from the apostles, including John (Irenaeus. FRAGMENTS FROM THE LOST WRITINGS OF IRENAEUS. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Excerpted from Volume I of The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, editors); American Edition copyright © 1885. Electronic version copyright © 1997 by New Advent, Inc)..

These historical accounts clearly demonstrate that those in Smyrna (an area of Asia Minor not part of Israel, hence a Gentile filled area) were still keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days around 156 A.D. (The Martyrdom of Polycarp. Transcribed from Kirsopp Lake's The Apostolic Fathers (published London 1912), v. II, pp. 309-311) (Note other years have also been proposed). (Here is a link to The Martyrdom of Polycarp).

Regarding the second century church in Asia Minor, the German historian W. Bauer wrote:

Asian Jewish Christianity received in turn the knowledge that henceforth the "church" would be open without hesitation to the Jewish influence mediated by Christians, coming not only from the apocalyptic traditions, but also from the synagogue with its practices concerning worship, which led to the appropriation of the Jewish passover observance. Even the observance of the sabbath by Christians appears to have found some favor in Asia ... we find that in postapolstolic times, in the period of the formation of ecclesiastical structure, the Jewish Christians in these regions come into prominence (Bauer W. Kraft RA, Krodel G, editors. Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity, 2nd edition. Sigler Press, Mifflintown (PA), 1996, pp.87-89).

Roman Emperors often persecuted those of Smyrna, with perhaps the first notable persecution being under the reigns of Decius and Gallus (249-253). After this, we no longer clearly see any of the true Smyrna leaders in the "succession lists" that the Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic Church refer to in Asia Minor or Antioch. This was due to scattering (as many left where they were), apostasy, and later Roman and Orthodox influence (for example, the third century Roman Emperor Aurelian told the Bishop of Rome that he could appoint a replacement for the Bishop of Antioch).

The time of Smyrna is when the first "Marian" apparition was claimed to be seen (Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions). The one who made this claim (Gregory the Wonder Worker), and by one who had been trained by the allegorist Origin, apparently had mystic powers and had influence that likely scared many away from the faith. And many of the faithful themselves had to go into hiding because of various persecutions.

During the time of Smyrna, in the 3rd century, anti-allegorical leaders such as Nepos and Arsinoe, Serapion of Antioch, and Lucian of Antioch argued against those who accepted non-scriptural writings and allegory.

In the latter portion of the third century and even into the fourth century, many Smyrnaeans (especially those with a Jewish heritage) in the Asia Minor area were known as Nazarenes (for more information, please see the article Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes?).

The Smyrna Church was told that:

... you will have been tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10).

A major ten year persecution from 303-313 A.D., unleashed by Roman Emperor Diocletian, resulted in many deaths, and we in the Church of God tend to believe this occurred during the time the Smyrna Church predominated. It does not appear that something like this happened to Smyrna around 95 A.D. when this message was written--hence this helps demonstrate the future historically prophetic sequence foretold in Revelation 2 and 3.

During this time the sun god worshipping Emperor Constantine arose--he made the first Sunday law and pushed many aspects of Sunday worship throughout the Roman Empire.

Then there are messages to Pergamos:

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 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." ' (Revelation 2:12-17).

And after the Smyrna era, the Pergamos era, which included some known as Paulicians became dominant. The true Christians among the Paulicians were pacifists and against the use of idols, including the cross.

The old Radio Church of God published the following:

In Rev. 2:13-14, Christ, speaking to the Church of Pergamos, says, "I thy works, even where Satan's seat is... thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam." In Pergamos, which was outstandingly "Satan's seat," the SUN-DIVINITY BAAL — Balaam's doctrine was idolatrous sun worship (Num. 25:1-3; 31:16) — WAS WORSHIPPED UNDER THE FORM OF A SERPENT and under the name of Aesculapius, "the man-instructing serpent" (Macrobius Saturnalia, book I, p. 650). In Satan's seat, over 60 years after Christ's time, the main worship was sun and serpent! This sun and devil worship was TRANSFERRED to Rome when Pergamos became part of the Roman Empire. According to the fundamental doctrine of the Mysteries, as brought from Pergamos to Rome, THE SUN WAS THE ONLY GOD. In Pergamos the sun had been worshipped as a serpent! (Meredith C. Paul. Today's Religious Doctrines ... how did they begin? - Installment 4. Plain Truth, February 1960)

So, sun worship occurred in Pergamos and by the end of the 4th century, the Greco-Romans had adopted a lot of sun-god related beliefs.

Pergamos was told "I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is" (Revelation 2:13, literal).

Pergamos was the capital of the Roman province of Asia in Asia Minor. Just as the initial local Church at Pergamos was situated in a city where Satan swayed human politics, this work of God's church occurred within the bounds of the government of Satan's Eastern Roman Empire.

The Pergamos Church appears to be a part of the church portrayed by the woman in the wilderness hidden for apparently 1260 years (Revelation 12:6); with the last portion of Smyrna and the beginning of portion of Thyatira being the other parts (the 1260 years, itself, began in the fourth century after Emperor Contstantine's edict against heretics, or possibly after Emperor Theodosius' anti-Passover edit).

History shows that God had people in Pergamos and in various hidden areas, with many of them referred to as 'Paulicians', 'Bogomils', 'Cathars', 'Patarenes', and 'Albigensians' (although not all peoples referred by those names were in the true Church). The last statement in to the Church in Pergamos in Revelation 12:17, about "hidden manna to eat" and Christ giving them "a new name," is consistent with a Church of God that would be hidden.

Without going into details, based on Jesus words to Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, some portion of each of them would be around until at least the start of the Great Tribulation, hence those parts of the messages must be prophetic.

Conclusion

Not all of the statements to the original seven churches in Asia Minor could have been contemporaneous as some of them still have yet to come to pass. Both the lessons of the Bible and secular history demonstrate that understanding about the Churches in Revelation 2 & 3 can aid true believers in determining what does (as well as what does not), constitute the true Christian Church today.

Throughout history, there have been relatively small groups of believers (it should be noted that only the Church of God can properly explain how and why the Bible teaches that most will be saved even though only a minority of Christians have thus far existed throughout history--this is documented in the free online books Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?  and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). These groups had various characteristics described by Jesus in the Book of Revelation. And the the church that strives to be the most faithful remnant in these end times is the Continuing Church of God.

Now the some may ask themselves, do not other groups claim that they can trace their histories from the beginning?

Certainly.

However, even Roman Catholic scholars admit that they had no clear succession of bishops until the mid-second century (this is documented in the article What Does Rome Actually Teach About Early Church History?). And most Protestants claim to have descended from the Roman dominated church, hence they have a similar history (this is clearly documented in the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?) . And while the Orthodox Church claims that it can trace its history, it clearly does not hold beliefs that its declared saints such as Polycarp and Melito believedSome Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Churches of God). As far as the original Christian and Catholic church goes, check out the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

As documented earlier in this article, it was the second century Smyrna church leaders, that from the earliest known time, protested against the Roman Church.

If the Roman Catholic Church is not the true church, then it is logical that the true church would be traced through those known leaders who originally refused to accept Roman authority AND who still holds to the same teachings that those leaders protested about. Specifically, for two examples, they taught that they had to rely on scripture above human tradition and that they would observe Passover on the 14th of Nisan.

So why are the messages to the seven churches of Revelation important?

Because they contain promises and warnings that we need to hear and heed. They give clues on how to trace the true church throughout history from the Book of Acts to the present day.

At the time of the end, a major difference between the Philadelphians and the Laodiceans is that the Laodiceans rely on their own understandings or statements from their leaders that they seem to consider to be more important than those of the Bible. Philadelphians, according to Jesus, "have a little strength, have kept My word" (Revelation 3:8). In these end times, this is important to realize as the attitude of the Laodiceans predominates.

As this article has documented, what Jesus said would come to pass has either so far come to pass or is about to come to pass with the churches. And this occurred with those that are part of the true Church of God. Neither the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, or other churches can trace their history through Revelation 2 & 3.

Seven times Jesus said so. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29;3:6,13,22).

Will you?

We have articles on each of the seven churches to assist you so hopefully you will "hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

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