~ The Seventh Church ~ 36
The Seventh Church
Revelation 1:20
"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 which thou sawest are the seven churches."
Acts of the Apostles 585
"The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the word."
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
Name Greek Meaning Condition of the Church Approximate dates
Ephesus: "Desirable" or "Primary" Spiritual power. 31-100 AD
Smyrna: "Myrrh" (used for embalming) Persecution. 100-321 AD
Pergamos: "Lifted Up" or "Elevated" Compromise. 321-538 AD
Thyatira: "Sacrifice of Contrition" Apostasy. 538-1798 AD
Sardis: "The Remainder" Formalism. 1550-1798 AD
Philadelphia: "City of Brotherhood" Endurance. 1798-1844 AD
Laodicea: "People Under Judgment" Lukewarm apathy. 1844-Jesus comes.
Note the "cause and effect" relationship in the first four churches:
Spiritual power causes persecution.
1. Persecution causes compromise.
2. Compromise causes Apostasy.
3. 4.
Note the four "beasts" or Living Creatures:
1. Lion: bold and strong. (Spiritual power)
2. Calf: fatted for the market. (Persecution)
3. Man: proud, haughty, independent, selfish, ambitious, covetous and worldly. (Compromise)
4. Eagle: wings given to the True Church to fly away and hide for 1260 years. (Apostasy)
Pergamos & Thyatira (Rev. 2:12-29) Pagan Rome changes to Papal Rome (Cause & Effect)
1. He Who now Letteth & That Wicked: 2 Thess. 2:5-8
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (Pagan Rome) [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked (Papal Thyatira) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
2. Power, Seat & Authority: Rev. 13:2
And the beast (Papal Thyatira) which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon (Pagan Rome) gave him his power (497-508AD), and his seat (330AD), and great authority (533AD).
3. A Host was Given Him: Dan. 8:11-12
Yea, he (Pagan Rome) magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host (crucified Jesus), and by him (Pagan Rome) the daily [sacrifice] (paganism) was taken away (lit. "lifted up" Heb. "ruwm"), and the place of his sanctuary (the city of Rome) was cast down (330AD). And an host (Clovis' army) was given [him] (Papal Thyatira, from 497 to 508AD) against the daily [sacrifice] (paganism) by reason of transgression (the union of Church & State), and it (Papal Thyatira) cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered (for 1260 years).
4. The Daily Taken Away: Dan. 12:11
And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] (paganism) shall be taken away (lit. "removed" Heb. "sur" by Clovis' army by 508AD), and the abomination that maketh desolate (Papal Thyatira) set up (508AD), [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days (508-1798).
5. They Place the Abomination that Maketh Desolate: Dan. 11:30-31
For the ships of Chittim (primarily Genseric's sea-attacks on Pagan Rome from 428 to 468AD, but all the first 4 Trumpets from 395 to 508 are implied) shall come against him (Pagan Rome): therefore he (Pagan Rome) shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant (Bible): so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant (Compromising Pergamos, 321-538). And arms (Clovis, 496-508) shall stand on his (Papal Thyatira's) part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (the city of Rome by wars), and shall take away (lit. "remove" Heb. "sur" by Clovis' army by 508AD) the daily [sacrifice] (paganism), and they shall place (by 538) the abomination that maketh desolate (Papal Thyatira).
( History Repeats in Dan. 11. )
"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated (in Dan. 11:40-45). In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that ...[Verses 31-36, quoted.] Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place." Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, p. 394 (emphasis supplied)
6. The Final Rise and Fall of the King of the North: Dan. 11:40-45
11:40 And at the time of the end (the end of the 1st 2520, 1290 & 1260 year prophecies in 1798) shall the king of the south (Atheism, in Napoleon's France) push at him (taking the pope captive):
and (191 years later, at "the time of the end" for the development of the 144,000) the king of the north (papal Thyatira) shall (in 1989) come against him (Atheism, in Gorbachev's USSR) like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships (the military and economic power of the United States in the roles of both Compromising Pergamos [by sending an Ambassador to the Vatican in 1984] and the "daily" [Pagan Rome's opposition to Christianity], {the USA acting as Clovis in switching from opposing Christianity to supporting it by dedicating his pagan armies to the service of Papal Rome}); and he (papal Thyatira) shall enter into the (Eastern European) countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
11:41 He (papal Thyatira) shall enter also into the glorious land (the United States, by the union of Church and State in the Sunday Law) and many [countries] (actually "people") shall be overthrown: but these (people) shall escape (literally, "slip away like a bar of soap") out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (meaning the people in spiritual Sardis, the "dead, formal" churches who refuse to join with then Global papal Thyatira)
11:42 He (Global papal Thyatira) shall stretch forth his hand (with the enforcing power of the "false prophet" USA) also upon the countries (of the world): and the land of Egypt (a symbol of the atheistic countries [The United Nations] Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, etc.) shall not escape.
11:43 But he (Global papal Thyatira) shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt (the world): and the Libyans (poor) and the Ethiopians (wealthy) [shall be] at his steps. (walking in step with him)
11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north (the opposing Loud Cry of the 144,000 "Global spiritual Philadelphia" who refuse to join) shall trouble him (Global papal Thyatira): therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (using the armies of the world to destroy the 144,000)
11:45 And he (Global papal Thyatira) shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas (people, Rev. 17:15) in (better word "and") the glorious holy mountain (the 144,000); (in an attempt to block the last warning message) yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (at Jesus' second coming)
James White comments:
"We have now traced the churches, the seals, and the beasts, or living beings, as far as they will compare as covering the same periods of time. The seals are seven in number, the beasts but four. And it may be well here to notice, that at the opening of the first, second, third and fourth seals the first, second, third and fourth beasts are heard to say "Come and see;" but when the fifth, sixth and seventh seals are opened, there is no such voice heard. Neither do the last three churches, and the last three seals, compare, as covering the same periods of time, as the first four churches, and the first four seals do. But, as we have shown, the churches, seals and beasts do agree, as covering the same periods of time for the space of nearly 1800 years, till we come down to a little more than half a century of the present time." Review & Herald, February 12, 1857
William Miller comments:
"The seven churches of Asia is a history of the church of Christ in her seven forms, in all her windings and turnings, in all her prosperity and adversity, from the days of the apostles down to the end of the world. The seven seals are a history of the transactions of the powers and kings of the earth over the church, and God's protection of his people during the same time. The seven trumpets are a history of seven peculiar and heavy judgments sent upon the earth, or Roman kingdom. And the seven vials are the seven last plagues sent upon Papal Rome. Mixed with these are many other events, woven in like tributary streams, and filling up the grand river of prophecy, until the whole ends us in the ocean of eternity.
"This, to me, is the plan of John's prophecy in the book of Revelation. And the man who wishes to understand this book, must have a thorough knowledge of other parts of the word of God. The figures and metaphors used in this prophecy, are not all explained in the same, but must be found in other prophets, and explained in other passages of Scripture. Therefore it is evident that God has designed the study of the whole, even to obtain a clear knowledge of any part." Miller's Lectures, vol. 2, lecture 12, p. 178 (emphasis supplied)
Uriah Smith comments:
"While the seven churches present the internal history of the church, the seven seals bring to view the great events of its external history." The Biblical Institute, p. 253
7 Churches 7 Seals
Ephesus: Spiritual power. White Horse 31-100 AD
Smyrna: Persecution. Red Horse 100-321 AD
Pergamos: Compromise. Black Horse 321-538 AD
Thyatira: Apostasy. Pale Horse 538-1798 AD
Sardis: Formalism. Souls Cry for Justice 1550-1798 AD
Philadelphia: Endurance. End-time Signs 1798-1844 AD
Laodicea: Lukewarm apathy. Silence in Heaven 1844-Jesus comes.
Notice the last three Seals differ from the first four.
And the last three Trumpets differ from the first four.
7 Churches 7 Seals
Ephesus: Spiritual power. White Horse 31-100
Smyrna: Persecution. Red Horse 100-321
Pergamos: Compromise. Black Horse 321 ---->
7 Trumpets
1. Alaric: 395-410
2. Genseric: 428-------468
3. Attila: 433-453
4. Odoacer: 476-493
(The first 4 Trumpets bring down Pagan Rome.) >------508
Thyatira: Apostate Catholicism. Pale Horse (Papal Rome ascends) 538>
Islam-a (Arabic) rises to "torment" nations aiding Papacy. 5. Islam = 1st "Woe"1299-1449
Islam-b (Turkish) gets gunpowder, "slays" Constantinople. 6. Islam = 2nd "Woe"1449---1840
(391yrs, 15dys)
Sardis: Souls Cry for Justice (Protestantism rises w/name of life but still dead Formalism.) 1550->
French Atheism "wounds" Papal Rome : both Thyatira & Sardis conclude. ->1798
(Christian powers restrain Islam-b) Turkish Ottoman Empire falls, Aug. 11, 1840
Philadelphia: Brotherhood & Endurance. End-time Signs (Millerites) 1798----1844
("Prophetic Mirror" time: 1840-1844)
(First 6 Trumpets begin to repeat in reverse order within 7th Trumpet.)
(Note that Islam "mirrors" back to Arabic Islam.)
!!! ~ Seventh Trumpet begins to sound ~ !!!
(Begin 2 World Wars & constant lesser wars, then 4 Angels hold "4-Winds" of strife, Rev. 7) Laodicean Protestants = "False Prophet" when USA sends Ambassador to Vatican: 1984 (Dan. 11:40) "False Prophet" USA helps Papal Rome "overflow" Russian Atheism: 1989 Islam-c (Arabic) re-rises to attack nation helping Papal Rome) Islam = 3rd "Woe" 9-11-01-> (Christian power restrains Islam-c) Persian Gulf wars. Papacy overflows "Wall of Separation of Church & State" (USA) "glorious land" at Sunday Law. Papacy overflows "Wall of National Sovereignty" (in U.N.) "10 kings" = healed "Global Rome". Papal Jezebel issues Global Death Decree for Sabbath-keepers Rev. 8:1......................................................................... Silence in Heaven Jesus comes! S.N. Haskell comments: "It should be remembered that, as the experience of Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos, will be repeated in the last church before the second coming of Christ, so the history of Thyatira will have its counterpart in the last generation. The power of Jezebel will again be felt." The Seer of Patmos, p. 69 Therefore, the power, persecution and compromise of the first three Churches repeat in Laodicea, and since there was a "Jezebel-a" in Thyatira (or the "abomination that maketh desolate" in Dan. 11:31-40), there will be a "Jezebel-b" in Laodicea too (the King of the North in Dan. 11:40-45). "The message to the Philadelphian period reaches to the end of time, and all who receive the crown will have passed through its experiences." ... "The messages to Sardis and to Philadelphia, separately cover a period extending to the second coming of Christ;" Ibid, p. 86 Therefore, since Sardis is "formal Protestantism" and extends to the second coming of Christ, then Sardis is "Edom, Moab and chief of the children of Ammon" in Dan. 11:41 (the "11th hour workers") who are called out of Global Modern Babylon (Jezebel-b) by those of last-day Philadelphia (Brotherhood & Endurance) during the Loud Cry, the ("tidings out of the East and North") in Dan. 11:44. "There is no other time for preparation, for the Laodicean message covers ecclesiastical history to the very end of time". Ibid, p. 90 (all emphases supplied) Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea 31-> 100-> 321-> 538-> 1550-> 1798-> 1844-> 7 Trumpets: 395 - 428 - 433 - 476 1299 - 1449 1844-> Thyatira> 538------------------------1798 Sardis> 1550--------------------1842 Philadelphia> 1840-----1844-> |.............Pagan Rome................|...Papal Rome...|...Protestants...|...Miller....|...Adventism...> |.............Pagan Rome................|...Papal Rome................................................|Global Rome-> Jezebel-a Jezebel-b Principle: Jesus is “the First and the Last” and illustrates the end of a thing by its beginning. Idea 1. If Jesus’ second coming is during the time of Laodicea for the Church….. Therefore, Jesus’ first coming was during the time of “Laodicea” for Ancient Israel. If the end of Ancient Israel at Jesus’ first coming was their time of “Laodicea” and it is parallel with the end of the Church at His second coming during our time of Laodicea, then the beginning of Ancient Israel in the time of Moses was parallel to the beginning of the Church at Ephesus, so Moses was “Ephesus” for Ancient Israel. Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea Moses 2 3 4 5 6 Jesus comes (Type of Christ) (Antitype) We see that “Laodicea” at the end of Ancient Israel overlapped with "Ephesus" at the beginning of the Church, so to be consistent there must be an Ephesus “beginning” experience for some people during the time of the Church’s Laodicea too. The Ephesus beginning of the Church was marked by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The spiritual power of Pentecost at the beginning of the Church was a type of the Latter Rain & Loud Cry at the end of the time of the Church, in the time of Laodicea, so Laodicea must have the Ephesus Pentecostal “White Horse” experience just before Jesus comes again. Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea Pentecost 2 3 4 5 6 Latter Rain & Loud Cry (Type) (Antitype) Idea 2. In the time of Ancient Israel’s “Laodicea” or 7th Church, Jesus was baptized and He received the sign of God’s voice and the seal of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. The “sign and seal” of God’s creative power is the Seventh-day Sabbath (Eze. 20:12, 20). Creation Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sabbath as “sign & seal” of creative power. Ancient Israel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Moses Jesus given “sign & seal” at baptism. Millenniums 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The saved who were never taught about Christ are “sealed” when the record books are open. "Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. Even among the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness; before the words of life had fallen upon their ears, they have befriended the missionaries, even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives. Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God. "How surprised and gladdened will be the lowly among the nations, and among the heathen, to hear from the lips of the Saviour, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me'! How glad will be the heart of Infinite Love as His followers look up with surprise and joy at His words of approval!" Desire of Ages, p. 638 (emphasis supplied)