This is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:1-3).

John received visions from Jesus Christ in 96 A.D. while exiled on the Isle of Patmos by Emperor Domitian for preaching the Gospel. Irenaeus, who was the disciple of Polycarp, who had been the disciple of John, says in Heresies (180 A.D.) that Revelation was written by John in 96 A.D. "at the close of Domitian's reign", and so does Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History. Eusebius also mentions that after John's banishment at Patmos had ended, John went and lived at Ephesus, where he was buried (about 100 A.D.).

Daniel's 70th Week ended in 34 A.D. with Stephen's martyrdom and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the household of Cornelius. For 40 years of testing, the Jews resisted the Gospel (Ps. 95:10). In 66 A.D. they rebelled against Imperial Rome. Jerusalem (including Christians) was surrounded by the legions of Cestius Gallus. The "Abomination of DESOLATION" (Matt. 24:15) is defined in Luke 21:20 as "Jerusalem compassed with ARMIES" that cause "DESOLATION." Then the Roman commander withdrew "for no apparent reason" (Wars 2:19). Jewish Zealots pursued and attacked the army ferociously. This gave a brief opportunity for Christians to obey Messiah's advice and "depart out of the midst of" Jerusalem and "flee to the mountains" and Pella (Luke 21:20-22). Returning Zealots didn't tolerate "deserters." In 69 A.D. Vespacian became emperor and his son Titus returned with his Roman Legions, laid siege to Jerusalem, and Herod's Temple was burned to the ground where Jews made their last stand. One million Jews perished by famine and sword. Ninety thousand were sold into slavery. Roman legions carried their standards, the EAGLE and the SERPENT (both unclean), into the Temple and sacrified before them in the traditional Roman manner -- an ox, a sheep and a PIG (unclean) -- hence "ABOMINATION of Desolation" in another sense. Just as Jews of their prince Messiah destroyed Christ's fleshly temple (John 2:19), so the Roman army of Titus their prince leveled the stone temple to the ground because the gold had melted between the cracks. Thus "There shall not be ... one stone (left) upon another" (Matt. 24:2) by this army "flood" (Dan. 9:26).

Meanwhile, Simon Magus (the Sorcerer) of Samaria feigned conversion to Christianity (Acts 8:9-23) and set up a Babylonian Mystery cult. When Justin Martyr wrote his Apology (152 A.D.) the sect of the Simonians appears to have been formidable, for he speaks four times of their founder Simon ... and says that he CAME TO ROME in the days of Claudius Caesar (45 A.D.) and made such an impression by his magical powers that he was honoured as a god, a statue being erected to him on the Tiber between the two bridges bearing the inscription, "Simoni deo Sancto," Simon the holy god" (Dict. of Christian Biog. 4:682). Hence the Papal claim to being the successor of a "Simon Peter" in Rome when the apostle Peter was never in Rome (Rom. 15:20).

But how did Simon Magus acquire the name "Peter"? Genesis 40:5-18 uses the Hebrew words PITHRON and PATHAR which are translated into the English word "INTERPRET." Deuteronomy 23:4 mentions Balaam the soothsayer of PETHOR in Babylonia -- a sacred high place of INTERPRETATION. Babylonian priests claimed the sole power to INTERPRET the pagan mysteries. "Ancient history reveals that the pagan deities worshipped by the Babylonians and the Greeks were known as PETERS, not only the gods but the Hierophantal (special gods) in most temples and those priests in particular who were occupied in the celebration of mysteries were styled PATRES" (Bryant's Ancient Mythology 1:354).

The truth is that Linus (2 Tim. 4:21) was the first bishop of Rome. He was the son of Caractacus, the British king who was defeated by Claudius in 51 A.D. and taken in chains to Rome with his family. Paul was under house arrest in Rome at the same time and wrote his epistle to Timothy. Paul at this time obeyed Christ's command to "Bear my name before ... kings" (Acts 9:15).

The Book of Revelation was written in code because the pagan Roman Empire ruled Palestine in 96 A.D. and persecuted Christians who taught that Rome would eventually fall. Babylonian Mystery cults also were a threat. By taking Old Testament examples and figuratively applying them to Rome and her cult, Christians understood while Romans remained ignorant. Furthermore, with the passage of time in the Christian Dispensation, the Old Testament was pushed into the background as "Christianity" rejected the law of God. Copies of the New Testament alone were printed. But by putting the interpretation of the symbols in the Old Testament, our Lord was forcing a return to the Old Testament scriptures before understanding of the Apocalypse could be gained. Thus, false Christians who have none of the "works" or "obedience" are automatically blinded.

These prophecies "must SHORTLY come to pass" meaning the "HISTORICIST" rather than "futurist" school of prophecy is the primary fulfillment of this pre-written history. John had been promised that he would "tarry till I (Christ) come" (John 21:22) and these visions fulfilled that promise. God's "angel" is Jesus Christ (cp. Gen. 48:16; Ex. 23:20-22, etc.). The word "SIGNIFIED" (semaino) means "to show by signs and symbols." John 21:19 says, "this spake he SIGNIFYING (semaino) by what death he should glorify God." Our Lord did not say to Peter literally, "You will be crucified." Instead he used phrases which would not be intelligible till the fulfillment took place. In the same way, Revelation must be de-coded by using European history and the Bible itself.

"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:4-8).

Our Lord instructed John to send it to seven nearby churches in Asia Minor. Why ASIA Minor? Because "the (Israelite) sojourners of the dispersion (were) scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, ASIA, and Bithynia" (1 Pet. 1:1; see also 2 Esdras 13:39-42 & Josephus 11:5:2). Notice that on the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed these men of "ASIA" (Acts 2:9) in Jerusalem saying, "let all the house of ISRAEL know..." (Acts 2:36). They were all "BRETHREN" (Acts. 2:36) -- adelphos -- blood relationship, not philadelphos -- faith relationship. Yes, "the twelve tribes ... (were) scattered abroad" (James 1:1). Israel was in dispersion (John 7:35). The Lord Jesus the Messiah directed his disciples "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24) "not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matt. 10:5-6) and they didn't go to the Jews in Palestine. Peter wrote, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in times past were not a people but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy"(1 Pet. 2:9-10). God bestowed these titles on Israel (Ex. 19:5-6). The designations of "not my people" and "not having received mercy" refer to Israel (Hos. 1:6-9).They are his Israelite "servants" (1:1). "Thou art my servant, O Israel" (Isa. 49:3). Since the majority of Christians have sprung from the Anglo-Saxon Celtic race, the first reigning election of "kings and priests" will consist largley of Israelite stock. In fact the Greek "ecclesia" (called out ones) comes from the Hebrew "cahal" (called out) found in Genesis 28:3 referring to Abraham's descendants -- "an assembly ("cahal") of people." See also Genesis 35:11 where it refers to Jacob's descendants. The Greek word translated into the English word "church" is "ecclesia" -- a word which prior to the the beginning of the 17th century, was always translated congregation. William Tyndale used the word congregation as did Coverdale in 1535 to be followed by Wittingham in 1557. Three years later in 1560, the word congregation was dropped and "church" substituted although versions of the Great Bible continued to use the original word for ten more years. "Jew and Greek" in the New Testament (Acts 18:4; 19:10; 20:21; 1 Cor. 1:22) corresponds to "house of Judah and house of Israel" in the Old Testament. Greeks were not Gentiles (Acts 14:1-2). Paul says the Ephesians were "aliens" (alienated or separated) "from ... Israel" (Eph. 2:13) meaning they must at one time have belonged to it. The English word "church" owes its origin to the Greek "kuriakos" meaning "belonging to the Lord." This word is borrowed from the Gothic nations and became the German word Kirche, the Anglo-Saxon Cyrise, the Dutch kerke, the Scottish Kirk, and eventually the English Church. The phrase "Him which is, and which was, and which is to come" found in 1:4,8 is a Greek paraphrase of the Hebrew "Yahweh." The King James Version "for ever and ever" of verse 6 is, in Greek, "for the ages of the ages, which refers to the Millenium and post-Millenial ages of the Kingdom of God on the earth. God promised to make physical Israel "kings and priests" in the Promised Land which was a type of the Millenium (Ex. 19:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:9-10). Now these same physical Israelites dwelling in Asia Minor (1 Pet. 1:1-2; 2:9-10; 2 Pet. 3:15; Eph. 2:12-14; Rom. 11:5), through the remission of sins, are made "kings and priests" in the Millenium and after -- better promises.

In Hebrew the "Aleph" and "Tau" were the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. They were inscribed on two stones which formed an integral part of the "breastplate of the High Priest. "Thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment, the Urim and the Thummin : and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place" (Ex. 28:30). These stones are mentioned also in Lev. 8:8; Nu. 27:21; Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 28:6; Ezra 2:63; and Neh. 7:65. The priests used these stones when there were questions about the Law. They were called the Yea Stone and the Nay Stone and when the priest stood before the altar with a question, the Glory shone on one or other of these stones signifying either Yes or No. -- with no arbitration in terms of indeterminate answers. Perhaps Messiah is emphasizing that He is the "Yes" and "No", not what men think. Look to Him, not men's opinions.

What do CLOUDS mean? Just as a CLOUD received him as he left the earth (Acts 1:9), so also "He cometh with CLOUDS" referring to a "CLOUD of (resurrected human) WITNESSES" (Heb. 12:1) -- " ten thousands of his SAINTS" (Jude 14-15) as well as a CLOUD (Matt. 24:30) of "all the holy ANGELS with him" (Matt. 25:31). Zechariah 12:10-11 mentions that the Jews who pierced their Messiah will now mourn at his coming because of their previous rejection of him. Jesus Christ as "alpha" created man in his physical image, but man lost paradise in Genesis. Jesus Christ as "omega" will finish that creation in his character-image and restore paradise in Revelation using Israelites.

"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the chest with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1:9-18).

The "Lord's Day" is the "Day of the Lord" (Acts 17:31; 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; 1 Th. 5:2; Phil. 1:6). In John's first vision, he is apparently looking east while standing in the Court of the Priests. He turns around to see the HIGH PRIEST re-fueling the seven-branched Menorah CANDLESTICK with OLIVE OIL to bring LIGHT to the Temple's HOLY PLACE. This typified the MESSIAH re-fueling the SEVEN CHURCH eras in history by the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT so they can explain the BIBLE to the House of ISRAEL (see Zech. 4:1-6). There would be seven stages in the history of Christianity. The "sharp two-edged SWORD" represents the two points of the lunar crescent attached to the arrow of Sagittarius meaning the "WORD of GOD" (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17). CHRIST is the promised HIGH "PRIEST for ever after the order of Melchizedec" (Heb. 5:6) of which the human High Priests were mere types. High Priests wore a "girdle" and a "robe" (Ex. 28:4 & 29:5) paralleling those described here. "EYES as a FLAME of FIRE" (Rev. 1:14; 2:18) is interpreted by Christ himself as one who "SEARCHETH the MINDS and HEARTS" (Rev. 2:23). Penetrating sight. "He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12-13). "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Pr. 15:3) just as the rider in chapter nineteen has these same eyes and the same sword. Having "neither BEGINNING of DAYS nor END of LIFE" (Heb. 7:3), he is the ALPHA and OMEGA. "Declaring the END (of history) from the BEGINNING (of time)" (Isa. 46:10) he is the ALPHA and OMEGA. His credentials are that he is the FIRST immortal man born from the dead, the "alpha," and his appearance proves it. Also when all men are made immortal like him, "THEN shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28). Therefore He is the "omega" or LAST. He can bring forth "all that are in their graves" (John 5:28). In 1 Corinthians 15:26 we are told "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." "Hades, I will be thy destruction" (Hos. 13:14). Jesus is "the resurrection and the life."

"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 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" (Rev. 1:19-20).

Who are the STARS? The seven lighted wicks or "STARS" or "angels" are messengers of the seven churches -- the LEADING human TEACHER of each church. The Torah READER (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:15,27; 15:21) or WRITER or MESSENGER (Haggai 1:13) of the Synagogue was known as the "angel" of the Synagogue. The twelve STARS in Joseph's dream represented the LEADERS of the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. 37:9-10). In Balaam's prophecy, our LORD is a "STAR out of Jacob" (Num. 24:17). The little horn "cast down ... the STARS to the ground, and stamped upon them ... the MIGHTY and the HOLY PEOPLE" -- the Jews and Christians (Dan. 8:9-24). "They that turn many to RIGHTEOUSNESS" are like "the STARS" (Dan.12:3). Our Lord says, "I am ... the bright and morning STAR" (Rev. 22:16). "STARS" therefore represent RIGHTEOUS RULERS described as burning wicks.

The Ephesus Era Was Called Nazarene
(31-150 A.D.)

Matthew 16:18 says, "Thou art Peter (Gr. "Petros" masculine meaning"stone"), and upon this rock (Gr. "Petra" feminine meaning "massive rock") I will build my church, and the gates of hades ("the grave") shall not prevail against it." And Paul says "the Rock was Christ" (1 Cor.10:4) -- not Peter. Yes, "For other foundation no one can lay but that which has been laid which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.3:11). The true church, built on Christ's teaching, would continue to exist through every century down to our day today.

In Judaea, Jewish Christians met together with Jews in synagogues but by about 85 A.D., to make sure of their exclusion, a formal anathema was incorporated in the synagogue liturgy: 'May the Nazarenes and the heretics be suddenly destroyed and removed from the Book of Life.' (p. 21, Chadwick's Early Church). This shows us that Christians actually still considered themselves JEWS long after Christ's death (cp. Rom.2:29). This also shows us the Ephesus Eras was called Nazarene. Ephesus means "Desirable" because not only was the city located in a very desirable geographic location, but that period of church history when the apostles were living and could personally guide the people was a desirable period.

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Rev. 2:1-5).

Paul visited Ephesus in 56 A.D. and baptised them (Acts 19:1-6). Many Ephesians burned their books on witchcraft because of Paul's witness there (Acts 19:18-20). Just as the city of Ephesus was the first of seven cities on a mail route, so also the Ephesus Era (lit. "Desirable") was the first of seven chronological eras of church history portrayed by the seven-branched Menorah. The first believers were called "Christians" (Acts 11:26) or "Nazarenes" (24:5) who fled from Jerusalem to Pella (Wars 6:5:3) in 69 A.D. They were called "Nazarenes" because Nazareth was where Jesus grew up (Matt.2:23). But what did the Nazarenes believe?

"Christianity offered itself to the world, armed with the strength of the MOSAIC LAW ... The divine authority of Moses and the prophets was admitted, and even established, as the FIRMEST BASIS of Christianity.... The history of the church of Jerusalem affords a lively proof ... of the deep impression which the JEWISH RELIGION had made on the minds of its sectaries. The first fifteen bishops of Jerusalem were all circumcised JEWS; and the congregation over which they presided UNITED the LAW OF MOSES with the doctrine of Christ.... The Jewish converts ... who had laid the foundations of the church, soon found themselves overwhelmed by the increasing multitudes that from all the various religions of polytheism enlisted under the banner of Christ: and the Gentiles ... rejected the intolerable weight of Mosaic ceremonies ... The Nazarenes ... elected Marcus for their bishop, a prelate of the race of the gentiles ... At his persuasion the most considerable part of the congregation RENOUNCED the MOSAIC LAW, in the practice of which they had persevered above a century" (31 A.D. till after 131 A.D.) (Gibbon's Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire,15:181-182).

"Before the second century was half gone ... the 'Mystery of Iniquity,' had so largely spread over the east and the west ... that a large part of the Christian OBSERVANCES and INSTITUTIONS, even in this century, had the aspect of the PAGAN MYSTERIES" (Mosheim, Ecclesiastical History, Cent.2, Part 2, Ch.4, Paragraph 1).

What was their "first LOVE" (Rev.2:4)? "This is the LOVE of God, that we KEEP his COMMANDMENTS: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). "If ye LOVE me, KEEP my COMMANDMENTS" (John 14:15). "This is LOVE, that we WALK AFTER (in accordance with) his COMMANDMENTS" (2 John 6). "He that hath my COMMANDMENTS, and KEEPETH them, he it is that LOVETH me" (John 14:21). The whole value of affection and friendship is in its practical manifestations.

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 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 tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:6-7).

What were "the DEEDS of the NICOLAITANS" (Rev.2:6)? "Nicolaitans" comes from Greek: nikao - subdue and laos - people. They were followers of Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch" (Acts 6:5) who taught that DEEDS of the FLESH do not affect the purity of the soul, and consequently have no bearing on salvation (Hippolytus Refut. 7:24; Irenaeus Against Heresies 1:26:3). Therefore it was unnecessary to curb the desires of the flesh as required by the moral law. As Sir William Ransay points out, they joined the craft guilds and thus were required to pay worshipful homage to the emperor. They may have been the group in Ephesus referred to by Paul (Acts 19:19) who bu

From Eusebius' Life of Constantine, book 3:66, we read about the demise of the Nazarenes: "To speak of your criminality as it deserves demands more time and leisure than I can give.... Why not at once strike, as it were, at the root of so great a mischief by a public manifestation of displeasure? Forasmuch, then, as it is no longer possible to bear with your pernicious errors (of SABBATH-KEEPING -- author), we give warning by this present statute that none of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. We have directed, accordingly, that you be DEPRIVED of all the HOUSES in which you are accustomed to hold your ASSEMBLIES; and forbid the holding of your superstitious and senseless MEETINGS (meaning attending church on SATURDAY-- author), not in public merely, but in any private HOUSE or PLACE whatsoever.... We have commanded... that you be positively DEPRIVED of every GATHERING POINT for your superstitious MEETINGS, I mean all the HOUSES of prayer.... that any other PLACES be CONFISCATED to the public service, and NO FACILITY whatever be left for any future gathering (on God's SABBATH) in order that from this day forward none of your unlawful ASSEMBLIES may presume to appear in any public or private PLACE." With this statute at the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) God "REMOVED their lampstand" (Rev.2:5). An alternate interpretation is that Hadrian's edict in 135 A.D. SCATTERED the old church of Jerusalem. In type the actual City of Ephesus has SHIFTED several miles from the place it once occupied also, owing to the sea having receded.

Thus began the 1260-year tribulation by Catholicism (Rev.12:6,14). In 1585 Sir Walter Raleigh explored Roanoke Virginia as a favorable location for an English colony of Protestants. In 1586-1587 (1260 + 325 = 1585), Mary Queen of Scots was convicted and executed for conspiracy. In 1588 the Catholic Spanish Armada was wrecked by a great storm at sea. Thus ended the 1260 years in the wilderness mentioned in Revelation 12:6,14.

But meanwhile Athanasius, A.D. 340 said, "We assemble on SATURDAY, not that we are infected with Judaism, but only to worship Christ, the Lord of the SABBATH." Yes, "The primitive Christians DID KEEP the SABBATH of the Jews; ... therefore the Christians, for a long time together, DID KEEP their conventions upon the SABBATH, in which some portions of the law were read; and this CONTINUED TILL the time of the LAODICEAN COUNCIL (364 A.D.)." (The Whole Work Of Jeremy Taylor, vol.9, p.416). The 29th canon of the Laodicean Council held in 364 A.D. said, "Christians must not JUDAIZE by resting on the SABBATH, but must work on that day, rather, honouring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be JUDAIZERS, let them be anathema from Christ." (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol.14, p.148) The "little horn" Papacy "will think to change the times and the laws" (Dan. 7:25), the time for the Sabbath law from Saturday to Sunday. (364 + 1260 = 1624) In 1623 A.D. the Dutch West India Company sent a vessel to America with 30 families of Walloons (Protestant refugees from S. Netherlands) to the mouth of the Hudson River so they could settle on Manhattan Island. Exactly 1260 years later in 1624 A.D. Albany was established by the Protestant Dutch as a fur-trading settlement. The Pilgrim Separatists also settled New Hampshire and Maine in 1623-24 A.D.

Meanwhile, a bishop of Constantinople named Nestorius protested against the virgin Mary being called "Mother of God." So the Emperor called the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. to settle this dispute. Nestorius was banished and deposed. The phrase "Mother of God" was formally accepted in 431 A.D. at Ephesus. If we add 1260 years (Rev. 12:6,14), we arrive at 1691 A.D. when Catholics were punished by William, Prince of Orange. The "Holy Hill" towering above Ephesus had been dedicated to the "Mother of God" more than a thousand years before Christ. How was this possible? Semiramis taught that when Nimrod her husband died, he was reincarnated as her son, so that she was his wife and mother. Statues of her with an infant in her arms were very popular in Babylon. She was known by different names in different lands. Astarte, Beltis, Cybele, Aphrodite, Isis, Artemis. But in Ephesus she was called Diana -- where the ruins of the Temple of Diana can still be seen. Diana of Ephesus was worshipped by immoral orgiastic fertility rites. The Temple of Diana was built in 480 B.C. of red, blue, yellow and white marble. Gold was used for mortar.

What does "He that hath an ear, let him HEAR" mean? Isaiah 50:4-5 says, "He waketh mine ear to HEAR as the learned. The Lord God hath OPENED (Lit. "digged") mine ear, and I was not rebellious." A servant for life had his ear "digged" or pierced (Ex. 21:6) and therefore OBEYED. Only those who obey God have ears pierced to hear. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (2:7). Certain trees were worshipped by the pagans in Ephesus and so this remark ties in with Ephesus especially.

Ephesus was the city of Artemis, the moon-goddess. This implies that the planet ("star") associated with Ephesus was the MOON. The Chaldeans arranged the MOON as the first planet and this is the first church.

The Smyrna Era Was Called Ebionite
(31-313 A.D.)

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:8-9).

The name "Smyrna" means "MYRRH." MYRRH was used to embalm DEAD bodies. For instance, Nicodemus brought "MYRRH and aloes" to the body of Jesus (John 19:39-40). Therefore Smyrna was a church of MARTYRS.

Smyrna (lit. "Myrrh" or "Incense" or "Bitter") Christians were called "Ebionites (Hebrew ... "POOR men") a name given to the ultra-Jewish party in the early Christian Church.... they ... rejected Paul as an apostate from the MOSAIC LAW, to the customs and ordinances of which, including circumcision, they steadily ADHERED. They kept both the Jewish SABBATH and the Christian Lord's day.... Ebionites (were) ... Jewish Christians of Syria.... His (Jesus') coming did not annul the LAW.... Baptism must be repeated as a means of purification from sin, and proof against disease ... (they were) Essene Ebionites" (p.842, vol.8, Encyc. Brit. 11th ed.).

What is the "Synagogue of SATAN"? It may refer to false Christians as in Revelation 3:9, but here it more likely refers to "JEWS." Many IDUMIANS were forced to become "JEWS" (Ant. 13:9:1) by Hyrcanus in 125 B.C. "EDOM is in modern Jewry" (Jewish Encyc. 5:41). Josephus indicates that only the Essenes were hereditary Jews while the Pharisees and Saduccees were NOT JEWS by birth (Wars 2:8:2). Jesus said to these Jews, "Ye are of your father the DEVIL" (John 8:44) which agrees with Revelation 2:9 where Jesus says, "I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of SATAN." The Pharisees said to Jesus, "We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man" (John 8:33). Yet Israel had a long history of bondage in Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. Therefore the Pharisees must have been the other branch of Abraham's seed in Palestine -- EDOMITES.

Polycarp is believed to have been the "angel" or minister of this church at the time John was writing. According to Tertullian, Irenaeus, Eusebius and Jerome, John the apostle himself consecrated Polycarp bishop of Smyrna. The state required Polycarp to worship Caesar as god. Polycarp refused and was burned at the stake on the hillside of Mount Pagus in 168 A.D. Here is a description of the martyrdom of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna: "the Pro-Consul, respecting his dignity and his advanced age -- for he was more than eighty -- and being desirous to save him, urged him, saying, 'Swear, and I will release thee.' 'Reproach Christ.' Polycarp answered, 'Eighty years have I served Him, and He has never wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?' The Pro-Consul, judging his efforts to be unavailing, sent a herald to proclaim: Polycarp hath professed himself a Christian. At that hated name the multitude, both of the Gentiles and the JEWS, unanimously shouted that he should be burned alive. The people immediately gathered fuel from the workshops and the baths, in which employment the JEWS distinguished themselves with their usual malice" (Eusebius Eccl.Hist. ch. 15, p.147).

Gibbon also tells us that the JEWS tried to instigate the Romans into persecuting Christians (Decline and Fall, ch.16).

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev. 2:10-11).

How could "the Devil" "cast some of you into prison" (Rev. 2:10) when only the officers of the Roman Empire could throw Christians into prison? Because the Roman Empire is the Devil manifest (Rev. 12:9). God uses the same symbol for both the Roman Empire and Satan. Both are a RED DRAGON.

What are the "ten days" of tribulation (2:10)? From 303 to 313 A.D. (Eusebius E.H. 8:15-16), after Diocletan returned victorious from the Persian wars, he persecuted Christians. Hundreds of thousands of Christians died or were banished. On January 13, 313 the "Edict of Toleration" was issued by Licinius. "In 313 A.D. Constantine's Edict of Milan restored confiscated Christian property and gave equal rights for all religions. In that same year Constantine exempted Christian clergy from civil and military service and their property from taxation" (SDABC). Besides lasting ten years, this was also the tenth persecution suffered under ten different emperors' edicts: Nero (64 A.D.), Domitian (95 A.D.), Trajan (107 A.D.), Hadrian (127 A.D.), Marcus Aurelius (165 A.D.), Septimius Severus (202 A.D.), Maximus (235 A.D.), Decius (249 A.D.), Valerianus (257 A.D.) and Diocletian (303 A.D.). Read about the 10 persecutions by pagan Rome in Fox's Book of Martyrs, pp. 13-31.

"Our faith" is what "overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4). How do we get that faith? "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Bible study therefore gives us faith to overcome the world. Being fully convinced of the truth of the Bible gives a Christian power to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world" (Tit. 2:12).

The Messiah described himself as, "the first and the last; He that was dead and is alive" when addressing Smyrna. Why? Because the SUN was Tammuz the "only Son" of heaven, alternately dying and rising again. The birth of this SUN-god occurred on the winter solstice, and was eventually adapted to the Birth of Messiah. Another legend of Tammuz was that he was a faithful prophet put to death by a cruel king (cp. Rev. 2:10 & 11:7-11), the character of martyrdom, which was that of Smyrna. The reward was to have the Crown of Life, the aureole of the SUN -- Corona Borealis, the crown of Dionysus, the SUN god. Ever since, in works of art, glorified saints are depicted with halos; but up till then this had been the characteristic of Helios and other SUN gods in eastern and western mythologies.

The Pergamos Era Was Called Paulician
(313 - 1100 A.D.)

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:12-13).

Pergamos means "height" or "elevation" because the city stood 1000 feet above sea level and was built about 1150 B.C. by the Aeolian Greeks. The elevation provided a natural defense and the city was considered impregnable. Kinghs sometimes stored their wealth in this city for safekeeping. Lysimachus placed his fortune of $10 million in this city. This city was made the capital of the province of Asia when Attalus III, the last of the Attalid kings, bequeathed his kingdom to Rome in 133 B.C.

The proconsuls who ruled there were vested with the symbol of authority: the broad, double-edged sword. The Supreme court of the province was also located there. Life or death awaited the prisoners who came to this court. But in the final judgment, Christ "hath the sharp sword with two edges" (Rev. 2:12) and he will pass sentence on everyone (2 Cor. 5:10) based on what they do with what they have in the time they have been given. He takes note of where men were born (Ps. 87:4-6).

By 337 A.D., about half the inhabitants of the Roman Empire professed to be Christians -- many doing so just to keep their positions because Christianity was now the State Religion. Christians were no longer thrown to wild beasts in the Colosseum, or burned alive in the Circus of Nero, no longer commanded to offer incense to the gods or worship a serpent. Pergamos means "Married to Power."

This counterfeit Babylonian religion claimed to make a bridge between heaven and earth (Just as the Tower of Babel had a top which reached into the heavens as an observatory to find a natural cause for the flood and how to prevent another one -- despite God's assurance there would not be another one.). The ruling monarch became the head of the system. As High Priest of the old Babylonish religion, he was the original Pontifex Maximus ("the Greatest Bridge-builder"). The king of ancient Babylon had been both king and High Priest, or Pontifex Maximus. When Belshazzar was slain (Dan. 5:30), and the Chaldeans were defeated by Darius the Mede, the Persians gave the inhabitants of the city their freedom. But the Babylonian priests later led a revolt and were expelled from Babylon. Some fled to Tibet where the ancient Babylonian religion is preserved intact. But the most important moved to, and settled their Central College in, Pergamos -- "Satan's seat" (Rev. 2:13).

The most important temple in Pergamos was the Temple of Zeus dedicated to Aesculapius, the serpent child of the "incarnate sun" or the "serpent god" or "the god of healing" or "the man-instructing serpent" who gave man the knowledge of good and evil. A living serpent was always kept in the Temple of Zeus as an object of worship. A famous school of medicine was also located there, the emblem of which was the serpent or the Caduceus twined around a pole which is today the emblem of the medical profession. The city was a great educational center. Its library of 200,000 books rivaled the Egyptian library at Alexandria. When Egypt refused to supply Pergamos with papyrus for manufacturing paper, they prepared a new kind of writing material called "parchment" from carefully treated skins. In German it is called "pergament."

"The defeated Chaldeans fled to Asia Minor and fixed their central college at Pergamos and took the palladium of Babylon, the cubic stone, with them. Here, independent of state control, they carried on the rites of their religion." (William B. Barker, Lares and Penates, pp. 232-233). When one of the kings of Pergamos, named Attalus III, died in 133 B.C., he bequeathed all his dominions to the Roman Empire. Thus Julius Caesar took the title of Pontifex Maximus (Supreme Pontiff) -- the living representative of the Babylonian Sun god -- descendant of the gods. From henceforth he was divine. The Emperor Gratian was the first "Christian" emperor to refuse the insignia of Pontifex Maximus. It was incongruous, he thought, that a Christian emperor should bear a pagan title. But this title he discarded was soon taken up and conferred on Damasus, the Pope of Rome. The "keys" and the "vestments" came with the title. Notice that Satan's throne has three transfers. Babylon to Pergamos; Pergamos to Pagan Rome; Pagan Rome to Papal Rome, then Christ will return and destroy it. David's throne, the "throne of the Eternal" (1 Chr. 29:23), also has three transfers (Ez. 21:27). Jerusalem to Ireland; Ireland to Scotland; Scotland to England or Great Britain, then Christ will return to sit upon it.

"Antipas" is a Greek contraction for "Antipater" (against Pope) who was a pastor of Pergamos who was martyred in Pergamos by being slowly baked in a brazen (brass) bull that was heated until it was red hot.

These "Paulicians" (also called "Thonraki," "Bogomils," or "Albigenses") believed that "One unleavened loaf and wine are to be offered in the eucharistic sacrifice.... (They) maintained a steady war against images, Mariolatry, and much else that the degenerate Greek world had adopted from Paganism ... We also know ... that the Pauliani, who were the same people who at an earlier date, were Quartodecumans, and kept Easter (sic) in the primitive manner at the JEWISH date. Ananias (early seventh century) (of Shirak says) ... 'But the Pauliani also keep the feast of the Pascha on the same day (as the JEWS), and whatever be the day of the full moon, they call it Kuriake, as the JEWS call it SABBATH, even though it be not a (weekly) SABBATH.'... They are accused by their Armenian opponents of setting at naught all the feasts and fasts of the (established) Church, especially Sunday. They kept the Festival of a Birth of Christ ... 'The same St. Gregory (of Narek),' continues Sahak, 'appointed SABBATHS, and fasts, and abstinences in fulfillment of vows.' ... the Paulicians observed the SABBATH and not the Sunday ... for they were probably the remnant of an old JUDAEO-CHRISTIAN Church, which had spread up through Edessa into Siuniq and Albania.... The early Armenian Christians ... spoke of REST-HOUSES, SYNAGOGUES, of proseuchae, and of shrines ... but hardly at all of churches; and individuals, especially if they were elders, were prone ... to celebrate the Agape and Eucharist in their own houses ... as well as collect in them the firstfruits of the offerings. Sahak insists that these rites must be performed in church ... and the firstfruits are to be taken to the house of the head-priest ... We know that the Pauliani continued to keep the Passover on the fourteenth of Nisan with the JEWS." (The Key of Truth trans. by Fred C. Conybeare pp.38,49,104,152,162). Polycarp followed John in keeping Passover on the 14th (Eusebius E.H. 5:24). Polycrates followed Polycarp (Ante-Nicene Fathers 8:773-774) and now the Paulicians followed Polycrates.

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Rev. 2:14).

What was the "DOCTRINE of Balaam"? Balaam was the son of Beor (Num. 22:5). Beor was Edomite (Gen. 36:31-32; 1 Chr. 1:43). Balaam was willing to curse Israel (Num. 22:15-17; Deut. 23:4) "for REWARD" (Jude 11). Balaam was a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22) who had "an heart exercised with COVETOUS practices, which have forsaken the right way ... who loved the WAGES of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (2 Pet. 2:15). In other words, these Christians were willing to compromise to earn more money. Religious mixture with idols and racial mixture with the daughters of Moab (mingling the "holy seed" -- Ezra 9:1-2) -- "religious equality and racial integration." In ancient Pergamos (where Satan's seat was) there were Christians called Ophites who made an alliance with the serpent worshippers there. But more importantly, Christians have participated in false Papal Roman ("where Satan's seat is") religious customs such as Easter and X-mass (fornication -- Ps.106:28). "They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead" (Ps. 106:28) which is where the custom of eating ginger-bread men at X-mass time originated.

"So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate" (Rev. 2:15).

The "deeds" on the part of a few Nicolaitans in Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) had become a "doctrine" within the church of Pergamos (2:15). The leaven of apostasy works quickly. Pergamos fulfilled the "falling away" at the time the antichrist was revealed (2 Th. 2:3-7).

The Paulicians were "spread over Asia Minor and Armenia from the 5th century onwards.... (They were founded by Constantine of Mananali who) "based his teaching on the Gospels and the Epistles of Paul, repudiating other scriptures (Actually "it is more probable that they did not possess" other portions of the Bible -- Miller's Church History) ... (Paulicians) rejected the Eucharistic rites and doctrine of the Greeks.... we reckon the cross and the church and the priestly robes and the sacrifice of mass for nothing ... They assailed the cross, saying that ... we ought not to worship the tree, because it is a cursed instrument.... they smashed up crosses when they could.... (The Key of Truth) warns us that all the apostles constitute the Church universal and not Peter alone; and in the rite of election, i.e. of laying on of hands and reception of the Spirit ... The monkish garb was revealed by Satan ... The same hatred of monkery characterized the Thonraki and inspires the Key of Truth.... They called their meetings the Catholic Church, and the places they met in places of prayer ... The Thonraki equally denied the name church to buildings of wood or stone, and called themselves the Catholic Church (Universal Church, not Roman Catholics).... baptismal water of the Church was mere 'bath-water,' i.e. they denied it the character of a reserved sacrament. But there is no evidence that they eschewed water baptism. The modern Thonraki baptize in rivers ... They PERMITTED EXTERNAL CONFORMITY with the dominant church, and held that Christ would forgive it ("doctrine of the Nicolaitans" -- comment mine). The same trait is reported of the Thonraki ... They rejected the orders of the Church, and had only two grades of clergy, namely associate itinerants ... (Acts xix. 29) and copyists ... (who) dressed like other people; the Thonraki also scorned priestly vestments" (Encyc. Brit. 20:959-961).

"Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Rev. 2:16).

Yes, martyrs "were counted by hundreds of thousands ... whose slayers invariably took their orders from the persecuting clergy of old and new Rome.... its members were deported by hundreds of thousands to Thrace. There they throve for centuries, and the spread of their tenets into Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), Poland, Germany, Italy, France" (p.104, Key of Truth).

In 679 A.D. Pope Agathon persecuted the Paulicians. Under Pope Sergius II (844-847), the Empress Theodora (wife of the Eastern Emperor Theophilus, 829-842), tried to exterminate the Paulicians. She restored image-worship which had been abolished many years, thereby "casting a stumbling-block" before the church and causing it to "commit fornication."

"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" (Rev. 2:17).

The pot of "hidden MANNA" (Hebrews 9:3-4) which Aaron put in the Ark of the Testimony (Ex. 16:33-34) in the Holy of Holies which nobody could enter but the High Priest symbolizes Jesus -- "the BREAD of LIFE" that came down from heaven (John 6:35) and is hidden in heaven. Jeremiah says, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart" (Jer. 15:16). Also in ancient courts of Justice a prisoner's fate was determined by WHITE and black STONES. When there was a majority of WHITE STONES thrown into an urn, the prisoner was ACQUITTED. Also, when slaves were freed, they were given white stones on which their new names were inscribed. These stones were called Tessera. They were badges of friendship and they entitled the holders to special privileges. If a gladiator won fifteen victories in combat, he was given a white stone, symbol of freedom and honor. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Overcomers will possess this new name (Isa. 62:2). In 29 A.D. the Roman Senate decided to show its appreciation of one of the founders of the new Empire so the Emperor Augustus was given the name Augustus (meaning sacred or divine). All emperors after him were called Augusti. Jesus gave his leading apostles NEW NAMES (Peter -- Cephas; James and John -- Boanerges; Saul -- Paul) and will make them divine.

Pergamos worshipped Asklepios, the Merodach of the Babylonians, the ruler of the planet JUPITER. When the Messiah identifies himself as "He that hath the sharp sword with two edges," this indicates the altar of JUPITER that bore a two-edged sword on a Chaldean planisphere of the twelfth century B.C. in the British Museum. One passage speaks of JUPITER as "like the blade of a double sword" (Prof. Sayce, Astronomy and Astrology of Babylonians, p.193). The promise of a "white stone" may refer to the fact that JUPITER is sometimes referred to as white. It was called by the Chaldeans "Lily" or the "pillar" or capital (the chapiter of lily-work in Solomon's Temple).

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