The Thyatira Era Was Called Waldensian
(1170-1517 A.D.)

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first" (Rev. 2:18-19).

The Messiah has eyes like flaming fire and feet like glowing bronze just as this city was noted for it's foundries which had flaming fire that BRONZE smiths used to craft BRONZE helmets. "Thyatira" literally means "to be ruled by a woman." The city was built by Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, in 280 B.C. and was at first a cavalry outpost. "It came into existence to be a garrison city.... But ... It possesses no proper acropolis, and the whole impression which the situation gives is of weakness, subjection, and dependence.... The history of Thyatira is a blank." (Ramsay's Letters to the Seven Churches, pp.318-323). Its leading industries were the manufacture of brass and bronze instruments using the city's foundries. It was also known for the dyeing of red and purple cloth. Lydia was evidently a salesman for this industry in Thyatira (Acts 16:14). Tradition has it that she carried the Christian message to Thyatira.

A great temple built in honor of Apollo, the sun-god, had a commanding place in the city. In this temple was an altar dedicated to a female deity.

The Thyatira Era began with the Waldenses. At first the Waldensians were basically Roman Catholics who believed laymen had a right to preach without a license (Enchiridion Fontium Valdensium G. Gonnet (ed.), 1958, p.168). "Thyatira is the middle church of the seven, and consequently stands as the symbol of the church of the Middle Ages" (Holzhauser, The Apocalypse, p.158).

Waldensians were not Sabbath-keepers in the beginning. But their "LAST works (were) better than the first" (Rev.2:19) -- possibly a pun on the first day and LAST DAY of the week. Also whole-hearted MARTYRDOM, the last act of a Christian, being better than half-hearted obedience, the first act of a Christian. Also the Reformation took place near the end of the Thyatiran Period and was therefore their "LAST" work. . Wycliffe, Huss, Luther, Knox, Calvin, Zwingli and others returned to the truth of the Bible. The mistaken concept that Waldensians kept the Sabbath arose partly because sources in the original Latin described the Waldenses as keeping the "dies dominicalis" or Lord's day (Sunday) but the word for "Sunday" was translated "Sabbath" as early as the time of the Reformation. Also, Waldenses were called "Sabatati, Insabbatatos, Insabatati, Xabatenses and other variants. Writers have supposed this referred to the Sabbath. But instead, "They are called ... Xabatenses from Xabata (sandal)" (ibid., G. Gonnet, 1958, p.144) because Waldensian ministers wore a special kind of open sandal. The word for "shoe" in modern Romance languages is a cognate of this word: French "sabot," Spanish "zapato," Portugese "sapata," Italian "ciabatta," and Provincal "sabata."

"The name Waldenses was given to the members of an heretical Christian sect which arose in the south of France about 1170.... insisting on a high moral standard, and upholding the words of Scripture against the traditions of an overgrown and worldly church.... In France, at Embrum, Peter de Bruys founded a sect known as Petrobrusians, who denied infant baptism, the need of consecrated churches, transubstantiation, and masses for the dead. A follower of his, a monk, Henry, gave the name to another body known as Henricians, who centered in Tours (Encyc. Brit. 28:255-257). Another preacher at this time was called Arnold. They were charged by the Catholic Church with remaining faithful to the WHOLE LAW of God and of observing the SABBATH (Ecclesiastical History by Peter Allix pp. 168-169).

"It was at this time (1170) that a rich merchant of Lyons, Peter Waldo, sold his goods and gave them to the poor ...The Lombard sect (taught) ... that the Roman Church was the scarlet woman of the Apocalypse, whose precepts ought not to be obeyed, especially those appointing fast days.... Attacked in Dauphine and Piedmont at the same time, the Vaudois were hard pressed; but luckily their enemies were ENCIRCLED by a FOG when marching upon their chief refuge in the valley of the Angrogne, and were REPULSED with GREAT LOSS.... Their ministers ... were admitted to office, after receiving the communion, by the imposition of hands of all ministers present. They went out to preach two by two, and the junior was bound absolutely to obey the senior ... they prayed to the Virgin and saints, and admitted auricular confession, but they denied purgatory and the sacrifice of the mass, and did not observe fasts or festivals.... Oecolampadius gave them further instruction, especially emphasizing the wrongfulness of their OUTWARD SUBMISSION to the ordinances of the church: "God," he said, "is a jealous God, and does not permit his elect to put themselves under the yoke of Antichrist." (Encyc. Brit. 28:255-257)

According to The Ancient Churches of Peidmont by Peter Allix, page 154, we read that "He lays it down also as one of their (Waldensian) opinions; that the LAW OF MOSES is to be kept according to the letter, and that the keeping of the SABBATH, circumcision, and other legal observances, ought to take place." A report of an inquisition before whom were brought some Waldenses of Moravia in the middle of the fifteenth century declares that among the Waldenses "not a few indeed celebrate the SABBATH with the Jews" (Johann von Dollinger's Reports on the History of the Sects of the Middle Ages, Munich, 1890, 2nd part, p.661).

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols" (Rev. 2:20).

But who is JEZEBEL? She is mentioned in 1 Kings 16-18. This princess of Phoenicia was a priestess of Baal who introduced SUN-WORSHIP in Israel and taught Israel to worship IDOLS and to burn incense to Ashtaroth, the "Queen of Heaven" (1 Ki. 16:31; Jer. 44:18) in the same way that Papal Rome, the "whore" and "mother of harlots" (Rev. 17), introduced SUN-WORSHIP in Israel and taught veneration of SAINTS and worship of the "Virgin MARY." Jezebel maintained 850 FALSE PROPHETS of Ashtoreth and Baal (1 Ki. 18:19) just as Papal Rome employs a large PRIESTHOOD teaching the worship of "Mother and Child." She used King Ahab over the TEN northern TRIBES as a puppet for her evil plottings (1 Kings 9:7) just as the Papacy used the TEN KINGS of Europe as puppets for evil plottings of the Vatican. Jezebel "SLEW the PROPHETS of the Lord" (1 Ki.18:13) just as Papal Rome SLEW millions of Protestant REFORMERS. Israel suffered THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS of DROUGHT and famine after Elijah informed King Ahab there would be no rain (1 Ki. 17). In the same way, Europe's ten kingdoms suffered 1260 YEARS of spiritual DROUGHT and famine (the "Dark Ages") for lack of the Bible after the "two witnesses" informed the Roman emperors (Revelation 11:3-6;12:6,14; 13:5). Just as rain came again, so also the Protestant Reformation came which is indicated by a cloud and rainbow and a little book open (Rev. 10:1-2). Just as RED and PURPLE cloth were manufactured by Thyatira, so also PURPLE and RED became a vital part of the attire of the apostate church (Rev. 17:4). Numerous Catholic paintings of Mary in the Art Galleries of the world (such as the London Tate Gallery) have a label underneath which reads, "The Queen of Heaven." Many Catholics pray to Mary but Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). "For there is ... one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). Jezebel was violently killed by SEXLESS eunuchs (2 Ki. 9:30-37) just as the Papacy will be destroyed by ATHEISTIC Communists (Rev. 17:15-18) -- both immune from the evil charms.

"And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Rev. 2:21-23).

God would "kill her children with DEATH" (2:23). This was the PLAGUE of the BLACK DEATH beginning in 1347. Pope Clement VI at Avignon estimated that over 23 million people died of the BLACK PLAGUE (see Deut. 28:21-22).

By comparing Revelation 2:21-23 with Revelation 16:9-11 ("they repented not to give him glory ... and repented not of their deeds") we see that the "space to repent" was 1260 years and Jezebel's "CHILDREN" are defined as (Protestant) "CHURCHES" imitating the Roman Catholic Church. Thyatira therefore extends at least to the Protestant Reformation. Rome didn't reform in the Reformation. "She repented not" even though both Wycliffe and Luther sought to reform from within, but found it impossible. "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed" (Jer. 51:9). In fact, this verse predicts the Counter-Reformation which was launched in opposition to the Protestant Reformation

"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 2:24-29).

The "depths of Satan" refer to deeper understanding by initiation into certain mysteries of "Gnostic" type sects. The "ROD of IRON" may refer to the "REED like a ROD" (Rev. 11:1) used to measure the temple. The word "REED" in Hebrew is "kaneh" from which we get the "CANON" of scripture. Scripture that can't be bent, twisted or distorted is "IRON" Scripture. To be given the "MORNING STAR" or "day star" (2 Pet. 1:19), which symbolizes Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:16), is to be given the same ETERNAL LIFE that our Savior has. John Wycliffe is known as "the morning star of the Reformation" because he heralded the rising of the Sun of Righteousness by being the first to translate the whole Bible into English.

"Not a few, but many know what are the errors of those who are called Pasagini ... First, they teach that we should obey the SABBATH. Furthermore, to increase their error, they condemn and reject all the church Fathers, and the whole Roman Church." (D'Achery, Spicilegium I, f.211-214; Muratory Antiq. med. aevi. 5,f. 152, Hahn, 3, 209) Gilly writes in Waldensian Researches, page 61, note 2 that "Passagii and Passagini, or the inhabitants of the passes, from the Latin word passagium, is one of the names given by ancient authors to the Waldenses."

The Lutheran historian Mosheim describes the twelfth century by saying: "In Lombardy, which is the principal residence of the Italian heretics, there sprung up a singular sect, known ... (as) Passaginians.... Like the other sects already mentioned, they had the utmost aversion to the dominion and discipline of the church of Rome; but they were at the same time distinguished by two religious tenets which were peculiar to themselves. The first was a notion that THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW OF MOSES, in everything except the offering of sacrifices, WAS OBLIGATORY UPON CHRISTIANS; in consequence of which they ... abstained from those meats, the use of which was prohibited under the Mosaic economy, and celebrated the JEWISH SABBATH. The second tenet that distinguished this sect was advanced in opposition to the doctrine of three persons in the divine nature." (Eccl. Hist. part 2, chap.5, sec.14, p.127)

"The Waldenses took the Bible as their only rule of faith, abhorred the idolatry of the papal church, and rejected their traditions, holidays, and even Sunday, but kept the seventh-day SABBATH, and used the apostolic mode of baptism." (Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, p.121)

The city of Thyatira worshipped Sambatha, a Chaldean sibyl, possibly one of the many variants of Ishtar or VENUS and the sin John specified corresponds to the debased attributes of this goddess. Christ here appears with eyes like fire, possibly because VENUS, in Akkadian "Mustelil," means "Brilliant." With feet like "brass" -- some sort of Khalkos -- the metal attributed to VENUS. The reward was to be given the "Morning Star" which is VENUS which is the Messiah.

The Sardis Era Was Called Anabaptist
(1320-1789 A.D.)

John wrote, "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Rev. 3:1-2).

The city of Sardis grew into power around 1150 B.C. Built upon a crumbling rock, it stood at an elevation of 1,500 feet. It later became the capital of the very rich kingdom of Lydia where coining of money may have originated. The city looked impregnable due to its almost perpendicular walls of elevation on which it was built. There was only one entrance into the city, and this could easily be guarded Because of overconfidence, however, during the reign of Croesus, the city of Sardis was captured by Cyrus,in 549 B.C. One of Cyrus's soldiers scaled the rock on a dark night when the soldiers were not watching. Entering the city, he opened the gates to the Persians. The same thing was repeated by Antiochus the Great in 213 B.C. "The sudden ruin of that great empire and the wealthiest king of all the world was an event ... emphasing a moral lesson by a great national disaster. A little carelessness was shown; a watchman was wanting at the necessary point, or a sentinel slept at his post for an hour; and the greatest power on the earth was hurled to destruction. The great king trusted to Sardis, and Sardis failed him at the critical moment" (p.377, Ramsay's Letters To The Seven Churches of Asia).

Sardis (lit. "That which is left" or "remnant") who "hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev.3:1), was living on a past reputation of greatness. Applying this message of being "ready to die" to the pre-Reformation period, Wycliffe was ready to die, and said so: "Preach the gospel of Christ to haughty prelates, and martyrdom will not fail you What! I should live and be silent? ... Never! Let the blow fall, I await its coming." (D'Aubigne 17:8). But he died of palsey, not the stake. Huss also was ready to die: "I trust that He will ... accord me his Holy Spirit to fortify me in his truth, so that I may face with courage, temptations, prison, and, if necessary, a cruel death. Jesus Christ suffered for his well-beloved ... He has left us his example ... Why then should we not suffer also?" (Bonnechose 1:147-148). Jerome said, "I am ready to die: I will not recoil before the torments that are prepared for me by my enemies and false witnesses, who will one day have to render an account of their impostures before the great God, whom nothing can deceive." (Bonnechose 2:151).

Applying this message to the post-Reformation period, great movements were begun by zealous men like Luther and Knox and Wesley. But their followers, thinking that the battles had been won, settled down to organized State religions, supported by the public treasury, and became dead. Satisfied with past achievements, these Christians had a mere formality.They now had a name "Reformers" or "Protestants" or Lutherans" or "Baptists" or "Methodists" but their churches were dead.

In the days of King John, even the throne of David was subject to the Pope. One of the true churches during this time was the "Anabaptists." But "ready to die" would refer to Huguenots, Hussites, Lollards and Anabaptists. They were all ready for martyrdom. But now, after centuries of apostasy and persecution, there was little faith remaining -- just as the city of Sardis in 96 A.D. was nothing of its former glory under Croesus.

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:3).

On Saint Bartholemew's Day in 1572 A.D. the Huguenots were massacred because they were not watching.

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:4-6).

"A few names" may refer to such men as John Wycliffe who began the Reformation in England (1320-1384 A.D.). He translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English and sent his "Lollard" preachers to preach throughout the land. Another man is Martin Luther who nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenburg Church door in 1517. Also William Tyndale who issued the first English edition of the New Testament (1526 A.D.). The WHITE toga in Rome symbolized triumph and joy, and was worn by candidates for high office. White is the symbol of purity and righteousness (Rev. 19:8; Zech 3:3-5). Black, a symbol of mourning or defeat, was worn by slaves or captives. When the Roman Emperor gained some great victory, and desired to celebrate it in Rome, he and his chief men walked in WHITE garments called TOGAS. God is clothed "with LIGHT as with a garment" (Ps. 104:2).

"They who maintain the SATURDAY SABBATH to be in force, comply with the Anabaptists" (Francis White's Treatise of the Sabbath Day, p.132). Russen, speaking of heresies, says: "Under this head I would conclude some of them under those of Anabaptists, who have been inclined to this personal reign of Christ, and have embraced the SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH." (On Anabaptists, London, 1703, p.79). "Anabaptists ... denied the validity of infant baptism ... The earliest Anabaptists of Zurich allowed that the ... Waldensians had, in contrast with Rome and the Reformers, truth on their side, yet did not claim to be in their succession ... deferring baptism to the age of 30, and rejecting oaths, prayers for the dead, relics and invocation of saints. The Moravian Anabaptists, says Rost, went barefooted, washed eachother's feet (like the Fraticelli) ... The Lord's Supper, or bread-breaking, was a commemoration of the Passion, held once a year. They sat at long tables, the elders read the words of institution and prayed, and passed a loaf round from which each broke off a bit and ate, the wine being handed round in flagons.... there was no Trinity of Persons ... The Anabaptists were great readers of Revelation and of the Epistle of James, the latter perhaps by way of counteracting Luther's one-sided teaching of justification by faith alone. Luther feebly rejected this scripture as "a right strawy epistle." English Anabaptists often knew it by heart." (Encyc. Brit. 11th ed.1:904-905) The Anabaptists became the SEVENTH-DAY Baptists of America.

The planet that characterised having "a name that it lived, but it was dead" was MARS the blood red planet. Called in Akkadian Numia, and in Assyrian Baluv, "the star which is not," which has disappeared. MARS was called "the Ruler" (Manma, his common title), and the king, Lulla (Akk.), or Sharru (Assyr.). One of the characteristics of MARS is to come "as a thief." MARS is Khabbatu, the Plunderer; Nakaru, the Hostile; Tsarru, the Enemy. (Astrology in the Apocalypse by Collingwood, 1886, pp.52-52).

The Philadelphia Era Was Called Church Of God
(1517-1986 A.D.)

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev. 3:7-8).

Philadelphia means "Brotherly Love." The city derived its name from Attalus II, whose loyalty to his brother Eumenes won for him the epithet Philadelphus. The city was founded about 150 B.C. "The intention of its founder was to make it a center of the Greco-Asiatic civilization and a means of spreading the Greek language and manners in the eastern parts of Lydia and in Phrygia. It was a missionary city from the beginning, founded to promote a certain unity of spirit, customs and loyalty within the realm, the apostle of Hellenism in an Oriental land. It was a successful teacher. Before A.D. 19 the Lydian tongue had ceased to be spoken in Lydia, and Greek was the only language of the country." (Letters to Seven Churches of Asia, pp. 391-392, Ramsay). Philadelphia was located at the entrance to the beautiful valley of Hermus, and was a sort of gateway or key to this fertile area. Because of its magnificence, Philadelphia was sometimes referred to as "Little Athens." But it was subject to frequent earthquakes and the populace "lived always in the dread of disaster." It was almost totally destroyed in 17 A.D. Most of its citizens fled from the city, and many never returned. Others lived for weeks and months in tents and temporary dwellings. Amid the wreckage stood a lone column; it was still standing in the eighteenth century. Perhaps it symbolizes the overcomer since Christ promises to make him "a pillar" in the temple of God. Today the Turkish name of Philadelphia is Alasehir, meaning "the Reddish City" or "The City of God." Not one Christian lives there.

What is the "KEY of DAVID"? Isaiah 22:22 says, "The KEY of the house of DAVID will I lay upon his shoulder." What KEY? In 2 Samuel 7:8-17 God promised DAVID an everlasting THRONE over Israel. Jesus is a royal son of David (Luke 1:32) and therefore is heir to the BRITISH THRONE. Papal Rome locked away the Bible with her "KEYS (authority) of St. Peter" when she RULED BRITAIN but DAVID'S royalty on the BRITISH THRONE (2 Sam. 23:5) took the Pope's place as head of the Church of England and with Christ's invisible authority opened the Bible by printing it and translating it into more than 1000 different languages. The Protestant Reformation had begun. By 1558 A.D. God had closed the door to the Pope ruling Britain. Queen Elizabeth was enthroned and the Protestant Church established in England.

What is the "OPEN DOOR" set before the church (Rev.3:8)? A great trade route passed through Philadelphia of commerce and prosperity. The Bible defines this symbol as an "OPPORTUNITY" (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor.16:9; 2 Cor.2:12; Col.4:3). First of all, that would be a PROTESTANT SOVEREIGN in Britain beginning with Henry VIII. Second, the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM granted by the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1789 which no man has been able to shut. (The French Revolution which destroyed Papal Rome's Catholic power also occurred in 1789.) It was the only official document in the world ratified by a national government, granting FREEDOM of WORSHIP, FREEDOM of SPEECH and FREEDOM of the PRESS -- like a prison DOOR OPENED so Peter could escape (Acts 12:10). Other "OPEN DOORS" naturally followed, such as printing, radio, TV, and airplane travel -- "a DOOR of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ" (Col.4:3). Also Jesus said, "I am the door" (John 10:9).

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:9-10).

What is the "SYNAGOGUE of SATAN"? The word "SYNAGOGUE" is found in James 2:2 referring to a true Christian assembly, but here it refers to a false Christian assembly -- CATHOLICS. The ROMAN CATHOLIC clergy and laity must bow down to the Protestant sovereign of the British Empire. CATHOLICS must also respect the laws and Protestant religions of the United States. Isaiah 60:14 says "they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet." "Because thou hast kept the word of my PATIENCE" (Rev.3:10) is defined in Revelation 14:12 as "Here is the PATIENCE of the saints; here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God, and the faith of Jesus." Yes, "thou ... hast KEPT MY WORD, and hast not denied my name" (Rev.3:8). How do people deny Christ? "In WORKS they deny him" (Tit.1:16).

What is the "HOUR of TEMPTATION"? The city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor suffered frequent EARTHQUAKES which are referred to as the "HOUR of TEMPTATION." Those who could afford it, lived outside the city. God promised to keep the church safe from this SHAKING -- as safe as stable pillars in his Temple. In the same way, Protestant Great Britain and Protestant United States have been kept from the "political EARTHQUAKES" of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte's devastation. Protestant Britain and America have been kept free of invaders in both World Wars. "I will appoint a place for my people Israel, whence they shall NEVER be MOVED, and where the son of wickedness shall AFFLICT them NO MORE as beforetime" (Isa. 49:12).

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:11-13).

Individually speaking, "Let no man (your boss, lender, marriage partner, or rich rival) deprive you of your crown" (see Col 2:18). Nationally speaking, "hold that fast which thou hast (Henry VIII and Parliament abrogated Papal supremacy in England in 1534; the 39 Articles ratified by British Parliament in 1571; the Act of Settlement in 1689 requiring the British monarch be a Protestant; along with that came the Coronation oath requiring monarch to defend Protestant Faith), that no (Jesuit) man take thy (Protestant British) crown" lest it revert to Papal supremacy again (e.g. "Bloody Mary;" Guy Fawkes) and Catholic idolatry.

The Church of the Reformation took a new name. Until the sixteenth century it was never heard before in history. Reformers and martyrs had been known as Wycliffites, Lollards, etcetera. But in 1521, at the Diet of Spires, they called themselves "Protestants" for the first time meaning "Witnesses for the Truth." The Greek word for "witness" is "martus" and also means "martyr."

Philadelphia (lit. "Brotherly love") began in America when "Stephen Mumford, the first SABBATH-KEEPER in America, came from London in 1664." (Hist. of the Seventh-day Baptist Gen. Conf. by James Basiley, pp.237-238). After seven years, a SEVENTH-DAY congregation of seven members was raised up from these people. They identified it as (a part of) the church of God (Seventh-day Baptist Memorial 1:36). It was located in Newport Rhode Island. In 1682 William Penn established and settled the town of "Philadelphia" in America. The first American Congress met there in 1774 A.D. The "Declaration of Independence" was established there in 1776 A.D. Philadelphia became the capital of the United States until 1800 A.D.

The remarkable dark day of May 19, 1780, and the phenomenal falling of the stars in in 1833, were recognized as a direct fulfillment of prophecy and as signs of our Lord's appearing.

William Carey went to India in 1793; Robert Morrison to China in 1807. Robert Moffat to Africa in 1817, followed by David Livingstone in 1841. The British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in 1804 which has printed the Bible in over 1000 languages. The American Bible Society was founded in 1816 (the Sunday-school movement began around this time), the National Bible Society of Scotland in 1861 and the Hibernian Bible Society of Ireland in 1806. Missionary societies were also launched at this time. In 1792 the Baptist Missionary Society started in Britain; the Anglican Church Missionary Society in 1800; the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1796; and the London Missionary Society in 1795. The "everlasting gospel" was carried "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6-7).

Later in 1860 when the SEVENTH-DAY Adventists organized into a denomination, many members of the true church fellowshipped with them. Ellen Gould White (whose name in Latin is 666: l=50, l=50, v=5, l=50, d=500, v=5, v=5, i=1) rejected the name "Church of God" on the grounds that it would "excite suspicion, conceal absurd errors, and be a mark of fanaticism" (Loughborough's Rise And Progress Of S.D.A.'s, 1892, pp.227-228). But the true church "hast not denied my name" (Rev.3:8). Her visions also discouraged marriage, meat, milk and eggs (Testimonies 2:68,400; 3:21; 5:366) reminding us of 1 Tim.4:1-3. Others organized into the Church of God (SEVENTH DAY) which believed in the SABBATH, clean and unclean meats, Wednesday crucifixion and Saturday resurrection, that the Holy Spirit is not a person, that there is no everburning hell, death is like sleep until the resurrection, baptism by immersion, the "Lord's Supper" on the 14th of Nisan, footwashing, the biblical name "Church of God," and that Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Lent and Halloween are of pagan origin (Doctrinal Beliefs of the C.O.G.S.D.)

Herbert W. Armstrong came into contact with this church in 1927 and was ordained in 1931. In 1934 he began a radio broadcast called "the Radio Church of God" and published the Plain Truth magazine. His ministerial credentials were revoked in 1937 when he insisted on preaching the observance of annual Hebrew festivals and British Israelism. However, he retained almost all of the doctrines of the Church of God (Seventh Day) as well as these two new doctrines. He later changed the name to the Worldwide Church of God. This church also believed in avoiding make-up, drugs and vaccines but followed a form of "blind obedience" to the hierarchy. When Herbert Armstrong died in 1986, Joseph W. Tkach took over and began to move toward mainstream Protestantism. He died in 1995. His son, Joseph Tkach Jr., has continued this trend and now presides over a church that believes in the trinity, Christmas and Easter and has abandoned "British Israelism ... the seventh-day SABBATH ... annual festivals ... triple tithe, and that Christians must not eat foods that were 'unclean.'" ("The Plain Truth," Feb. 1996, p.1) About half of the membership left.

The city of Philadelphia was originally called Diospolis. Zeus Meilichios, or Melqarth of Tyre, was worshipped as a stone pillar, identical with the figure of Caivanu or Chiun, the deity of the planet SATURN. The name of this planet in Akkadian is Gigi meaning "Holy & True," just as the Messiah describes himself in his message to Philadelphia. SATURN was worshipped as a pillar or black stone, so the reward of this church is "him that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of My God."

The Laodicean Era is Sunday-keeping Protestants

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:14-16).

Laodicea was a "successful trading city, the city of bankers and finance" (Ramsay pp.422-423). Situated about 50 miles from Philadelphia, it stood at the junction of two important roads. It was a city of wealth with large markets, a large banking exchange, and large manufacturing interests. A rich farming district surrounded it. Valuable wool was produced in the valley, soft in texture, glossy black in color, but tinged as it were with violet. Black garments were worn almost exclusively by the Laodiceans as evidence of their wealth. Laodicea was one of the leading health resorts in the Greco-Roman Empire. Lukewarm baths and mineral springs attracted many visitors from Europe and Asia. An important school of medicine was situated in the Temple of Karu, one of some 200 temples in the ancient world dedicated to Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, or a counterfeit messiah. Connected with this school was an industry for the manufacture of a special eye medicine, collyrium. It was made from the famous Phrygian stone. W.M. Ramsay says, "This Phrygian powder came through Laodicea into general use among ther Greeks" (p.419). Because the city was wealthy and successful, its citizens were proud, arrogant and self-satisfied. The lukewarm baths of Laodicea, "neither cold nor hot" indicate Christians who are sound asleep because of a comfortable, wealthy worldliness. Inoculated with just enough Christianity to make them immune from the genuine thing.

At the Council of Laodicea in 364 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church decreed that "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, resting rather on SUNDAY. But, if any be found to be Judaizing, let them be declared anathema from Christ." The "little horn" Papacy "will think to change the times and the laws" (Dan. 7:25), the time for the Sabbath law. Most Protestant churches have continued in this error and therefore agree with this Laodicean decision. The name "Laodicea" means "rule by the people." In other words, it is the era of democracy in the British Empire and the United States. This is a good thing in the sense of tolerating Bible Christians but a bad thing in the sense of tolerating infidels, atheists, Catholics, higher critics and SUNDAY.

Laodicea obtained her water from hot springs piped some distance to the city. By the time it reached the city, it was lukewarm, too cool for health baths, not cool enough to drink. To be "hot" is to be enthusiastic and wholly committed. In districts neighboring Laodicea, Christian inscriptions have been discovered which show a remarkable spirit of compromise with, and toleration of, heathenism. Laodicea is "politically correct." The other church eras have something good and something bad said about them. But Philadelphia has only good and Laodicea only bad. Why? Maybe because Philadelphia and Laodicea exist side by side to the end.

This prophecy, when connected with chapter 19, indicates that Christians choose to stay in a warm climate (United States) rather than fleeing voluntarily to a "cold" place of safety (Whitehorse, Yukon) or a "hot" place such as Mexico. Comfort and complacency over obedience. Finally God "spews them out" of the United States (or Canada) by mass deportation or some other means because they remained at lower latitudes and wouldn't voluntarily relocate in Yukon. He intends to punish the United States (and possibly also much of Canada) and doesn't want Christians to stay in this "Babylon." Perhaps British Columbia is a type of Great Britain at a time when the Barbarians (Chinese or N. Koreans) overran the Roman Empire (United States) and therefore would be a place a safety as well as Yukon.

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Rev. 3:17).

Laodiceans are "supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw thyself" (1 Tim. 6:5). Many Americans have chosen to become "rich, and increased with goods" physically at the expense of obeying God spiritually. These Christians have become spiritually "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev.3:17) while rich in an age of internet shopping. As Christ said, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money)." (Matt.6:24). The American lukewarm lifestyle includes watching corrupting TELEVISION just as among Laodicea's ruins there have been discovered THEATERS, especially a very large AMPHITHEATER, capable of seating from thirty to forty thousand people. How many Laodicean Christians spent their time watching THEATER and AMUSING themselves? The city of Laodicea was a strong fortress but its water source was several miles from the city. An enemy could besiege the city easily and cut off the water supply. It was outwardly prosperous, but in reality weak and vulnerable. The same is true of the United States and Great Britain. We are vulnerable to terrorist attack. Our stoves and ovens are dependent on the electrical grid. Our lighting depends on the electrical grid. Our heaters are dependent on the electrical grid. Our freezers and refrigerators depend on the electrical grid. Within three days of a power outage the food would begin to spoil. Our clothes washer and dryer depend on the electrical grid. Our water that flows from our faucets is piped for miles from reservoirs -- a system very vulnerable to attack and sabotage -- and powered by the electrical grid. The same is true for our sewer system. Our computers, television and radio are useless without the electrical grid or a generator. Nobody has a composting toilet or outhouse anymore. Nobody uses a well in the back yard anymore. Kerosene stoves and lanterns are considered a novelty and nobody stores kerosene. Crank-up radios might work unless there is a nuclear explosion which generates EMP waves that fry all electronics -- including all vehicles. Nobody buys books anymore. Truly we are "wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked" if any catastrophe occurs. Our "riches" consist of complicated gizmos and inventions that require replacement parts or electricity or gasoline or oil to run. They break in six months because they're made of plastic. Not like the solid durable goods of 100 years ago that were hand crank or human power and lasted a lifetime. Our "riches" consist of paper "monopoly money" known as dollars, stocks and bonds and not tangible assets such as physical gold and silver coins, agricultural land and chickens, goats, cows, sheep and other livestock. Real books not the internet. Vehicles that don't need a specialist to fix them -- like a moped or old-fashioned bicycle.

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Rev. 3:18).

What is "GOLD tried in the FIRE"? Physically speaking, it is high quality durable goods that have been proven through time to work. Brass kerosene pressure stove (Britelyt); brass alcohol stove (Trangia); brass kerosene pressure lantern (Britelyt); crank light (Wind n go versalite); stainless steel water distiller non-electric (E-still); iron Dutch oven (Lodge); single-speed white cruise bicycle (Worksman is heavy duty enough to make into a moped); rifle and ammunition (M1A); James manual washing machine (Lehman's); come-along (Wyeth-Scott "More-Power" Puller); .999 gold coins (Canadian Maple Leaf); physical books (KJV Bible; Strong's Concordance, etc.); non-hybrid garden seeds (Heirloom); stored grains and legumes making simple protein (hard red winter wheat or beans in mylar envelopes with oxygen absorbers in sealed buckets); canned sardines (Brunswick or Bumble Bee) etcetera. Spiritually speaking, it is suffering for a belief, and still believing and obeying it over a long time, even after suffering for it. Resting on the Sabbath and festivals often interferes with earning a living. Rest anyway. This is buying real GOLD character (1 Cor.3:9-16; Job 23:10; 1 Pet.1:7). "FIRE" is "TRIAL" and suffering (Ez.38:19; 1 Pet.1:7). WHITE raiment, physically speaking, is a good camoflage against the snow which may prove useful if Christians must live a frontier lifestyle. 100% Alpaca wool sold in Peru is five times as warm as sheep's wool and from that source you can still find white caps, white sweaters, white mittens and white socks via the internet. White wool underwear can still be found in the U.S. (Minus 33 degrees). Spiritually speaking, white clothing is PURITY (Isa. 61:10; Dan.12:10) and "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Rev.19:8) which is contrasted to Laodicea which produced a BLACK wool cloth from the black sheep in the neighborhood. Christ's parable of the man who lacked a wedding garment (Matt. 22) pictures Laodicea. Lacking GOOD DEEDS. In the Greco-Roman world, black was generally recognized as a symbol of subjection. Regarding eye ointment, physical "snow blindness" is a problem for anyone who lives continually in a white snowy environment. Sunglasses or eye protection are needed. Those who suffer dry-eye from a LASIK operation will need lubricating eye drops (Refresh Tears). Laodicea had a school of medicine and the physicians had OINTMENT to cure physical EYE PROBLEMS but that is again contrasted with "an UNCTION from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20) to cure spiritual BLINDNESS -- "the Holy Spirit which God hath given to them that OBEY him" (Acts 5:32). We must see SPIRITUALLY (Eph. 1:18; John 16:13). Most Americans are blind to "BRITISH-ISRAEL" truth. They mistakenly believe we are gentile and somehow think this teaching is "racist." Most Americans are blind to the requirement to OBEY "Jewish Law." They mistakenly believe it was "done away with" and is "legalistic." Most Americans are blind to HISTORICISM. They mistakenly believe in futurism. Laodicea also had a tremendous amount of GOLD and so needed nothing. Christ asks Laodiceans (Americans and British) to buy GOLD character. People who are successful in a career job often have to fill their minds with technical skills and mundane knowledge which crowds out a Bible education. Our minds get distracted by materialism. The more possessions, the more distractions.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:19-20).

Even Christ has been excluded from Laodicea since he stands at the door and knocks (Rev.3:20) like a diplomat who is "persona non grata" to a foreign government. Americans are too busy on the Sabbath to go to church. Too busy to read their Bibles. Too busy to pray.

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:21-22).

The characteristic of MERCURY according to Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos 1:4-7, is that it was "neither cold nor hot." MERCURY is Nabu, the Proclaimer and Ris-risati, the Chief of the beginning, and Ak, the Maker which parallels the Messiah who calls himself the "Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." The reward offered was to sit with the Messiah on his throne, just as MERCURY is closest attendant to the sun, and thus called Alam, the sun's shadow or image.

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