The Revelation of Jesus Christ to His servant

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ. . . to His servant John”

Greece Asia Minor Patmos John is exiled on the Island of Patmos

“And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a Son of Man’. . . Then He placed His right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever. ” Revelation 1: 12 -18

“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ” Hebrews 4: 14

“Jesus Walks Among the Lampstands”

The Seven Churches

Views of Hieropolis These Letters were Messages to the Seven Literal Churches of Asia Minor

Messages also Apply to Each Christian. “You have forsaken your first love. ” Ephesus “Wake-up!” Sardis

Martin Luther Early Promoters of Time Periods Sir Isaac Newton The Churches Represent Seven Periods of Time in the History of the Christian Church.

The 7 Churches of Revelation 2, 3 Ephesus (31 – 100) Smyrna (100 -313) Pergamum (313 – 538) Thyatira (538 – 1517) Sardis (1517 -1730) Philadelphia (1730 – 1844) Laodicea (1844 – End)

The 7 Seals – Rev. 4 - 8 Scroll with 7 Wax Seals

“Worthy is the Lamb” Victorious Jesus Enters Heaven

The First Four Seals The “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”

The Seven Seals White Horse (31 – 100) Red Horse (100 – 313) Black Horse (313 – 538) Pale Horse (538 -1517) Souls Under Alter (1517 – 1730) Signs in Earth, Moon, Stars (1730 – 1844) Silence in Heaven (2 nd Coming)

The 7 Trumpets – Revelation 8, 9, 11

Judgments Against Persecutors of God’s People Destruction of Jerusalem Advance of Islam

The Seven Trumpets Hail & Fire & Blood (70) A Great Fiery Mountain (476) The Blazing Fallen Star (Middle Ages) A Third of Heavenly Bodies Destroyed (Middle Ages) Flying Horse-like Locusts (600 s) The 200 million Horsemen (1400 s) Final Judgment (The Time of the End) Attack on Constantinople

Our Study of Church History “We will primarily study history, and refer to Revelation and other Bible books to provide Spiritual Insight. ” Next: The Apostolic Church

The Apostolic Church (31 – 100 AD)

Jesus continually walks among the churches.

Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD)

Roman Aqueduct Roman Forum

Greco-Roman Gods Zeus / Jupiter Aphrodite / Venus Poseidon / Neptune

Pax Romana (200 years) “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son. . ” Galatians 4: 4

Jesus 31 AD

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ” Acts 1: 8

The First Seal “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. ” Revelation 6: 2

“Go ye into all the World. . ” Bible Record Judas Iscariot James bar Zebedee (Acts 12: 1, 2)

Executed in Rome (c. 65) Emperor Nero Peter Being Crucified Paul

Andrew Facing Execution Philip Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Being Executed Levi Matthew

James the Less (Son of Alphaeus) Thaddaeus / Lebbaeus / Judas (Jude), the Brother of James the Less Simon the Canaanite / the Zealot (Zelotes)

Thomas / Didymus John the Beloved (bar Zebedee)

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing. . ” Colossians 1: 6

The First Church – Ephesus “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. ” -- Revelation 2: 2 -6

The First Church – Ephesus “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ” -- Revelation 2: 2 -6

Nicolaitans = a Form of Gnosticism • Gnostics taught that they had been given by God a “secret knowledge” (gnosis). • They believed in divine “duelism” (two equal gods – one good, and one evil). • They believed that a person consisted of a divine spirit in an evil body. Thus, Jesus – being perfect – could not have been a human. • They believed that their gnosis led to ultimate and perfect knowledge and wisdom (logos).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ” John – the Last Apostle John 1: 1

“In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was with God, and the logos was God. ” John – the Last Apostle John 1: 1

Ancient Manuscript of John’s Gospel

The First Trumpet “The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. ” Revelation 8: 7

“The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and Coals of fire. He sent His arrows and scattered the foe. ” Psalms 18: 13, 14

“a third. . . ” = “Significant Event” “I will pour my spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring; they will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses. ” Isaiah 44: 3, 4

Destruction of Jerusalem – 70 A. D. “Your house is left unto you desolate” - Matt. 23: 38 Arch of Titus - Rome

Next Time: The Persecuted Church