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Messages From |
PREFACE
After having studied the book of Revelation, together with prophecy, for many years, and having found its great value in exposing deceptions, confirming Bible doctrines, and Christian experiences, I have decided to write a small treatise on the "Seven Churches", as recorded in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation.
I wish to acknowledge much help received from Smith's Bible Dictionary, Peloubet's Bible Dictionary and various encyclopedias, in giving historical and geographical information.
In prayerfully studying the seven churches, as symbols of the seven ages of the gospel day, my own soul has been blessed. With an unbiased and unprejudiced mind, I have asked God to let the spirit of truth give me the truth concerning this matter, for which I give Him thanks and praise.
My purpose in writing this booklet is that I feet the spirit of God directing me to do so. I am convinced, from the facts given in this book that God is not pleased with many things, which happened in the past and are happening at this present time. For the purpose of making plain good and evil, right and wrong, deception and truth I have sincerely penned these few pages. I trust that many will see the New Testament Church -- what it, is, and what it is not.
I have not intended to personate people, or become their judge, but I remember Jesus says, "The words I speak will judge you in the last day." With a heart full of love for my heavenly Father, and the souls of men, I earnestly pray these truths, herein given, will bless others as they have blessed me.
Yours in Him, J. F. Lawson
THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA...
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he signified it by his angel unto his servant John." Rev. 1:1. "John unto the seven churches…" Rev. 1:3. "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks." Rev. 1: I2. "And he had in his right hand seven stars." Rev. 1: 16. "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." Revelation 1:20.
The book of Revelation is a book of symbols. It is the history of the church, God's people, through the entire gospel dispensation, from Jesus' first coming unto his second coming. The very first verse says it is "The revelation of Jesus Christ;" Christ revealed through his people, the church.
Jesus was seen standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, holding seven stars in his right hand. Then we are told the seven candlesticks are the seven churches, and the seven stars are the angels or ministers of each church age. This is where we would expect to find Christ: in the midst of his people. He always held in his protecting hand of safety and power, the ministry that were his.
"John, unto the seven churches." John's letters, recorded in the second and third chapters of Revelation, gives spiritual condition and standing of the people, as a group, during that certain epoch of time. By examining history we will find some of these church ages had more light on the Bible than some others. They are called candlesticks and they shined according to the light they had. The people of each age were responsible for the light they had. It is a fact there were congregations in each one of the cities mentioned in Asia, at the time of the writing of the Revelation, A. D. 96. God uses them as symbols in writing his message, that He might reveal it in the last clays, or "evening time" of the gospel day.
The gospel day, from Christ to the end of symbolic language, which, no doubt, is near the time of his second coming, is divided into seven candlesticks or church ages. The first ended about 270 A. D., the second about 530, the third about 1530, the fourth about 1730, the fifth about 1880, the sixth about 1930 and the seventh about 1980. The day and hour of the coming of our Lord is not known, but surely we can see the "fig tree budding," and can know the end is nigh even at the door. I see a spiritual application, of the conditions and surroundings of each city, in which the church was located, which fit the spiritual conditions and surroundings of the church, in that particular age of time. A more detailed explanation, of some of these points touched on in this booklet, are given in our book, "Revelation, With Gospel and Prophecy.
EPHESUS...
"Unto the angel of the church at Ephesus, write;" Rev. 2:1. Let us notice the conditions and surroundings of the city of Ephesus. It was near the coast, on the West side, about the center of Asia Minor. It was a thriving, prosperous city, with great commercial facilities. It was built partly on small hills and in the valleys. Its soils were fertile, and was watered and drained by two rivers.
There was a thriving, spiritual congregation of the church of God, here in this city. It is said this church numbered around 10,000 saints of God, in the year 100 A.D. It is a very fitting symbol of the first candlestick age, which reached up to 270 A. D. A prosperous church age, indeed. This city had outlets, which made it possible to reach all the surrounding country. In this age the seed of the gospel fell on rich fertile soil. The two streams that watered this city, bringing freshness and life, are beautiful symbols of the WORD and SPIRIT, the source of all spiritual life, power and growth.
Near the head of the bay, in the city of Ephesus, stood the temple of Diana. There were other temples of heathen worship but the temple of Diana was the 'capsheaf' of all. It was 425 feet long, 220 feet wide and had over 200 marble columns 60 feet high. It was the pride of all Asia. It was here where the uproar was held in Paul's time, recorded in the 19th chapter of Acts. The destruction of this temple began in the 3rd century, when its gates were taken to Constantinople, Turkey, and Rome, Italy, which later became the center of Roman Catholicism. This temple was torn down and carried away, the city destroyed; now there is nothing left but ruins and swampy marshes.
Now let us notice these literal things as symbols of spiritual conditions during the first candlestick age of 270 years, of the Church of the living God. The Diana Temple and worship is a symbol of the dragon powers, which stood before the woman (church) to devour her child, mentioned in Rev. 12:3-4. This congregation in Ephesus, prospered in spite of the heathen worship it had to face, insomuch that its temples were torn down. In like manner, the Church prospered into its millions in the first candlestick age. Like the Diana temple, Paganism was broken to pieces and carried into Constantinople and Rome, and became the dogma of Catholicism. Many of the cults and forms of worship in paganism became a part of the practices of the Catholic church.
Paganism could not stand before its two great rivers and fountains of living waters--the WORD and SPIRIT. Pagan worship began to crumble, as the Christians went everywhere preaching the word of God. Millions professed a hope in Christ.
At the close of the first candlestick age, Roman Catholicism began to take foundation and form, using much of the Pagan dogma as ritual and worship. So in spirit, the gates and columns were carried away just like the temples in the city of Ephesus. Heathen worship, in its ancient form was broken, torn and carried away into beast worship, branded Christian, in Catholicism and Protestantism, and is handed down in the form of the eighth beast-World Council of Churches. And is spoken of again in the 16th chapter of Revelation as the working of "The three unclean spirits."
"Unto 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 labors, 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 labored and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Rev. 2:1-4.
These folk had a commendable record until we reach the last statement. They had the qualities that produced the fruit of the spirit, with vigilance and steadfastness in the faith that condemned false apostles and showed them up as liars. Considering the church as a whole in this first candlestick age, they stood true in the face of persecution, opposition and even death, "And for his name's sake they fainted not." Pagan powers tried to crush the true religion of the Lord Jesus Christ by punishing, murdering and slaughtering the Christians; they were burned at the stake, thrown to wild beasts, sawn asunder, pulled to pieces by beasts of burden, but the church thrived on the blood of its martyrs.
Near the close of this first candlestick age, the loss of their first love was seen very clearly. That love one gets when he is first redeemed is always valuable and essential to live so as to please God. It sets us against sin, opens every avenue of our hearts for God and truth and works 'a carefulness' in us. It is fruitful soil for the Holy Spirit to reveal the deep things of our heavenly Father concerning his people, and to have HIS way in their lives.
The loss of this love is the first step into backsliding. With such a condition existing in the hearts of people, God is given 'second place'…this He will not accept. Many in this condition went on professing. Not having the spirit of God to guide them, they were led into deceptions and apostasy. The last part of the first candlestick age was 'marked by' much carnal quibbling amongst the ministry. This was, and has always been, a sign of apostasy. Those that were spiritual and stood for truth, stood like giants in battle. Little by little, carnal leadership and doctrines of men, like the octopus, slowly but surely, fixed their deadly grip that strangled and killed the divinely organized, spirit-filled, and spirit-led Church of God. Resolutions were passed in their assemblies giving power to boards and committees. These conditions opened the way for a carnal desire for preeminence among the ministry. It was soon granted that the Bishop or Pastor of the large congregations should have preeminence over the others. By 270 A. D., this departure from Bible truth had well laid the foundation, which developed into the Roman Catholic church. These things were thought to be harmless and necessary by those following the CARNAL mind, who had lost the leadership of the Spirit by losing their "first love." The loss of that "FIRST LOVE," brings spiritual blindness and loss of vision…then, man steps in and tries to take God's place-- "As God sits in the place of God."
No doubt there was an EGO among many of the ministers which said, "We are the continuation of the GREAT APOSTOLIC CHURCH, WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS TO ITS CREDIT, WE CAN'T BE WRONG. We are IT and IT can't go down." In this blinded condition they fail to see that God will not stay with a people that leave HIS TRUTH.
Thus, the first candlestick age was brought to a close, and the second candlestick was ushered in under grave circumstances.
SMYRNA...
"Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write." Rev. 2:8. There was a church of God in the city of Smyrna, which God used as a symbol of the second candlestick age, extending from 270 to 530 A. D. First, let us notice the surroundings and environment of the church in the city of Smyrna. I
Smyrna was about forty miles north of Ephesus at the mouth of a river emptying into the Agean Sea. It was surrounded by the water on the west; mountains on the north, east and south. Its worship was paganistic, but Tiberus granted the city permission to erect a temple in honor of the Emperor and Senate of Rome. In the time of Strabo it was said to be the most beautiful city in all Asia. Its cafes were fascinating and beautifully lighted, so that at night they looked like fairy houses. Its streets were rough with granite- like boulders in them. The alleys were full of pits and holes which made it dangerous at night. The city was morally bad: at times, being plundered at night by vandals, bandits and robbers, making it unsafe to be out.
It was a rich, prosperous city. It followed its fortunes by falling in line with its new conquerors. Its wealth lay greatly in its commerce. Camels laden with goods would often crowd people off the streets. This city was affected by earthquakes, wars and fighting…changing hands many times as a result of battle. There was a library and museum with beautiful porches dedicated to Homer (said to be one of its natives) an Odium, and a temple to the Olympian Seus.
At the time of John's writing of the Revelation, A. D. 96, there was a congregation of the church of God in the city of Smyrna. God has used it and its environment to symbolize the spiritual conditions which surrounded the second candlestick age, from 270 to 530 A. D.
First, let us notice the location of Smyrna. It lay about forty miles north of Ephesus. This would symbolize a moving north into a colder climate spiritually, cooling off. The first or Ephesus church lost its first love; its candle- stick had been removed and the second candlestick set in its place. The apostasy had begun. Any church losing its first love is bound to apostatize. The Holy Spirit was ruled out by the fleshly desires of carnal men. Offices of authority and man-rule began to be set up. Men began to seek preeminence, aspiring to places of authority. It was soon granted that the bishop or pastor with the largest congregation should have authority over the pastors of the smaller ones. In their assemblies they began to elect men to these man-made offices in the church; this began to take on substantial form about the year 270 A. D., and within a few centuries had developed into the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
During this second candlestick age; God had a people, a church, symbolized by the church in Smyrna, called the second candlestick. Their knowledge of the word of God had faded until they were far from the Bible standard in many ways, yet some knew how to get saved. Some stood tenaciously against the teachings and practices of the beginnings of Catholicism. The congregation in the city of Smyrna was prosperous, but not like the church in Ephesus. Their difficulties were harder to overcome. As time went on, it dwindled to a smaller number. The church in the second candlestick age had to face this apostate condition developing into Catholicism. As time went on, the saved people became fewer in number. The dogma of Catholicism would not save souls. By the end of the second church age the light of the candlestick was shining very dim.
Smyrna was a place of many battles and changed hands many times. So it was with the Catholic church in its beginnings. They had much wangling and battling among themselves; the stronger conquering the weaker. With paganistic practices being brought in and branded Christian, they soon decided that religion was an external performance instead of an inner experience. They persecuted all that opposed them. The church in Smyrna had rough traveling over the granite-like boulders in the streets of the city; in like manner, the church had rough going in the second candlestick age facing the growing Apostasy. Vandalism in the city at nights was just like the spirit of Catholicism in its beginnings…taking everything by force and forcing it into the Catholic faith. Like the laden camels, Catholicism soon crowded everything else off the streets, and by 530 A. D. had complete power and control. The Catholic creed, in its changing and conquering prosperity from 270 to 530 A. D., was in spiritual opposition like the city of Smyrna was to the true church in its city limits.
The people were granted permission to build a temple in honor of the Emperor of Rome. This is just what happened in the second candlestick age, when the Catholic church came into existence. It was erected by the people and not by God. Also a temple was erected to the Olympian Zeus; significant of worldliness in the Catholic institution. An Odium of hate was also erected. The church in the second candlestick age was surrounded and lived in the midst of such conditions.
Today there still remains a large city at the place of Smyrna. Many of its temples have been torn down or changed; some fragments scattered around. The temple erected in honor of the deified Rome had in its walls, as filling, busts and heads and fragments of idol gods. Let us remember that the Catholic church was made up of fragments of heathen worship branded Christian.
The peculiar worship of the city was of the god Bacchus, the mysteries of which was administered with great pomp. Such a spirit was certainly found in Papal Rome in the second candlestick age. The food, which the Catholic church dished out, was of no spiritual value. It was made of great show, pomp, and pride. And like the cafes of Smyrna, lighted and sparkled like fairy houses in the darkness of the night, so the spiritual cafes were decked and adorned by the pomp of men blazing with idol worship in the darkness of spiritual night.
The fragments of busts and heads of images, which remain around the present city of Smyrna, are mutilated by the Turks because of their hatred against such things. Catholicism, in its changed forms, will receive its final 'blows,' will be destroyed and its fragments will be mutilated by Communism, the unclean spirit out of the mouth of the dragon at the end of the seventh seal.
The Catholic church and State were combined in this second candlestick age. They persecuted even unto death the Christians who would not adhere to and submit to their dogma of worship. They owned the places of worship. The true Christians had to worship in dens and caves because of the persecutions of Papal Rome. They were burned at the stake, sawn asunder, pulled to pieces with beasts of burden, thrown to wild beasts, eyes punched out, hot awls punched through their tongues, unless they would recant and pay homage to deified Rome; this, many would not do.
"And unto the angel in Smyrna, write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulations, and poverty, (But thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogues of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer." Rev. 2:8-10.
In this study we have shown that the Smyrna church fits perfectly in this second candlestick age. They were commended for their faithfulness under such conditions. The message unto the angel or ministry said, "I know thy poverty, (yet thou art rich)." They were poor in things of this world but rich in heavenly grace. The Catholics claimed to be the spiritual Jews (the church), but we are told they were the synagogues of Satan. They were told not to fear any of those things they would have to suffer. God's grace is always sufficient regardless of what happens. This group was seen later with white robes. Praise God!
PERGAMOS...
"And unto the angel of the church in Pergamos, write." Rev. 2:12. Pergamos was a very important city in Asia Minor. Its general conditions and environment are used to symbolize the spiritual condition of the church in the third candlestick age, which began 530 and ended 1530 A.D. Pergamos was located about sixty miles north of Smyrna, about twenty miles inland on a river. This moving north indicates a getting into a cold climate spiritually, the church now has gone into complete darkness. For one thousand years the one stream (river) of pagan worship, branded Christian under the name of Catholicism, flowed through the city or age of time where the saved people lived.
Pergamos had its beautiful groves filled with many idolatrous temples, theaters and an amphitheater in which was a den of the wild beasts. At the time of John's writing about A. D. 96, there was a Christian church in this city with this kind of an environment to face. At the close of the Smyrna candlestick age, which ended 530 A. D., the church was in the midst of spiritual darkness, just a few having enough light and understanding to get saved. They were told they would suffer tribulation ten (one hundred years) days, which extended through the Pergamos candlestick age. This persecution, killing both spiritually and physically, extended through the entire ten days of prophetic time, of which "Antipas", his faithful martyr, was a symbol. There were thousands and, perhaps millions killed in this great amphitheater of Catholic persecution, who would not submit to and support their idolatrous worship.
One of the chief industries of this city was the use of sheep and goatskins to make parchments for the writing of books. It was also noted for its large library. In thinking of the saved people as sheep and the unsaved professors as goats, there was enough history connected with it during this Pergamos church age to make a library. It would take volumes of books to record all the history of idol worship and their persecutions of those who opposed them.
The origin of the city of Pergamos is not known. About two hundred years B. C. Pergumon deposed its king, took over the city and set up the family of the Italian kings. This is a clear symbol of Catholicism, in the Pergamos candlestick age, conquering paganism and setting up its line of Popes.
The remains of these temples and churches lie in heaps of ruin. Parts of their columns and other parts of these buildings have been carried away and placed in other buildings. The Catholic church, of which Pergamos was a symbol, has gone through many changes, broken and torn, and carried away into hundreds of Protestant movements.
There was a palace of the kings in the city of Pergamos, which has been thrown down, only heaps of ruin left as markers. The power of the Popes has been broken, driving them into the Vatican exile. The Popes, during this third candlestick or Pergamos church age, had absolute power as church and state were combined together. There were a few Christian people scattered through this long period of time, who would not conform to the Catholic faith, that were persecuted relentlessly. If they would not recant, they were thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheater. If they did recant and give over and conform to the requirements of the Catholic church they were thrown into the great arena of the Catholic amphitheater and devoured by the beasts and dragonistic spirits.
"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. During this one thousand year period of the Pergamos church age, many Christians stood true to what light they had and was commended for their fidelity. Satan had moved out of crumbling paganism and took his seat in the Catholic church, bringing over his cults and dogma of heathen worship. The Christians were surrounded by such worship on every side. Yet they did not deny His NAME and His FAITH. For their faithfulness many, like Antipas, suffered martyrdom.
"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which things I hate."
The Catholics tried to destroy all the Bibles and keep the people from reading it. The people were in. ignorance. No gospel preached as nations. A few got saved, but were ignorant of how a Christian should live. Some may have belonged to the Catholic church, who were saved, who were led into eating things spiritually offered to their idols in Catholicism. The Catholics held the doctrines of Balaam, idol worship and required all to conform to it. It is very possible that some saved people, in their ignorance, were mixed up in such things.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes was polygamy-many marriages. When a person is saved they are married to Christ. Rom. 7:4. Then to join or be married to any group, movement or man-made church is to commit 'spiritual fornication.' This is exactly what he is telling the angel of the church at Pergamos and God said he hated such things. They were told to repent or He would fight against them with the sword of his mouth, which is the word of God. They did not repent and He began to fight with the sword of his mouth in the next or Thyatira church age.
THYATIRA...
"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 unto fine brass." Rev. 2:18.
The church at Thyatira is the fourth church mentioned in the Revelation. It followed the one mentioned located at Pergamos. We have placed the Pergamos candlestick as the few Christians who lived during the long Papal night of a thousand years; ending with the beginning of the Thyatira age, which began 1530 A. D. The Augsburg conference, 1530 A. D., marks the ending of the Pergamos and the beginning of the Thyatira church ages. This conference was called by Charles Fifth of Germany for the purpose of discussing the faith of many who had broken with the Catholic church and it marks the beginning of the Thyatira candlestick age, with a little more light shining on the paths of the people of the church.
From 1530 to 1730 A. D. justification by faith was preached. Instead of confessing to the priest, people began to confess their sins to God and believe on His Son Jesus Christ. While ignorant in many ways and of many things in the Bible, the doctrine of justification by faith was preached and embraced by many, which constituted the church in this candlestick age.
At the time John was given this message on the isle of Patmos there was a church, a congregation of God's people, located in the city of Thyatira. Now let us notice the environment and conditions in this city and apply them to the spiritual conditions, which surrounded the people of God in this fourth candlestick age in the gospel day.
We notice on the map that Pergamos is located the farthest north, being about 60 miles north of Smyrna, signifying spiritually cold and frozen. Thyatira is a little southeast of Pergarnos on the Sardis road. East is the direction from which light comes and south is going toward a warmer climate. This is just what took place in the fourth candlestick age, from 1530 to 1730. It being located on the Sardis road, it would seem clear that the next move of the people of God was into the Sardis candlestick age from 1730 to 1880.
The city of Thyatira was located on the border of Misia and Lydia, some times thought to be in one and at other times in the other. This is exactly the way the people were in the beginning of the Protestant age. They were so confused they did not know where they were-- some times on one side and at other times somewhere else. The church at Thyatira was located in a city whose streets were paved with fragments of sculptured stones from wrecked temples of worship. In this fourth candlestick age the road on which the saved people were given to travel was paved with fragments of pagan and papal worship. Catholicism reached down and got heathen cults and branded them Christian in the Catholic worship. Then Protestantism made an image to the beast (Catholicism) by using many of its sculptured stones in its ritual.
In the city of Thyatira they worshipped Appolo under the name of a Macedonian king. In this fourth candlestick age, reformers were made idols of worship. Appolo is said to be a twin son of the god Zeis, and his mother Leta is said to have fled to an island, where he was born, because of jealousy of other gods. The Protestant reformers, who are worshipped as idols, must have all been twins according to the great number that existed.
Another peculiar worship was that of a Sambatha or Sybil--a woman endowed with the spirit of prophecy or fortune telling. This was said to have been brought there by proselyte Jews. This image of a woman as an idol was a clear symbol of man-made churches in the Protestant age, which are erected by proselyte Christians. In many places a woman is used as a symbol of the church. This is what is referred to in Rev. 2:20: "Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which callest herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and. to eat things sacrificed unto idols." In the Protestant age, the ritual or creed of man-made churches became its prophetess or teacher, leading its members into spiritual fornication. Their church became their Sybil and God. Spiritually what ever it suggested, became their food; so they ate things sacrificed unto their church, which was their idol. Once 'tied to these idols,' not many ever 'gave them up.' This spiritual fornication, in the sight of God, is just as bad as literal fornication.
In the city of Thyatira they deified and worshipped many of their kings. In the fourth candlestick age, many religious reformers and leaders were exalted to high place. By many, their teachings were adhered to as though they were infallible.
Inscriptions are found in the ruins of this city, which give an account of many incorporate societies, showing different professions and trades. We only have to look into the ruins of the conditions, which existed in the fourth candlestick age to find fragments and signs of their spiritual positions and crafts in their man-made organizations.
At the present time the city of Thyatira has a population --of about 15,000 people, about three-fourths of which pay taxes and one-fourth, the poorer class, are exempt. The present condition of the remains of what happened in the fourth candlestick age has, like that city, took on many modern changes. It is generally supported by the wealthier class who pay the bills, but some of the poorer class belong within its sectarian walls.
History tells us that, at the present time, there are many remains of antiquities, such as sculptured stone, generally in fragments built into modern walls, or used for troughs or well covers. The prophetic and spiritual mind can see the application. We now can see some of the fragments of the antiquities, carved by the leaders of the fourth Candlestick age, now placed in the modern walls of sectarian institutions, which had their beginnings in the fourth candlestick age. Some of those man-carved doctrines and practices are still used as troughs, out of which the old practices in their modern form, are fed to the people. History also mentions that some of the fragments of these sculptured temples are today used as well covers. It is plain to see that some of the fragments of the spiritual temples, which Protestantism erected in the fourth candlestick age, are today used to cover the well of the water of life. Those old heretical teachings are today covering the fountain of living waters from thousands of souls, who have nothing more than membership in man-made institutions, which had their beginnings in the fourth candlestick age.
In Revelation 2:18-24 there is a message from the Son of God to the people of this church age of Thyatira from 1530-1730. The people in this age did not understand this message. "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY of God should be finished." Rev. IO: 7. We are now living in the age of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and it is given unto us to know the mysteries. We are to be the ones to profit by the revelation of the deceptions of the fourth candlestick age.
In Rev. 2:19 we read: "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." We notice they were complimented for their works first and last. They had some truth with their deceptions. God blessed according to their faithfulness to the truth they had. They had more works at the last of this candlestick or church age than they had at the beginning. It is reasonable that they should make improvement.
The outstanding charge against them was: "Thou sufferest that woman, Jezebel, which callest herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." Rev. 2:20. These people had built or organized churches of their own, and God likened them unto Jezebel, the harlot. In a spiritual sense they had Joined themselves unto harlot churches and committed spiritual fornication. Jesus wants his people to belong to nothing but He Himself and His church. We are told the remedy is repentance. Since she did not repent, Jesus said, "I will kill her children with death." This he did later with the preaching of the judgments of God against her sins. When people hear the truth that exposes false, Jezebel churches, they will, either die to it, come out and take their stand against it, or die (spiritually) in it…which ultimately, could lead to 'eternal death.' [End of Part One]
