PROPHECY DECIPHERED

Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. Matt 13:16

Studies into the books of Daniel and The Revelation

Chapter 2 and 3 The Seven Churches

Methods of Interpretation Historical

Broad time prophecies relating to the eras of church history from John’s time until the End of Time.

Christian Walk Phases of your Christian experience that every

believer goes through

Ephesus (vs 1- 7)

Name Means Desirable

Address To the Angel of the Church of EphesusDescription of Christ

The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands

Appraisal I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who say they are apostles and are not, and found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for my name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Exhortation Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolatians, which I also hate.

Call He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saysPromise To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of

life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God

Prior Warning Acts 20:29-30

The NicolatiansNicolaitans: One of the heretical sects that plagued the churches at Ephesus

and at Pergamum, and perhaps elsewhere. Irenaeus identifies the Nicolaitans as a Gnostic sect: “John, the disciple of the Lord, preaches this faith (the deity of Christ), and seeks, by the proclamation of the Gospel, to remove that error which by Cerinthus had been disseminated among men, and a long time previously by those termed Nicolaitans, who are an offset of that “knowledge” falsely so called, that he might confound them, and persuade them that there is but one God, who made all things by His Word” (see Irenaeus Against Heresies iii 11. 1; ANF vol. 1, p. 426) There is also historical evidence of a Gnostic sect called Nitolaitans a century or so later.

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. (Antinomianism: A belief that is based upon a recognition of the mercy of God as the ground of salvation, but it makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is no longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual “belief” in this truth had a saving power.

Lampstands Isaiah 42:6-7, 49:6, 60:1-3 Matthew 5:14-16 Philipians 2:15

Historical Time period is agreed upon by most

commentators is from 31AD to 100 AD. The Apostolic Period of the Church

Christian Walk From the time you first came into the

Love of Jesus until after the honeymoon is over!

Smyrna

Address To the angel of the church in SmyrnaDescription of Christ

These things says the first and the last, who was dead and came to life

Appraisal I know your works, tribulation and poverty but you are rich and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Exhortation Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life

Call He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says

Promise Hw who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

Synagogue of Satan The name Satan in Greek: διάβολος or

diávolos = 'slanderer' or 'accuser’ Synagogue = Jewish place of worship So this statement would be, synagogue

of the accuser Also implies a temple of false worship.

Historical This period covers the time of early

church persecution under the Roman Emperors from 100 AD to 323 AD

In Smyrna itself the church suffered terribly from the Jewish accusers who actually gave up Christians to the Romans for persecution.

False Godhead In Smyrna a temple to Dea Roma was

built in 195 BC. This is the Female deity of the city of Rome. She is another representation of Artemis and Venus.

After Julius Caesars death in 44 BC he was Apotheosised and with his “son” Augustus, was added to the divinity in Rome.

Julius Caesar, Augustus and Roma became the Godhead of Caesar for the Imperial Cult.

Christian Walk

The message to Smyrna applies to those suffering under the pressure of life or the pressure of antagonism and injustice. It is for those who may be afraid because they fear the suffering to come.

Read Romans 8:38-39

Pergamum

Address To the angel of the church of PergamumDescription of Christ

Thus says the One who has the sharp two-edged sword

Appraisal I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed amongst you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitians, which things I hate.

Exhortation Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth

Call Hw who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Promise To him who overcomes I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

Satan’s Throne Why Pergamum?

Babylonian Worship moved from Babylon to Pergamum ( also the Alexandria in Egypt) after the fall of Babylon by the Persian. Here they set up worship of Nimrod, Semiramis and Damu.

Hebrew names Baal, Astarte and Tammuz These Babylonian God’s developed over time

and were Hellenised into Zeus, Hera and Apollo

Romanised into Jupiter, Juno and Mithras Egyptanised into Isis, Horus and Set.

Balaam Number 22-24

Symbols

Historical 323 AD to 538 AD when the church takes

full control of the Rome and the beginning of 1260 days begins.

Christian WalkExample to us all that it is perfectly possible

to be a follower of Christ under horrendous circumstances.

Thyatira

Address To the angel of the church of ThyatiraDescription These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like flame of fire

and His feet like fine brassAppraisal I know your works, love service, faith and your patience and as for

your works, the last are more then the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that women Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Exhortation Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depth of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.

Call He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Promise And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations – He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessel

Jezebel What is a woman in Bible prophecy? What did the real Jezebel try and do?

1 Kings 16:31-33

Sexual Immorality What is it and how does it apply to a

church?

Sacrificed to idols

Domina nostra Sanctimissi Sacramenti “ Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament” .The Virgin Mary gave her flesh to Jesus, who gives His flesh to us as spiritual food in the Holy Eucharist.

Historical 538 AD to 1798 AD

Christian Walk Christian love and faith manifested in

Christian service and perseverance can be experienced even in churches where the majority have chosen to follow a way of compromise to the world’s standards and conform to a non-christian lifestyle.

Sardis

Address To the angel of the church in SardisDescription Thus says the One who has the seven Spirits of God

and seven starsAppraisal I know your works, and you have a name that you are

alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Exhortation Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Call He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saysPromise He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments

and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Alive but are Dead The Temple of Artemis was also known as

Cybele. She had the power over life and death.

Her original temple was not in Sardis but on the Phrygian Hill.

Her priests were Eunuchs orTransgender male to female.

Cybele Revival In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s

Cybele’s worship underwent a revival post the French revolution. With the rise of the human rites and humanist movement.

In 1990, with the rise of the transgender movement in the US, the worship of Cybele once again was revived, with it being officially recognised as a religion in 1995.

Historical 1798 to 1833

Christian Walk A church can have great name and

reputation and brilliant works, and yet be spiritually lifeless and lethargic.

In the life of every christian who is backsliding from the love of Christ, there must be a time when a decisive decision for Christ must be made.

Philadelphia

Address To the Angel of the church in PhiladelphiaDescription These things says He who is holy, he who is true, He who has

the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.

Appraisal I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan, who say they are jews and are not, but lie- indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Exhortation Behold I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Call He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Promise He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will right on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new mane

What does the name mean?

Philadelphia = Brotherly Love

The Key of David Isaiah 22:20-22

Open the Door.. Close the Door So what Door was opened and What door

was closed? The Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary was

closed The Most Holy Place of the heavenly

Sanctuary was Opened.

Pillar of the Temple The Greek is can be translated as: The

base of the pillar in the Inner Shrine. 1 Tim 3:15 Galatian 2:9

Historical 1833-1844

Christian Walk God is in control and has the key to the

storehouse of heaven. Those that trust in Him and hold fast to their faith, God will work in them and through them

Laodicea

Address And to the angel of LaodiceaDescription These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True

Witness, the Beginning of the creation of GodAppraisal I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I

will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing” – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked

Exhortation I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich: and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.

Call Hw who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Promise To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcome and sat down with My Father on His throne.

L. Ron Hubbard (Founder of Scientology) once said “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.”

In some Christian circles at the moment another gospel is making itself known. It looks a lot like the gospel that we received—the gospel of Jesus Christ who died and rose again to bring us reconciliation with God—but it has an emphasis upon physical healing, material blessing and success that is very different from traditional evangelicalism. The difference doesn’t lie in the conviction that God can and does bless his people with physical healing or material prosperity as this has always been accepted as biblical; the difference lies in the conviction that Christians OUGHT to expect God to bless them physically and materially here and now.

Andrew Heard from his book Prosperity Gospel

What does the bible say about money?

Hebrews 13:5 Proverbs 23:4,5 2 Cor 2:17 1 Tim 6:10

Historical 1844 – Second Coming

Christian Walk Self-sufficiency and half hearted service

to God, the call of this church is to become “hot” for God, and allow Him to revive and reform us.