Prologue (Daniel 12:1–13)1 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon a come to pass. [20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. At John's advanced age it would have been a harrowing ordeal. He went to Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, and in Pasadena, California, graduating with degrees in theology and Spanish. John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater). Many of the coins discovered in Pergamos have the serpent as part of their design. He was one of the twelve apostles who followed Jesus. To their surprise, the site was completely unguarded. The city was especially famous for its fine woolen cloth, usually dyed in a shade that came to be called Thyatiran purple. He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. The Revelation of St. John was written under similar circumstances, but is by far the most sublime of these writings. We learn from John that he wrote Revelation from the island of Patmos (verse 9), in the Aegean Sea 40 miles off the coast of Asia Minor (modern- day Turkey). He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God. The last living original disciple then spent his remaining days in Ephesus until he died somewhere around the close of the first century . John was born 6 A.D. His life appears on the Bible Timeline Chart between then and 100 AD. This meant that once a year each head of household had to appear before authorities, burn incense to the emperor and declare, "Caesar is lord." This city would never reach the commercial greatness of Ephesus or Smyrna, but it was the indisputable center of religious, medical and artistic culture of the region. He also writes for the Beyond Today magazine and currently serves on the UCG Council of Elders. When did organ music become associated with baseball? John wrote the Book of Revelation. Thus, pagan religion had its center in Pergamos. There he won respect and admiration from the Romans for his brotherly fidelity. The person who wrote the gospel according to John and the book of Revelation was beheaded. Knowing this, Christ gives the brethren the hope that if they persevere in the faith they will receive something that all the temple worship of Diana could never give them—the gift of eternal life. Lastly, Christ warns them not to put their trust in their physical wealth but in Him, who can develop the true gold that comes from overcoming trials and building righteous spiritual character. "To him who overcomes," He promised, "I will give to eat from the tree of life [symbolizing eternal life], which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7 Revelation 2:7He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.American King James Version×). According to Church tradition, their mother was Salome. He recommends they focus instead on buying from Him the spiritual clothing of true righteousness that He later describes as "fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8 Revelation 19:8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.American King James Version×). The remains of the shrine to Asklepios have been uncovered by archaeologists. Thus, the most blessed and beautiful description we have of any disciple is that John was the one “whom Jesus loved.” John mentioned this in his gospel, referring to it 5 times without mentioning his name. Many people view Revelation, sometimes called the Apocalypse, as a mysterious book of strange symbols and images. "A 450-foot segment of the widest section was excavated and reconstructed so visitors to the site can experience a beautiful approach to the Asklepieion," notes John McRay. This concludes our archaeological review of the last book of the Bible. Therefore one could logically send a letter there and then on to the remaining six cities Christ mentioned. There, in consequence, for many centuries was 'Satan's seat.'. First, we will address the question, “Who wrote the book of Revelation?” The internal evidence of the book of Revelation is very important since the Word of God is without error and is the only source of truth. Christ says about this congregation: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. The city was named after the love the king who founded the city held for his brother. If they persevere in His Word, He will give them a crown that they may rule with Him in His Kingdom. He eventually returned to Ephesus, where he died of old age sometime after 98 C.E., and was buried in modern-day Selçuk, Turkey, where his tomb is located. What was a Christian to do? "Long before Rome was undisputed mistress of the world," comments William Barclay, "Smyrna had cast in its lot with her, never to waver in its fidelity. John who wrote Revelation was the same John who wrote the gospel of John and 1, 2 and 3 John. Privacy Policy  Terms of Use. That is the operational principle by which we discover truths about the book of Revelation. The mention of Satan's throne in Pergamos likely refers to the famous worship of its most popular deity, the serpent god Asklepios Soter, whose Latin equivalent means "the man-instructing serpent and savior." “St. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea" (verse 11). . He was first a disciple of John the Baptist. . Jesus was the cousin of John the Baptist, who's mentioned in the gospels and died when he was beheaded by Herod. In Rev. The Sardian brethren could readily identify with a warning to be watchful. Revelation 1:9, “John, your brother and companion…” Christ reminds the Thyatiran brethren they must come out of that worldly society, no matter how enticing it appeared, and not compromise with the truth. "The water either came from the nearby hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way" (notes on Revelation 3, Zondervan software). Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. Patmos is a small island of only 24 square miles (62 square kilometers), with a coastline in the shape of a horseshoe. Pergamos was so renowned for the worship of this god, who supposedly healed the sick, that this deity was called "the Pergamene god." The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Hence part of the message of Revelation would apply to John's time, and part would be for future generations. Patmos, a rocky, volcanic and sparsely populated isle, was an appropriate place to send captives. That these meals all too readily degenerated into sexual looseness made matters worse. Cyrus could not find a way to get up to the citadel and even offered a reward to the soldier who discovered a pathway. [15] So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. "It is no accident," notes John McRay, "that the letters in Revelation 1-3 are arranged in this same sequence. What is meant by this statement administration harmonizes all educational activities and makes them instrument for yielding result? Think of his challenges; the physical toll on the human body. Was John blind when he wrote Revelations? Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the Roman roads that stretched from Ephesus to Laodicea. So Christ encourages and reminds them that He is offering them something Caesar worship could never provide—the chance to live forever. [14] But I have a few things against you, because you have 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 to idols, and to commit fornication. The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8). The careless soldier climbed down a secret pathway to retrieve it, and that night the Persians led their troops up the same pathway and to the top. GN. The city appeared as a gigantic watchtower and was considered impregnable. It is noteworthy that Revelation 17:4-5 Revelation 17:4-5 [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: There was the worship of Athene and Zeus, with its magnificent altar dominating the city [now partially reconstructed in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin]. Moreover, the Ephesian brethren had to resist the many temptations the immensely popular pagan temple worship offered them. The book of the Revelation was written about the vision that John saw while banished to the Greek island of Patmos on the Aegean sea. If he did not conform he was out of a job . The next city on the ancient postal circuit was Smyrna, about 40 miles north of Ephesus. The Philadelphian brethren could well identify with this admonition. What Filipino folk songs that is in unitary or strophic form. What is the key regulations that controls lytic and lysogenic? The author frames a new approach, a new methodology, enabling us to discern distinct stages of composition in the Apocalypse of John. The external can never override the internal truth. Church art customarily follows the traditional view in ascribing the book to the apostle John. "For all its wealth, the city had poor water," says The Expositor's Bible Commentary. The only way Church members could go about peacefully in this place was to carry a certificate showing they had offered incense to the emperor and proclaimed him lord. Throughout this series we have confirmed what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: How do the descriptions of these places compare with discoveries about them from history and archaeology? After a year's siege the Greeks appeared to lose all hope of conquering the city. Christ tells the church at Pergamos: "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is" (verse 13). Centuries earlier Heracleitus, an Ephesian philosopher, described the inhabitants there as "fit only to be drowned[,] and the reason why [they] could never laugh or smile was because [they] lived amidst such terrible uncleanness." [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works. [5] And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. "The teaching of Jezebel [probably a symbolic name] apparently reasoned that an idol is of no consequence, and advised Christians to eat such meals. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of Rome on the remote desert penal colony of Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea. Some 40 miles east of Pergamos lay Thyatira, a city important for its commerce in wool and textiles. Interestingly, Jesus used some of the characteristics of each city to spiritually evaluate its congregation and to prophesy the history of His Church up to His second coming. The Muratorian Fragment, an early document listing most of the books belonging to the New Testament, states that the apostle John wrote the Apocalypse or Revelation. During the time of John's exile, traditionally 94-96, history records violent persecution against Christians under the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (81-96). [16] Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. it was the first city in the world to erect a temple to the goddess Roma" (Letters to the Seven Churches, 1957, p. 29). The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ was written by John probably close to the same time he wrote the epistles which bear his name. . 1:9). When Revelation was written, John is 95 years old. [17] He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it. Numerous treatment rooms, sleeping rooms (for incubation and autosuggestion in psychiatric treatment), meeting rooms, and temples were located here . Why is sally Taylor not on south today at the moment? It enabled them to maintain a Christian profession while countenancing and even engaging in immoral heathen revels" (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1975, p. 71). "From all over the world," adds William Barclay, "people flocked to Pergamos for relief of their sicknesses. The authorities then sentenced John to slave labor in the mines of Patmos. © 1995–2021 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. Behold, I am coming quickly! About 25 miles southeast of Sardis lay the city of Philadelphia, newest of the seven cities. That night the Greeks led some men up the steep cliff. "John the Revelator" is a traditional gospel blues call and response song. Cicero [the Roman orator] called Smyrna 'one of our most faithful and most ancient allies' . 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—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" (verses 15-18). Those who refused were branded as traitors and either sentenced to death or exiled. That is the internal evidence of the book and the external testimony of early church fathers. American King James Version×: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." How did serpent worship begin in Pergamos? Christ recognizes the effort of the Ephesian brethren, in spite of many obstacles, to keep the faith and carry out the commission He had given them. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who is the witness of all that he saw - … Philadelphia means "brotherly love." The Roman historian Tacitus (A.D. 56-120), in his book Annals, mentions the policy of banishing political prisoners to small islands (Sections 3:68; 4:30; 15:71). 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