THE THIRD SEAL Revelation Chapter 6 VERSE 5 “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.” This Seal deals with the scarcity of good spiritual food due to the apostasy’s having gained control of dictating how much doctrine is appropriate and “correct.” This is the period which begins the Dark…
Revelation Chapter 2 VERSE 15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” THUS, YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE WHO HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS. Several lessons appear in this verse. The word THUS is important. It links this verse to the previous verse. NICOLAITANS is a Greek equivalent of BALAAMITES. Jesus is INTERPRETING Verse 14. “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the…
Although we only need Verse 13 here to confirm to us whom the Lord’s third messenger was nevertheless a careful consideration the whole context in which it is placed will better serve us. So, we present here the letter to the third Church in its entirety. Revelation Chapter 2 VERSE 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things say he who has the sharp two-edged sword: THE SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD:— Jesus’ introductions of himself to…
The Third Church and its Messenger “The angel of the Pergamos period, extending from A.D. 313 to A.D.1157, was Arius the presbyter of Alexandria, Egypt, who first began to attract the attention of the Christian world about the year 312. His opposition to both the theory of lordship in the Church and the doctrine of the Trinity, which is of heathen derivation—as well as the general character, chronological location, scope, and influence of his teachings in and upon Christendom—indicates he…
The Third Church: was Pergamos: meaning “earthly elevation”, a most appropriate name for the age in which “Christianity” is exalted throughout the empire to the point where the “Christian” leader gains powers greater than the emperor. What a change from the persecutions of Smyrna! — a change which apostate Christians intended to keep at ANY cost. It is interesting to note another possible etymology for Pergamos: “Although a Marriage.” If this be a viable etymology, how appropriate it is to…
THE SECOND TRUMPET Revelation Chapter 8 VERSE 8 “Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.” There were two trends working in the Smyrna Trumpet’s period: (1) There was terrible persecution because Christianity threatened paganism, and (2), Apostate Christians were working feverishly to gain favor by compromises. Remembering these trends helps to understand the Trumpet. THEN THE SECOND ANGEL SOUNDED: John,…
THE SECOND SEAL Revelation Chapter 6 VERSE 3 “When He (the Lord) opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” I HEARD THE SECOND LIVING CREATURE: The four living ones or creatures mentioned here in the first four seals represent the four attributes of God, as are numbered in Rev 4:7: LION (Power) CALF (Justice) MAN (Love) EAGLE (Wisdom) The opinions of brethren differ on the first two. It seems most convincing, however, that…
The Second Church: was Smyrna: meaning “bitter” and is most appropriate in light of the persecutions which characterized the era. An Important Preface to the Smyrna Period “Brethren are not all historians, and the histories of the periods which cover the Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis Churches, Seals, and Trumpets are particularly not well known except to historians who have made a point of studying them. A knowledge of this history is, however, imperative to an understanding of the symbols…
Revelation Chapter 8 VERSE 2 “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” Here again is one of those re-focus markers which John uses so effectively viz. AND I SAW. Had those who provided chapters and verses recognized this, Chapter 8 would have begun with Verse 2 as it should. The words, AND I SAW in Verse 2 carry us back to the beginning of the age (to the first church)—now…
THE FIRST SEAL continued. As further evidence that although the first church possessed the white horse (the pure doctrine of Christ) in its possession, nevertheless those who were soon to be riding (controlling and directing) this doctrine were already aspiring to do so. “The apostle Paul declares that; The Mystery of Iniquity (“Mystic Babylon“) was already beginning to work amongst the Lord’s people IN HIS DAY; but the working was evidently but slight until after the death of Paul and…