Bob,
As I previously said I was intrigued and mentally
restless to settle for myself as to why these specific
churches are mentioned in Rev.1-3 and to what significance.
I will attempt to postulate a theory however reserve that it
is only such. Jovial has submitted that revelation may have
been written earlier than previously thought, and my
position would benefit from that fact, but nowise suffer
discredit otherwise. I will begin with some links, which
support that Magog of prophecy is represented by this region
of asia addressed in Rev.1-3.
The Turkish president recently has incited the muslim
world to invade Israel. I believe the Lord has addressed
this particular region as an all inclusive condemnation from
the post-flood era onward. Basically this is/was/is a major
demonic stronghold inclusive of Jews, proselyte jews,
gentiles and traditional jews and pagans.
As These links represent Modern turkey as Gomer and
Magog, there is much relevance when looking at this region
in light of prophecy. In Hosea we see Gomer represented as a
harlot with offspring of harlots. Saul of tarsus, before he
was the Apostle Paul, is a type of anti-Christ from this
region denounced by the Lord and was later to be our
Apostle, a complete turn around, But this is relevant to
this region nonetheless.
40 For as
Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's
belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The
men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at
the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than
Jonas is here.
42 The
queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the
uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43 When
the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh
through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then
he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came
out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty,
swept, and garnished.
45 Then
goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the laststate of that man is worse than
the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked
generation.
Now look at the
similarities in Rev.1-3. Obviously these churches , although
ministered to by Paul, were dominated by idolatry and
judaism and paganism.
Rev.29 I know
thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art
rich) and I know the blasphemy of them
which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan.
Rev.213 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.
We can see this
region was settled by Jews during the captivity. Also partly
due to church persecution.Also the letters to the churches
being addressed to angels disqualifies any affiliation to
Paul, since he never interacted with angels, and Israel did.
Are these angels addressed good or bad angels ?
Rev.218 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 fine
brass;
19 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.
20 Notwithstanding
I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest
that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to
teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and
to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Now look at other
references to people of this region and their deeds.
Acts 6
8 And
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and
miracles among the people.
9 Then
there arose certain of the synagogue, which is
called the synagogue of the Libertines,
and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia
and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by
which he spake.
11 Then
they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And
they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the
scribes, and came upon him, and caught him,
and brought him to the council,
Acts 7
51 Ye
stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do
always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did,
so do ye.
52 Which
of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they
have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the
Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and
murderers:
53 Who
have received the law by the disposition of angels, and
have not kept it.
Now look at these
verses and tell me whether the tribulation should have
started or not at the conclusion of these verses.
Matt.22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in
spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The
LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I
make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If
David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
So if Jesus stands
up, is he ready for His enemies to be made His footstool ?
Acts 7 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost,
looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And
said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then
they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears,
and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And
cast him out of the city, and
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down
their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
Was Paul a type of
anti-Christ?
Acts 91 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings
and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto
the high priest,
2 And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that
if he found any of this way, whether they were men or
women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Now look at Paul's
pronouncement against this region and people.
Gal.5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I
testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is
a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
26 Moreover
ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned
away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are
made with hands:
27 So
that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at
nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess
Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be
destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
Acts 21
27 And
when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were
of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all
the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying
out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth
all men every where against the people,
and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks
also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
Gal.2:44 And that because of false brethren unawares
brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty
which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us
into bondage:
Acts 163 Him would Paul have to go forth with him;
and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which
were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father
was a Greek.
4 And as
they went through the cities, they delivered them the
decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles
and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so
were the churches established in the faith, and increased
in number daily.
6 Now
when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of
Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach
the word in Asia,
7 After
they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit suffered them not.
Acts 20
16 For
Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would
not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were
possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And
from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of
the church.
18 And
when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know,
from the first day that I came into Asia, after what
manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving
the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears,
and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of
the Jews:
We can see that ,
from the links and scripture that this region is a hotbed of
contention and evil which the Lord has singled out in
Rev.1-3. You should get the gist if the reasons why. It is
obvious that the Lord addresses them elsewhere.
To be concluded in
part 3
Alan T