new 7 Churches of Revelation matches

[Mosheli]

Sorry I wasn't sure what sub-forum to put this thread/topic in, I looked through the titles but wasn't sure of what one suited.

(Note: I searched and found there were already topics/thread on this, but there were more than one and I couldn't decide whether to post this in them and I thought I'd prefer to do this in a separate new thread rather than posting in the middle of other threads.)

Although it is true that the 7 churches in Revelation 1-3 were real historical churches in Asia Minor in John's times, and although it may be true that there are Christians & churches of each of all the 7 types here and now, I also agree with the theory that they are also types of 7 church ages between the time of John and now in the order they occur in Revelation. This thread is about my own tentative matches of the churches with periods of christian church history, though everyone is welcome to discuss/debate and to post their own ideas/info/insights/revelations. I know there is a lot of disagreement about exactly which churches correspond to certain periods of christian history, and you are welcome to post your own ideas/info, but I think I have some good matches evidences for some of the churches which I hope people will find awesome.

My tentative matches of the 7 churches with periods and cites is this:
1 Ephesus - early church with centre at Jerusalem.
2 Smyrna - persecuted church with centre maybe at Alexandria
3 Pergamum - church centred at Rome?
4 Thyatira - church with centre at Byzantium/Constantinople?
5 Sardis - church of inquisition & conquistadores with centre maybe at Madrid?
6 Philadelphia - church of puritans/pilgrims centred at Philadelphia USA?
7 Laodicea(ns) - modern Victorian church with centre at London.

The only two I am most sure of are Ephesus and Laodicea. Smyrna seems certainly to match the persecution(s) time(s) but I'm not totally sure of its centre. Pergamum does seem to have matches with Rome but I can't be totally definitely sure. Thyatira and Philadelphia seem to have fairly good matches but I'm not totally sure especially of Thyatira. Sardis is the one I am most unsure about what the correct period and centre is.
I noticed another poster on this forum has Pergamum as Byzantine and Thyatira as Rome, but I think they seem the other way around, though I can't be totally sure which way around they are.
I will now post more detailed matches evidences so you can see why/how the churches may match those periods and centres. We will start with the two more certain ones Ephesus and Laodicea at either end and then do the ones in between.

Please note that where we post matches between the words in Revelation verses and our periods & centres that we are only focusing on things at the time in those places which are similar to the words in the verses. We don't mean that they are correct theological/spiritual intrepretations/applications of the verses, but just that there "coincidental" similarities with things in those times and places which help to confirm the match of the church age with the time period and centre. This is abit like "word pictures" or parables. The bible often has more than one layer of possible meanings/applications.

 

[Mosheli]

The 1st church of Ephesus.

Ephesus seems to be a type of the early church centred at Jerusalem, as seen by that the details of Ephesus are very analogously similar to ones of Jerusalem?

Details of Ephesus in Apocalypse/Revelation(s) :
- name Ephesus (meaning "desirable" / "overseer/rule", or "border")
- 1st church
- "Saturday" (ref B Thierring)? (Though more likely 1st church matches 1st day Sunday?)
- Was in Asia (Minor).
- he who walks among...
- ... the seven golden lampstands
- tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.
- left your first love.
- you hate the works/teaching of the Nicolaitans ("victory over lay")
- the tree of life, which is in the midst of Paradise

Details of Ephesus from archaeology/history/geography/bible:
- Capital/centre of (Roman) province of Asia.
- Originally inhabited by Carians & Leleges, later by Ionians.
- shrine/temple of many-breasted divine mother Diana/Artemis/Ashera (virgin goddess) who was worshiped all over Asia, took 220 yrs to rebuild, was one of the 7 wonders of the late ancient world, was again destroyed.
- visited/founded by Paul, Paul preached here and wrote letter to the church there.
- "John church leader in Ephesus",
- capital of Ionia,
- on Aegean sea,
- zealous,
- one of chief centres of Eastern church / important centre of Christianity / Christian centre of Asia,
- important commercial city,
- importance as a religious centre,
- substantial Jewish population,
- home of Timothy,
- noted for commerce, learning, architecture,
- riot at Ephesus in Acts,
- Surrendered to Cyrus, remained under sway of Persia.
- it revolted and gained independence.
- destroyed by an inundation.
- "today Ephesus is a desolate ruin",
- temple destroyed by maniac,
- Ruined by an earthqauke in 17 ad.
- Became one of the 7 churches of Asia.
- scene of ecclesiastical riots,
- Ephesians decree in Josephus,
- south of Smyrna,
- Church councils were held here.
- regular excavations since 1894, many interesting discoveries made in 1905.
- "one of the most important cities of Roman Empire alongside Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Corinth.
- "in the Roman province of Asia no city was more important than Ephesus",
- center/temple of imperial cult / Caesar worship.
- Inscription stone at Ephesus.
- Croesus,
- gateway to the east,
- one of oldest cities of Asia Minor,
- seat of proconsul.

name Ephesus (meaning "desirable" / "overseer/rule", or "border") :
- The meaning matches Jerusalem & Judea.
- The name Ephesus is similar to Jebus (Jerusalem)? Cephas? Jesus? Ephrathah? Ebionites? Eucharistus/Evaristus? Essenes? Eve? Episcopal? Messianic?

1st church, & "Saturday" (ref B Thierring)? (Though more likely 1st church matches 1st day?) :
- 1st church matches Jerusalem/Judea/Galilee where started the first church.
- Saturday matches the Hebrew/Jewish sabbath. Or 1st day matches the resurrection which happened nearby Jerusalem.

Was in Asia (Minor), Capital of province of Asia:
- Israel/Judea is in Asia, Orientis, "India vawr". Jerusalem was a major Roman city of the East.

he who walks among...:
- This might point to being near the time and place Jesus walked?
- Roman sandles?

the seven golden lampstands/candlesticks (menorah(s)) :
- The menorah points to a time and place near the Jews of Judea/Jerusalem/temple.

tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false:
- This points to a time near the time the apostles were around.
- There were many false gospels/epistles/revelations in the 1st couple/few centuries after Christ.
- False early popes list and false apostolic successions created in the first few centuries after Christ and before Jerome.

left your first love:
- This points to a time close to Jesus (the first love)?
- Similar to what happened to ancient Israel?
- Ahaba/Ahava?
- Love the Lord and Love your neighbour? Love one another?

you hate the works of the Nicolaitans ("victory over/of? lay"):
- Deacon Nicholas in Acts?
- Scribes & Pharisees? Legalists? Judaizers? Rabbins? (who were also at Pergamum.)
- emerging clericalism? apostolic succession? popes?
- St Nicholas?
- Antinomians? Lawlessness?

the tree of life, which is in Paradise:
- The garden is Eden is thought by some to have been in the Jerusalem area.

Originally inhabited by Carians & Leleges, later by Ionians:
- Palestine was originally inhabited by Canaanites & Philistines, later by Jews.

Shrine/temple of many-breasted divine mother Diana/Artemis/Ashera (virgin goddess) who was worshiped all over Asia, took 220 yrs to rebuild, was one of the 7 wonders of the late ancient world, was again destroyed:
- Temple of Herod at Jerusalem.
- virgin Mary.
- Bride of Christ?
- "Jerusalem is the mother of us all", "mother church", "Mary mother of God".
- Eve (some think Eden was at Jerusalem)?

Paul preached here and wrote letter to the church there:
- Paul went to Jerusalem and spoke to the crowd and council.
- Paul wrote letter to the Hebrews.

Surrendered to Cyrus, remained under sway of Persia:
- The Jews were under Cyrus and Persia (Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, etc).

it revolted and gained independence:
- Revolt of the Maccabees.

destroyed by an inundation:
- Diaspora?

Ruined by an earthquake in 17 ad:
- Quake at crucifiction? Quake at Qumran? Quake when Paul in prison?

Became one of the 7 churches of Asia.
- Jerusalem was one of the 7 patriarchates.
- Menorah.

Councils were held here.
- Council of Jerusalem in New Testament (Acts).
- Council of Jamnia.

exacavations since 1894, many interesting discoveries made in 1905:
- Palestine archaeology since about same time. Compare Garden tomb.

"one of the most important cities of Roman Empire alongside Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Corinth":
- compare 7 church patriarchates included Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome?

center/temple of imperial cult / Caesar worship:
- compare Romans put Jupiter in temple, and Jerusalem is a Catholic centre.

Inscription stone at Ephesus:
- similar to temple one in Jerusalem.

 

[Mosheli]

The 7th church of Laodicea(ans).

Laodicea seems to be a type of the modern Victorian church centred at London, as seen by that the details of Laodicea are startlingly/amazingly similar to details of Victorian London and Britain and the British Empire?

Details of Laodicea in Apocalypse/Revelation(s) :
- Name Laodicea (named after Laodice, meaning laos "(common) people/laymen/laity", leithos "town hall" (closely related to leon "lion"), + dike "justice/rule", dikaios "righteous", "civil servant, public serving")
- 7th/last church.
- The only church with a plural name in some translations?
- Faithful and True Witness
- the Head of God's creation
- lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold
- rich, gotten riches, need of nothing
- the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
- gold refined by fire
- "white garments".
- that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.
- eye salve to anoint your eyes
- As many as I love, I reprove and chasten.
- Jesus on outside (of door),
- and will dine with him, and he with me.
- throne

Details of Laodicea from archaeology/history/geography:
- A centre of Asclepius god of medicine worship, & had a great medical school.
- city of Phrygia.
- important city, metropolis.
- on river Lycus.
- seat of an early christian church.
- isolated in community.
- was a manufacturing & commercial centre.
- contributed to advancement of science & literature,
- had a large jewish population,
- their letter to Caius Rubilius in favour of Jews (ref Josephus)?
- Laodice daughter of Priam of Troy & Hecuba,
- martydom of Lulianos & Paphos,
- St Artemon
- celebrity of place attributed to fertility of soil,
- near Colossae,
- passed to kingdom of Pergamon.
- centre in Roman road-system.
- water heavily charged with calcerous matter.
- embellished beautiful monuments,
- baths,
- theater(s).
- restored from own means,
- apocryphal epistle to the Laodiceans from Paul.
- also name of a queen of the Gileadites/Galadens.

Details of Laodicea from Paul's letters:
- "For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my (Paul's) face in the flesh" (Colossians 2:1).
- Laodicea & Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13).
- "letter from Laodicea" (Colossians 4:16).

Name Laodicea ad Lycum (meaning laos "(common) people/laymen/laity", leithos "town hall" (closely related to leon "lion"), + dike "justice/rule", dikaios "righteous", "civil servant, public serving"), founded by & named after queen Laodice wife of Antiochus/Seleucus II:
- name Laodicea (ad Lycum) = London (& Lyceum)?
- queen Laodice = Queen Victoria (who said the empire was due to the bible)? Boadicea "Victoria"? Claudia? Britannia?
- meaning "(common) people laity/laymen" = House of Commons, Democracy, Republicanism, Populism, Congregationalism, Low Church, Protestant/Nonconformist?
- meaning "town hall" = British parliament?
- meaning "lion" = British lion, city of lions/Lyonesse?
- meaning "civil servant, public serving" = British civil service? parliament?
- meaning "justice" = British law?

7th/last church:
- 7th Day Adventists?
- Latter Day Saints?

The only church with a plural name in some translations:
- There have been alot of church denominations since the reformation and since the nonconformists/puritans and since the new sects in modern times. And in many colonies/nations.

Faithful and True Witness
- Jehovah's Witnesses?

the Head of God's creation:
- Evolutionism, Creationism.

lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold:
- British climate?
- Colonization in all parts of the world in cold and hot climates?
- hot and cold bath taps?
- may churches in modern times are lukewarm.

rich, gotten riches, need of nothing:
- there have been rich people in modern times like Rhodes, Bill Gates, Bob Jones, Pope, Moody.
- Most middle class and working class people in modern times have most things they need.
- Lotto?

the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked:
- Compare Victorian London of JTR's times, Booth's letter, Scrooge, workhouses, "beggars are lay"?
- This also fits disadvantaged people in modern times (eg mass unemployment, homeless in USA, "bludger" bashing, gap between rich and poor, disabled, etc).

gold refined by fire
- gold standard?

"white garments":
- compare poor hygene/cleanliness before discovery of germs and hygiene/cleanliness in modern times?
- lime?
- compare cotton of America?
- compare pope of modern times?
- "Not Angle but Angels"?

that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed:
- compare modern clothing/clothes?
- compare British wearing clothes in tropical climes?
- compare promiscuous clothes and porn in modern times.

eye salve to anoint your eyes, a centre of Asclepius god of medicine worship:
- Compare Drs/GPs/Physicians, Royal College of Physicians, medicines, medications, fluoridation, drug stores/chemists/pharmacists, mental health asylums/hospitals, Dr Watson, in Victorian Britain and modern times.
- eye cataracts?

As many as I love, I reprove and chasten:
- Discipline. Spanking.

and will sup/dine with him, and he with me:
- British supper/dinner/tea/luncheon?

throne:
- Queen/King of UK/Commonwealth?
- Pope's throne?
- game of thrones?

city of Phrygia:
- compare Phrygians with Britons/Celts?

an important city, metropolis:
- London was the largest city of the world at the start of the last century. London is one of the points of the Golden Triangle.

'ad Lycum' "on river Lycus":
- compare London on the Thames?
- Lyceum?
- Lykos/Luke was a wolf or healer/doctor. See the part on Asclepius above.

seat of an early christian church:
- compare British christian traditions of Gwenwisa/Genuissa, Claudia/Pudens, Joseph of Arimathea, St Alban, King Arthur, Augustine, synod of Whitby.
- Some scholars like Hoeh reckon some apostles went to the British Isles.
- Some reckon there was a last chapter of Acts wherein Paul went to Spain and Britain?

isolated in community:
- Britain is an island which has often been isolated from mainland Europe.
- American isolationist policy?

was a manufacturing & commercial centre:
- compare Tubal & Meshech in prophecy?
- compare British industrial revolution, free trade, Manchester school economics, Keynesian, Marx.

Laodice daughter of Priam of Troy & Hecuba:
- compare Brutus the Trojan?

martydom of Lulianos & Paphos:
- compare martyrs Julius & Aaron?

St Artemon ("bear") :
- compare St Alban? St Aaron? King Arthur "bear"?

passed to kingdom of Pergamon:
- Pergamon seems to match Rome in Revelation 2? Britain passed to the Romans and Roman empire, and later Roman Christianity at the synod of Whitby. Popes Benedict and Francis visited the UK and had queen visit them.

centre in Roman road-system:
- compare Britain is a famous historical Roman province.

water heavily charged with calcerous matter:
- London has hard water in contrast to soft water in the North, and British use lime in the water. Also compare fluoridation which originated with the Royal College of Physicians, and 10 percent of UK still fluoridate as well as Ireland too.

had baths:
- baths at Bath? Roman bath uncovered in London?

theatre(s):
- compare Shakespeare, etc?

"For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my (Paul's) face in the flesh" (Colossians 2:1):
- Paul never visited Britain.

Laodicea & Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13) :
- compare Britain & Ireland? or London & Canterbury?

 

[Heart2Soul]

Well that is some extensive research you have done.
I believe the 7 churches of Revelation refers to the spiritual condition of the church.
And I agree it refers to Church Ages....and we are definitely in the age of the Laodecian Church.....churches today are lukewarm because they have denied the Power of the Holy Spirit to be in their services.
They are getting rich and eating the fat of the sheep.
Doesn't Zechariah talk about the shepard will be raised up who will not feed the sheep and who gets rich eating the fat of the people?
Zechariah 11 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
³ There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
⁴ Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
⁵ Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
⁶ For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
⁷ And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
⁸ Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
⁹ Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

…
¹⁶ For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
¹⁷ Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

 

[farouk]

Well that is some extensive research you have done.
I believe the 7 churches of Revelation refers to the spiritual condition of the church.
And I agree it refers to Church Ages....and we are definitely in the age of the Laodecian Church.....churches today are lukewarm because they have denied the Power of the Holy Spirit to be in their services.
They are getting rich and eating the fat of the sheep.
Doesn't Zechariah talk about the shepard will be raised up who will not feed the sheep and who gets rich eating the fat of the people?
Zechariah 11 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
³ There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
⁴ Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
⁵ Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
⁶ For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
⁷ And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
⁸ Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
⁹ Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

…
¹⁶ For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
¹⁷ Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

@Heart2Soul I can certainly see Laodicean conditions today, indeed. I do think also that in this varied world conditions as seen in other of the seven churches of Asia may also appear from time to time in other parts of the world. (I'm not an imperialist/colonialist, and by God's grace I think it's not a good idea to project onto the rest of the world interpretations on what we may see in North America as supposedly the same everywhere else - and I don't think you were consciously doing this, either...)

 

[Heart2Soul]

@Heart2Soul I can certainly see Laodicean conditions today, indeed. I do think also that in this varied world conditions as seen in other of the seven churches of Asia may also appear from time to time in other parts of the world. (I'm not an imperialist/colonialist, and by God's grace I think it's not a good idea to project onto the rest of the world interpretations on what we may see in North America as supposedly the same everywhere else - and I don't think you were consciously doing this, either...)

No but as a church age...this includes all churches who preach the gospel.of Christ.

 

[Mosheli]

The 3rd church of Pergamum/Pergamos.

Pergamum seems to be a type of the church centred at Rome, since its details seem analogously similar to Rome?
In time this would be from either Constantine 321 or Theodosius or Honorius (Telemachus) or Leo I 440-461 or "papacy set up 538 ad" or 554 ad or pope Gregory 590-604 or Pepin & Stephen 750s or Charlemagne & Leo III 800 or Gregory.

Details of Pergamum in Apocalypse/Revelation(s) :
- Name Pergamum/Pergamos (meaning "tower, citadel, heights, fortress" & maybe also a hint of -gamy "(sacred-)marriage"?)
- Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you.
- you dwell, where Satan's throne is, where Satan dwells.
- the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
- the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
- the hidden manna.

Details of Pergamum in archaeology/history/geography:
- is at the highest top/peak of arc/arch of 7 churches plotted on map going from Ephesus (s.w.) upto Pergamum (n.w.) and back down to Laodicea (s.e.).
- Movement of centre from Babylon to Pergamum to Rome (refs Berosus? Hislop? Missler?)
- Antipas was "the first bishop of Pergamum".
- Aeneas was at Pergamum, Pergamum mentioned in the Iliad of Homer, Apollo was at Pergamos where he planned that the Trojans should conquer.
- large city in Mysia, a city of Mysia, nw Asia minor,
- chief centre for worship of (Roman) emperors,
- refusal to sacrifice to emperors the supreme test,
- parchment,
- famous as a Greek centre of art & culture (classics),
- temple of Zeus (Jupiter),
- temple of Augustus,
- Berosus,
- near Lesbos/Lesbians,
- celebrated for library, library rivaled Alexandria's, library transferred to Alexandria.

Name Pergamum/Pergamos (meaning "tower"):
- Movement of centre from Babylon to Pergamos to Rome, which links Permagmum & Rome together.
- "Babylon"/Rome in New Testament (tower of Babel)?
- meaning "tower": compare St Peter's & the obelisk in front of the Vatican? It may also match the forts of the middle ages? Leaning tower of Pisa? Eiffel tower?
- Name Pergamos might also relate to hieros gamos?

Martyr Antipas (meaning "like the father" or "in place of the father" or "anti/against the father") "first bishop of Pergamos" :
- Jesus who died in Jerusalem?
- Paul the Apostle executed in Rome?
- Peter may have died in Rome?
- Alexander martyred under Trajan?
- The "great martyr" pope Telesphorus?
- Telemachus/Almachus who was killed in Colosseum in ca 391/404/410 ad?
- Pope Joan/Agnes/Anglicus slain in street in Rome?
- Antipope?

Satan's throne:
- Pope's throne?
- Roman empire (compare the prince of Persia/Greece in Daniel)?
- The 4th beast in Daniel is supposed to be Rome and is a dragon in Gildas' DEB, like Satan is also a dragon.

the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality:
- This fits the Roman Catholic church practices.
- the harlot "Babylon"/Rome in Revelation.
- communion wafer IHS "= Isis Horus Seb"?

the teaching of the Nicolaitans (meaning "victory over people"):
- council of Nicea?
- St Nicholas / Santa Claus? pope Nicholas Breakspear? Nicolo Macchiaveli?
- clericalism, apostolic succession, popes?
(- Roman use of Greek/Classical words/names/gods?)

the hidden manna:
- communion wafer?

at the top of the arc of 7 churches in Asia:
- The church under Rome seems the best match for the peak/top of the arc? (Not that Rome was good, but the church was at its highest then?)

Antipas was "the first bishop of Pergamum":
- "Peter was the 1st pope". Pope means "father". Popes are "vicars of the son of God".

Aeneas was at Pergamum, Pergamum mentioned in the Iliad of Homer, Apollo was at Pergamos where he planned that the Trojans should conquer:
- Romans descended from Aeneas who was a refugee from the Trojan war in the Iliad (Virgil's Aeneid).

celebrated for library, library rivaled Alexandria's, library transferred to Alexandria:
- compare Vatican library?

 

[Mosheli]

The 4th church of Thyatira.

Thyatira seemingly might match the medieval church with centre at Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul, as seen by that the details of Thyatira are maybe analogous to details of Byzantium.

Details of Thyatira/letter in Revelation/Apocalypse:
- name Thyatira (means "burning incense").
- 4th of 7 churches following Pergamum/Rome.
- false-prophetess Jezebel who "teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols", "I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit
adultery with her".
- things sacrificed to idols.
- sexual-immorality/adultery/bed/fornication.
- killed with plague/death.
- not put any other burden on you.
- authority over nations.
- morning star
- just before chapters break.
- 4th church may match 4th day?

Details of Thyatira from history & geography:
- at top right of arch of 7 churches plotted on map going from Ephesus (s.w.) to Pergamum (n.w.) to Thyatira (n.e.) to Laodicea (s.e.).
- (city of) northern Lydia, borders of Mysia,
- on great trade route,
- valley of Meanander
- dyes, dyed fabrics
- centre for trade in wool,
- founded by Seleucus Nicator (Greek/Macedonian Syrian),
- much inhabited by Jews,
- Thyatira is not far from Byzantium in maps.
- Lydia seller of purple from there (ref Acts),

name Thyatira (means "burning incense"):
- The name Thyatira is maybe similar to that of empress Theodora (wife of Justinian)? and/or another Theodora & Theophylactus in 880-928/932 or 1050?

at top right of arch of 7 churches plotted on map going from Ephesus (s.w.) to Pergamum (n.w.) to Thyatira (n.e.) to Laodicea (s.e.):
- Compare the schism between west and east in ... ad?

false-prophetess Jezebel (Phoenician princes, Israelite queen, Egyptian seal):
- This might match empress Theodora 530? or Helena mother of Constantine 328? or Irene 800? or Theodora & Theophylactus in 880-928/932 or 1050?
- Pope Joan?
- The harlot Babylon/Rome in Revelation?

things sacrificed to idols:
- icons?
- communion wafers?

sexual-immorality/adultery/bed/fornication (like Pergamum): - - compare Theodora was an actress who wore skimpy clothing and founded house for ex-prostitutes?
- the harlot Babylon/Rome in Revelation?

killed with plague/death:
- Justinian plague 537? plague 547? Black Death bubbonic plague 1347?

no other burden:
- compare Byzantine public works & slavery under Justinian?

authority over nations:
- Byzantine empire?
- Popes claimed authority over kings?

morning star:
- star in coin of Honorius? Pendragon comet? "morning star of the reformation"?

valley of Meanander:
- compare the Dardanelles straits, & river Scamander (near Troy)?

 

[Mosheli]

The 2nd church of Smyrna.

Smyrna the 2nd of the 7 churches seems to symbolize the persecuted church, with its centre maybe at Alexandria (Egypt) or else Antioch (Syria)?

Details of Smyrna in Apocalypse/Revelation(s) :
- name Smyrna (means "myrrh", or "goddess Myrrha" or "myrtle").
- 2nd church between 1st Ephesus/Jerusalem & 3rd Pergamum/Rome.
- "who was dead and has come to life".
- suffer/prison/oppression for 10 days
- blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan (also at 6th church Philadelphia).

Details of Smyrna from general history and geography:
- large sea-port town,
- gifted with a free civic life by Romans,
- one of earliest places to establish imperial cult,
- emperors worshiped as gods in temples erected in their honour,
- myrrh exported for manufacture of perfume & incense as well as for medicinal use,
- important city on west coast of Ionia,
- old city dates back to Theseus,
- Alexander the Great built the new city,
- became subject to Rome,
- noted for beauty,
- Christianity got early foothold there,
- a centre of early Christianity,
- sent bishop to Nicea 325,
- mixed nationalities and creeds,
- considerable commercial importance,
- at head of gulf,
- figs, raisins, tobacco, carpets, rugs,
- chief commerical centre of Levant.
- concord between Ephesus/Artemis and Alexandria/Serapis.

Name Smyrna (meaning "myrrh", or "goddess Myrrha" or "myrtle"):
- The name Smyrna/Izmir is maybe similar to "Symon zelotis Egiptum"? or Simon Stylites? or Sara (Egypt/Gypsy)? or St Mark (Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt)? or Stella Maris (Isis/Mary)? or Mizraim (Egypt)?
- St Nicholas of Myra?
- The meaning "myrrh" might relate to Egyptian cult of the dead and afterlife?

2nd church between 1st Ephesus/Jerusalem & 3rd Pergamum/Rome:
- Alexandria was a centre of early christianity and/or heresies between the apostolic church and later Roman church (Gnostics, Apocrypha, Nag Hammadi text, Septuagint, Oxyrhynchus, St Mark, Jacobites, Coptic, Simon Stylites, St Antony, Sara, one of the 5/7 patriarchates, etc).
- Compare concord between Ephesus/Artemis and Alexandria/Serapis might match 1st & 2nd churches Ephesus & Smyrna/Alexandria?

"who was dead and has come to life":
- Osiris? Serapis? Egyptian afterlife (Book of the Dead)?

10 days persecution:
- "10 persecutions from Nero 67 ad to Diocletian 313 ad"?
- 10 yrs persecution of Diocletian 303-313?
- compare Hebrew slaves in Egypt?

blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan:
- proseuche prototype of synagogue at Alexandria? archisynagogus at Alexandria?
- Sabbateans?

 

[Mosheli]

The 6th church of Philadelphia.

The 6th church Philadelphia seems to match the church of the puritans and pilgrim fathers (and pioneers/colonials? and messianics?) with its centre maybe at Philadelphia in the USA, as seen by that the details of Philadelphia are similar to those of the American puritans?

Details of Philadelphia in Apocalypse/Revelation(s) :
- Name Philadelphia (meaning "brotherly/sisterly love").
- "he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens", "I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut"
- synagogue of Satan of "those who say they are Jews but are not" (which was also in Smyrna).
- kept from the hour of testing or great tribulation.
- "which is to come on the whole world/earth".
- a pillar in the temple.
- "write on him the name of my god"
- the name of my God, and my own new name.
- the name of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem).

Details of Philadelphia (Asia Minor) in history:
- in great Roman road-system,
- "descendants of Macedonians",
- ancestral bravery & self-reliance,
- large Jewish population,
- founded by Attalus II.
- Philadelphus king of Pergamum,
- city of Lydia.
- subject to earthquakes.
- Philadelphia was also the name of a city of the Decapolis in Transjordan, earlier named Rabbah and later named Amman.
- Septuagint of Ptolemy Philadelphus?

Name Philadelphia (meaning "brotherly/sisterly love"):
- Brethren? Masons (fraternity/brotherhood)? "all men are created equal"?
- Christadelphians?
- Philadelphia in the USA?
- my Christian friend saying (and doing) "lots of brotherly love from Matt"?

synagogue of Satan of "those who say they are Jews but are not" (which was also in Smyrna):
- freemasons?
- Catholics?
- Jews (New York, Hollywood)?
- BIs/CIs?
- Mormons?
- JWs?
- replacement theology?
- Arthurians (Britons as Israelites)?
- Islam?

a pillar in the temple:
- Masons?
- American architecture? Imperial architecture?

the name of my God, and my own new name:
- Messianics (Yeshua, Yahweh)?
- Sacred Name-ists?
- Jehovah's Witnesses?

the name of the city of my God:
- Compare names of US & colonial cities named after Old World sites (including New York)?
- New Jerusalem/Salem? Celestial City (Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan)?

ancestral bravery & self-reliance:
- compare Puritans, Pilgrims, Amish, wild west, cowboys, pioneers, Monroe doctrine.

large Jewish population:
- compare New York, Hollywood.

founded by Attalus II:
- compare Atlas/Atlantis/Atlantic which was in the Americas.

Philadelphus king of Pergamum:
- Pergamum seems to match Rome in Revelation 2-3? ....

city of Lydia (compare 5th church Sardis)
- compare name London? (whence New England.)

subject to earthquakes:
- compare LA?
Armorica plate theory for quakes in eastern America?
- Atlantis (which was in Americas) "sank" amidst quake(s).

Septuagint of Ptolemy Philadelphus?
- compare bible/KJV/AV? ASV? NWT? JST? NASV? Zondervan?

 

[Mosheli]

Just to finish the 7 churches we post this last one on the 5th church of Sardis. This is the one church (age) of the 7 which we are most unsure about. Its not so much the age/period but what city is the centre that is uncertain. Not sure if anyone has found anything of any interest/use? If anyone doesn't understand anything in any of the 7 churches posts then ask me so I can try explain it better or give more details or reasons. Note there might be few mistakes?

The 5th church of Sardis.

Sardis the 5th of the 7 churches we are not overly sure of the exact correct match but we think that it seems to probably match the church around the times of the inquisition and conquistadores, with its centre maybe at Madrid or Toledo, as seen by the similarity of some of the details of Sardis with details of those times and places?

Details of Sardis in Revelation/Apocalypse 3:
- Name Sardis/Sparda/Sert-Kalessi (not sure of its meaning).
- "7 spirits", "7 stars".
- Sardis is the only church that has nothing good said about it.
- comes just after the chapters break between the 4th & 5th of the 7 churches.
- "you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy."
- "he who overcomes", &, "I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels".
- "book of life"

Details of Sardis in history and geography:
- residence of Croesus,
- renowned for wealth,
- captured fabulous treasure there,
- the capital/metropolis of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.
- ten times as big as Gordium,
- 50 miles east of Smyrna,
- one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor,
- Cyrus conquered it,
- Persian royal road,
- Alexander the Great conquered it from Persians.
- sacked and captured by Antiochus,
- after period of long decay,
- regained importance under Roman rule,
- a main centre in Roman road-system,
- noted for beauty & wealth,
- wool-dyeing,
- now a miserable village,
- destroyed by earthquake,
- sardine/sardius is a red/reddish or ruby or (brownish red) carnelian or blood-red or flesh-coloured stone, or "a variety of chalcedony, of many colours, each variety receiving a different name".
- sardius was the first stone in the first row of the high-priests breast-plate in the Torah/Pentateuch.
- sardonyx is sardius + onyx and has "3 stripes of different colours".
- sardine is a (tinned/canned) small silvery fish.
- On about the same latitude as Smyrna?

Name Sardis/Sparda/Sert-Kalessi (unsure of its meaning).
- The name Sardis is maybe similar to Sephardim (Spanish/Ladin Jews), Sparta, the Sherden Sea Peoples, Sardinia, Savoyard, and the name "Saracens" used for Basques at the battle of Roncesvalles, and Saracen/Sarsen used for Pagans, and/or similar to Cadiz, Cardinals, Chartres, Swiss chard, Chardonnay/Chardonel, and/or Tartessos/Tarshish, Tardenoisian, New Carthage. Most of which are connected with the Spain/France/Italy area. Sardinia was under Spanish rule in the later middle ages.

"7 spirits", "7 stars":
- compare 7 seas, 7 climate zones, 7 continents, 7 cities, 7 champions of Christendom/Europe?

Sardis is the only church that has nothing good said about it:
- Matches the conquistadores, inquisition, etc.

"book of life":
- bible? index of forbidden books? Voynich manuscript?

"you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy." :
- inquisition? reformation (Luther, Calvin)? Tyndale?

"he who overcomes", &, "I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels":
- sounds similar to inquisition.

residence of Croesus,
renowned for wealth,
captured fabulous treasure there:
- The times of the conquistadores was one of gold from the Americas.
- Rich Popes?

Capital/metropolis of Lydia:
- Spain was under Lydian sea-power 1149-1101/1057. Lydia has been connected with Libya which Spain has ancient historical connections with. Compare the names Ladin/Latino or Lisbon?

ten times as big as Gordium:
- compare Spain?
- Latin America?

Cyrus conquered it,
Persian royal road,
- Spain was under Pelasgian rule 1101/1057-972/970.
- Spain was theoretically maybe under indirect Persian rule ca 480.

Alexander the Great conquered it from Persians:
- Compare Spain was under Alexander's indirect rule?
- Spain was under Atlantean rule and Atlantis was defeated by Greeks.

regained importance under Roman rule,
a main centre in Roman road-system:
- Roman Hispania? Latin/Romance Spaniards?
- renaissance? reformation?

now a miserable village:
- compare modern Spain & Latin America, and the remains of ancient Tiahuanaco (Atlantis capital city)?

destroyed by earthquake:
- Lisbon quake?
- Atlantis quake? (Atlantis was in South America.)

sardine/sardius is a red/reddish or ruby or (brownish red) carnelian or blood-red or flesh-coloured stone, or "a variety of chalcedony, of many colours, each variety receiving a different name":
- Red can be gold, blood, revolution, Mediterranean/Latin hot-blood, American Indians, cardinals, pink/pale 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestants'? Santa Claus? The harlot Babylon dressed in scarlet in Revelation?

sardius was the first stone in the first row of the high-priests breast-plate in the Torah/Pentateuch:
- Spain first in pope's realms in these times?

sardonyx is sardius + onyx and has "3 stripes of different colours":
- like the flags of Atlantis, Italy, France, Germany, USA?

sardine is a (tinned/canned) fish:
- European ships of Columbus etc?
- smelly times before more hygiene/cleanliness?

On about the same latitude as Smyrna in a map showing the 7 churches:
- Smyrna was the persecuted church with centre at Alexandria? Sardis might be the church of the inquisition and conquistadores which is similar?