4/27/21

CHAPTER 3C GREATER MEMPHIS COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY

At the first Nicaean Council, Pelagius was considered a heretic for the idea that man was not born sinful, but that Adam’s sin affected him alone. While this was considered heretical 1,700 years ago, how can a merciful God condemn His creation to hell?

1 4/27/21

7 CHURCHES IN REVELATION

Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea

Pillars of Byzantine (330-1453) Church of St. John the Theologian (11th century) ) Alaşehir ( PHILADELPHIA

2 4/27/21

Philadelphia (Alaşehir- Allah-SHARE)

• Established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamum. • He named the city for the love of his brother, Attalus II (159– 138 BC), who would be his successor. • Located 30 miles southeast of Sardis on the Cogamis river. • A border city to Mysia, Phyrgia, and Lydia (open door). • It was founded especially as a mission city to expand the Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia. • Newest of the seven churches. Small, but serious. • Second to receive no condemnation (also Smyrna). • Almost entirely destroyed in 17 A.D. by the Lydia earthquake.

Philadelphia (Alaşehir- Allah-SHARE)

• Aftershocks continued for years. People were so afraid they lived in tents and lean-tos in the outskirts of the city (Strabo). • Grapes were a principal crop. Domitian decreed all vineyards to be torn out of Philadelphia (they competed with the vineyards in Rome). Good volcanic soil. • The description of Christ in this letter is not taken from John’s vision in chapter 1. • The door to the synagogue and Jewish society had been shut to them. • Of all the churches, this church received the most praise and no criticism.

3 4/27/21

Philadelphia (Alaşehir- Allah-SHARE)

• Judaism was an allowed religion, but not Christianity. • Dionysis/Bacchus was the god of the city (grape/vineyard production). • The church at Philadelphia was an open door to the East to evangelize. • Called “mini-Athens” because of numerous temples to gods.

Pre- Christ will return before the seven-year Great Tribulation.

Mid- Christ will return halfway through (3½ years) the seven-year Great Tribulation.

Post- Christ will return after the seven- year Great Tribulation.

The Latin translation (Vulgate) of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 used the word rapturo (rapiemur). The Greek word is harpazo, which means “to snatch or take away.”

4 4/27/21

Verse 11- I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

• quickly (tachus)- the manner of His coming, not the time (cp. A thief in the night).

• hold firmly- grab on tightly. Don’t lose ground.

• take your crown- (stephanos) a victor’s crown. They were not in danger of losing their salvation, but of forfeiting their reward like those in Sardis.

• Stronghold of Christianity into Byzantine empire (330-1453).

Verse 12- The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write 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 My new name. overcomes- those who are saved.

Four promises:

1. He will make them a pillar- Philadelphia was shaken frequently by earthquakes. They will be permanent testimony.

5 4/27/21

Verse 12- The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write 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 My new name.

2. He will write God’s name on them- (on their foreheads? 14:1, 22:4) they belong to God, not the ones persecuting them.

3. He will write the name of the city of God on them- they will be citizens of a new city.

4. He will write a new name on them (cp. 2:17 Pergamum).

Verse 12- The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write 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 My new name.

After the Lydia earthquake of 17 A.D., all that was left of many of the temples in Philadelphia were the pillars (Josephus- historian).

People write on us every day- for good and bad, but the Lord’s writing will be permanent.

6 4/27/21

Verse 13- The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ who has an ear- Jesus says this to all seven churches. They once again stress the fact that the message of these letters is meant for all the churches in every age and place.

7 CHURCHES IN REVELATION

Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea

7 4/27/21 ) hissar - Laodicea Eski (

Hot water pipes from Hierapolis 6 miles away

Cold water aqueduct from Colossae 10 miles away

8 4/27/21

Laodicea • Today called Eski-hissar (“old castle”) • Rebuilt between 261 and 253 B.C. by Antiochus II of Syria in honor of his wife, Laodice. • Was a great center of banking and finance. • One of the wealthiest cities of the ancient world. • Destroyed by an earthquake in 60 A.D.- Refused funds offered by Rome and rebuilt the city themselves (Tacitus). • Known for raven-black wool trade and a school of medicine. • Banking, clothing, and medicine are important themes. • Hot water was brought to the city from Hierapolis (“holy city”) via pipes and cold water was brought from Colossae via aqueduct.

Laodicea • Mentioned elsewhere in Colossians 2:1, 4:13-16, Revelation 1:11

• "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face.” Colossians 2:1

• “Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also. Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Colossians 4:13-16

9 4/27/21

Laodicea • Mentioned elsewhere in Colossians 2:1, 4:13-16, Revelation 1:11

• saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:11

• It is possible ”the Colossian heresy” had spread to neighboring Laodicea. Many Bible scholar believe the heresy was rooted in Gnosticism- the idea that God is good, matter is evil, and that Jesus Christ was merely one of a series of emanations descending from God and being less than God (a belief that led them to deny His true humanity). A secret, higher knowledge above Scripture was necessary for enlightenment and salvation. It also might have elements of Jewish legalism, (e.g., circumcision for salvation, observance of the ceremonial rituals of the OT dietary laws, festivals, Sabbaths), and asceticism. It also called for the worship of angels and mystical experience. Epaphras was so concerned about this heresy that he traveled from Colossae to Rome (Colossians 4:12, 13), where Paul was a prisoner.

Verse 14- “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

• angel- pastor of the church

• The Amen- Jesus is the Affirmation of God- “verily” or “truly”

• Faithful and true Witness- Jesus’ very nature is truth (John 14:6) He will always be faithful to give testimony, and he will perpetually speak truth. Said of Antipas in Pergamum- … and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one. Revelation 2:13

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Verse 14- “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

• the Origin (“beginning” KJV) of the creation of God- the word arche can mean “first” or “ruler.”

• Arian Christology- Arius was a 4th century priest in Alexandria, Egypt. (Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses today)- there was a time when the Son was not and that He was the first of the creations of the Father. Denounced by the Council of Nicaea in 325.

Verse 14- “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

• Jesus was the Agent in God’s creative act. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3).

11 4/27/21

Verse 15- ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

• I know your deeds - the eyes of flame as with previous churches

• neither cold nor hot - in the context of water brought to Laodicea, otherwise there is a use for all three temperatures.

• The hot water from Hierapolis (natural hot springs) and the cold water (8000 ft. mountains) from Colossae was tepid and full of minerals (calcium carbonate) by the time it traveled to Laodicea. It was known for its lukewarm and revolting water.

Verse 16- So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

• I wish you were cold and clear drinking water from the mountains (Colossae) or restorative, healing water from a hot spring (Hierapolis). Because you are neither, you have a vomit-inducing, emetic (from emeo) effect (Laodicea). Water was rich in calcium carbonate.

“Cotton castle”

Tourist attraction in Pamukkale, Turkey (ancient Hierapolis today) • Lukewarm (dead) church members are not offensive to the world, but they make the Lord sick enough to throw up.

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Next week…

Close our study of Chapter 3 and begin Chapter 4- “After These Things”

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