The Churches of Revelation Pt. 10 by Chris White

Pillars are all that remain in Philadelphia

 “ Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  He 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.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”              --Rev. 3:10-13

Jesus had no correction for the church in Philadelphia, His word to them was carry on and persevere even in persecution and he would give them a permanent place of dwelling and safety in the kingdom.  What makes this interesting is that those who lived in Philadelphia suffered under the continual pressure of earthquakes for many centuries.  At one point earthquakes happened so often that the residents gave up building homes out of stone and went to stick and mud dwellings because they were so much easier to rebuild.  During the New Testament era, the Philadelphians came up with an idea that worked at least for a while to preserve their city.  They would add pillars to buildings as a means of strengthening the walls after they repaired them.  Although imperfect, much of what stood in Philadelphia did so because of pillars.  As a pillar in the church you would be more than an ornament, you would be an essential part that could be depended upon even when the church was being shaken with persecution.  It is a wonderful accident of history that the only remnants of that church in Turkey are the huge pillars that once held up sanctuary ceiling near the altar.  No matter where you attend church, endeavor to be a pillar for that congregation.  Support its ministries with your time, prayer, finances, and participation.  Stand with your church in its good times and hard times.  This is pleasing to the Lord and brings with it His reward.  Of all the churches of Revelation, Philadelphia lasted the longest and remained the very last of all these cities to be a Christian witness even when Asia Minor was being overrun by the Muslims.  Philadelphia was eventually conquered but only when it was betrayed by fellow Christians in Constantinople who were jealous of their prestige and strength.  Instead of brotherly love, it was the love that Cain had for Abel, the one that betrays and murders.  But that happened 1000 years after the writing of this letter and that is a pretty long record for any church hold.

With you on the journey,

 Chris

The Seven Churches of Revelation Pt. 6 by Chris White

Mt. Pagus today

  ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ‘   --Rev. 2:9-10

After leaving Ephesus, our next stop is the Smyrna (modern day Izmir Turkey).  The name of the city means “sweet smelling aroma” or city of Myrhh.  Myrhh is an incense that comes from the sap of a shrub where the wood must be repeatedly wounded to extract it.  The church of Smyrna was a suffering church but through their persecution they would be rewarded by Christ.  Thirty years prior to this letter Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Roman Empire and Smyrna proved to be a popular enclave for the more rich and influential Jews who fleeing this war.  Within 80 years the Jewish community of Smyrna  conspired against the church there which resulted in one of the most famous martyrdoms in the early Christian era, namely that of St. Polycarp.   Polycarp was burned at the stake at the stadium above the city on Mt. Pagos.  Before and during the Christian era this stadium was the site of Olympic games where the winners in those days received a crown instead of a medal.  Surrounding the stadium was a ring of buildings and homes that would have looked at a distance like a victor’s crown.  A written account of his death was taken down and circulated around the Christian world and Polycarp’s testimony became a source of inspiration to all who have suffered for their steadfast faith in Jesus for nearly 1850 years.  A fascinating detail in the letter to Smyrna is the suggestion that their suffering and tribulation will last 10 days.  There was no known 10 day persecution in Smyrna, but if this were taken to encompass the Roman persecutions that touched Asia Minor, there were exactly 10 of them before the Emperor Constantine made Christianity a legal religion.  The point for all Christians to remember is that Christ patiently suffered at the hands of evil men and in so doing purchased our redemption and eternal life.  Those who are his disciples can expect to follow in his steps of suffering too.   Even as the sweet smelling Myrrh is extracted by the repeated wounding of a tree, so the repeated wounding of the church is a sweet smelling aroma of worship unto Christ.  Jesus doesn’t tell his suffering church to repent, just hang on and the victory will be won.

With you on the journey,

 Chris