Pastor's Comments April 17, 2010

“. . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the Seven Churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea” (Revelation 1:11).

Sometime ago, I began a historical writing of the 7 Church Eras. Though I have only completed the letter to the Ephesian Church Era, I hope to begin work again soon with the remaining ones. With the comments for this time I will present the introduction to them.

This is the first of a three-part series of the Ephesian Church Era. It may be some time before I can complete the writing of each Church Era, but this one is ready to present to you.

While studying this particular Era over the past few years, I have felt the troubling problems of the apostasy that confronted that early Church is very probably the most similar to the recent history of the Philadelphia Era of our time—since 1986—and should be thought about in that context when studying it for yourself.

Regarding the establishment of His Church, Jesus Christ said to the apostle Peter and the rest of His disciples: “. . . On this ROCK (Greek: Masculine, Petros, Feminine, Petra, meaning Jesus Christ Himself, Deuteronomy 32:3-4; I Corinthians 10:4) I will BUILD My Church, and the gates of Hades (graves, I Corinthians 15:54-55) shall NOT prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).

This writing is the beginning of an effort to put together the historical events that have shaped, molded, and refined, God’s Church from its beginning in 31 A.D. unto this present time.

Searching for its traces from historical sources from 31 A.D. unto this present time can be found through their scanty writings about it until about the 1600s A.D. From that point in time it becomes much easier to locate it.

Between those years from 31 A.D. to the 1600s A.D., God’s true Church can be traced by following the overview of it from Scriptural writings coupled with historical sources that make references to it by the true doctrinal teachings as taught from the Holy Scriptures.

It is differentiated from the Catholic Church which had its beginning in about 34 A.D. by Simon Magus, and continued by those who succeeded him to about the 1500s.

Luther was not the only one who started a protest movement against the Church. John Calvin, from France, also complained about the Catholic Church.

The Book of Acts contains an overview of the history of the early New Testament Church of God from 31 A.D. to about 61 to 62 A.D. And by reading the letters from the writings of the apostles, James, Peter, and John, its history is tracked to about 100 A.D. — during the apostolic era.

When we put those events together with the letters to the seven Churches in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, we can know of a surety where it has always been from its beginning unto this time. It is a Church that has prevailed throughout the past two thousand years though Satan and his human instruments have tried very hard to destroy and stamp it out.

Not to leave His own elect in the dark as to its continued existence, Jesus Christ made sure it could also be traced throughout those many years by giving an overview of its ongoing history through the apostle John in the prophetic book of Revelation.

“The second and third chapters contain the messages to the seven churches. These represent the Church in its seven successive stages thorough the age, and also the seven characteristics to be found in the Church all through the age— the Ephesian condition dominating at the beginning, the Laodicean condition at the end. . . .”

“The first real prophecy of the Book is contained in the second and third chapters—the messages to the seven Churches. These messages come DIRECT FROM CHRIST—they contain the direct TESTIMONY of JESUS CHRIST. . . . Here Jesus takes the actual spiritual condition and FUNCTIONING of these seven Churches, then existing in Asia Minor, as a PROPHECY of the spiritual condition and the works and accomplishments, in carrying out Christ’s Great Commission to the true CHURCH OF GOD during the SEVEN successive periods of time up until the END of this age and the second coming of Christ . . .

These are messages from Christ, the living HEAD of His Church, to HIS OWN TRUE CHURCH in its seven successive eras of time from about 100 A.D., until a period even YET FUTURE . . .

The first five messages to the Churches are prophetic stages of God’s true people on earth which have already been FULFILLED, and now are HISTORY. . . .”

With this as background it is needful to make a study of the seven successive Church eras. At the same time, it is needful to fit in with it historical data that prominently fits in with it that brings to the fore some very important spiritual lessons we as God’s people need brought to our attention.

Since the Ephesian Church Era had such an important role in the beginning of establishing the foundation of the Church of God, and then seeing how it was adversely affected so severely by false ministers in later years, more writing about it will be necessary to enable us to see how their problems carried on down through all of the Church Eras in one way or another.

THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him TO SHOW to His servants— things which MUST shortly come to pass . . . Blessed is he who reads and those who hear these words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John, to the seven Churches which are in Asia (Turkey today) . . . I was in the spirit in (Greek: en- meaning in the coming day of the Lord), the Lord’s day and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see write it in a book and send it to the seven Churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands. And in THE MIDST of the lampstands, One like the Son of Man . . . He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. . . .

“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels (margin: or messengers, see Daniel 12:2), and the seven lampstands (see Zechariah 4:2) which you saw are the seven Churches” (Revelation 1:4, 11-13, 16, 20)

The seven Churches were located in Western Asia Minor; the region that is called Western Turkey today. These were cities in this region. The primary city was Ephesus, the commercial capital of the province. Pergamos was the political and religious center. All were held together by a major road system— which was also one of the mail routes of the old Roman Empire. Riders would follow the route carrying messages from town to town (Mystery of the Ages, pages 282-293).

As we have read from the writings of Mr. Armstrong, chapters two and three in the book of Revelation are successive stages or eras of God’s true Church from its beginning on the Day of Pentecost in 31 A. D. (Matthew 16:14; Acts 2:1-3, 14-40), and continues unto the return of Jesus Christ, approximately two thousand years later.

uring this past two thousand year period of time the Church eras were: “. . . like relay runners in a race in which is passed the baton from runner to runner, each one doing its part, until the finish line” (Mystery of the Ages, page 283).

The baton has passed from each one of the first six of the seven Church Eras, but not yet the seventh.

Though the Laodicean Church Era, as an entity (having a recognized leader over it), has not yet materialized, its Scriptural presence is very evident in its members (this will be made known later). And when it does develop into an entity, this will complete the full circle; the passing of the baton will have been completed— possibly somewhere close to the beginning of the Great Tribulation, three and one/half years before the coming of Jesus Christ.

At Christ’s return the faithful and enduring people of God from all seven Church Eras, will then rise to meet Jesus Christ, along with all of the prophets and patriarchs of old (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 11: Luke 13:28).

God’s Church was first headquartered in Jerusalem and pastored by the apostle James, brother of Christ (Acts 15:4, 13; Galatians 1:18-19; 2:12). James was still pastoring the Church in 60 A.D. He was martyred at the Temple in Jerusalem in 62 A.D. – A/C Correspondence Course, Lesson 44, page 1). Other elders continued pastoring it (Acts 21:18).

When it fled to Pella in approximately 70 A.D., it continued as the headquarters Church of the Ephesian Church Era. History records it remaining there for about 65 years.

It is important in our study to know the names by which the people of God were known among themselves, and also by outsiders, for this a major factor in tracing their history.

In the beginning they were called disciples and later referred to as Christians: “. . . and the disciples were first called CHRISTIANS in Antioch (Acts 11:26). They were also called saints by the apostle Paul (Romans 1:1-7).

Outsiders identified them by either their circumstances or by their leader at any given time throughout their history as will be made known before this writing is completed.

While giving evidence against the apostle Paul before the governor in Caesarea, Tertullus, the prosecutor said the following:

“For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of THE SECT OF THE NAZRENES (Acts 24:5).

The apostle Paul called the leaders of the Jews in Rome to meet with him and then speak to them concerning the hope of Israel. They said to him: “. . . concerning THIS SECT it is spoken against everywhere” (Acts 28:22).

When we study the writings of those 7 Churches, it can be seen upon close scrutiny that their overall problem began in the first Church era. From there it only got worse through each of the four succeeding Church eras until it became so bad in the 5^th Church era it brought about its virtual death.

This major problem opened the door to even greater problems than those of Ephesus into Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis. It then leapfrogged over the Philadelphia era into the 7^th Church era.

From the writings in Revelation 3, it can be seen how this primary problem was corrected by Jesus Christ in the 6^th Church era, but it then re-entered into the 7^th Church era. As the result their light has dimmed so much from its lack of oil it has virtually gone out; unnoticed, they are sleeping their way into the Great Tribulation (Revelation 3:14-22; Matthew 25:1-13).

It is noteworthy that the blessings from Jesus Christ to the seven Church Eras are only given to those who remain awake and are over-comers as can be seen in each letter.