May 28, 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).
The History of God’s One and Only True Church
By
Alton (Don) B. Billingsley
Continued from 4-13-2010, 4-23-2010; 4-30-2010; 5-7-2010; 5-17-2010; 5-21-2010
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).
T
he
Church in Smyrna - The
Persecuted Church 135
A. D. to 600 A.D.
Background of the City of Smyrna (means ‘bitter’)
It was 400 years under the rule of the Roman Empire. The meaning of the name ‘bitter’ symbolizes the hardships experienced by the true Church of God during those many years.
After that removal the baton was then passed on to the Smyrna Church Era by Jesus Christ.
The Letter from Jesus Christ to the Church in Smyrna
135 A.D. – 600 A.D.
Revelation 2:8 "To the angel of the Church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9) I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10) Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days (303 A.D. to 313 A.D., Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:4). Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Polycarp the Apostle of the Smyrna Era
Polycarp became the new apostle and shepherd of God’s true Church after the death of the apostle John. John died about 95 A.D. Polycarp, who had been trained under him, then became the chief shepherd of the Smyrna Era. He died a martyr’s death in 155 A.D.
Those ongoing years were very hard, difficult, and trying, for the true people of God as noted in the letter by Jesus Christ to the Church of God in Smyrna.
After the murder of Polycarp in 155 A. D., Polycrates then became the new apostle having been trained under Polycarp. He also stood up for the true teachings of the true apostles and the date of the correct Passover to the Catholic Bishop Victor. He, too, was martyred in 196 A. D.
We read of Polycrates’ ministry in the following writing about him by the Ante-Nicene Fathers who were members of the Catholic Church. One should realize that by writing about Polycarp and Polycrates was with the intent to try and show a link, as with the Apostles Peter and John, to the lineage of the Catholic Church.
One has to weave one’s way through their writings to sift out the truth from their erroneous teachings.
Main article: Ante-Nicene Fathers
“Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church [Catholic], particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history. The term is used of writers and teachers of the Church, not necessarily "saints". In the first few centuries of its existence, the Church [Catholic] formed its teachings and traditions into a systematic whole under the influence of theological apologists.[25]
“As Christianity spread, it acquired certain members from well-educated circles of the Hellenistic world; they sometimes became bishops but not always. They produced two sorts of works: theological and "apologetic", the latter being works aimed at defending the faith by using reason to refute arguments against the veracity of Christianity. These authors are known as the Church Fathers, and study of them is called Patristics.
“A huge quantity of theological reflection emerged in the early centuries of the Christian church – in a wide variety of genres, in a variety of contexts, and in several languages – much of it the product of attempts to discuss how Christian faith should be lived in cultures very different from the one in which it was born. So, for instance, a good deal of the Greek language literature can be read as an attempt to come to terms with Hellenistic culture. The period sees the slow emergence of orthodoxy (the idea of which seems to emerge out of the conflicts between orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism), and the establishment of a Biblical canon.”
“Eastern and Western Mediterranean Christians had a history of differences and disagreements dating back to the second century, eventually leading to the Great Schism of 1054. Among the most significant early disagreements is the Quartodeciman controversy. Until the late second century (circa 185) there was a difference in dating the celebration of the Christian Passover/Easter between Western churches and those of Asia Minor. The churches in Asia Minor celebrated it on the 14th of the Jewish month of Nisan, the day before Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it fell on, as the Crucifixion had occurred on the day before Passover according to the Gospel of John, see Chronology of Jesus for details. The Latins called them Quartodecimans, literally meaning 14'ers. At the time, the West celebrated Easter on the Sunday following the Jewish 14th of Nisan.
“Victor, the bishop of Rome, attempted to declare the Nisan 14 practice heretical and excommunicate all who followed it.[16] On this occasion Irenaeus and Polycrates of Ephesus wrote to Victor. Irenaeus reminded Victor of his predecessor [Anicetus toward Polycarp] more tolerant attitude and Polycrates emphatically defended the Asian practice. Victor's "excommunication" of the Asians was apparently rescinded, and the two sides reconciled as a result of the intervention of Irenaeus and other bishops.
“Eusebius later claimed that synods and conferences of bishops were convened, which ruled "without a dissenting voice" in support of Easter on Sunday. A uniform method of computing the date of Easter was not formally addressed until 325 at the First Council of Nicaea. Today, the date again varies between West and East, but this is due to the West later adop[t]ing the Gregorian calendar over the Julian, see Easter controversy for details.
“Victor was the first bishop of Rome from Africa, and he changed the mass liturgy in Rome from Greek to Latin, which was used in his native North Africa. Latin masses, however, did not become universal until the latter half of the fourth century.[17]”
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“[a.d. 130-196.] This author2 comes in as an appendix to the stories of Polycarp and Irenaeus and good Anicetus, and his writings also bear upon the contrast presented by the less creditable history of Victor. If, as I suppose, the appearance of our Lord to St. John on "the Lord's day" was on the Paschal Sunday, it may at first seem surprising that this Apostle can be claimed by Polycrates in behalf of the Eastern custom to keep Easter, with the Jews, on the fourteenth day of the moon. But to the Jews the Apostles became "as Jews" in all things tolerable, so long as the Temple stood, and while the bishops of Jerusalem were labouring to identify the Paschal Lamb with their Passover. The long survival of St. John among Jewish Christians led them to prolong this usage, no doubt, as sanctioned by his example. He foreknew it would quietly pass away. The wise and truly Christian spirit of Irenaeus prepared the way for the ultimate unanimity of the Church in a matter which lies at the base of "the Christian Sabbath," and of our own observance of the first day of the week as a weekly Easter. Those who in our own times have revived the observance of the Jewish Sabbath, show us how much may be said on their side,3 and elucidate the tenacity of the Easterns in resisting the abolition of the Mosaic ordinance as to the Paschal, although they agreed to keep it "not with the old leaven."
“Our author belonged to a family in which he was the eighth Christian bishop; and he presided over the church of Ephesus, in which the traditions of St. John were yet fresh in men's minds at the date of his birth. He had doubtless known Polycarp, and Irenaeus also. He seems to have presided over a synod of Asiatic bishops (a.d. 196) which came together to consider this matter of the Paschal feast. It is surely noteworthy that nobody doubted that it was kept by a Christian and Apostolic ordinance. So St. Paul argues from its Christian observance, in his rebuke of the Corinthians.4 They were keeping it "unleavened" ceremonially, and he urges a spiritual unleavening as more important. The Christian hallowing of Pentecost connects with the Paschal argument.5 The Christian Sabbath hinges on these points.
From His Epistle [Polycrates] to Victor and the Roman Church Concerning the Day of Keeping the Passover.1
“As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the exact day,2 neither adding nor taking away. For in Asia great luminaries3 have gone to their rest, who shall rise again in the day of the coming of the Lord, when He cometh with glory from heaven and shall raise again all the saints. I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles,4 who is laid to rest at Hierapolis; and his two daughters, who arrived at old age unmarried;5 his other daughter also, who passed her life6 under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and reposes at Ephesus; John, moreover, who reclined on the Lord's bosom, and who became a priest wearing the mitre,7 and a witness and a teacher-he rests at Ephesus. Then there is Polycarp, both bishop and martyr at Smyrna; and Thraseas from Eumenia, both bishop and martyr, who rests at Smyrna. Why should I speak of Sagaris, bishop and martyr, who rests at Laodicea? Of the blessed Papirius, moreover? and of Melito the eunuch,8 who performed all his actions under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and lies at Sardis, awaiting the visitation9 from heaven, when he shall rise again from the dead? These all kept the passover on the fourteenth Day of the month, in accordance with the Gospel, without ever deviating from it, but keeping to the rule of faith.”
[NOTE: Here they were observing the Passover on the 14th Day of the Month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread. This is good strong evidence 200 years now in round numbers that in the East the Church is maintaining the traditions that they got from the apostles. They are remaining loyal and dedicated to the truth.]
“Moreover I also, Polycrates, who am the least of you all, in accordance with the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have succeeded-seven of my relatives were bishops, and I am the eighth, and my relatives always observed the day when the people put away10 the leaven-I myself, brethren, I say, who am sixty-five years old in the Lord, and have fallen in with the brethren in all parts of the world, and have read through all Holy Scripture, am not frightened at the things which are said to terrify us. For those who are greater than I have said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."11 ...
[NOTE: From here the story goes that he made the trip to Rome to see Victor as did his predecessor Polycarp. The meeting ended with the same result. Neither could the other persuade the other to change his way.]
“I might also have made mention of the bishops associated with me, whom it was your own desire to have [been] called together by me, and I called them together: whose names, if I were to write them down, would amount to a great number. These bishops, on coming to see me, unworthy as I am,12 signified their united approval of the letter, knowing that I wore these grey hairs not in vain, but have always regulated my conduct in obedience to the Lord Jesus.”
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Chapter 24, page 209
“Upon this, Victor, the bishop of the church of Rome, forthwith endeavored to cut off the churches of all Asia, together with the neighboring churches, as heterodox, from the common unity. And he publishes abroad by letters, and proclaims, that all the brethren there are wholly excommunicated.”
Page 212 “. . . Victor was the 13th bishop of Rome from Peter . . .”
The Incredible History of God’s True Church, Ivor C. Fletcher, Pages 130-132,
“Victor, not content to enforce the observance of Easter, with its many pagan features, upon his own local congregation, determined to press its observance on other churches far from Rome. . . . The Roman view on Easter and Sunday observance, which was later to gain almost universal acceptance in the Christian professing world, was summed up by Justin Martyr around the middle of the second century: “But we meet together on Sunday, because it is the first day, in which God, having wrought the necessary changes in darkness and matter made the world; and on this day Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead. For he was crucified on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to the apostles and Disciples, he taught the things which we now submit to your consideration.
“Scholars recognized that the first Christians continued to observe the “Jewish” Sabbath. By Justin Martyr’s time, however, the large numbers of gentile converts coming into the church wrongly assumed that the Sabbath was part of the ritualistic law of Moses. Genesis 2 shows that it was instituted long before the time of Moses.”
[NOTE: Through the centuries unto the present time Satan has continued to use the same strategy by using his ministers to falsely declare that all of the laws of God were under the old covenant and since we are under the new covenant those laws are done away.]
“Soon a new gospel began to be preached which extolled Christ His virtues but denied His all-important message that He would return and set up the Kingdom of God on earth.
“When the Roman or Latin form of Christianity became the state religion of the empire under Constantine, men saw less need for the return of Christ and sought to establish their own ecclesiastical empire, with Rome, not Jerusalem, as its headquarters.
“The ‘little flock’ which constituted the true Church of God were classified as ‘heretics’ by Constantine’s ‘Christian’ empire and true to prophecy (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12) were forced to flee into the wilderness or die as martyrs for their faith.
“To those who continued to keep the Passover, in the form that it was handed down to them from the apostles and their successors, Constantine wrote the following:
“Forasmuch, then, as it is no longer possible to bear with your pernicious errors, we give warning by this present statute that none of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all the houses in which you are accustomed to your assemblies; and forbid the holding of your superstitious and senseless meetings . . . take the far better course of entering the Catholic Church. . . .’’ ”
“Not only the Passover but the Sabbath too was to be abolished by the state, at the council of Laodicea in A.D. 364.
“Those who wished to keep the Commandments of God were now forced to flee for their lives into remote wilderness areas beyond the reach of their persecutors.
“The new state religion, a bizarre blend of Christianity and paganism, now began to dominate Europe for over a thousand years, leaving the true Church in ‘a place prepared of God’ (Revelation 12:6)—the remote mountains and valleys of central Europe.”
Church History by Dean C. Blackwell, Chapter 11, Pages 42-44, Paulicians
Church in Wilderness
“As the result of the council at Nicea, 325 A.D. , the great false church commenced 1260 years of tribulation against God’s Church (Revelation 12:6). The true Church fled into the valleys and mountains in Europe and Asia Minor. So it isn’t going to be as obvious as it was when we read about the Nazarenes – that they were Jewish Christians; that they kept the Sabbath; they kept the laws of Moses; they kept other basic traits which would designate them as Judaizing Christians. But the true Church, beginning in 325 A.D., fled into the valleys and mountains in Asia Minor and Europe. It is going to be difficult to trace some of the minute points of doctrine. You will not find any other Church that would agree with the doctrine we are going to read of the Paulicians [in earlier years this was a name used for the members of God’s true Church].
“We learn from the Encyclopedia Britannia, 11th edition, article Paulicians: An evangelical Christian Church spread over Asia Minor and Armenia from the 5th century onwards.
“Notice the date ties in with exactly with the ending date of the Nazarenes. They lasted until the end of the 5th century. They were an evangelical Christian church. They were in Asia Minor. That’s where the Nazarenes removed to at the time they were beginning to be infiltrated by the Elkasites.
“The first Armenian writer who notices them is the patriarch Nerses II in an encyclical of 553 where he condemns those ‘who share with the with Nestorians in belief and prayer, and take their breadofferings to their shrines and receive communion from them, as if from the ministers of the oblations of the Paulicians’.
“This man first wrote the history, or had a comment about the Paulicians, in 553 so that they must have been there even earlier than this.”
553 A.D. would have been close to the time of passing the Baton on to the Church in Pergamos in its beginning about 635 A.D.
Truly the Smyrna Church Era experienced many heart-breaking and trying times as they continued in God’s way of life – keeping His commandments – and teachings – just as the letter from Jesus Christ through the writing of the apostle John made known:
Revelation 2:8 "To the angel of the Church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9) I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10) Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days (303 A.D. to 313 A.D., Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:4). Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To be continued
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