Greetings from the Churches of Revelation 2 & 3

The above is an old photo we took of modern Izmir during the Feast of Tabernacles in 1990. Izmir was anciently called Smyrna, which is one of the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3 (you can click here for more of Joyce’s Photos of Smyrna).

COGwriter

My wife and I have been in Asia Minor for the past week and a half visiting places of religious and historical interest. This is our third visit to Turkey, but it also has been our longest one (and if any of you sent an email that I have not responded to, it is because I have not been able to respond for a while–I hope to get caught up with them next week).

On this trip, we have been able to visit the several of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3. On prior trips we have visited Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos. On this trip, we got to spend more time in Smyrna (now called Izmir), plus were to visit Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea for the first time.

(We also got to visit Istanbul–once called “Constantinople”–as well as Cappadocia, and other towns of ancient Asia Minor.)

Since many people do not realize that the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 have both historical and prophetic ramifications for representing the seven consecutive eras of the true church throughout the entirety of the church age, most people simply do not realize what happened to the early Christian Church.

The plain truth is that the New Testament canon was first put together in Asia Minor, most books of the New Testament were directly written to or from people in Asia Minor, and the last of Jesus’ original apostles (John) died in Asia Minor.

Asia Minor, and not Rome nor Alexandria, was the primary location of the first and second century Christian Church.

Those interested in the truth about the early church may wish to study the following documented articles:

The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 Do they matter? Most say they must, but act like they do not. This article contains some history about the Church of God (sometimes referred to as the continuation of Primitive Christianity) over the past 2000 years.
1. The Ephesus Church Era was predominant from 31 A.D. to circa 135 A.D. The Church of James, Peter, Paul, and John, etc.
2. The Smyrna Church Era was predominant circa 135 A.D. to circa 450 A.D. The Church led by Polycarp, Melito, Polycrates, etc.
3. The Pergamos Church Era was predominant circa 450 A.D. to circa 1050 A.D. An especially persecuted Church.
4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view? Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches? Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!