1935
One curious fact always pops into my mind in connection with Lydia, Paul's first European convert, and a business woman. That is the persistence of women's commercial activity in her native city of Thyatira. It will be recalled that Thyatira was one of the "Seven Churches of Asia," addressed by John in the Book of the Revelation. It is an inland Turkish town; and when I visited it, I was struck by the extraordinary proportion of women in the market place as merchants. It seems as if today a large part of the business of Thyatira is managed by women.
Lydia's line was Tyrian purple dyes and cloth. That links her to the interesting relics which a traveller may find outside of both Sidon and Tyre — the great heaps of tiny murex shells, from which the famous Tyrian purple was extracted, one drop from each shell. This was the royal color; and in a robe so dyed, Jesus was mockingly arrayed at His trial.
Because of the fame and value of Tyrian purple, the trade in it had spread over the whole Roman world. So it was at far Philippi that Paul found Lydia, the dealer in this precious dye. To many students of the New Testament, Lydia's name is the outstanding one in connection with the City of Philippi, a case of a woman's stealing the fame of the city of Philip of Macedon, and his greater son. Alexander, conqueror of the world.
—Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Sept. 6, 1935, p. 8.
Showing posts with label seven-churches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seven-churches. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2008
City of Akhisar Hides Ancient Thyatira
1964
Calkins Concludes Tour
[ORIGINAL] EDITOR'S NOTE: Today's report by the Reverend Harold Calkins, pastor of the Temple City Seventh-day Adventist Church, concludes an exclusive series on his visit this summer to the sites of the seven ancient cities addressed in the New Testament Book of Revelations. Continuing his studies toward a doctorate in New Testament, Pastor Calkins and his wife this summer joined 18 other members of an extension class conducted in Europe by Andrews University, Michigan.
Thyatira, the last of the seven churches of Revelation which we visited, is still a living city, known today as Akhisar. Because the old city is buried under modern residences, there has been almost no excavation of the area. A few years ago when the hospital was built, they discovered an old sarcophagus with the name "Thyatira" in the epitaph.
At another location some walls and foundations of Roman and Greek buildings have been unearthed showing that the town does date back before Christ. Some of the stones from the ancient buildings have been used to build the walls of houses found there today.
The vessels of a potter mentioned in Revelations 2:27 are a well-known item here since many potters still make clay pots and water jugs in and near the city.
As a commercial city Thyatira seems to have been prominent, judging from the Greek inscriptions which speak of many trade guilds to which every skilled worker belonged. There were woolworkers, linemakers, tailors, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze workers. These labor organizations were incorporated, owned property, made contracts and had sales representatives in other cities. Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14) the seller of purple, represented the dyers guild at the Greek city of Philippi. It can readily be seen that business and labor in this city was more highly organized 1900 years ago than it is today.
The countryside around Thyatira is much like Southern California. The land is flat and fertile. Unlike most important cities of ancient times, there is no acropolis, or fortified hill, at this town. In early times the city was a fortress town controlled by either Pergamum or Sardis, to protect them from invaders from the East or North. Hence it was controlled first by one power, then another, until the Roman peace prevailed and removed its importance as a military base.
The raising of grapes, tobacco, grain and other agricultural products provides a livelihood for the people. If there were technical know-how and ambition, this region could produce more than enough for their own needs. But most of the work is still done by hand with the burro and camel working side by side with the women and men as burden-bearers. Some of these people carry unbelievably large loads on their bent backs, from furniture to large bundles of weeds which almost hide the person carrying them. The weeds are used to make a little hut for shelter from the sun. Later when dry, they are fed to the goats or used for kindling to build a little fire. Agriculture and much of the daily routine differs little from the customs of 1900 years ago.
—Arcadia Tribune, Arcadia, CA, Dec. 24, 1964, p. 22.
Calkins Concludes Tour
[ORIGINAL] EDITOR'S NOTE: Today's report by the Reverend Harold Calkins, pastor of the Temple City Seventh-day Adventist Church, concludes an exclusive series on his visit this summer to the sites of the seven ancient cities addressed in the New Testament Book of Revelations. Continuing his studies toward a doctorate in New Testament, Pastor Calkins and his wife this summer joined 18 other members of an extension class conducted in Europe by Andrews University, Michigan.
Thyatira, the last of the seven churches of Revelation which we visited, is still a living city, known today as Akhisar. Because the old city is buried under modern residences, there has been almost no excavation of the area. A few years ago when the hospital was built, they discovered an old sarcophagus with the name "Thyatira" in the epitaph.
At another location some walls and foundations of Roman and Greek buildings have been unearthed showing that the town does date back before Christ. Some of the stones from the ancient buildings have been used to build the walls of houses found there today.
The vessels of a potter mentioned in Revelations 2:27 are a well-known item here since many potters still make clay pots and water jugs in and near the city.
As a commercial city Thyatira seems to have been prominent, judging from the Greek inscriptions which speak of many trade guilds to which every skilled worker belonged. There were woolworkers, linemakers, tailors, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze workers. These labor organizations were incorporated, owned property, made contracts and had sales representatives in other cities. Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14) the seller of purple, represented the dyers guild at the Greek city of Philippi. It can readily be seen that business and labor in this city was more highly organized 1900 years ago than it is today.
The countryside around Thyatira is much like Southern California. The land is flat and fertile. Unlike most important cities of ancient times, there is no acropolis, or fortified hill, at this town. In early times the city was a fortress town controlled by either Pergamum or Sardis, to protect them from invaders from the East or North. Hence it was controlled first by one power, then another, until the Roman peace prevailed and removed its importance as a military base.
The raising of grapes, tobacco, grain and other agricultural products provides a livelihood for the people. If there were technical know-how and ambition, this region could produce more than enough for their own needs. But most of the work is still done by hand with the burro and camel working side by side with the women and men as burden-bearers. Some of these people carry unbelievably large loads on their bent backs, from furniture to large bundles of weeds which almost hide the person carrying them. The weeds are used to make a little hut for shelter from the sun. Later when dry, they are fed to the goats or used for kindling to build a little fire. Agriculture and much of the daily routine differs little from the customs of 1900 years ago.
—Arcadia Tribune, Arcadia, CA, Dec. 24, 1964, p. 22.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Last Battle
1900
Muscatine Man Thinks End of the World is at Hand
The following communication speaks for itself:
To the Editor:
After the sixth angel poured out his vial John saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. * * * to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon.
"Is China the Armageddon where the armies of all the nations of the earth are to he gathered to fight the last great battle of the world? I wonder the ministers do not preach more on the prophecies, which seem so plain. These are certainly the last days spoken of by Christ and the Apostles, according to the signs of the times.
Peter says: Knowing this, first, that these shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. It is evident then that these are the last days, as that is the cry from pulpit to pulpit. They are not ready yet for the coming of our Lord, or the end of the world. They are walking after their own lusts — they like their salaries, and to be left alone to indulge in the comforts of life. This world is to them good enough to live in, therefore the cry of peace and safety has gone forth, and according to Paul — when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them * * *, and they shall not escape.
"The Book of Revelation is so little understood. When they preach from any passages therein they speak as if what is written existed previously or at the time the Revelation was given to John when he was upon the Isle of Patmos. There never was a greater mistake. Not a single prophecy given by the angel to John had been fulfilled nor was fulfilled until many years after John's death. Look at the first chapter of Revelation, first verse. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass — and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. John saw in vision the things that were to come to pass from that time all the way down to the end of the world. John was commanded to write the prophecies concerning the future of the church and its connection with the rise and fall of nations — the changes and counter-changes among the nations of the world, and how the church would be affected thereby.
Seven Stages.
John to the seven churches which are in Asia, is not addressed to the local church at each of those places named in Asia Minor, as much as it is addressed to the different states or stages of the church throughout the Christian dispensation all the way down to the time that Christ makes his second appearance at the end of time. I will leave this matter as a subject for an article on the churches for another time. Returning to secular and civil government, so often dominated by military power, we read in Rev. 11:18, and the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great — and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth.
Coming back to the inquiry, and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, is not that prophecy now being fulfilled as the nations of the world are being gathered into the ports of China? The kings of the earth and of the whole world (will be gathered) to the battle of the great day of God Almighty — Rev. 16:14, and the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. — Rev. 14:20. Verily, is not China the place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon?
W. L. DEXTER. Muscatine, Iowa.
—Davenport Daily Leader, Davenport, IA, Aug. 5, 1900, p. 2.
Muscatine Man Thinks End of the World is at Hand
The following communication speaks for itself:
To the Editor:
After the sixth angel poured out his vial John saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. * * * to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon.
"Is China the Armageddon where the armies of all the nations of the earth are to he gathered to fight the last great battle of the world? I wonder the ministers do not preach more on the prophecies, which seem so plain. These are certainly the last days spoken of by Christ and the Apostles, according to the signs of the times.
Peter says: Knowing this, first, that these shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. It is evident then that these are the last days, as that is the cry from pulpit to pulpit. They are not ready yet for the coming of our Lord, or the end of the world. They are walking after their own lusts — they like their salaries, and to be left alone to indulge in the comforts of life. This world is to them good enough to live in, therefore the cry of peace and safety has gone forth, and according to Paul — when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them * * *, and they shall not escape.
"The Book of Revelation is so little understood. When they preach from any passages therein they speak as if what is written existed previously or at the time the Revelation was given to John when he was upon the Isle of Patmos. There never was a greater mistake. Not a single prophecy given by the angel to John had been fulfilled nor was fulfilled until many years after John's death. Look at the first chapter of Revelation, first verse. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass — and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. John saw in vision the things that were to come to pass from that time all the way down to the end of the world. John was commanded to write the prophecies concerning the future of the church and its connection with the rise and fall of nations — the changes and counter-changes among the nations of the world, and how the church would be affected thereby.
Seven Stages.
John to the seven churches which are in Asia, is not addressed to the local church at each of those places named in Asia Minor, as much as it is addressed to the different states or stages of the church throughout the Christian dispensation all the way down to the time that Christ makes his second appearance at the end of time. I will leave this matter as a subject for an article on the churches for another time. Returning to secular and civil government, so often dominated by military power, we read in Rev. 11:18, and the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great — and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth.
Coming back to the inquiry, and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, is not that prophecy now being fulfilled as the nations of the world are being gathered into the ports of China? The kings of the earth and of the whole world (will be gathered) to the battle of the great day of God Almighty — Rev. 16:14, and the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. — Rev. 14:20. Verily, is not China the place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon?
W. L. DEXTER. Muscatine, Iowa.
—Davenport Daily Leader, Davenport, IA, Aug. 5, 1900, p. 2.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Revelation: A Message to Persecuted Churches
1941
Highlights on the Sunday School lesson
By NEWMAN CAMPBELL
(The International Uniform Lesson on the above topic for Sept. 7 is Revelation 1-3, the Golden Text being Rev. 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.")
At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation by John, the beloved disciple, the Christians were being ruthlessly persecuted. They had had a period of comparative calm, but when the Roman emperor, Domitian, proclaimed emperor worship, the persecutions which had been confined to such prominent leaders as Paul and Peter were extended to everyone who would not buy his liberty by conforming to the Roman religion.
It was a dark time for the Christians, and John, the only disciple who had known Christ personally now left at the close of the first century, had been condemned to work in the "mines of Patmos," which are thought to have been marble quarries, as no mines were known on this island in the Aegean sea.
It was the Lord's Day, and John was, as he says, "in the Spirit," when he heard a great voice, like a trumpet, behind him. He turned to see who was speaking, and saw "seven golden candlesticks;
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Hair White Like Snow
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
"And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.
"And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
The golden girdle symbolized righteousness; the white hair and head like snow or wool, were symbols of purity; brass is a symbol of judgment, and His feet being of that metal would indicate authority and victory over all His enemies.
John tells us that he "fell at His feet as dead," but that the apparition "laid His right hand on me, saying unto me Fear not; I am the first and the last;
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Then John was told to write to the seven churches in Asia, for the seven golden candlesticks and the seven golden stars were the angels of these seven churches. We are not sure what is meant by the "angels" of the churches, but presume they were the elders or leaders.
Each church in turn was praised for the good it held and the work of its members, and each was told of their faults. The church at Ephesus was commended for its work, labor and patience, as well as other things, but told that they had "left their first love," the love of simplicity and purity.
Church at Smyrna Poor
The church at Smyrna was very poor — probably the members had been fined so that all their money and property had been taken away — reminding us of the present position of the Jews in the countries controlled by Germany. They were to fear none of the terrible things that were to befall them, but were to "be faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life."
The church in Pergamos was praised for holding fast the name of Christ even "where Satan's seat is," but among them were men of pagan tendencies. They were told to repent.
Unto the angel of the church of Thyatira John was to write that the Lord "knew its works, charity, service and faith, and thy patience and thy works." But they harbored among them a bad woman named Jezebel, who should be cast out, or punishment would surely follow.
The church at Sardis was told to "be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
"I know thy works," was written to the church of Philadelphia, "because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world."
The church of the Laodiceans was "neither hot nor cold," which is probably true of many today. They were lukewarm, so were not doing the work for which they were founded. This church thought it was rich, He said, but was, in reality, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, blind and naked." "Buy of Me gold tried in fire," they were told. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
(Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.)
—The Lethbridge Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 6, 1941, p. 9.
Highlights on the Sunday School lesson
By NEWMAN CAMPBELL
(The International Uniform Lesson on the above topic for Sept. 7 is Revelation 1-3, the Golden Text being Rev. 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.")
At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation by John, the beloved disciple, the Christians were being ruthlessly persecuted. They had had a period of comparative calm, but when the Roman emperor, Domitian, proclaimed emperor worship, the persecutions which had been confined to such prominent leaders as Paul and Peter were extended to everyone who would not buy his liberty by conforming to the Roman religion.
It was a dark time for the Christians, and John, the only disciple who had known Christ personally now left at the close of the first century, had been condemned to work in the "mines of Patmos," which are thought to have been marble quarries, as no mines were known on this island in the Aegean sea.
It was the Lord's Day, and John was, as he says, "in the Spirit," when he heard a great voice, like a trumpet, behind him. He turned to see who was speaking, and saw "seven golden candlesticks;
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Hair White Like Snow
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
"And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.
"And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
The golden girdle symbolized righteousness; the white hair and head like snow or wool, were symbols of purity; brass is a symbol of judgment, and His feet being of that metal would indicate authority and victory over all His enemies.
John tells us that he "fell at His feet as dead," but that the apparition "laid His right hand on me, saying unto me Fear not; I am the first and the last;
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Then John was told to write to the seven churches in Asia, for the seven golden candlesticks and the seven golden stars were the angels of these seven churches. We are not sure what is meant by the "angels" of the churches, but presume they were the elders or leaders.
Each church in turn was praised for the good it held and the work of its members, and each was told of their faults. The church at Ephesus was commended for its work, labor and patience, as well as other things, but told that they had "left their first love," the love of simplicity and purity.
Church at Smyrna Poor
The church at Smyrna was very poor — probably the members had been fined so that all their money and property had been taken away — reminding us of the present position of the Jews in the countries controlled by Germany. They were to fear none of the terrible things that were to befall them, but were to "be faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life."
The church in Pergamos was praised for holding fast the name of Christ even "where Satan's seat is," but among them were men of pagan tendencies. They were told to repent.
Unto the angel of the church of Thyatira John was to write that the Lord "knew its works, charity, service and faith, and thy patience and thy works." But they harbored among them a bad woman named Jezebel, who should be cast out, or punishment would surely follow.
The church at Sardis was told to "be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
"I know thy works," was written to the church of Philadelphia, "because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world."
The church of the Laodiceans was "neither hot nor cold," which is probably true of many today. They were lukewarm, so were not doing the work for which they were founded. This church thought it was rich, He said, but was, in reality, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, blind and naked." "Buy of Me gold tried in fire," they were told. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
(Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.)
—The Lethbridge Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 6, 1941, p. 9.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
To Him That Overcometh
1911
The promises are to those who overcome. Nothing that is of real value can be acquired without effort and conflict. Not without tribulation can we enter into the kingdom of knowledge, or of character, or of personal power. We cannot lay hold on eternal life without fighting the good fight of faith.
The messages to the seven churches in John's book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ are to the church universal through all ages, and every one of them closes with a great promise "to him that overcometh." The conflict is severe, the foes are many, the temptations are as subtle as they are strong; but victory is certain to all good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
He has overcome the world. We may overcome through his blood, by our witness to him, and by sharing the spirit of his sacrifice. His saints shall conquer though they die. By dying they shall conquer. Has he not said, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it"?
"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life."
The promises are to those who overcome. Nothing that is of real value can be acquired without effort and conflict. Not without tribulation can we enter into the kingdom of knowledge, or of character, or of personal power. We cannot lay hold on eternal life without fighting the good fight of faith.
The messages to the seven churches in John's book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ are to the church universal through all ages, and every one of them closes with a great promise "to him that overcometh." The conflict is severe, the foes are many, the temptations are as subtle as they are strong; but victory is certain to all good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
He has overcome the world. We may overcome through his blood, by our witness to him, and by sharing the spirit of his sacrifice. His saints shall conquer though they die. By dying they shall conquer. Has he not said, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it"?
"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life."
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