Post by Shepherd on Dec 18, 2008 9:40:34 GMT -6
5 THE SMYRNA DISPENSATION
Intensified persecution and poverty followed the Ephesus dispensation of the Church Age. The Christians became poverty-stricken because of the intense sufferings under the Roman regime. Many of the Christians were given long prison terms. The imperialistic order of Rome meted out cruel judgment upon the saints of God who confessed Christ. They were tortured and put to death in every imaginable manner that man could die. A crown of life was promised unto those who suffered death for Christ. The saints were poor, but they were also rich in the grace of God (Rev. 2:8-11).
In the early stage of the Church Age many deceivers entered the church and led away disciples after them. Those who called themselves Jews tried to turn the church into the synagogue of Satan. The spirit of the Roman Regime was invading the ranks of the saints like creeping paralysis. The faithful saints who were out spoken against Rome were imprisoned and fed bread and water until they slowly died of starvation. Death became imminent to all the Christians who followed after the doctrine of the church fathers. Those who died by crucifixion, by the sword, or be starvation escaped the second death, which is the lake of fire. REV. 2;11...HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES; HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH.
REV. 20:14...AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.
In the Smyrna period of the Church Age another strong and deadly foe was Rapidly gaining power in the political regime of Rome. The Catholic Church and its priesthood were courting the friendship of the emperor.
The Roman Catholic Church in this period of the Church Age urged that a council of all religions be held. The spirit of the age was the same as the spirit of the Vatican Ecumenical council of our time, which is calling for a council of all religions, including the Jews and non-Christian groups.
Satan is to be blamed for the massacre of the saints, but the emperors and the mother church became instrumental in the power of Satan to perform his dirty work. As Pilate tried to wash from his filthy hands the innocent blood of Jesus, no doubt the emperors and the papacy of that time tried, and are still trying, to wash from their hands the blood of the saints.
The words of Jesus prevented complete defeat of the church in the Smyrna dispensation. He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18). The acid test was applied to the church by Rome, but God gave them the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The small city of Smyrna, located approximately four miles due north of Ephesus, actually became the stronghold of Satan. The Smyrna church was the center of persecution by the Roman regime, being prompted by the Catholic Church, the mother of all harlots. The Smyrna church was no harlot, but many of the members became adopted sons and daughters of the mother church.
The Pope of our time is endeavoring to become a forerunner of another dark age of the Christian era.
The twentieth century pilgrimage of Pope Paul VI to India and to the Holy Land became the greatest display of the Roman Catholic Church since the time of its beginning. His visit to the United States was filled with the glory of Catholicism. The pope was met by our President in New York and was extended a welcome such as no Protestant leader, nor group of leaders, has ever received.
The United Nations, with her 127 nation General Assembly, gave Pope Paul VI greater glory than any member has ever given to Jesus Christ. The pope swayed the political and religious leaders of the world with his charms of Catholicism. The pope, speaking from the United Nations rostrum, said, “we (Catholics) are the bearers of a message for all mankind.” He further stated, “This is the day which the Lord made; let us rejoice and be glad today. This is the day which we (Catholics) have desired for centuries.
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Intensified persecution and poverty followed the Ephesus dispensation of the Church Age. The Christians became poverty-stricken because of the intense sufferings under the Roman regime. Many of the Christians were given long prison terms. The imperialistic order of Rome meted out cruel judgment upon the saints of God who confessed Christ. They were tortured and put to death in every imaginable manner that man could die. A crown of life was promised unto those who suffered death for Christ. The saints were poor, but they were also rich in the grace of God (Rev. 2:8-11).
In the early stage of the Church Age many deceivers entered the church and led away disciples after them. Those who called themselves Jews tried to turn the church into the synagogue of Satan. The spirit of the Roman Regime was invading the ranks of the saints like creeping paralysis. The faithful saints who were out spoken against Rome were imprisoned and fed bread and water until they slowly died of starvation. Death became imminent to all the Christians who followed after the doctrine of the church fathers. Those who died by crucifixion, by the sword, or be starvation escaped the second death, which is the lake of fire. REV. 2;11...HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES; HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH.
REV. 20:14...AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.
In the Smyrna period of the Church Age another strong and deadly foe was Rapidly gaining power in the political regime of Rome. The Catholic Church and its priesthood were courting the friendship of the emperor.
The Roman Catholic Church in this period of the Church Age urged that a council of all religions be held. The spirit of the age was the same as the spirit of the Vatican Ecumenical council of our time, which is calling for a council of all religions, including the Jews and non-Christian groups.
Satan is to be blamed for the massacre of the saints, but the emperors and the mother church became instrumental in the power of Satan to perform his dirty work. As Pilate tried to wash from his filthy hands the innocent blood of Jesus, no doubt the emperors and the papacy of that time tried, and are still trying, to wash from their hands the blood of the saints.
The words of Jesus prevented complete defeat of the church in the Smyrna dispensation. He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18). The acid test was applied to the church by Rome, but God gave them the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The small city of Smyrna, located approximately four miles due north of Ephesus, actually became the stronghold of Satan. The Smyrna church was the center of persecution by the Roman regime, being prompted by the Catholic Church, the mother of all harlots. The Smyrna church was no harlot, but many of the members became adopted sons and daughters of the mother church.
The Pope of our time is endeavoring to become a forerunner of another dark age of the Christian era.
The twentieth century pilgrimage of Pope Paul VI to India and to the Holy Land became the greatest display of the Roman Catholic Church since the time of its beginning. His visit to the United States was filled with the glory of Catholicism. The pope was met by our President in New York and was extended a welcome such as no Protestant leader, nor group of leaders, has ever received.
The United Nations, with her 127 nation General Assembly, gave Pope Paul VI greater glory than any member has ever given to Jesus Christ. The pope swayed the political and religious leaders of the world with his charms of Catholicism. The pope, speaking from the United Nations rostrum, said, “we (Catholics) are the bearers of a message for all mankind.” He further stated, “This is the day which the Lord made; let us rejoice and be glad today. This is the day which we (Catholics) have desired for centuries.
]
