Lecture Seven

Disclaimer:

I will type the notes as presented to me.
Again let me stress that what follows are NOT my words.
I will not add my thoughts in the post.
Comments allowed for friendly discussion and edifying.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto G-D, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

I Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And for the record no one is ruling out dual fulfillment. As the man who let me have a copy of these notes said, "I'm not into prophecy but I am into history. We know history repeats itself."










1. The seven letters composing the Book of Revelation were obviously sent to the seven leading churches of Asia Minor which were earlier founded by Paul and his associates on their missionary journeys. In these letters John is rebuking them for their libertinism that had taken hold of many as well as those who pass as Jews, but show their blasphemy and licentiousness that they are of the synagogue of hasatan (Rev 2:6, 9, 15; 3:9). Part of this rebuke was directed toward libertinism or the deeds of the nicolaitans as it was called, is thought to be a sect of gnostics who participated in pagan doctrines eating of meats offered to idols. Many early Christian writers spoke concerning them including Irenaeus, Clemens, Alexandrinus, Augustine, and Tertullian. Scholars are divided as to whether the founder of this sect was the Nicolas mentioned as a part of the original deacon or seven called on to serve the early church (Acts 6:5). Although many good researchers, such as Irenaeus and Epiphanius believe this is the same Nicolas, Dr. Lightfoot doubts it and holds that it is his belief that this group derived its name from the word nicola meaning let us eat together, referring to their practice taken from paganism of eating and frolicking in fornication pointing to the practices of idolatry (Isa. 23:13 - let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die...). This was similar to the doctrine of balaam and jezebel of Thyatira (Rev 2:6,14, 15, 20). The similarity between the doctrines of balaam and the nicolaitans can be understood more when we realize that the name balaam is derived from the Hebrew words bela meaning to conquer and ha'am which means people, while the word nicolaitans in the greek was derived from the words nikan meaning to conquer and laos meaning people. In other words these two names, one in Hebrew and one in greek, carried the same idea. A story is related in Numbers 25:1-5 where balaam and the moabite king balak led some of the Children of Israel into immorality with moabite women. From this time on in Hebrew history balaam was a negative symbol of an evil man who led G-D's people into immorality and sin. It appears Paul is mentioning the same idea to the Galatians who had a tendency to take Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh (Gal 5:13). This doctrine of the nicolaitans attempted to establish a compromise with the pagan dualistic theology that the body was evil and nothing that the redeemed spirit did effected them. A christian therefore could do whatever he desired with his body because it had little or no importance. The spirit, on the other hand, was the recipient of grace causing many to live ungodly lives with their bodies. Irenaeus defended nicolaus recording that his teaching that the flesh must be abused was misunderstood by his followers resulting in their living in all kinds of wickedness. According to Irenaeus, nicolaus actually taught with this phrase that the flesh should be buffeted to be kept under control. Although Eusebius indicated that this sect did not last long, it has remnants in some believers today. Jesus was clear in HIS rebuke concerning this in the Book of Revelation when HE declared I hate the deeds of the nicolaitans...(Rev 2:6, 15).

2. Another concept noted in the rebuke to the churches of the Book of Revelation involved those who blasphemed saying they were Jews, but were not, but actually were of the synagogue of hasatan (Rev 2:9). Although this appears to have an antisemitic slant, it was in no way speaking negatively of Jews, but on the contrary, it pointed to those non-Jews in the early church-synagogues who for the benefit of the Jewish immunity which the roman government had afforded the Jews in certain persecutions (Hanson, Armageddon, p. 25). Many through the centuries have claimed to be Jews, Hebrews or Israelites who were not. Just to name a few, the British Israelites who regard the British as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, the mormons who not only claim to be the real Jews but declare that everyone else (including the real Jews) are gentiles. A sect of mostly American born blacks consider themselves the real Hebrews of which several thousand of them live in Israel. Several years ago in an American lutheran church a large group were expelled because they drifted into weirdness and claimed to have heard from G-D that they were actually the Jews and many even claimed to know which of the twelve tribes they belonged to. In Revelation 2:2 Jesus complemented the real Believers for testing those claiming to be real apostles, and were not and rejecting them as imposters and liars. The test included keeping G-D's Law and opposing evil.

3. The phrase synagogue of hasatan was addressed to the city of Smyrna which today is known as Izmir, Turkey. Although this phrase is thought to be directed against the emperor worship done in Smyrna, it was a common thing for first century Jews to use this law of double references to label those of an opposing belief, even within the faith, with titles involving the name hasatan. One example is that of the first century sage dosa ben harkinas' labeling of his brother jonathan as the first-born of hasatan for having ruled in accordance with the School of Shammai against the School of Hillel (Yevamot 16a). Another example is seen in Jesus' rebuke of Peter's sin when the L-RD called him hasatan (Matt 16:23).

4. These seven churches included Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, some of which had allowed their membership to involve themselves in semi-pagan views under various heretic leaders. Another individual singled out for idolatrous practices was a woman prophetess given the secondary title jezebel (Rev 2:20).

5. Exactly how much the people were involved into the pagan cults, such as esculapius in pergamos (hasatan's seat) is unknown, but obviously many had become polluted by such practices (Rev 2:7, 13, 26;3:4). Jesus encouraged, through John, those who were overcomers and refused to involve themselves with the pagan meals and practices by telling them that they shall eat of the tree of life in paradise (Rev 2:7).

6. Now, lets go to the actual predictions of the Book of Revelation and how they began to happen right before the eyes of the Believers in the first century. The Jews and Christians of Judea during the first century knew well the predictions of the approaching hoof beats of this battle as detailed in such writings as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which sounded the alarm, and the Book of Revelation which listed the mysterious seven seals to look for as this battle began. The great battle of good and evil known as Armageddon breaks out in Rev chapter 6. The breaking of the first seal involved the white horse, a picture of the roman empire, which was going forth conquering and to conquer. The breaking of the second seal spoke of the red horse released, indicating the familiar concept of red as the color of the planet Mars, to god of war. The birth pangs of the Messiah were to be expected before the Messianic Age of peace as the Dead Sea Scrolls mentioned in the Psalms Scroll, col. III - the pangs of travail that rock the world's great womb... Paul speaks of the same idea to the Colossians when he spoke of filling up that which was lacking in the pains of the Messiah (often translated the sufferings of Christ - Col. 1:24).

7. One major difference between the belief of the Essenes (writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the early church writings is that the Essenes believed they would participate actively in the battle and through supernatural agency come out victors, while Jesus and the early Christian writers told the Believers to flee when these signs were heard. A similar concept to that held by the ancient Essenes is seen in the Christian belief of what would happen at the end of time when the L-RD would return on white horses in victory with the redeemed (Rev 19:11-16).

8. In the year 66 AD the wicked roman procurators proved to be a disaster in Judea showing little mercy for the Jewish way of life or beliefs. In Galilee and Judea a radical arose known as the zealots freedom-fighters whose ideas were to serve G-D only and remove their roman overlords. With underground guerrilla resistance they started a problem greater than they were able to handle. Josephus tells that the roman procurator florus, determined to drive the Jewish people to revolt, extracted seventeen talents from the Temple Treasury, claiming he had a government necessity. The Jewish people rebelled and stormed the Temple shouting their contempt for florus with such actions as holding out beggar cups and saying Coppers for the poor Florus, Coppers for the poor Florus.... In response, florus marched on Jerusalem with the intent to pillage the city. Florus shouted to his soldiers: Plunder the upper market and kill anyone you meet... the troops massacred the occupants and the city ran with blood and 3600 men, women, and children were cruelly slaughtered and crucified. The Dead Sea Scrolls had predicted: The kittim (romans) shall cause many to perish by the sword, youths, grown men, the aged women, and children...and they shall take no pity on the fruit of the womb (Hab. Com., col. VI).



go to lecture VI or VIII