Simon Pease reviews ‘MidEast Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Anti-Christ’ by Joel Richardson (2012).

Joel Richardson's thought-provoking MidEast Beast challenges the widely-held belief that the final empire of biblical prophecy is a European-revived Roman Empire. Instead, he makes the case for a resurrected Islamic Ottoman empire, a view which is increasingly being taken seriously by students of prophecy.

MidEast Beast is one book in a series by the author looking at biblical prophecy from a Middle East perspective and follows on directly from Islamic Anti-Christ, which studies the close parallels between Islam's eagerly-awaited messianic leader and the biblical Anti-Christ. His later work dealing with Jesus and Israel, When a Jew Rules the World, has already been reviewed by Prophecy Today.

Taking Prophecy Literally

The book opens with recommendations on interpreting biblical prophecy, such as starting with easier, literal prophecies, rather than diving straight into Revelation and highly symbolic material. Richardson takes biblical prophetic references to places such as Egypt and Persia (Iran) literally, rather than spiritualising them to refer in general to the enemies of God.

Applying this principle, the author demonstrates from several of the prophets how God will bring vengeance on Israel's enemies in the Middle East on the ‘Day of the Lord’, highlighting specific nations, all of which are Islamic. He challenges the view that the Anti-Christ will rule over the entire world, exploring the biblical use of hyperbole and drawing attention to passages which describe the Anti-Christ kingdom at war with opposing nations.

Referring to Daniel's vision of a fourth kingdom crushing the others which preceded it, Richardson presents an argument for this kingdom being the Islamic Ottoman Empire, rather than the Roman Empire (as is often assumed). He uses maps to illustrate strikingly how the Islamic caliphate, unlike Rome, conquered all the areas previously occupied by the Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Greek empires.

Joel Richardson makes the case for the final empire of biblical prophecy being a resurrected Islamic Ottoman empire.

He argues that the related ‘legs of iron’ in Nebuchadnezzar's dream represent the Sunni and Shiite parts of the Ottoman Empire. He also presents historical evidence that the "people of the prince who is to come" (Dan 9:26), prophesied by Daniel and who destroyed the Temple in 70 AD, were legions recruited by Rome from the local populations of regions which today are mostly in Syria and are all Islamic.

Richardson also investigates the seven-headed beast of Revelation, pointing out that the argument for Rome being both the sixth beast which ‘is’ and the seventh which replaces it, is contradictory. Islam overtook Rome in the Middle East, conquering its capital Constantinople (now Istanbul), with the Ottoman Empire receiving a "fatal head wound" nearly 100 years ago. The author makes a compelling argument for its future reappearance as the eighth beast, which is intriguing in the light of recent developments in Turkey.

Direct, Analytical, Logical

Although Richardson writes primarily for the biblically-literate believer with an interest in ‘end times’ prophecy, his compelling argument for the veracity of Scripture has caused me to recommend MidEast Beast to believer and non-believer alike.

His style is direct, analytical and logical, whilst being highly readable and devoid of theological jargon. Not surprisingly, his views have generated much debate, so he engages in a spirited defence of his position against his critics, including citing the opinions of prominent believers from earlier generations who also understood biblical prophecy as referring to Islam.

As a result of the author’s meticulous research, some readers may find MidEast Beast overly long at nearly 270 pages, but this is probably necessitated by the controversy he has generated.

Richardson’s views have generated much debate, so he engages in a spirited defence of his position against his critics.

Thoroughly Recommended

This book is more than just theological argument – it is a call to action, challenging Christians to recognise that Islam will continue to grow powerfully. Richardson argues passionately that this knowledge should impact believers' attitudes towards the evangelisation of Muslims, our preparation for increasing persecution and our commitment to stand with the Jewish people.

I thoroughly recommend MidEast Beast, not only because it challenges us to consider carefully what the Bible actually teaches (rather than simply accepting recycled opinions at face value), but also because of the implications if his interpretation of Scripture proves to be correct.

Mid-East Beast (published by Joel Richardson) is available from Amazon in hardcover, Kindle and audio forms.

Philadelphian believers were weak but faithful.

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Although Philadelphia was the least distinguished of all the cities visited by John and reported in Revelation 3, the name is now better known as that of a leading city in the USA.

Philadelphia in the USA played a significant role in the American Revolution as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence there in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787.

It served as the temporary capital of the United States (1790–1800) while the Federal City, Washington, was under construction in the District of Columbia. Its foundation had strong Quaker origins, having been built on land granted by Charles II in repayment of a debt to William Penn. Friendly negotiations with the Indian tribes living there gave rise to the name, which is Greek for brotherly love (from philos, ‘love’ or ‘friendship’, and adelphos, ‘brother’), which links it with its less spectacular biblical counterpart.

The ancient Philadelphia was established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon (197-160 BC) and was named in the love of his brother, who would be his successor, Attalus II (159-138 BC).

‘Philadelphia’ is Greek for brotherly love, from ‘philos’ (love or friendship) and ‘adelphos’ (brother).

Background: Philadelphia Then and Now

Ancient Philadelphia is now called Alesihir in modern-day Turkey. It was never to attain greatness in worldly terms as it was off the normal trade routes, although it was on a pass to the Eastern cities of Asia Minor. Thus it was often seen as an outpost of the Empire of the time - being dubbed a ‘missionary city’ with “open doors that would never be shut”.

At the time of the writing of the letters in Revelation there would have been around 500 Christian churches or fellowships in the whole area – but the Gospel had not spread far beyond Philadelphia so there was still great potential there.

The city was in the centre of an earthquake region and had suffered many quakes, including the great ones of AD 17 and AD 23 after which it was re-built with a grant from Rome. The main buildings were built to survive and the City Hall, with the remains of four of its great pillars, had become a centre of Christianity by the 4^th Century – in fact it still is intact; the city is a strong centre of Orthodox Christianity and remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.

When we have been to this city on a tour of the ‘Seven Churches’, visitors could see the four massive pillars that remain on this site and experience the friendly nature of the current inhabitants. Children crowd around the tourist coaches eager to display their newly learned English from school, to share details of their lives and their desire to become penfriends. Even today there is an ‘open door’!

The Message!

The words from Jesus’ message to the Philadelphians can have great meaning for us today.

Some historians have tried to liken the seven different messages to the Revelation churches to seven eras in the Church’s overall development. They have equated the letter to Philadelphia with the great European missionary movements of the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, as they saw it as having a special message for those in this era who were fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The message, though, can have continuing significance today to ensure that the Church continues to have this Commission at the centre of its outreach.

Philadelphia, now modern Alesihir, was never to attain greatness in worldly terms – but was and remains a strong centre of Christianity.

The opening salutation in the letter differs from the others – as it does not come using words from John’s opening chapter of Revelation with its powerful description of God. It comes instead from 1 John 5:20 where Jesus is described as the One who is true and who also has the ‘key of David’ (Isa 22:22). Keys are symbolic in opening up hidden secrets in our understanding - whether they are mysteries of God (Job 11:7), or mysteries that have been entrusted to us as servants of Christ (1 Cor 4:1), or mysteries requiring further revelation, as in the deep truths of the Kingdom taught by Jesus.

This message, along with the message to Smyrna, are the only two in which there are no rebukes and there does not seem to be anything that is not pleasing to God. But there are warnings: this small community would not be immune from the time of persecution coming on Christians throughout the Roman Empire. But members of this little fellowship were not to be fearful as they would be kept through these days – they would not be spared the trials and times of suffering and persecution, but would be given the strength to hold firm – no-one would be able to take the crown of life away from them.

Weak but Faithful

There are many other gems and words of encouragement in this letter that can help us in today’s world. Unusually, the words “I know your deeds” are followed by a list of commendable factors but which also includes the recognition that “you have little strength”. In fact, an understanding of our dependence on God’s strength and not on our own, could be an essential part of any strategy for real growth to take place.

The message is not promising untroubled times: obviously, just as the Philadelphians experienced unexpected (and unwarranted?) persecution from those who were nearest to them in beliefs (the Jews), so we too can expect opposition – but if we stay firm and endure patiently, our future is assured.

Though this little fellowship would not be spared trials and times of suffering, they would be given the strength to hold firm.

We are to hold on to the faith that we have, so that we will become pillars that survive the test of time and will be a support to others. We are told that “I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem…and I will also write on them my new name” (Rev 3:13). We will indeed become ‘Ambassadors’ for Christ!

Even those who have been against us will in the last days recognise the truth of God’s word. “They will acknowledge that I have loved you” – they will see God’s love for themselves.
The message to the ‘overcomers’ in each of the letters is significant. The Messiah is coming soon; if we hold onto our faith we will not lose the crown waiting for us and we will be established so firmly that we will be like pillars in the Kingdom of God.

Timeless Truths

The message to the church in Philadelphia is timeless. God has not changed. He is as powerful today as he was in the 1st Century AD and the mission he gave to his Church then is unchanged today. As we noted in our guidebook Ephesus to Laodicea, written with our prayer partners some 12 years ago: “It is still the Great Commission to take his Word to the world, to turn darkness into light, to release the captives, to set the prisoner free and to release his love into a war-torn world that believes it is only the might of human arms can solve the problems of our humanity" (p93).

The message to each one of us continues to be that God empowers the weak, and he takes the things that seem foolish in the eyes of the world and uses them to work out his purposes.

Even though we may be weak, may we be faithful – and live up to the Philadelphian slogan ‘Open All Hours - we are never closed’.

Click here to read the rest of the articles in this series.

Paul Luckraft interviews the author of ‘Signs: The Significance of Biblical Prophecy’.

How does a retired Brigadier come to write a book about the signs of the end times? To find out, I went to visit Neil in his home and learn about his background, calling and how this particular book emerged.

God’s Guiding Hand

Neil would not describe his early life as particularly ‘Christian’, certainly not in the sense of being born again. At boarding school, he experienced the typical way in which ‘church’ was part of school life but there was no personal commitment.

In 1965 he joined the Royal Signals and began a career in the Army, travelling the world and soon rising to the rank of Major. Then in 1987 he decided to leave to enter the world of finance, but this was a bad time for such a move. This was the year of the ‘great crash’ and it was soon apparent there was no future for him there. Looking back, Neil can sense God’s hand in this, directing him back into the Army where God’s plans could more easily be fulfilled.

Amazingly he was not only accepted back with his old rank but was quite quickly promoted to Brigadier, taking on various roles in the Royal Army Pay Corps and the Adjutant General’s Corps. This was the time when the army was downsizing and one of Neil’s tasks was to help army personnel with redundancy packages and pensions. In that sense he was in both finance and military service. God always knows what he is doing!

Breakdown and Breakthrough

However, some aspects of his new role disturbed him, especially when he was asked to teach a certain course that he found difficult and ill-prepared to deliver. His self-confidence, developed and strengthened through his time at school as well as his army days, was being undermined and challenged. A significant change was about to happen. Neil describes this time as one of “breakdown and breakthrough”.

No longer able to cope with life in the way he was used to, he felt desperate - even slightly frightened. He could no longer sleep properly and became ill as a result. One night he knelt by the bed and cried out to God, that if he was really there to reveal himself and help him. After just two hours sleep he woke up feeling refreshed and clear-headed. A change had begun.

During a time of ‘breakdown and breakthrough’, Neil became desperate and cried out to God.

Neil realised that any semblance of Christianity in his life up to that moment (his 50^th year!) had been nominal and self-serving. He had been living a self-centred life and expecting God to be part of that. But in a few short weeks, with the help of a house church leader that Neil knew, a spiritual transformation occurred, involving conviction, repentance and being baptised in the Spirit. No longer would God have to serve Neil - Neil would serve God!

Neil's book Signs, reviewed on Prophecy Today earlier this month.‘Active Service’ in Retirement

His new joy led to a renewed confidence, no longer in himself but in God, who told him to stay in the army as a witness. In his remaining years there, God honoured him with more promotions. Becoming a Brigadier actually gave Neil more opportunities to share his faith and even pray for people.

Once he retired in 1998, God found more ‘active service’ for Neil. After two years as a school bursar in the Lake District, he moved to Edinburgh, the home of his late wife. Sadly, she died of cancer shortly after their arrival. Neil stayed in Scotland for a few years, becoming an elder in the Church of Scotland. After remarrying, he ran a Healing Room before returning to Hampshire and joining the Winchester Vineyard Christian Fellowship.

He has served at ‘WinVin’ for some years, including as a trustee, and it is there he started to teach and preach. So how did writing a book become part of his life?

Discovering Bible Prophecy

Neil offered to teach on the end times at WinVin but was initially turned down. However, six months later the leaders changed their mind and approached him to put on a course. This he did willingly, not because he knew all about it but because he was intrigued by the topic and wanted to find out more. Prophecy was a key part of Scripture, so why was it either ignored or badly understood?

Neil already knew the Bible was God’s truth and his regularly study in the Word (with the help of Grudem’s Systematic Theology, among other aids) had given him the grounding to tackle something as daunting as the end times.

Neil’s new joy led to renewed confidence – no longer in himself but in God.

Neil also already had a significant advantage, namely a clear understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the importance of Israel and the Jews. He had no need to repent of Replacement Theology or re-adjust his thinking in this respect. God’s word had spoken to him and Neil knew what had to be taught.

After 18 months of teaching through the various topics on the end times, Neil realised he now had a wealth of material, both on his computer and in handouts. What to do next with all this? Why not write a book? He had written articles before for a military magazine, so he had some experience in this field, but this was a new venture altogether. However, he believed this was what God wanted, so in 2012 he started turning what he knew into book form. Focussing on writing for just one day each week meant it took him 18 months to produce the first draft. But then what?

Completing the Journey

God had it all in hand, and led Neil to the right people to help him, from editing the first draft through to the final process of publishing. After being rejected by one publisher, he decided to go down the road of self-publishing, choosing Kingdom Writing Solutions as the means of doing this, and Amazon for the sales side via print-on-demand and an e-book. This all worked out smoothly, which was a great blessing.

Would he write another book? Perhaps, but only if it was clearly what God wanted. Meanwhile, Neil does continue to teach his course, or a revised shorter version of it, on a regular basis. His story is a further example of someone being led by God through life and finding new fruitfulness in the latter years, an encouragement to us all.

Find out more about Neil’s book ‘Signs’ by clicking here.

Paul Luckraft unpacks the letter sent to believers in Sardis.

There are many letters in the New Testament, to individuals and to churches, but those in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 have special significance – they are from Jesus himself. Furthermore, they are written to churches under severe pressure. Would they survive? To be overcomers in their difficult circumstances they needed to hear from Jesus, to learn what he thought about them and what they should do to become strong again.

Illustrious Past

What kind of place was Sardis? What was it like back in the 1^st Century AD and what was its history?

Founded around 1200 BC, Sardis had an illustrious past. It was once a pre-eminent city, commanding a main trade route. As a result, it grew rich on trade, especially the clothing industry, being well-known for its woollen garments. It eventually became the capital of the small kingdom of Lydia, whose most famous king was Croesus, fabled for his wealth. It has even been suggested that coinage was first developed there.

Also from this region came the legend of King Midas. Certainly everything those in Sardis touched seemed to turn to gold – but as a result, they became increasingly affluent, materialistic, self-sufficient and proud.

Sardis itself contained a magnificent colonnaded marble road about 1500m long, running from east to west. Buildings of great splendour adorned the whole city - not just fine residences but many public buildings: a gymnasium, a theatre, public baths and a huge Temple to Artemis (Diana).

Sardis had an illustrious past – it was once a pre-eminent city that had grown rich on trade.

Wealth, Pride and Complacency

View of the 'impregnable' citadel of Sardis.

Overlooking the city was an impressive acropolis, a 450m-high fortress they called The Impregnable, which gave the citizens a sense of security and safety. If attacked they could withdraw there and survive in what they thought was a safe haven. However, history shows that on two separate occasions they got careless and were defeated.

There was only one way to attack the fortress, via a single narrow path which was hidden from the view of the attackers and which could easily be guarded. One lookout was enough. But the story goes that on one occasion the lookout dropped a piece of armour. As he went to retrieve it he inadvertently revealed the way up. Another story recounts how the guard simply fell asleep.

Whatever the truth of the legends, the reality is that twice Sardis was conquered: first by the Persians under Cyrus in 549 BC, and later by the Greeks under Antiochus the Great, 218 BC. The fall of Sardis to the Persians has been preserved in folklore as a story of misplaced trust and a lack of watchfulness (something from which to learn!). And yet, centuries later, it happened again!

Eventually the Romans took over, and a church was founded there. By the 1^st Century AD Sardis had 120,000 inhabitants and continued to flourish financially – although by now it had a reputation for bad character. The pagan philosopher Apollonius, a contemporary of the Apostle John, stated “there are no prizes among you for good character, but if you competed for the first prize in vice you would all win at once!”

The fall of Sardis to the Persians is remembered as a story of misplaced trust and a lack of watchfulness.

In AD 17, a large earthquake struck and destroyed 12 cities in the area. Sardis was badly hit, but refused help from Rome, saying ‘we can rebuild it ourselves with our own wealth!’ They had a reputation to uphold, one that said ‘we are the great, the wealthy, the impregnable city against which none could strive and prevail.’

So it was that here, in a city of wealth, pride and complacency, one of the seven Churches of Revelation had to survive and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Messiah. How were they doing?

No Words of Approval

Marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis. Now on display in New York.

Everyone had a lot to say about the Church at Sardis and spoke well of them. Everyone, that is, except the one person who really counts, Jesus. He was far from impressed. What had gone wrong? What could they do about it? What problems did they face and what did Jesus tell them to do about them?

Each of the seven letters in Revelation follows a similar pattern or structure. After the initial address and an attribute of Jesus (usually based on the vision in Revelation 1), there follow five sections. These can be summarised as: approval, accusation, advice, appeal and assurance.

However, in two of the letters there are no words of accusation (those to believers in Smyrna and Philadelphia). In another two there are no words of approval. One is Laodicea - and the other is Sardis!

Instead, Jesus starts with a devastating opening rebuke and accusation: “I know your deeds.” It seems they had no doctrinal problems and no external problems to overcome. Rather, the issues were all internal. They were comfortable, content, living on reputation - not reality. Like the guards in the past they had gone to sleep, or become careless.

They were very busy, lots of activity – but no spiritual reality, no substance. There was no shortage of projects - but no harvest, no fruit. Nothing they started was ever properly finished or fulfilled; nothing they undertook was seen through. They lacked perseverance and commitment. What they were doing seemed good in the eyes of men, but not in the sight of God. They were not fulfilling his purposes. And what little remained was about to die out, like a flickering candle. Their future was under threat. Jesus, who closes churches as well as opens them, would remove their lampstand unless they listened carefully to his advice.

Those in Sardis were comfortable, content, living on reputation - not reality. Their activity seemed good in the eyes of men – but not in the sight of God.

Five Commands

What he told them can be summarised as a series five short commands: first, wake up! Realise what is going on, and what you are like. An obvious first step, perhaps, but very necessary before you can move on to the next stage, to strengthen what you have that is still alive. Don’t let that die out! If a flame is flickering, revive it first, before trying to light others. Allow God’s spirit to work on what is still there, however faint it seems. To strengthen what we have is our first duty, rather than to abandon everything in favour of ‘new ideas’, in the hope that these will put things right again.

The third command is: remember! It is always good to recall what we first had that blessed us. The grace we first knew, the love and fervour we once had, the Gospel that saved us. Remembering how we first started and what God has done for us in the past will breathe new life into a dying situation. Go back to the beginning, remind yourself of the basics. Think again how amazing it is to be part of God’s people and what a privilege it is to be called by him.

Remembrance helps the final two commands: repent and obey! These should be constant aspects of the Christian life and of any church. Obey what you once knew was right. You did it then - do it now, again and again. And alongside this goes repentance. Each aids the other.

So: wake up, strengthen what remains, remember what you once had, then repent and obey. Solid advice, but if they did not respond, the consequences for the Church would be severe.
Jesus issued a warning that listeners in Sardis would have all understood from their city’s history. Jesus was watching, waiting, and if ignored he would steal upon them like the attackers of old. They would lose everything. This image of a thief is not a reference to the Second Coming – neither is it advocating a secret return before another final (third) one! This was about their current situation and relationship to Jesus as the head of their Church.

Strengthen what you have - if a flame is flickering, revive it first, before trying to light others.

The Overcomers

So, did they respond? Maybe for a while, but by the 4^th Century the Church in Sardis had disappeared. There are only ruins today where once it existed.

However, there is good news. The letter tells us that there was a faithful remnant and where such exists, a church can re-build. Again, in the letter Jesus used an analogy that would have been familiar to dwellers in Sardis - from their clothing industry. Some had resisted the drift and decline, and not allowed their clothes to become soiled. They still walked with Jesus and their future was assured. They would get new white clothes, worthy of their calling.

These were the overcomers, individuals who kept to the original faith and remained an example to others. Whatever church you are in, whatever state it is in, you can overcome in that situation by a personal walk with God.

The Book of Life

The alternative is drastic. Names will be blotted out from the book of life! Again, those in Sardis would have got the message. Greek cities kept registers of their citizens, and the names of those found unworthy were removed and blotted out (or, more literally, scraped off with a penknife).

But what does this mean here? Is this ‘book of life’ all who have ever lived (as in Psalm 69:28, the book from which the unrighteous are blotted out), or believers who have given up and miss out on eternal life? In Revelation 13:8 there is reference to “the book of life belonging to the Lamb”. For consistency we might expect the warning in Revelation 3 to relate to that.

Here is a controversial topic! I would recommend you do your own study through the scriptures where there is mention of more than one ‘book of life’ or ‘book of names’, and names being blotted out of such a book (for instance Ex 32:32; Dan 12:1; Phil 4:3; plus Rev 20:15, 21:27).

Where a faithful remnant exists, there is always hope that a church can re-build.

Whatever you decide, what is important is that by the end your name is still there, and for overcomers Jesus guarantees this. There is a strong double negative for emphasis, literally “I will never ever by any means blot out his name”. It cannot happen if you endure to the end.

And on an even more positive note, your name will be acknowledged before the Father. Here is the best possible reputation, better than anything amongst men. To hear Jesus call out before the Father and the angels: he/she is mine! Here’s another one of my overcomers for he/she belongs to me!

Having Ears to Hear

The final appeal is common to all the letters in Revelation, and one familiar from many of Jesus’ parables where he was seeking a response. To have ‘ears to hear’ means far more than to hear something physically. Rather, it means take heed! Now you have read the letter, consider it in detail. Listen to the Spirit! Pay attention to what the Spirit is saying about it all - the problems, the solutions, the advice, the warnings, the rewards.

It is fascinating to think that there was an occasion when this letter was read aloud for the very first time, in a real place called Sardis. What was the reaction of listeners then? But just as important is what happens every time it is read by us today. Do you hear the voice of Jesus - or is it just another letter?

Click here to read the rest of the articles in this series.

Author: Paul Luckraft

Photo Credits: Top image from Wikimedia Commons / Turkey Vision / CC BY 2.0. Acropolis image from David Lull / Flickr Creative Commons / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Column image from MBisanz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'Signs: The Significance of Biblical Prophecy' by Neil Mackereth (2015).

This is an accessible introduction to what the Bible has to say about the climax of history and the end of the age. The author explains that, having been asked to run an 'end times' course in his local church, he then felt called to turn the material into a book.

As a retired Brigadier with a background in communications and administration, he admits he is no academic and that at the start he realised just how little he knew. But as his research grew and he gained a new awareness of what the Bible says about the amazing signs God has given, he became more and more absorbed and determined to enthuse others too.

He explains his aim in writing the book (his first) is "to examine a number of signs of our times as well as biblical prophecies...[and] let you – the reader - conclude whether or not prophecy is being fulfilled in our day" (p9).

Structure and Approach

The book is in five parts. The introductory section provides guidelines and ground rules to help establish a level of objectivity, and includes consideration of the pitfalls and challenges to an impartial approach to the topic. There follows an overview of the histories of Israel and Babylon, and an assessment of where we are on the timeline of biblical prophecy.

The final sections focus on more specific aspects of end times prophecy and the significance of current events in relation to these prophecies, together with a consideration of what is yet to happen.

Neil's research into the end times gave him a new awareness of what the Bible says and a determination to enthuse others about the topic.

Overall the book is well-written with an easy style that encourages you to read on. The structure of the book is clear and well-organised. The 22 relatively short chapters each begin in a way that draws you in, either via an interesting fact, a challenging question or a humorous observation. The author's background in communication perhaps helps here!

A key feature of the earlier parts of the book is 'the miracle that is Israel' - regarding both its history and its re-birth. There is a clear rejection of Replacement Theology and a sense of Israel's destiny – which accounts for its miraculous survival. He provides a measured consideration of the blossoming fig tree, both in terms of the birth of the state in 1948 and the increasing growth in Messianic Jewish believers in Israel and Judaism worldwide. His handling of this 'sign' gives confidence in his ability to tackle these topics generally.

As in the Days of Noah...

In the third section, the author is aware of the need to handle Old Testament prophecies as a mix of forth-telling and foretelling, which he generally does well. It is rather surprising, therefore, that his view of Satan is unconventional. He rejects the common view that Satan is a fallen senior angel whose pride caused him to rebel against God, commenting that "As far as I am aware there is no Scriptural foundation for this theory." What he does believe about the person and origins of the enemy remains unclear. Instead the chapter diverts to a discussion of the Temple Mount.

Much better is the following chapter on 'The Days of Noah', which contains an excellent critique of modern society and its obsession with political correctness. His phrase "the pervasion of perversion" (p121) is both telling and memorable.

In the fourth section we move from a wider reflection to a narrower focus on what he calls the "centre line for examining End Times prophetic scriptures" (p125), namely Matthew 24. He promises us a narrative summary of this chapter but this is too brief to be called a summary. Rather, it is merely an outline before we move on to sample a few more prophecies and relate them to current affairs. In other words, what are the signs of our times?

A key feature of the book is 'the miracle that is Israel' - regarding both its history and its re-birth.

Within this section the author provides a useful recap of certain key themes, such as the anti-Christ, the one world order, the centrality of Jerusalem and the possibility of a re-built Temple. There are, as would be expected, several pages devoted to the Book of Revelation, where he stresses that the objective of the book is an unveiling of Jesus rather than of events or a timetable. This is a useful reminder that the most important prophecy of all is that Jesus will return. The Lamb has won, and will reign on earth as King!

Where Next?

Part five asks the question 'What next?' What do recent trends suggest about our immediate future? These are thoughtfully examined without trying to confirm any particular theory or theology. Rather it is a case of 'let's look and see what we can see.'

The Middle East is a key focus of attention, as is the theme of false teachers and prophets. In one chapter we are led to consider "the rise and spread of radical and very militant versions of Islamic ideology" (p186) and ask to what extent this is apocalyptic. This topic is handled very well and is up-to-date enough to include ISIS and its prophetic significance. Is ISIS a sign of our times - and where might it lead? The gentle conclusion is "Only time will tell" (p192).

The author is aware of the need to handle Old Testament prophecies as a mix of forth-telling and foretelling.

The book closes with two useful appendices. The first is a glossary of end time terminology; the second provides some background notes on Islam (mainly on the difference between Sunni and Shi'a).

Overall this is a book well worth investing in, and reading again and again as a refresher on this important topic.

Signs (208 pages) is self-published and available from CFI for £9, or from Amazon.

Dr Clifford Hill unpacks the message sent to believers in Pergamum, modern-day Bergama (Turkey).

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against you with the sword of my mouth.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Steep-sided theatre at Pergamum. See Photo Credits.Pergamum was a magnificent city on two sites, an upper and a lower. The Upper Site, the Acropolis, was originally the capital of Asia Minor, the region ruled by the Lydians, forerunners of the Greek Empire. It was the Greeks who built the massive altar to Zeus with its huge stone steps and figures depicting the war of the gods with the giants – monsters with tails of serpents instead of legs. From the town below where the Christians lived it would certainly have looked like the place where Satan sat enthroned – hence the opening salutation in the letter.

Just above the altar of Zeus stood the impressive 10,000-seat theatre with its panoramic view of the countryside that still offers a spectacular experience for visitors. Directly above the theatre are the ruins of the Temple of Athena, the chief goddess of the city. Next to her temple are the ruins of the magnificent library which had more than 200,000 scrolls, most of which were given away by Mark Anthony to Cleopatra when the Alexandrian library was burnt down.

The Lower Site was of great importance as a centre of healing with its famous link to Asclepius who claimed to have been healed by the venom of a snake. The healing centre was the most advanced medical facility in the ancient world and contained a theatre, a library, a temple and 'sacred' springs whose waters were reputed to have healing powers. Visitors today can walk among these ruins and even taste the waters of the spring. The snake symbol over the entrance to the healing centre has become the international symbol for the medical profession.

The Greeks built the massive altar to Zeus to fill the skyline over Pergamum – to Christians it would have certainly looked like Satan's throne.

A Two-Edged Sword

Christians in Pergamum must have felt surrounded by evil forces with the city in the valley where they lived filled with symbols of pagan gods and the mountainside above them dominated by the altar to Zeus, the father of pagan gods, whose presence filled the skyline at the top of the Acropolis.

The letter to the Christians reflects this in its opening words, which come from Revelation 1:16 where Jesus is said to have a sharp, double-edged sword. This implies that he is not only coming against the pagan gods of Pergamum but that there is a cutting edge also directed towards the people of God in the city.

The Altar of Zeus from Pergamum, brought to Berlin in late 19th Century. See Photo Credits.

Clearly there was something radically wrong with the teaching and practices of this fellowship that was being exposed in the message. The Christians were living in a hotbed of satanic practices: "You live where Satan has his throne". The world-renowned place of health and healing with its symbol of the snake and temples to pagan gods filled the very air they breathed. The Christians fought a daily battle to resist the powers of evil that surrounded them.

They had remained faithful even through terrible days of persecution that came upon them when Antipas had refused to acknowledge the divinity of Caesar and had paid the price with a fearful death, and when Christians were assaulted by violent mobs in the city streets.

The believers had survived those testing days - but there were still things about their fellowship that were not pleasing to God. They allowed people to remain within the fellowship who were following the teaching of Nicholas that separated body and soul. This led to the belief that it didn't really matter what they did with their bodies; so they could indulge in physical lusts without it affecting their spiritual life. This was a real danger and unless there was repentance they would feel the two-edged sword brought against the evildoers following this teaching.

Christians in Pergamum survived testing days and lived surrounded by evil forces – but there were still things about their fellowship that were not pleasing to God.

For Those with Ears to Hear...

The final part of the message to Pergamum is addressed to those who had an ear to hear what the Spirit was saying. It is a beautiful promise to the Overcomers, to those who withstood the pressures of idolatry and syncretism (the mixing of pagan practices with Christian beliefs). For them, there would be great rewards.

They would be given some of the manna such as had been put in the Ark of the Covenant during the time the Israelites spent in the wilderness when God miraculously fed his people.

In John's Gospel, following his account of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus referred to the manna in the desert as being the 'bread of life' which he would give to all who come to him (John 6:30-40). This would give Christians full access to an understanding of the nature and purposes of God which are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge to which Paul refers in Colossians 2:2-3.

Finally, the Overcomers were promised eternal life with Jesus. They would be given "a white stone with a new message written on it" which was similar to the practice of sending an invitation to a special event such as a wedding. The person invited would receive a white stone on which was written a message of invitation using a pet name of endearment that the believer would readily recognise. This would be an invitation to the 'Banquet of the Lamb'.

For those who withstood the pressures of idolatry and syncretism, the letter promised great rewards.

Relevance for Today

The message to the church in Pergamum is highly relevant for Christians today living in a post-Christian society, where the pressures to conform to the values of secular humanism are both open and subtle. In everyday life, we have to conform to convention that is established by law, some of which is directly contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Christians have to find ways of maintaining and witnessing to their faith while not falling foul of the law - though this is becoming increasingly difficult and ultimately, of course, our loyalty to the Lord must come first.

But we also face subtle attacks upon our spiritual lives through social engineering and brainwashing that takes place through the media. Meanwhile, all kinds of paganism and mysticism are making a comeback – proliferating across many spheres of society, including within the walls of the Church.

Young people are especially vulnerable as a whole generation has been deliberately subjected to social engineering by secular humanists. Many people are not even aware of the dramatic way in which our society's culture and values have been transformed in just a few years. We each of us need to read this message prayerfully, asking the Lord to show us where our own values are falling short of the standards God requires among those to whom he offers eternal life.

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Believers in Smyrna were poor but faithful, hated but loved. Frances Rabbitts unpacks the letter to this persecuted church.

"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. 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. 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. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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." (Rev 2:8-11)

Revelation was received, written and circulated during a time when Christians across Asia Minor faced increasingly heated persecution – hence its reliance on symbolic language that non-believers would not understand.

Whilst an emphasis on persecution and trial runs right through the whole Book of Revelation, the letter written to the church in Smyrna is particularly devoted to encouraging believers to stand firm in the face of a coming onslaught, during which many would have been imprisoned, tortured and killed.

Great Fire of Smyrna, 1922.The words would have spoken incredibly clearly to believers at the time – and they have lost none of their relevance through the years. The last time believers in Smyrna were attacked en masse was actually in the 20th Century – in 1922, when incoming Turkish soldiers slaughtered tens of thousands of Christians (causing 1.5 million more to flee as refugees) - far more than would ever have died under Rome.¹

Today the words have great poignancy for the millions of Christians worldwide suffering for the faith – and are yet relevant to the whole Body, for "if one part [of the Body] suffers, every part suffers with it" (1 Cor 12:26). As we will also see, its exhortations apply in a spiritual way to all believers, whether they are undergoing trials in this life or not.

The last time believers in Smyrna were attacked en masse was actually in 1922, when Turkish soldiers slaughtered far more Christians than would ever have died under Rome.

Ancient SmyrnaThe agora in modern Izmir, Turkey.

Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, named in 1930 – simply the Turkish rendering of the Greek name) was an ancient Greek seaport on the coast of Asia Minor (about 50 miles north of Ephesus) and a leading city in Greek antiquity. Situated in a sheltered valley between the mountains and the sea, like Ephesus, Smyrna was at the mouth of a great Anatolian trade route. Today it is still an industrial transit city - but known more for its urban sprawl than for its historic glory.

The oldest city on the Aegean coast and founded by the Hittites, Smyrna experienced large-scale migration from the Greek mainland c.1200 BC, completely transforming its cultural fabric. It grew in splendour and was 'talent-spotted' by Alexander the Great in the 4^th Century BC, who deliberately rebuilt the city on the opposite side of the bay to take advantage of the view.

This more 'modern' Smyrna had all the advantages of a purpose-built Greek city – gym, stadium, theatre and broad, well-paved streets.² The city's main street extended from the temple of Zeus in the west to that of Cybele in the east. When governance of Smyrna was transferred peacefully to the Roman Empire in 133 BC, Greek buildings and architecture were not destroyed, but adapted and extended.

The Christians Community in Smyrna

By the time the Gospel arrived, Smyrna was a bustling, prosperous, polytheistic city of many magnificent temples and a fusion of cultures. Smyrna had a Christian population from very early on, the seeds of which were planted and watered by Bishop Polycarp, who was instructed and appointed by the early apostles and later martyred. Smyrna's initial group of Jewish converts grew rapidly into a larger community of both Messianics and Gentile believers.

Believers were not necessarily rich (hence the mention in the letter of their apparent 'poverty'), but they were liberated from the shackles of Greco-Roman religion, into which the Gospel spoke as a breath of fresh air. By the time Revelation was written, there were at least 500 churches in the region; the Gospel was having great success.

By the time the Gospel arrived, Smyrna was a bustling, prosperous, polytheistic city of many magnificent temples and a fusion of cultures.

Spread of Persecution

As the faith flourished, however, so Christianity began to be perceived as a threat, both to the traditional pagan religions of Rome and to orthodox Judaism.

Christians in the Roman Empire were initially tolerated as a Jewish sect, but as the faith spread amongst Gentiles and the differences between Christians and Jews who had not accepted Jesus as Messiah became increasingly observable to outsiders, civic authorities turned against the believing community. Christians were painted as trouble-makers and subversives, refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of Caesar, worshipping in private (rumours abounded) and declining participation in pagan festivals.

Persecution under Nero in the 60s AD (during which Peter and Paul likely were both martyred) was mercifully brief, but took a more serious and widespread turn under Domitian, who enforced the practice of 'Lord's Day' - when all citizens had to declare 'Caesar is Lord' or face terrible persecution – and when John, banished to Patmos by Roman officials, received the Revelation from Jesus.

The Letter to the Church in Smyrna

The letter to the church in Smyrna would have been received during a time of great persecution, likely under Domitian. It is unsurprising, then, that its central aim is to strengthen and encourage believers, whilst being frank about the coming trials. The Lord Jesus does not mince words, deny facts or try to paint a rosier picture to quell the fears of his beloved ones – he clearly states that trouble is coming, and will be tough, but that the crown of life to be won will be worth the fight.

Christians, increasingly isolated and targeted by both Rome and some more militant groups of orthodox Jews (hence Jesus's mention of the 'synagogue of Satan'), lived in daily fear of false accusations and even infiltration of their churches by those who would betray them to officials. The letter gives a prophetic warning of "ten days" of trial, not unlike Daniel and his companions in Babylonian captivity, who publicly put themselves to the test for ten days to prove that God could sustain them on a diet of vegetables and water.³

The ten days mentioned for Smyrna may have been literal, or symbolic, or both – but the principles behind the Lord Jesus's encouragement echo down through the ages to all believers undergoing suffering: this is an opportunity to let the fire of testing prove the capacity of God to sustain his beloved children; for them to learn that though they may have nothing in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of Heaven they have everything (see Gal 4:6-7). Though they should expect to be hated by those who still belong to the evil one, they should also know that they are enduringly loved by the One who is victorious above all.

The Lord Jesus does not paint a rosier picture to quell the fears of his beloved ones – he clearly states that trouble is coming, but that it will be worth the fight.

Do Not Be Afraid - Be Faithful

Unlike the other letters, the one addressed to those in Smyrna has no rebuke or call to repentance. These were beloved children undergoing – and about to undergo further - immense difficulty. There is a sense here of the Lord Jesus coming alongside his brothers and sisters in solidarity, reassuring them that he knew of their circumstances and encouraging them to endure, faithfully (also John 14:18). How often do we cry out to the Lord to relieve us of our trials, instead of humbly recognising that he might require us to walk with him through the valley, rather than around it – even though he knows our suffering and cares deeply about our pain?

As the Father did not relieve the Son of the cup of suffering, so often we too must drink from it, for the eternal joy set before us. In fact, the letter itself puts everything in perspective, beginning as it does by addressing the Lord Jesus as "him who is the first and the last [the Alpha and Omega], who died and came to life again": the same words Jesus also used to reassure John when he was afraid at the beginning of the Revelation vision (Rev 1:17-18).

The perspective here is clear: the Lord Jesus IS LORD OF ALL and had already gone ahead of us, through death, emerging victorious. Like the other letters, this one also refers to those who 'overcome' the trials at hand – those who follow Jesus into his victory - who are "more than conquerors" according to Romans 8:37.⁴

Persecution Today

Today our brothers and sisters around the world need our prayers and aid more than ever, as Sunday's terrible slaughter of worshippers in Cairo demonstrates. The number of Christians killed in the last year almost doubled on 2015 figures, exceeding 7,000 according to Open Doors' conservative figures - and this is without counting atrocities in Syria, Iraq and North Korea, where accurate records are not kept.⁵

The number of churches attacked and destroyed has also more than doubled in the last year, and millions of Christians are on the move around the world as refugees fleeing religious violence. The greatest source of persecution continues to be religious extremism – not just Islamic, but also Hindu and Buddhist.⁶

Meanwhile, the Western Church is just beginning to feel the pinch of an intolerant secular humanist culture, and many discern the Lord at work sifting too-comfortable church-goers by allowing various deceptions to proliferate, including liberalism and new age occult. But for the most part, we in the West in this generation do not know what it is to suffer the fires of persecution. That road may lie ahead for us, as yet untrodden. Furthermore, we are also largely ignorant of the suffering of other parts of the Body around the world.

As the Father did not relieve the Son of the cup of suffering, so often we too must drink from it, for the eternal joy set before us.

Life Through Death

Yet, the message to Smyrna is actually relevant to all believers everywhere – not just those undergoing dreadful persecution. There is a process that God wants every Christian to undergo, regardless of where they are in the world, how materially blessed they are or what difficulties they face: it is that costly process of refining that feels very much like trial on the inside (whether or not it looks like it on the outside), and is with eternal and Divine purpose. For our God disciplines those He loves, desiring that they be purified by holy fire, even though this process might be painful.

In this sense, every believer is called to a life of suffering, as our flesh-life is put to death that the new, eternal life in the spirit might grow and flourish. We are therefore to expect 'trouble' in this life (John 16:33), both within and without. God's desire is to purify us to such an extent that when he has finished, no earthly trial can stand against us or stop our light from shining.

David Wilkerson unpacks another facet of this: he talks about God wanting to share his heart of grief with those who are willing and hungry to walk closely with the Lord Jesus.⁷ This is the road less travelled, which includes sharing in the Lord's own heart for this broken world and allowing ourselves to be brought low by it, counting it all as heavenly privilege that we get to somehow participate in what Jesus himself went (and still goes) through.

This is the honoured road along which I believe God shepherds all believers who diligently and wholeheartedly seek him. As missionary Helen Roseveare, who died last week, said: "God never uses a person greatly until He has wounded him deeply."

Today our brothers and sisters around the world need our prayers and aid more than ever.

'The Privilege is Greater than the Price'

The world is approaching a critical point – so many things are on the verge of complete collapse – even unbelievers sense the severity of the age. The Lord is looking for those who love him enough to give up their worldly desires and aspirations, to the point of laying down their very lives, submitting themselves to his process of refining and saying always "Thy will be done", even when it hurts.

But let us take heart, as those in Smyrna hopefully also did: for those who overcome will not be hurt at all by the second death, but will be given the crown of life by "him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again". Ultimately, to quote Helen Roseveare again, "The privilege He offers you is greater than the price you have to pay. The privilege is greater than the price."

References

1 See Hill, C & Hill, M, 2005. Ephesus to Laodicea. Handsel Press. This is a fantastic biblical guide to the Revelation churches written particularly for those visiting the region. It is highly recommended as accompanying reading for this series.

2 See Wikipedia's page on Smyrna for a brief history.

3 Lehman, R. "And ye shall have tribulation ten days". 17 October 2008.

4 See note 1.

5 Persecution: The Key Facts. Open Doors.

6 Ibid.

7 Wilkerson, D, 1992. Hungry for More of Jesus, chapter 3. One Pound Classics.

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Clifford Hill looks at the letter in Revelation 2 addressed to the Ephesian Church.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Rev 2:1-7)

Ephesus was one of the three great cities of the eastern Mediterranean in the Greco-Roman period – the other two being Antioch of Syria and Alexandria of Egypt. Paul spent three years of his ministry there and John is thought to have settled there sometime after Paul – probably taking with him Mary the Mother of Jesus. John was evidently banished to the island of Patmos during the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD), who was the first Emperor to initiate serious and widespread persecution against Christians.

John was 'in the Spirit' on 1 August (the day named after the Emperor who was the first to be deified) known as 'Lord's day' when many Christians would be refusing to do homage to Caesar at the local shrine by saying "Caesar is Lord!".

As was said in the introductory article last week, the personal messages sent to the Seven Churches were intended to be read aloud in each of them together with the following chapters. The whole message was intended:

...to embolden the timid, to strengthen the weak, to warn the complacent, to give reassurance to the faithful and to give understanding of the purposes of God during this period of hardship and persecution before the second coming of our Lord.¹

Ephesus Then and Now

Ephesus was a busy seaport as well as a centre of commerce and communications. At the time of Paul's ministry its population was somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000. It was also a centre of culture with large numbers of visitors coming to its famous library, much of which Mark Anthony gave to Cleopatra - although many of the scrolls and tablets would probably have been replaced by the time Paul arrived some 20 years later.

Today, Ephesus is the best preserved ancient city in the Mediterranean world because, although it suffered some earthquake damage, it was never conquered and never destroyed by hostile armies. It was simply abandoned when the river silted up making the port unusable and mosquitoes and other insects made it uninhabitable.

Visitors today can walk down the well-preserved main street called Marble Way, with restored buildings on either side. It is usually crowded with visitors which gives the feel of a busy city as it was in Paul's and John's day. A great attraction is the beautiful architecture of the library with its infamous tunnel under the street to the brothel. The library itself was adjacent to the Hall of Tyrannus which Paul rented for his daily teaching.

John was 'in the Spirit' on 1 August, or 'Lord's day', when many Christians would be refusing to do homage to Caesar at the local shrine by saying "Caesar is Lord!".

Rules for VisitorsTheatre in Ephesus.

Visitors to Ephesus would normally enter the main gates at the upper level and would no doubt have been impressed by the efficient organisation of the city with its strict immigration procedures. All caravans and chariots had to be left outside the city gates just as coaches and taxis are today.

The first building inside the gates was the baths and all visitors were required to wash their bodies on entering the city. Next, they had to go into the City Hall where the rules of the city were displayed. Visitors then went into a small theatre where they were addressed by the city elders who elaborated the regulations ensuring that everyone was familiar with the rules and norms of behaviour required.

Christian visitors can see the spiritual significance of this in terms of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. New converts first have to leave behind the baggage of the world. They are then washed of the sins of the world through baptism after which they receive the word of God which is expounded by the elders. Finally, they are free to enjoy living in the city of God.

Success of the Gospel

In addition to the well-preserved Main Street with its numerous buildings, Ephesus also has a magnificent theatre with 24,000 seats. It was this theatre that was filled by the riotous mob led by Demetrius (Acts 19), the leader of the silversmiths' trade union, shouting "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!". They were protesting that Paul's ministry was threatening their trade in making images of the fertility goddess Artemis.

Ephesus was renowned as a city of vice and idolatry attracting sailors and traders from around the world, but Paul had enormous success in converting large numbers with the Gospel, resulting in many of them publicly burning their scrolls and images (Acts 19:19).

Turkish guides are often not aware of the most significant part of Ephesus for Christians. After leaving the great theatre, the guides usually lead their parties to the exit gate where the coaches wait. But Christians should look for a small track on the left-hand side that leads to the ruins of the church of St Mary the Virgin with its well-preserved chancel – a beautiful place to sit and pray.

The building was originally built by the Romans as the Financial Exchange, before becoming a church. At the end of the nave on the right-hand side there is a transept with the oldest remaining baptistery in the world. This church is where the Council of Ephesus took place in 431 AD, which fixed the Canon of the Bible and settled many questions of doctrine.

Like those entering the Kingdom of Heaven, visitors to Ephesus would have had to leave behind their baggage, go through a cleansing process and then receive new instruction on how to live.

Paul's Message

In the personal message to the Christians in Ephesus sent by John there was praise for their "deeds, hard work and perseverance". The message continued "I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary" (Rev 2:3).

This was followed by the rebuke: "But you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen!" They had been diligent in upholding the true faith of the Gospel. They themselves had discovered the true God of the universe and they wanted everyone to know him and to share their faith. They had overflowed with love for each other in the fellowship of believers and their love was so great that it overflowed to their pagan neighbours – but that was the early days, probably back in the heady days when Paul was around and everything was new and exciting.

Having to sort out false teachers who had come among them made them suspicious. Testing false doctrine had put a strain on personal relationships and even made them critical of each other in the fellowship, resulting in false accusations. They were however perfectly right in opposing the Nicolaitans for their false teaching. It was right to expel false teachers; but there was a cost – the cost was their love.

Believers in Ephesus had diligently upheld the true faith – but in doing so had lost their initial love for God.

The fellowship of believers in Ephesus could be summed up in a few words: they were 'vigilant but loveless'. The message of Jesus to his beloved ones in Ephesus was to return to their first love.

This is such a relevant message for us today. The Church has been assailed by many false teachings in recent decades that have brought division and conflict within fellowships and between one church and another. The struggle to hold fast to the faith has been costly for many believers and has often resulted in the loss of personal relationships of love. We all need to hear this call to return to our first love for the Lord Jesus and for his Gospel.

References

1 Hill, C & M, 2005. Ephesus to Laodicea, Handsel Press, Edinburgh, p106.

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David Forbes gives some historical background to the Book of Revelation, as we start a new series on the messages given to the churches in Asia.

In 81 AD, Domitian became Emperor of Rome and its dominions. During his reign he launched a particularly savage persecution of both Christians and Jews, the main reason for which was Caesar worship. Domitian was the first Roman Emperor, apart from the insane Caligula, to take his 'divinity' seriously, and demand Caesar worship. He insisted on always being addressed as Lord and God and carried out a campaign of bitter persecution against all those who would not worship him - the atheists, as he called them.

This is the historical background to the Book of Revelation. All over the Roman Empire men and women were required to acknowledge that the Emperor was Lord, or die - especially on the Lord's (or Lordy) Day (Rev 1:10), a special day in the year when every citizen was required to cast some incense on the altar fire in a local temple and repeat the words 'Caesar is Lord'.

What were Christians, for whom only Jesus is Lord, to do? They were relatively few in number and they had no influence or power to fight against the might of an Empire which no nation or people had been able to withstand. The choice was simple, Caesar or Christ, and as a result there were many Christian martyrs. Why were they under such tyranny? Why were they being left to suffer and die so cruelly? Where was God? Where was their promised salvation through Jesus the Messiah? How long, Sovereign Lord? they cried.

Emperor Domitian, who insisted upon Caesar worship. See Photo Credits.It was to bring hope and encouragement in these times of great trial and terror that the Book of the Revelation was written to the believers in the churches of the great Roman province of Asia.

Apocalyptic Writing

In order to understand further the message of the letters to the churches we need to appreciate their literary form. The Book of the Revelation is unique in the New Testament, in that it belongs to a type of Jewish literature called the apocalyptic writings. Indeed, the very first word of the letter is the Greek apokalupsis – 'the revelation' in English. Apocalyptic literature was one of the most common types of Jewish writing during the period between the Old and New Testaments.

After the return from exile in Babylon, the Jewish people soon became the subjects of Alexander the Great and his successors, during which time they were put under great pressure from Hellenism. Hellenism was the adopting of all things Greek - language, education, philosophy and culture – by the peoples who came under the rule of Alexander and his generals.

This was especially so when, during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), every attempt was made to force Greek political and cultural institutions upon them and the observance of the Jewish religion became punishable by death. Many Jews at this time chose death rather than be false to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Mass martyrdom became the order of the day.

It was to bring hope and encouragement in times of great trial and terror that the Book of the Revelation was written to the believers.

At that time, and then again during the period of Roman domination when the various revolts by the Jewish Zealots brought about the death of many, people began to question where God was and why he was not bringing about salvation for them. Had not God chosen them as his people? Had the prophets not promised that one day, God himself would come with a mighty intervention to deliver them from all their enemies and raise up his Messiah, who would inaugurate an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace? Where was the Day of the Lord?

It was to deal with these questions and to bring a ray of encouragement and hope into a difficult situation of pressure and confusion that apocalyptic writing came into being. It dealt with the sin of the present time, with the evils of tyranny, oppression and persecution, and with the great intervention of God when he would descend on to the stage of history and put everything right. He would bring to an end the world that they knew and bring in his golden age of blessing. The message of apocalyptic literature was that though things maybe bad and will probably get worse, don't weaken and give up - hang on, because everything will be all right in the end. God will vindicate his people and be victorious!

Differences Between Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature

There are many examples of apocalyptic literature from the period between the two Testaments. Writings such as Enoch, The Assumption of Moses, The Ascension of Isaiah, The Apocalypse of Baruch and Fourth Ezra are just some. The Book of Daniel is considered by Jewish people to be an apocalyptic book, rather than a prophetic one. It is the only such kind of writing to be included in the canon of the Hebrew Bible, where it appears in the section called ketuvim, 'the writings', rather than in the section called nevi'im, 'the prophets'. There was considerable difference between what the Jewish people understood as prophecy, such as the messages given through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and Zechariah for example, and what they understood as apocalyptic writing.

Dominated by successive cruel empires, the Jewish people were questioning where God was. Apocalyptic writing came into being to answer their questions.

The Hebrew prophets thought mainly in terms of this present world. Their message was often put in terms of the need for social, economic and political justice. They were concerned that men should hear the word of God and turn back to him in repentance. The prophets were concerned that people should learn to obey and serve him in this present world. It was here and now that God's will needed to be done and his purposes of peace and blessing be fulfilled.

The message of the apocalyptist was that the world was beyond saving and that it was dominated by evil. The only remedy was for God to destroy it and set up a new golden age in a new world. It was a written, rather than a spoken message; whereas the prophet spoke forth the word of God clearly and boldly so that all could understand, the apocalyptist always wrote his message down. It was usually in the language of dream and vision, and the actual words used were usually in coded form. The reason for this was doubtless that if the writings ever fell into the hands of the oppressing power, they would not be able to learn the message of the visions and therefore would be unprepared for what was coming.

Whereas everybody knew the identity of Israel's prophets, Jewish apocalyptic writing is pseudonymous - that is to say that it was written not under the author's name, but under the name of someone else. The Jewish writers opted to attribute their writings to the great and well-known men of the past, such as Moses or Isaiah, Enoch, Ezra or Baruch. It may be that they did this because they believed that they were not worthy to be read and thought that by attributing their writings to the great men of the past they were investing them with an authority that they themselves could never give.

Revelation: Provenance and Authorship

The Book of the Revelation is very much an apocalyptic writing. It has most of the hallmarks of apocalyptic literature. It is different, however, in that it is not pseudonymous and that it has a strong Messianic perspective. The Day of the Lord is none other than the great and glorious appearing of Jesus the Messiah, who has already once appeared as the Paschal lamb to take away the sin of the world and is now appearing for the second time to set up his earthly kingdom.

Revelation is very Hebraic, full of Old Testament allusion, pointing to many Jewish traditions and even quoting ideas from other Jewish apocalyptic writings. It includes around 500 allusions to the text of the Old Testament, particularly the books of Exodus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Daniel. So without a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament, and these books in particular, the original readers of John's Apocalypse would have struggled to understand the message.

The Hebrew prophets spoke and wrote mainly in terms of the present world - apocalyptic writers looked forward to the world to come.

Similarly, many of God's people today are confused and puzzled by this letter simply because of their lack of understanding of its Hebraic nature in biblical background and culture, as well as language. Although it was written in the common Greek language of the day, it is a kind of translation – Greek, full of Hebraic language idiom.

lndeed, because of the bad grammar and syntax (which probably makes it the worst Greek in the New Testament), many scholars have had difficulty accepting that it was written by the same man who penned a Gospel and three Epistles.

The author, John, tells us that he was given what he calls a prophecy by the Lord Jesus himself, on the island of Patmos, most probably in exile as a result of the Domitian persecution. Here is a further difference between this book and other Jewish apocalyptic literature, in that it is reflecting the fact that God has restored prophecy to his people, as a result of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus knows what his people are suffering and he wants to tell them what must soon take place.

To the Churches in Asia...

The Revelation is presented overall in the form of a letter to seven churches in the province of Asia, who themselves are each given an individual message in letter form from the Lord. When we speak of Asia we are not, of course, referring to the continent of Asia that we know today, but the Roman province which we now know as Turkey. It comprised the western (Mediterranean) sea-coast of Asia Minor with Phrygia, Mysia, Caria and Lycia. Its administrative capitol and seat of the Roman governor was the great city of Pergamos (also called Pergamon or Pergamum, close to modern-day Bergama, Turkey).

The seven churches that are named; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, are by no means the only churches that we know of in the Roman province of Asia. The Bible also tells us of churches in Colossae, Hierapolis, Troas and Miletus. From the letters of Bishop Ignatius of Antioch, we learn that there were also churches at Magnesia and Tralles. Why then should only seven be selected and why this particular selection?

Many scholars doubt that Revelation was penned by the same 'John' who penned a Gospel and three Epistles.

One reason may be that the particular churches chosen were situated on a kind of ring-road around the centre of the province. William Barclay says that they could be regarded as the centres of seven postal districts and that letters sent to these cities could easily then be circulated around the whole province. Undoubtedly the purpose of the letter was that it should be read in all the churches so that all believers might know the Lord's message. Even the individual letters to the seven churches were intended to be read by all.

The churches of Asia Minor, and indeed all the churches of the Roman world, were going through great trauma as a result of the Domitian persecution. However, it must have been of comfort to them to know that the Lord himself knew precisely what their problems were as well as the solution to them.

Next week, we will look at the message given to the church in Ephesus.

This article was first published in Prophecy Today, Vol 12 No 6, Nov/Dec 1996. Revised December 2016.

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Patricia Higton looks at the Prophet Daniel.

Daniel and his three friends, Jews of the nobility in exile, had been chosen for high position in the service of Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan Babylonian emperor, who autocratically ruled the world of the Middle East.

It would have been understandable if the four young men had curried favour with the king, who had power of life and death over his subjects and captives. The first test came early on in their training for service, when food from the royal table was set before them. Every good Jew knew that this raised issues of defilement and idolatry.

It would have been so easy to compromise, but Daniel clearly realised that here was a question of lordship -was he primarily a servant of the emperor, or of the God of Heaven and Earth? He passed the test, perhaps with no idea that God was training him for higher things.

Sadly, many fall at the first hurdle and can only limp along after that unless they repent and seek the Lord afresh. So few Christians, who are highly placed in government, or the world of business and finance, or senior positions in the professions, make a real impact for the Lord. Doubtless those who do make choices early on to follow God's way, resisting all pressure to compromise, let alone conform to our post-Christian society.

God Honours Obedience

In two later, separate, incidents, it seemed that all was lost for Daniel and his friends. Their contemporaries must have wondered what was the point of sticking to principle, if the end was to be a den of lions or a fiery furnace. But the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego echo down through the centuries: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel's first test came early on in his training for service: was he primarily a servant of the emperor, or of the God of Heaven and Earth?

In their case, one "like a son of the gods" first came to them in the midst of the furnace, before they were rescued from it (Dan 3:17, 18, 25-28). In the New Testament account of the early Church and in stories of persecuted Christians down to the present day, there have been similar tales of deliverance. There are also accounts of many thousands who were not delivered in this life, but whose sacrifice was not in vain. The blood of the martyrs has continually been the seed of the Church.

Although we know from Scripture that God always honours faith and obedience, he never blesses compromise. It is a cause for shame that there are so few Christian leaders, particularly in the comfortable Western Church, who are prepared to uphold biblical principles, even at cost to their reputation and aware that there may be no vindication until the next life.

God's Sovereign Purpose

The principal theme of the book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over the rise and fall of kings and nations. It is helpful to question why God should have given such highly detailed and accurate messages about the future, either to Daniel directly, or to the emperors for Daniel to interpret. The answer must surely be that these powerful rulers were being given an opportunity to revere God, who so impressed them as "the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries" (Dan 2:47). God is a God of mercy and compassion, who withholds just judgment when men repent.

Later, Paul was to take the Gospel of salvation to the Roman Empire, though it would be nearly 300 years before an emperor responded positively. For since the time of Christ, God's purpose has been that "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt 24:14). Primarily, the world needs the message of the Gospel of salvation and judgment.

Contemporary prophetic messages will be delivered principally to the Church, and will be concerned with the Church or the world. But the days are coming when it will be important for prophets to interpret to the world as well as the Church prophecy in Scripture as yet unfulfilled, including that found in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

We know from Scripture that God always honours faith and obedience, but he never blesses compromise.

As we see nation after nation in the post-Cold War world now threatened less by nuclear annihilation than by terrorism or internal disintegration, we learn from the book of Daniel that God has been and is totally in control of all historical and future events. He knows the end from the beginning. Events which may seem arbitrary to us are turned by the Creator, Saviour and Judge of the whole world to serve his purposes, whether of salvation or judgment.

Belshazzar, who set himself up against the Lord of Heaven, was weighed on the scales and found wanting. His kingdom divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Dan 5:26-31). Nebuchadnezzar, on the other hand, was told that his kingdom would be restored when he acknowledged that heaven rules (Dan 4:26).

Daniel's Intercession

God's intention was not for his people to stand by, helplessly watching events unfold. We have a significant part to play. Daniel was used by God to challenge those in authority, not only in the gifts of interpretation and prophecy, but also in intercession, to pray prophetic scriptures into being. He had been in training, praying three times a day (Dan 6:10) even at risk to his life (Dan 6:13), but it is in chapter 9 that we see the depth of his intercession.

This impassioned prayer of penitence and petition undoubtedly played a part in the eventual deliverance of Daniel's people from exile. Many praying people have since taken up his cry, "O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name" (Dan 9:19).

But intercessory prayers can be less effective if they are not based on a true diagnosis of the severity of a situation leading to confession of corporate sin. By contrast, Daniel's prayers were so effective that Gabriel himself was sent to answer them.

The End Times

Much of the book of Daniel is taken up with prophecies about the empires of Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. But throughout it all is woven amazing insight about the rule or kingdom of God, which begins as a hewn rock but becomes a huge mountain, filling the earth (Dan 2:35).

Even as we have been made aware of the sovereign rule of God over nations, so from first to last the message of Daniel is that God's sovereignty, far from being limited to the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms (Dan 4:32), in fact extends to the establishment of a Divine kingdom that will never be destroyed (Dan 2:44). It is an eternal dominion, enduring from generation to generation (Dan 4:34-35).

Although believers may now be marginalised or even persecuted, the future holds out the certain hope that "the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High" (Dan 7:27). Again, "The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever" (Dan 7:18). Sadly, this will come about only after a time of intense persecution and seeming defeat by "the horn" (Dan 7:21), a prophecy which many believe to have had an initial fulfilment in the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes (168-164 BC) who tried to destroy the Jewish religion.

God's intention is not for his people to stand by, helplessly watching events unfold. We have a significant part to play.

The Book of Daniel helps us at this point to understand that there is frequently both a partial fulfilment of prophecy which is now history, and one which is yet to come. This comprehension helps us in interpreting, for example, the predictions of Jesus or those in the Book of Revelation. We learn that a time of distress or tribulation is yet to come, before the end of all things, when "multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake: some-to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Rev 12:2).

Yet to Come

We would be foolish to ignore any prophecy as yet unfulfilled, because those which have come to pass show the predictions in Daniel to be astonishingly accurate.
Unable to believe in such accurate prophecy, some argue for a late date for Daniel but cannot actually push that date to later than the mid-second century BC. That still leaves such sceptics to explain prophecies about the Roman Empire and, of course, about Christ. There is an amazing prophecy about his coming and his death. Many scholars believe that the timescale incorporated in this prediction is literal, not symbolic, and was perfectly fulfilled (Dan 9:24-26).

There is also a specific prophecy of the second coming in Daniel 7:13, where we are given an awesome glimpse of the future:

In my vision of the night, I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Finally, we may note a verse that can encourage us today to witness to our faith as much as it did nearly 2,500 years ago: "Those who lead many to righteousness" (Dan 12:3) will shine "like the stars for ever and ever."

Originally published in Prophecy Today, Vol 12 No 1, January 1996. Revised November 2016.