4th Church - Thyatira

To the Angel of the Church of Thyatira

To the Angel of the Church of Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

“The Jezebel Church” (607-Tribulation)

 I.     Christ’s Description - Eyes Like A Flame Of Fire, Feet Like Fine Brass (2:18 see also 1:14-15)

II.     Commendations (2:19)

1.  Deeds/works, love/charity, faith, service, perseverance/patience

2.  Last works were more than the first

III.     Condemnations (2:20-15)

1.  Allowed self-proclaimed prophetess to teach and seduce Christ servants (2:20)

                   i.   to commit fornication

                 ii.   to eat things sacrificed to idols.

2.  She did not repent (2:21)

3.  Some knew and spoke of the “depths of Satan” (2:24)

IV.     Commands (2:22,25)

1.  Repent of the deeds

2.  Hold fast until Christ comes

V.     Consequences (2:22-28)

1.  Those who commit adultery with her will be cast into great tribulation

2.  She will be cast into a bed

3.  Her children to be killed with death

4.  True churches to know the “I AM” who searches the minds (reins) and hearts

5.  Each will be given according to works

6.  Overcomers (believers, see 1 John 5:1-4) will receive…

                   i.   Power over the nations

                 ii.   The Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)

PARTICULARLY:

Historical Setting: Thyatira is perhaps the most insignificant city in the seven letters, yet Jesus Christ devotes the longest letter to this church. Pliny the elder dismissed Thyatira, lumping the city with “other unimportant communities.” Lydia in the book of Acts was from Thyatira, and was a seller of things dyed purple (Acts 16:14), a color of wealth and royalty. Jesus refers to a woman as Jezebel, but she is not known historically except for this reference. Some have speculated that it could have been anyone from the preacher’s wife to a false prophetess outside the church, enticing true Christians.

Name Defined:  The name can be defined as “thea” (female goddess) plus tira (tyrannical rule). Others have said the word comes from “thuo” a wood used for aromatic sacrifices and plus tira, or “reigning (continual) sacrifices.” Both the adulation of Mary and the teaching of continual sacrifice of Christ have been falsely taught by the papal church since this era.

PROPHETICALLY:

Church History Parallel: “The Adulterous Church” (607-Tribulation)-The final four churches differ from the previous three in that Christ concludes each letter with “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” indicating that each church will have a similar end. The final four churches correspond with churches which will likely be ongoing until Christ returns.

The church at Thyatira was similar to the Pergamos church, but this church has a prominent false prophetess called Jezebel (in Hebrew = “wife of Baal.”) In 607, Boniface III became the first bishop of Rome to have the title of “universal father” or “pope” by decree from the Roman Emperor. During this era, the catholic clergy were first said to be “married to the church,” which Biblically was reserved only for Christ (Eph. 5:23).

It is not just Rome which has had false churches. Even today, there are false churches which go by the label of Protestant. Any church which has mystical teachings are both idolatrous and commit spiritual “fornication” (Rev. 2:20-21). Yet, there are true believers within this time frame from the seventh century A.D. through now, with “charity and service and faith and patience and works” even greater than the first (Rev. 2:19). The church grew during this period in some ways greater in number and greater in devotion, but also in its apostasy, which eventually led to the Reformation.

The children of Jezebel (Rev. 2:23) should be interpreted figuratively, perhaps as false churches which will be put to death by Christ, but at the same time the true church is encouraged to hold fast “till I come.”

¹⁸ And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ¹⁹ I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

This appearance is similar to Daniel 10:5-6 in His feet and eyes. Fire signified judgment and purity, in contrast to the Jezebel-like woman and the impurity within the church, despite the good works being done. The Old Testament altar was also made of “burnished bronze” or something like a copper and gold color. Churches will see that Jesus doesn’t just look at the good deeds, but also the thoughts (reins-KJV, minds-NKJV) and hearts as well.

²⁰ Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit (fornication-KJV) and eat things sacrificed to idols. ²¹ And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²² Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

Many have compared this woman of the fourth church to the woman of the fourth parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, found in Matthew 13:33 and also the woman clothed in purple in Rev. 17:4. Fornication can be interpreted as spiritual or literal. Good works do not negate false doctrine.

Jesus allows time for repentance, but if not heeded, judgment will come, for both the leaders and the followers. The word for “bed” used in marriage (see Heb. 13:4) was a different word used here, which often was used for carrying the sick, hence the translation “sickbed.” Jezebel was called a harlot in 2 Kings 9:22. As Jezebel, with painted eyes and adorned head, was cast down from her lofty window (2 Kings 9:30-37), so also would this false prophetess and so will be any false teaching in the church.

Historically, many of the sins of the Adulterous Church during this time period (607 AD and forward)   have since been repented of and admittedly erroneous.  

²³ I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. ²⁴ Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. ²⁵ But hold fast what you have till I come.

Children often suffer for the sins of their parents, especially those who commit fornication. Likewise, if Jezebel is symbolic of a false church, children would be false cults that come from false teaching and practices. False churches and organizations which have good works but errant teachings are dead and will go into the great tribulation. On the other hand, while the world is undergoing the Great Tribulation, the true church and Christians will receive their good rewards according to their works before the Judgment Seat (Gr: bema) of Christ. (See Matt. 16:27, Romans 14:10, 1 Cor. 3:8-15, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:8, 2 John 1:8, Rev. 22:12).

²⁶ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- ²⁷ “He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels”-- as I also have received from My Father; ²⁸ and I will give him the morning star. ²⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

This is in fulfillment of Psalm 2:9, the first Messianic Psalm. See also Rev. 12:5 and Rev. 19:15. In the thousand year reign of Christ, Christians will have authority and ruling power over the nations, or sometimes translated “the Gentiles” or unbelievers. There will still be nations during the millennium, and part of our reward will be to reign as Christ has also received from His Father to reign (see Rev. 5:9-10). Thrones will especially be given to those beheaded during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 20:4).  There will be twelve thrones especially for the judging of Israel (Matthew 19:28) and perhaps another 12 thrones (perhaps for the gentiles or nations).

A description of life on earth is given more fully in Isaiah 11-12. Wolves, leopards, lions, bears, and serpents will lay peacefully with baby goats, lambs, cows, and even children. This new state will be like a “new earth” according to Isa. 65:17, but not the new earth in Rev. 21:1. Resurrected believers will have new bodies, but also there will be still unbelievers and sinners (Isa. 65:20), and some of the nations or unbelievers will be deceived by Satan (or at least the devil will try to deceive them) at the end of the millennium.

The morning star (astera ton proinon) refers to that shining light from heaven seen after the darkest of night. This reference to Jesus is seen again in Rev. 22:16 and also 2 Peter 1:19. This term should not be confused at all with Lucifer which is sometimes wrongly translated as “morning star” (HSCB, GNB, NIV), or “star of the morning” (NASB) from Isa. 14:12. The Hebrew word is “Heylel” or shining one (which is transliterated into the Greek to helios or the “sun god” from which we get the word “hell.” It is followed by the word “ben” or “son of” and then the word “shacar” or morning. Accurate translations (King James and New King James) do not try to make “Heylel” to be translated as “star” or “morning star” as it literally means bright. There is another Hebrew word that is translated star, but it is “kowkob”, not even close to “Heylel”.

It is amazing that Satan has wanted to be “like the Most High” (Isa. 14:14) and has been aided by the translators of some of the newer Bible versions.

PERSONALLY:

We all have good works. We can find good in most if not all people. There may be a few people who could be described as completely devoid of good, who don’t have an ounce of love, who have never served anyone else to save their lives, entirely devoid of faith and patience. But most of us could describe ourselves like Thyatira, and we would like to think that maybe we are getting better than we were at the first.

Intermixed with our good works, however, may be the spirit of Jezebel, which originally unrighteously fed the lust of Ahab. Lust as described by Christ is the same as adultery. “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28).

The sins of the lust of the eyes, flesh, and boastful pride of life eventually lead to death. The wages of sin death, Romans 6:23 states. Our world is increasingly ruled by the idolatry of fornication, adultery, and idolatry and those sins are causing Christ’s servants to teach and seduce My servants to commit (fornication).

3rd Church: Pergamos

To the Angel of the Church of Pergamos

Revelation 2:12-17

PERGAMOS (313-590) THE STATE CHURCH

PARTICULARLY:

Historical Setting: All three of the cities named so far in Revelation were cities of great prominence and even rivalry as premiere cities of Asia. Pergamos (modern-day city is Bergama) was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Within the city was an altar to Zeus and nearby were a temple to Athena and a shrine to Asklepios. 

It was also the first location for a temple for a Roman Emperor, Augustus. A hub for idolatry, Pergamos was identified as the throne (Gr: thronos qronoz) of Satan and where Satan dwelled. It once housed the largest library in the world, with 200,000 scrolls (parchment was first used in this city for writing). That fact significant since Jesus identifies Himself as “He who has the sharp two-edged sword” and will fight with “the sword of my mouth."

The Word of God, both written and Incarnate, is superior to all of the world’s books combined!

There is no record of who Antipas was, but his name means “IN PLACE OF ALL.” The word martyr is the same word for witness.

Pergamos was filled with idolatry, thus eating things sacrificed to idols was a greater stumbling block here than in other places. As a result, Jesus condemned its practice. While Paul could eat those things with a clear conscience, he condemned its practice even for himself if it made others stumble. (Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Cor. 8:13).

Name Defined:  Per= “about” + gamos=“marriage” (e.g. monogamy, polygamy). The city is sometimes mistranslated as “high tower”, based on a similar Greek word, “purgos,” which is spelled with an upsilon (“u”) rather than an epsilon (“e”). The church began to be married to the world, to government, and to pagan practices.  Meanwhile, church leadership forbade marriage to the clergy, a practice Biblically condemned (1 Tim. 4:3, Heb. 13:4).

Balaam is mentioned nearly 60 times in the Bible in eight different books. Christ condemns Pergamos for holding to false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Balaam’s doctrine was idolatry and fornication (Numbers 31:16 says Balaam’s counsel was to get pagans to intermarry with the Israelites--see Numbers 25).

    I.      Christ’s Description - He Who Has The Sharp Two-Edged Sword (2:12, see also 1:16)

   II.      Commendation (2:13)

1. Held to Christ’s name, despite living at Satan’s throne and dwelling

2. Had not denied faith in Christ

3. Experienced the martyrdom of Antipas (Gr.: “in place of all”)

  III.      Condemnation (2:14-15)

1. Held the doctrine of Balaam

             i.    Teaching caused stumbling blocks

            ii.    Teaching caused others to eat things sacrificed to idols

           iii.    Teaching led to fornication

2. Held the doctrine of Nicolaitans, which God hated

            i.    Could have been teaching of clergy “ruling” (nico) over “laity” (laitans)

           ii.    Early church leaders describe Nicolaitans as being of Nicolas (Acts 6)

A.    Ignatius: “Lovers of pleasure” (107 AD)

B.    Irenaeus: “They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence" (170 AD)

 IV.      Command (2:16)

1. Repent

   V.      Consequences (2:16-17)

1. Christ will come quickly and will fight with the sword of His mouth

2. Overcomers will receive hidden manna, a white stone with a new name inscribed

PROPHETICALLY:

Church History Parallel: “The Pagan Church” (313-606 A.D.)-When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome, the church instantly went from being the persecuted church to the preferred church. As a result, many pagan doctrines were “married” with the church. 

During this time the canon of the Scripture was finalized, but the church leadership gave the people less access to it, and even began holding services in Latin, rather than the people’s native language. Tim LaHaye cites some of the pagan doctrines introduced into the church as prayers for the dead, making the sign of the cross, worship of and praying to saints, angels, and Mary, extreme unction, doctrine of purgatory, and celibacy of priests (Revelation Unveiled, pg. 59). 

These doctrines led the clergy to have a manipulative hierarchy over the laity, hence the prophecy of the Nicolaitans, or clergy "ruling" over lay people.

    

2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, “These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

 Jesus calls the Pergamos church to remember His sharp two-edged sword, which immediately conjures up the imagery of the word of God.

For the WORD OF GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.   

Heb. 4:12

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

Eph. 6:17 

However, when compared to the other usages of the word sword in Rev. 19:15, and 21, it compares more with the imagery of judgment on the nations, seen also in Psalm 149. 

⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, ⁷ To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; ⁸ To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; ⁹ To execute on them the written judgment-- This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!¹³ I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.¹⁴ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality (fornication-KJV). ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Prophetically, the pagan church would “hold fast” to Christ’s name and not deny the faith, but it began to be intermarried with pagan practices and doctrines. Antipas’ name means “in place of all,” signified that even though many had been martyred in the persecuted church days, the faith was not denied.

Spiritual prostitution or unfaithfulness is a recurring theme in the Old Testament (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20, 3:8-9; Ezek. 16; Hosea 1:2, 2:1-5).

The teaching of Nicolaitans may have been an early form of Gnosticism which separated spiritual purity from PHYSICAL SINFULNESS, coming from the apostate Nicolas, who was an early Greek layperson in the church (Acts 6:5).

Some have deduced that the very name “Nicolaitans” reveals that it is the doctrine of the clergy ruling over the laity which Christ hated. That practice was introduced when Rome took over the church. Both may be correct.

Jesus’ own brother, in one of the earliest epistles, called those who were friends with the world were enemies of God and “adulterers and adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4).

JESUS will also have a name unknown (Rev. 19:12). All three names will be written or given to the overcomers (Rev. 3:12). A name is many things, but most importantly, it is identification. 

Isaiah reveals Jerusalem’s new identity: “Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his own” (Isa. 62:4, NLT). Our new name will be unique to each one of us.

PERSONALLY:

FORNICATION comes from the Greek word porneia which is close to porne which is translated as harlot, whore or prostitute (NKJV). The condemnation may be more spiritual than sexual and fornication is a more accurate term. Today's society has become overly sexualized without necessarily going to prostitution. Furthermore, we are increasingly seeing people identifying their identities with a sexual connotation.

 PERVASIVELY:

Jesus concludes His seven letters saying that the Spirit is speaking to the churches pervasively, in John's day, in history, and in our day today. 

¹⁶ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

In five of the seven churches, Jesus commands the churches to repent. This time, Christ promises to come to “you” quickly and fight against “them.” Like the illustration of the wheat and the tares, Jesus will come with a sword or sickle of judgment and separate the “marriage” of the carnal and the spiritual. The worker of the Lord rightly divides the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15), and the Scriptures also are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).

¹⁷ 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 to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

Hidden manna invokes an imagery of JESUS, who is the TRUE MANNA from heaven (John 6:48-63). Rather than eat food of idolatry, Jesus promises secret, hidden food that gives life. We do not need to fall down to the world in idolatry but live quiet lives, spiritually eating and obeying His words. 

A white stone was used in delivering JURY VERDICTS, with white meaning ACQUITTAL and black meaning CONVICTION. Paul used this word in saying “I gave my voice (my vote) against them” in referring to his voting to persecute the church before he was saved.

A new name. Just as a man bestows a new name on His bride, God will give JERUSALEM a new name (Isa. 62:2) and Jesus will give overcoming believers a new name. 

2nd Church: Smyrna

To the Angel of the Church of Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

2.      SMYRNA—PERSECUTED CHURCH (100-313)

PARTICULARLY:
Historical Setting: Smyrna is now the city of Izmir in Turkey, just north of Ephesus. A historical city (home of Homer, writer of the Iliad), Smyrna at the time of John’s writing was a wealthy trading and port city. The church was an extremely important church in early church history, and the “angel” at Smyrna could have been Polycarp who himself was martyred in 155 A.D., after 86 years of serving God.

Name of Smyrna Defined: “Myrrh” is an extract of bitter gum that yields a costly perfume (Ps. 45:8, mentioned seven times in Song of Solomon), used for anointing oil (Ex. 30:23, 25) and anointing the dead (John 19:39). Myrrh is used three times in the New Testament, at Christ's coronation by the magi (Matt. 2:11), at the crucifixion when wine was mixed with bitter myrrh (Mark 15:23) and his burial. Thus Smyrna represents the bitterness of the persecuted church, but also the sweet aroma to God in its faithfulness.

     I.      Christ’s Description (2:8)-The First And The Last, Who Was Dead, And Came To Life

(see also Rev. 1:11, 18) To a church which would be persecuted and suffer tribulation, Christ describes Himself with identification in death and resurrection.

   II.      Commendation (2:8)

1. Tribulation and Poverty

These two descriptions of the church at Smyrna in no way indicate that they are not blessed by God or praised by Christ. On Tribulation, see Matt. 13:20, Acts 14: 21, Romans 5: 1-4, 2 Cor. 1: 3-5. On Poverty see 2 Cor. 8:1

2. Blasphemy of false Jews

Polycarp, the pastor of Smyrna in 155, was condemned with the help of the Jews in Smyrna. The Jews even broke the Sabbath by bringing the wood needed to burn him to death.

  III.      Condemnation - NONE

   IV.      Commands (2:9-10)

1. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer

Millions of Christians were martyred during the first 300 years of the church. Yet still the church thrives. What is our excuse for fear, for failure to witness, for failure to obey God?

2. Be faithful until death and receive the crown of life

The reception of the crown of life is a special blessing and reward of those who have been martyred. Faithfulness to the end, especially in the midst of persecution will be highly esteemed throughout eternity. Contrast that to those who have fallen short of death when they have not seen any persecution.

   V.      Consequences (2:10-11)

1. Some to be thrown into prison by the devil

Do not lose sight that the devil (Gr: diabolos) is alive and well and is the source of our persecution. Satan means adversary in Aramaic and is transliterated to the Greek text. Diabolos means “false accuser” in Greek. Both terms are used throughout Revelation as is “that old serpent” referring to the Garden of Eden and the form he took. He is supernatural, but not divine. He is powerful, yet constrained by God. Even angels do not revile him, not even the arch angel Michael (Jude 1:9)

2. Will be tempted (KJV=tried)

There are trials from God (see 1 Thes. 2:4) with the word dokimazo which means to refine and burn off the dross in order to strengthen our faith (1 Pet. 1:7). It produces patience (James 1:3), hope (“experience” or “character” in Rom. 5:4), and discernment (1 John 4:1). There is tribulation (thlipsis) which the world gives, because of the fallen condition and its rejection of the rule of God (Matt. 13:20). Then there is temptation (KJV=tried v. 10, Gr. periazo). This is the word used when the devil “tempted” Christ (Matt. 4:1). God does not tempt us with evil (James 1:13-14), but He allows it. A variation of the word is used in calling the devil “the tempter” (1 Thes. 3:5) and the hour of temptation (Rev. 3:10).

3. Tribulation ten days.

Whether ten days was a literal occurrence for the church at Smyrna or ten periods (see 10 major persecutions below) during this persecuted church days is up to interpretation. Ten is the completed number for human government and with Constantine as emperor in 313, tribulation of the church by the Roman government ended. However, tribulation continued by pagans and by the church itself.

4. Overcomers not hurt by second death.

How appropriate that overcomers are promised this. Second death is defined in Rev. 20:14 as the lake of fire, reserved for Satan and his demons, but also will receive those without Christ (Rev. 20:6, 21:8)

PROPHETICALLY:
Church History Parallel: “The Persecuted Church” (67-313 A.D.)-The churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only two which receive praise and no condemnation from Christ. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells of ten “primitive persecutions,” beginning with Nero in 67 and ending in 313 A.D. with Constantine, which some have compared to the 10 days of tribulation. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the times of the Gentiles began and God suspended His unique relationship with the Jewish race and solely relates to the church; thus, the Jews become a “synagogue of Satan”. While persecution continues to this day, no other time period so closely matches the description of the church at Smyrna

Polycarp’s martyrdom (as described in a letter from Smyrna to Philomelium)

Polycarp concealed himself in a farm-house and while praying he fell into a trance three days before his capture. He saw his pillow burning with fire and turned and said unto those that were with him, ‘it must needs be that I shall be burned alive’ “.

A great crowd had assembled after hearing of his apprehension. “As Polycarp entered into the Stadium a voice came to him from heaven: ‘Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man’. And no one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard the voice.”

It was to the proconsul, when he urged him to curse Christ, that Polycarp made his celebrated reply: “Fourscore and six years have I served Him, and he has done me no harm. How then can I curse my King that saved me?” When the proconsul had done with the prisoner it was too late to throw him to the beasts, for the sports were closed. It was decided, therefore, to burn him alive. The crowd took it upon itself to collect fuel, “the Jews more especially assisting in this with zeal, as is their wont (want).”

The fire, “like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round the body” of the martyr, leaving it unscathed. The executioner was ordered to stab him, thereupon, “there came forth a quantity of blood so that it extinguished the fire”.

Ten “Primitive Persecutions” as recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (by John Foxe, 1563)

1. Nero, A.D. 67

Nero had Christians sewed up in skins of wild beasts and mauled to death by dogs. He dipped others in wax and lit them on fire in his gardens. Paul and Peter were martyred during this time, along with Erastus of Corinth, Aristarchus (Acts 27:2), Trophimus (Acts 20:4, 21:29, 2 Tim. 4:20), Joseph (Acts 1:23), and Ananias, bishop of Damascus, who was one of the 70 which Christ sent out (Luke 10:1-10), and the baptizer of Paul (Acts 9:10)

2. Domitian, A.D. 81

He crucified Simeon, pastor of Jerusalem, banished John to Patmos, passed a law stating that no Christian should escape punishment unless he renounced his religion. Christians were blamed for famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Timothy at Ephesus was beaten with clubs in 97 A.D.

3. Trajan, A.D. 108

Pliny the Second wrote that “many thousands” of Christians were being put to death daily. Ignatius, pastor at Antioch after Peter, was killed by wild beasts in Rome. When he came to Smyrna, Ignatius wrote the church at Rome, saying he longed to be martyred. “I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!” Alexander, pastor at Rome, was martyred with two deacons and their families. Many were crucified at Mount Ararat; they were crowned with thorns, and had spears thrust into their sides. One pagan named Calocerius saw the martyrdom of two brothers and their great patience despite their torments. In a fit of admiration, he exclaimed, “Great is the God of the Christians!” Just for saying that, he was apprehended and suffered a similar fate.

4. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A.D. 162

Spectators shuddered with horror at the sight of the persecution of Christians. Some were forced to walk on thorns, nails, and sharp shells. Others were scourged until their sinews and veins lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures that could be devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths. Germanicus, a young man, was given to wild beasts but because of his courage, several pagans became Christians.

Felicitatis was a devout Christian mother of seven sons. All seven were martyred, her eldest was scourged and pressed to death with weights; Felix and Philip had their brains dashed out with clubs; Silvanus, the fourth, was thrown from a precipice; and the three younger sons, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial, were beheaded with the same sword that then killed the mother.

Justin, born 103 A.D., was a universal scholar and philosopher, and converted to Christianity at 30 years of age. He wrote an elegant epistle to the Gentiles, witnessed to the Jews, lived in Rome, taught in a public school, and wrote in defense of Christianity. The second apology of Justin gave an enemy of the church an opportunity to prejudice the emperor against Justin, who was apprehended with six other Christians. They refused to sacrifice to the pagan idols and were scourged then beheaded. Foxe wrote that they were “executed with all imaginable severity.”

5. Severus, A.D. 192

Despite the persecution, Christianity thrived. Tertullian, who lived in this age, said that if the Christians had collectively withdrawn themselves from the Roman territories, the empire would have been greatly depopulated.

Irenaeus, pastor of Lyons, succeeded the martyr Pothinus, wrote a tract against heresies, and was beheaded in A.D. 202. Many were martyred in Africa, including Perpetua, a 22 year-old married woman. She and several others were set for execution in the amphitheater. Her friends ran stripped and naked in the gauntlet between the hunters or else be given to wild beasts. They were then thrown to a mad bull, which made his first attack upon Perpetua which stunned but did not kill her. The bull then darted at Felicitas, her friend, and gored her dreadfully; but neither were killed. Finally the executioner had to come and kill them with a sword. The others were killed by the beasts or beheaded or died in prison. All this took place on March 8, 205.

In 222, Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who were beheaded; and the officer who led them to execution, also converted and suffered the same fate. She was placed naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable time, her head was struck off with a sword.

6. Maximus, A.D. 235

In Cappadocia, the president, Seremianus, did all he could to exterminate the Christians from that province. Pontianus, bishop of Rome, Anteros, his successor, who collected the stories of the martyrs, Roman senators and all their families were killed. Calepodius, a Christian minister, was thrown into the Tiber River. Martina, a noble and beautiful virgin was killed. Hippolitus was tied to a wild horse, and dragged until he died.

Numerous Christians were slain without trial, and buried indiscriminately in heaps, sometimes fifty or sixty being cast into a pit together, without the least decency. Maximinus died in 238, was succeeded by Gordian, during whose reign, and that of his successor Philip, the church was free from persecution for the space of more than ten years; but in 249, a violent persecution broke out in Alexandria, at the instigation of a pagan priest, without the knowledge of the emperor.

7. Decius, A.D. 249

Decius tried to get rid of all Christians and many errors had crept into the Church. The heathens looked upon the murder of a Christian as a merit to themselves. The martyrs were innumerable. Julian was put into a leather bag, together with a number of serpents and scorpions, and thrown into the sea. Peter, a young man, was beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to Venus, saying, “I am astonished you should sacrifice to an infamous woman, whose debaucheries even your own historian’s record, and whose life consisted of such actions as your laws would punish. No, I shall offer the true God the acceptable sacrifice of praises and prayers.” Optimus, the proconsul of Asia, on hearing this, ordered the prisoner to be stretched upon a wheel, by which all his bones were broken, and then he was sent to be beheaded.

When Nichomachus was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols, he replied, “I cannot pay that respect to devils, which is only due to the Almighty.” This speech enraged the proconsul so much that Nichomachus was put to the rack. After enduring the torments for a while, he recanted his faith. As soon as he did, he fell into the greatest agonies, dropped down on the ground, and died. Denisa, a 16 year-old girl watching it all, exclaimed, “O unhappy wretch, why would you buy a moment’s ease at the expense of a miserable eternity!” She then proclaimed her Christianity, and was beheaded.

Trypho and Respicius, two eminent men, were seized as Christians, and imprisoned at Nice. Their feet were pierced with nails; they were dragged through the streets, scourged, torn with iron hooks, scorched with lighted torches, and beheaded, February 1, 251.

Agatha, a Sicilian lady, was rich, pious and beautiful. After she rejected the advances of Quintian, the governor of Sicily, he ordered her to be scourged, burned with red-hot irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Having borne these torments “with admirable fortitude,” she was next laid naked upon live coals, intermingled with glass, and died while being carried back to prison on February 5, 251.

8. Valerian, A.D. 257

Valerian began persecuting the church in April, 257. The martyrs that fell in this persecution were innumerable, and their tortures and deaths as various as painful. At Utica, 300 Christians were placed round a burning limekiln. A pan of coals and incense was being prepared and they were commanded either to sacrifice to Jupiter, or to be thrown into the kiln. Unanimously refusing, they bravely jumped into the pit, and immediately suffocated.

Fructuosus, bishop in Spain, and his two deacons were burnt. Alexander, Malchus, and Priscus of Palestine, and a woman voluntarily admitted to being Christians and were devoured by tigers. Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, had gall and vinegar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, tormented on a gibbet, rubbed with lime, scorched on a gridiron, worried by wild beasts, and at length beheaded.

Valerian, who had persecuted the Christians, was taken prisoner by Sapor, emperor of Persia, and treated him with unexampled indignity, making him kneel down as the meanest slave, and treading upon him as a footstool when he mounted his horse. After seven years in this abject state of slavery, he caused his eyes to be put out, though he was then eighty-three years of age. His body was flayed alive, rubbed with salt, before he died.

In 260, Gallienus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him, and during his reign (a few martyrs excepted) the Church enjoyed peace for some years.

9. Aurelian, A.D. 274

Felix, bishop of Rome, was the first martyr to Aurelian’s petulancy, being beheaded on the December 22, 274. Agapetus, a young gentleman, who sold his estate, and gave the money to the poor, was seized as a Christian, tortured, and then beheaded.  Two twins, natives of Rome, were martyred by being tied to posts, and having their feet pierced with nails. After remaining in this situation for a day and a night, their sufferings were put an end to by thrusting lances through their bodies. Zoe, the wife of the jailer, who had the care of the martyrs, was also converted, and hung upon a tree, with a fire of straw lighted under her. When her body was taken down, it was thrown into a river, with a large stone tied to it to sink it.

In 286, a legion of all Christian soldiers refused to sacrifice or take the oaths. Maximian ordered the legion to be decimated. Every tenth man was selected and killed by the sword. Those who remained alive still refused, and a second decimation took place, and every tenth man was put to death.

10. Diocletian, A.D. 303

Sebastian was taken to a field and was shot to death with arrows. Christians attempting to bury him saw he was still alive and upon his recovery went to emperor as he was going to a pagan temple, and reprehended him for his various cruelties and unreasonable prejudices against Christianity. Diocletian ordered Sebastian to be beaten to death and was thrown into a sewer. In the same persecution, one Christian, Vitus, was offered up by his pagan father as a sacrifice to idols.

Another martyr named Victor prayed for patience while stretched on the rack,. After the executioners grew tired with inflicting torments on him, he went to the dungeon and converted his jailers. The emperor ordered them to be beheaded. Victor was then again put to the rack, unmercifully beaten with batons, and again sent to prison. A third time he persevered and a small altar was brought in and he was commanded to offer incense. He boldly stepped forward, and with his foot overthrew both altar and idol. Maximian ordered the foot with which he had kicked the altar to be immediately cut off. Victor was thrown into a mill, and crushed to pieces with the stones in 303.

Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Caesarea at the time Diocletian started his persecution. He was condemned for his faith at Antioch, then scourged and put to the rack. After that, his body was torn with hooks, his flesh cut with knives, his face scarified, his teeth beaten from their sockets, and his hair plucked up by the roots. He was ordered to be strangled on Nov. 17, 303.

PERSONALLY

One of the most convicting verses of Scriptures in the New Testament is 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". The Smyrna Church calls us to examine ourselves and see if are experiencing persecution or avoiding it because we do not desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.

Do you desire to witness? Do you desire to pray privately and publicly? Do you seek to not only read, but apply God's Word to your lives? 

After reading the ten "days" of persecution experienced prophetically, I don't know of anyone who could say they desire to live godly lives like the martyrs listed above. 

PERVASIVELY

Around the world today, there are numerous locations where the church is persecuted. Since this article is long enough, pray for the persecuted church as you look at the following chart from Open Doors.