The Church of the Old Testament

God’s Church stretches from Eden to Eden. Those who have obeyed God have
been called by various names, such as “the sons of God”, “the seeds of Abraham”,
the Children of Israel”, “the Christians” They all have the same fundamental
beliefs.
Definition of the Church. The New Testament word for "church" is ekklesia,
which means "the called out ones."
The church of the O.T. accepted the law of God as its rule of faith.
“Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments,
and my laws.” Gen. 26:5
God has had only one method of salvation, one standard of
righteousness all through the ages. The Law and Grace- There was law
and grace in the O.T. and in the N.T.
The Ten Commandments is the standard for which man’s moral
character is based or measured.
A Sign between God and His People-
“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your
descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. "And you
shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the
covenant between Me and you. "And every male among you who is eight days
old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in
the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your
descendants.” (Genesis 17: 10-14).
And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to
remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy. Ezekiel 20:12 NLT

“Also, I instituted my Sabbath for them as a sign between me and them, so they
would know that I am the LORD, who has set them apart.” Ezekiel 20:12 ISV
God instructed the church members in the O.T. through prophets. Moses was the
first writer whom God used to record instructions for his church and to preserve
the people’s experiences for future generations. God also gave Moses the Ten
Commandments at mount Sinai.
These writings were read to the congregations on the Seventh Day Sabbath- known
as the Old Testament.
God’s Church in the Wilderness:
“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to
him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give
unto us.” Acts 7:38 KJB
“He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on
Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.”
Acts 7:38 NIV
The Church of the New Testament. The church of the New Testament received
its fundamental beliefs from the Old Testament Church.

Matthew 5: 17 says “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”

Paul declared, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” (Romans7:22)
The first step in its organization[Church] was taken when Jesus ordained the
twelve apostles. Upon their shoulders rested the responsibility of finishing the
work that Christ had so well begun and was -'so soon to leave. Immediately after
Christ's ascension they set themselves to work to accomplish their task.

The apostolic church was characterized by its simplicity of organization and

doctrines, and by its unity of purpose and work. Aside from the general
supervisory work of the apostles, there were two kinds of officers in it—the
elders, or bishops, who were responsible for spiritual needs, and the deacons,
who took care of the temporal needs.
The New Testament Church.
The apostolic church was organized after the ascension of Christ, and James
became the first general president. The church had a strong evangelistic
program. In addition to the twelve, we have Paul, Barnabas, Silas, John Mark,
Apollos, Timothy, Titus. The deacons were selected to lead the church.
-The headquarter of the N.T. church was in Jerusalem. They were commissioned
to go “into all the world, preach the gospel to every creatures” (Mark 16:15)
-They wrote epistles and gospels not only for the early church but also for the
Christian church in later centuries.
Another characteristic of that early church was its separation from the world. It
was in the world, but not of the world.
“Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out
before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.”
Leviticus 20:23
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Matthew 5:16 ESV “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that
they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
The doctrines of the early church
were simple, clear, and very
definite. They were centered in
Christ and the teachings of the
Scriptures. The burden of the
message was Jesus, His crucifixion
and resurrection, and salvation in
His name. In the presentation of
that God-given message the
believers were completely united.
They preached with authority and
with deep Heaven-born conviction.
Those who heard their teachings
marveled and took knowledge that
they had been with Jesus. (Acts
4:13.)
1. ORIGIN AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The church is God's fortress that He holds in a
revolted world. It is His purpose that it shall be a
great citadel of truth, and He is determined that it
shall recognize no authority above the word of
God. It is God's agency for the salvation of
humanity. To it has been entrusted the gospel
commission, and it has been organized for service.
The doctrines of the early church were simple, clear, and
very definite. They were centered in Christ and the
teachings of the Scriptures. The burden of the message
was Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection, and salvation
in His name. In the presentation of that God-given
message the believers were completely united. They
preached with authority and with deep Heaven-born
conviction. Those who heard their teachings marveled
and took knowledge that they had been with Jesus.
(Acts 4:13.)
One characteristic of God’s church is “The Spirit of
Prophecy”
It was manifested among the members: Paul possessed
the gift. Peter talked with angels, and prophesied of things
to come. (Acts 10:17-20; 12:1-10; 2 Peter 3:3-10.) John
wrote the major book of prophecy in the New Testament.
There were several prophets. Philip, the deacon, had four
daughters in his own household who possessed this
remarkable gift. (Acts 21:8, 9.)
Indeed, the apostolic church came behind in
no gift of the Spirit. (1 Cor. 1:5-8.) It possessed
them all, and that was the secret of its unity
and success. These gifts operate for the
perfection of the saints and the edifying of the
body of Christ, which is the church. (Eph. 4:11,
12.)
2. CONCESSION AND COMPROMISE
Prophetic view of the church. Jesus and the apostles were shown the
future experience of the church. (Study Matt. 24:5, 11, 12; 2 Tim. 4:3,
4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-3.) "I know this," said the apostle Paul to
the elders of the church of Ephesus, "that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them." Acts 20:29, 30.
Before the second coming of Christ there was to be a "falling away," or apostasy,
until finally the "man of sin" would be revealed. He would aspire to sit in the very
seat of God, and to act as though he were really God. (2 Thess. 2:1-4.)
Early Persecutions:
The hatred and persecution of the Christians, foretold by Jesus (Matt. 24:9, 10),
were not long delayed. At first the Jews led in this opposition, but as the message
spread to the Gentiles, there came the. time when "heathen . idolaters cruelly
persecuted and killed the Christians. Blood flowed in torrents.
Before the second coming of Christ there was to be a "falling
away," or apostasy, until finally the "man of sin" would be
revealed. He would aspire to sit in the very seat of God, and to
act as though he were really God.(2 Thess. 2:1-4.)

"Paul trembled for the church as, looking into the future,
he saw the attacks which she must suffer from both
external and internal foes." False teachers or false
prophets would arise the gospel would be perverted and
there would be great spiritual declension. The apostles
saw these influences working during their lifetime.
Early Persecutions. The hatred and persecution of the
Christians, foretold by Jesus (Matt. 24:9, 10), were not
long delayed. At first the Jews led in this opposition, but
as the message spread to the Gentiles, there came the
time when "heathen idolaters cruelly persecuted and
killed the Christians. Blood flowed in torrents. The
noble, the learned, and the common people, were alike
slain without mercy. Wealthy families were reduced to
poverty, because they would not yield their religion."
"These persecutions, beginning under
Nero about the time of the
martyrdom of Paul, continued with
greater or less fury for centuries."
The climax of persecution against the
Christians came in the reign of the
emperor Diocletian (245-313 A. D.).
He gave orders for the destruction of
all Christian churches, for the
annihilation of the Sacred 'Scriptures,
and for the apprehension of all clergy,
with orders that they must either
sacrifice to the pagan gods or be put
to death. No Christian was allowed to
hold any public office.
The conversion of Constantine.
Constantine the Great (288 -337 A. D.)
succeeded Diocletian as emperor. He
became the open champion of
Christianity, and this greatly changed
the situation. He used the wealth of
the empire to build up the new
religion. Through the avenues of the
church he opened the way to wealth,
honor, favor, political advancement,
and worldly renown.
 The way of religion was made
easy. In the contest for imperial
favor, place, or power, the humble
spirit of the Master was lost sight
of, and the world was converting
the church. It must not be thought
that Constantine was genuinely
converted to Christ. He sought to
maintain the favor and support of
both pagans and Christians. Before
his so-called conversion he had
been a devout worshiper of the
sun, which was regarded as the
"invincible guide and protector of
Constantine."
 Deuteronomy 4:19 "And beware not to lift up your eyes
to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all
the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them
and serve them, those which the LORD your God has
allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
Deuteronomy 17:2-5

"If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a
woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, by transgressing His covenant, and has gone
and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not
commanded, and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true
and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel…”
His effort to please both parties is well illustrated by his Sunday law, of 321
A. D. He pleased the bishops of the church by ordering judges, townspeople,
and mechanics to rest on Sunday, which day was by this time observed as a
holy clay by the Christians, in honor of the resurrection of Christ.
Union with heathenism. Instead of being a real hindrance to the church,
persecution had only led the Christians closer to God, deepened their love for
one another, and strengthened their efforts to win others to Christ.
Satan therefore laid his plans to fight more successfully against the government
of God, and overthrow the church. He led the heathen idolaters to embrace a
part of the Christian faith.
"Although these worshipers of idols professed to be converted, they
brought their idolatry with them into the church, only changing the
objects of their worship to images of saints, and even of Christ and of
Mary His mother. As the followers of Christ gradually united with them,
the Christian religion became corrupted, and the church lost its purity
and power. Some refused to unite with them; such preserved their
purity, and worshiped God alone."
This marked the beginning of that union of church and
state which made possible the later persecutions by the
papal church. One of the illustrious fathers of the church,
St. Augustine (354-430 A. D.), was among die first to
advocate the theory that "men should be brought to
serve God by instruction" if possible, but if not, then "by
fear of punishment or by pain."
Church and state united. Before the so-called conversion of Constantine,
the state had regarded the Christians with either indifference or contempt, or
had persecuted them. Now it was Constantine who called together at Nicaea
the first general council of the church. Although he had not been vested by the
church, he assumed the title of bishop of bishops, and not only presided over
the sessions of the council, but enforced its decrees..
Crisis in Church Leadership:
The, strife for supremacy. The first believers were organized into a democratic church. The
apostles taught that with God there is no respect of persons.
Some teach that Peter was vested with supreme authority over the church, and he is listed as
the first "pope.“
But it is evident that he did not so regard himself, and neither did the apostolic church so
regard him. (Acts 8:14; 15:13-19.) "The' elders which are among you I exhort," he wrote,
"who am also an elder."
Before long there began to be class distinctions in the church, and an attempt to
recognize various ranks of officials. A distinction, not found in the New
Testament, was made between the bishops and the elders, who were termed
presbyters. Forgetting the injunction of Jesus, "Be not ye called Rabbi [or Father]:
for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren," some sought
positions and titles of dignity.
The elders of the original church would naturally be regarded with respect and
deference, but this deference was later demanded, rather than given freely.
As churches and officers multiplied, it was necessary to call meetings for
consultation. It was natural and proper for the older ones to be chosen to.
preside. The next step was to claim such honor as a right for life. he bishops in
those churches established by the apostles claimed that they were superior to
others raised up later.
Finally, as Rome was the capital. of the empire, and as the church there claimed
to have been founded by two apostles, Peter and Paul, its bishop demanded that
he should be regarded as supreme over all other bishops. Later in the fourth
century, when the empire was divided, there was rivalry between the bishops of
Rome and of Constantinople, over which should be the head.
Finally, when, in 533 A. D., the emperor Justinian decreed that the Bishop of
Rome should be the head of all the churches, the way was open for the full
manifestation of a man who claimed titles and power which belonged to
God only.
The church of the first centuries, though somewhat corrupted by worldliness,
made great inroads upon paganism. It is very evident that converts to Christianity
were multiplied by the thousands and increased to the millions. If these Christians
followed the plan of organization used by Paul, the remote and outlying conquests
of the church were closely tied to the mother church. This was at first Jerusalem
or some other large church center; later on it became Rome.
Fortunately for the development of the Roman Catholic Church, many of the
early bishops of Rome were very able and ambitious men. It did not take them
long, following the division of the empire in the fourth century, to profit
materially from the transfer of civil authority to the East. Not only were the
Roman bishops capable men, but they sent out many successful missionaries to
the Germanic peoples who were living in the territory now known as France and
Germany. As these converts were won to the Christian faith,- they became very
definitely attached to the mother church of Rome.
The doctrines corrupted. As the gospel was preached among the heathen, many
became .Christians. "Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way
into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a
time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism.
But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she
laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of
pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted
human theories and traditions.
The nominal conversion of. Constantine . . . caused great rejoicing; and the
world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the
work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be
vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her
doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions. were incorporated into the faith and
worship of the professed followers of Christ."
Among the many teachings of the church thus borrowed from the heathen are:.
the sprinkling of infants as baptism; the adoration of saints, especially of Mary;
the immortality of the soul; purgatory; the sacrifice of the mass; confession to
the priest; and as an outstanding change, ,because it did violence to the ten
commandments, the substitution of Sunday for the Sabbath.
Loss of Advent Hope. Not only did Augustine set forth the view that the church
should use physical force, but he introduced a new system of prophetic interpretation. In
his book City of God, he began the thousand years of Revelation 20 with the first advent
of Christ instead of the second. The "camp of the saints" he called the church.
The stone of the image of Daniel 2, he held to represent, not Christ at His second coming,
but the imperial state church, which thought was to grow until it filled the earth. So the
hope of the second advent of Christ was lost from the church, and men were taught to
look to its own growth on earth, instead of the great hope of the second advent.
The Dark Ages. "The accession of the Roman church to power marked the beginning
of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was
transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the Hope of Rome. Instead of trusting
in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked
to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. . . . Thus
the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men,
nay, more, to the prinCe of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them."
REFERENCES.
1. M. E. Olsen, Origin and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists, 21-33.
2. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Hi, 31, 144, 145.
3. Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 395.
4. Ellen G. White, Early Writings, 210-217.
5. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, 39-60.
 The Seven Churches
The seven churches. Seventh-day Adventists are generally familiar with the
prophecy of the seven churches in the first three chapters of Revelation. "The
names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of
the Christian Era.

The number seven indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the
messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition
of the church at different periods in the history of the world." 2
 Ephesus- The Church that abandon its First Love
Revelation 2:1-7

The first of these, the church of Ephesus, extending down to approximately 100
A. D., clearly symbolizes the early Christian church.
Ephesus Church, Turkey
 EPHESUS
A.D. 54-56.
On the third preaching journey, Paul spent between two and three years teaching
in the city (Acts 19:8-10). He spent his time weeding out false doctrines and
pagan practices. Ephesus derived its greatness from two sources, commercial
trade and religion. During the Roman Period it was a center for the mother
goddess worship, known to the Greeks as Artemis and to the Romans as Diana.
Diana is a beautiful name, and one might suppose that Diana would be a
beautiful goddess. To the contrary, Diana of the Ephesians was a short, squat,
repulsive-looking character covered with many breasts which emphasized
fertility. It was believed by the superstitious Ephesians that Diana fell down from
heaven. The magnificent temple of Diana took more than a century to construct.
It was built about 400 B. C. and burned the night Alexander the Great was born.
Immediately rebuilt, it could accommodate 24,500 persons and is reckoned as
one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Worship in the Temple was comprised of the burning of incense and the playing
of flute music as a result of which the people reached an emotional frenzy in
which shameless sexual orgies were engaged (Marlin). These immoral practices
of the priestesses and the merchants hawking silver shrines made it a difficult
place to preach the Gospel.
 Smyrna, Turkey-The Church under persecution
313 A. D.
The church of Smyrna follows immediately, and presents an era of persecution
during- which certain compromises had their beginning. This period is generally
considered as extending to about 313 A. D.
Polycarp An Early Christian Martyr Died ca. AD 155, in Smyrna (Izmir in
modern Turkey)
Polycarp led the church in Smyrna with wisdom and authority, having
been appointed to leadership by men who had seen and heard the
Lord. He was frequently called on to settle disputes or correct false
teaching. Even the other leaders of the early church valued his insight.
When Polycarp visited Rome, the bishop there deferred to him
regarding when to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, as a sign of honor and
respect.
But Polycarp’s work as a pastor and leader would not continue freely.
When persecution broke out in Smyrna, some Christians were rounded
up for interrogation, and required to renounce Christ and bow before
the Roman emperor as a condition of release. When they refused, they
were tortured and executed.
Why Were Christians Persecuted?
How was it that the church underwent such sacrifices? The Roman religion was
not intolerant; Rome had accepted into its pantheon deities from the Italian
tribes and from Asia Minor. In the provinces, the great territorial gods—such as
Saturn in North Africa and Jehovah among the Jews—were accepted as “legal
religion” on the grounds that their rites, even if barbarous, were sanctified by
ancient tradition. Countless local gods and goddesses, worshiped by the ordinary
inhabitants of the Greco-Roman world, were often provided with a classical
equivalent name and worshiped as “Roman” deities.
Despite this toleration, by the early second century the Roman governor of
Bithynia (on the Black Sea) had no hesitation in sending to immediate execution
those who had been denounced as being Christians. The name alone was a
sufficient death warrant.
• Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire occurred intermittently over
a period of over two centuries between the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD
under Nero and the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, in which the Roman Emperors 
Constantine the Great and Liciniuslegalised the Christian religion.
• The persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire was carried out by the
state and also by local authorities on a sporadic, ad hocbasis, often at the
whims of local communities. Starting in 250 AD, empire-wide persecution
took place as an indirect consequence of an edict by the emperor Decius.
This edict was in force for eighteen months, during which time some
Christians were killed while others apostatised to escape execution.
• These persecutions heavily influenced the development of Christianity,
shaping Christian theology and the structure of the Church. The effects of the
persecutions included the writing of explanations and defenses of the
Christian religion.
 Pergamos- The Church Near Satan’s Throne
The church of Pergamos is symbolic of the period of concession and falling away
that found its culmination in the establishment of the Papacy about 538 A. D.
• Situated on a plateau 1,000 above sea level
• Kings made their palaces there
• Famous of school of medicine-the emblem of serpent twined around
a pole
• Seat of Satan-many evil plot were formed against the Christians
• Emperor worship was made in Pergamos. And it was compulsory
• Several pagan gods were erected there-first known temple to
Emperor Augustus
• Emperor Trajan was also worshiped-he had a temple there.
The Church of Thyatira-538-1517 AD
The Church that Tolerated Jezebel
This was the age of papal supremacy and also the dark ages. This is the longest
period thus far. The undisrupted ruler at this period was the pope of Rome. He
beat emperors and kings. He rules as if he were a civil and political ruler of his
time. The contest between the emperors and popes was intense with the papacy
gaining the upper hand.
“On the chief duties of Christians as citizens, “ dated January 10 1890, Pope
Leo VIII asserted that the supreme in the church is the Roman Pontiff. Union
of minds therefore, requires…complete submission of will to the church and
to the Roman Pontiff as to God Himself. On June 20, 1894, in “The Reunion
of Christendom,” Leo claimed further that “we,[that is, himself, as also the
other popes] hold upon this earth the place of God almighty.”
Hebrews 4:14-1614 
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[
a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do

not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but
we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did
not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
The Church of Sardis-Those escaping or that which remains
The Stagnant Church-1517-1798 AD
Characteristics of the city
• Stood at an elevation of 1,500 feet
• Became later as the capital of the kingdom of Lydia
• Coin money was believed to have originated right there
• Because of its height and position it was thought to be an impregnable city
• Attacked of Cyrus II the Great
1.Only one entrance into the city
2. One soldier of Cyrus scale the wall one dark night
3. Entering the city he opened the gate for conquering Persians
4. The city fell into the hands of Cyrus in 549 B.C.
5. Croesus was the king at that time
6. Sardis was known as the “city of death”
• Has a name that thou livest, and art dead. Sardis is living to her past
reputation which was not right.
• Not found the words perfect before God: The zeal of Protestantism and at the
beginning of the 6th century begun to wane as the years went by.
• The perfection and purity of life they have before was lost.
The Philadelphia Church-Brotherly Love, Faithful Remnant
1798-1844
Characteristics of the city
• Founded by Attalus Philadelphia, for whom it was named
• Attalus named in honor of his brother Eumenes II
• Located in a beautiful valley
• The intention of the founder was to make the center of the Greek civilization
and means of spreading the Greek culture
• Underwent several changes in name. Today its name is Alasehir
• No one knows how the Christian Church was founded there. But at the time of
John there were faithful believers in that beautiful city
• The Church was faithful to the wills of the master
• Have not denied His name
• Faithful to His word

AD 1798-1844. A Missionary era or the age of missions.

• The beginning of Christian missionaries
• 1793-William Carey to India
• 1807-Robert Morrison to China
• 1817-Robert Moffat to Africa
• 1841-David Livingstone to Africa
• 1804-British and foreign Bible society
• 1817- John William to the south seas
• 1816- American Bible society
Characteristics of the city
• Located at the junction of two important roads
• Rich farming districts surrounding it
• A city of wealth
1. Valuable wood produced in the valleys around
2. Large markets available
3. Banking exchange
4. Manufacturing interest
5. Leading health resorts
6. Lukewarm baths available
7. The city was well-ordered and successful. Because of their tremendous
wealth the citizens were proud, haughty, arrogant, and self-satisfied
Laodicea -Revelation 3:14-22
Reproof: verses 15-17
1. Lukewarm
a. Cold- Spiritually, a cold situation would denote a destitution of
love, joy, happiness, brotherly affection, kindness, etc.
b. Hot-
The Church at Laodicea- Judging of the people, Justified people 1844-
Second Coming
 Church Meaning of Name Main Feature of Time Commendation Reproof Counsel Reward Promised to Period
Period the Overcomer

Ephesus First or desirable Era of warning love Patient, hate deeds of Left your first love Repent, do again your Eat of Tree of Life To 100 AD
false teachers, did not 1st works
faint or give up

Smyrna Myrrh or sweet Persecution, suffering, Rich in faith and good NONE Be faithful unto death Receive crown of life, To 313 AD
fragrance martyrdom works in spite of not be hurt of second
tribulation and death
hypocrites

Pergamos Height, power, or State religion, Held firm to Jesus' Tolerance of Repent Receive hidden To 538 AD
elevation by marriage compromise name and did not Nicolaitans, manna, white stone,
denied the faith Balaamism, new name
compromise, idolatry,
and immorality

Thyatira Sweet savor labor. Dark Ages, apostasy Love, faith, patience, Tolerance of Hold fast what you Power over nations, To 1560s AD
Sacrifice of contrition and good works Jezebel, idolatry, already have Morning Star
immorality

Sardis Those escaping or that Reform A few are not defiled Dead works Watch, strengthen White raiment, keep To 1790s AD
which remains what remains, hold name in Book of Life
fast, repent

Philadelphia Brotherly love Revival, Gospel spread Kept the Word and not NONE Hold fast to the faith Pillar in temple, keep To 1840s AD
denied Jesus from hour of
temptation Have name
of God

Laodicea Judging the people or Modern Christendom, NONE Lukewarm, spiritually Secure gold tried in Sit with Christ on His To End
a just people the Church today poor, blind, and naked fire, white raiment, throne and eat with
eyesalve, be zealous, Him
repent
 Human traditions in the Christian
Church
Mark 7:8
“You leave the commandment of God and hold
to the tradition of men.”
Baptism
Infant Baptism
 Traditions Of Men
Mark 7:7 “Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as
commands from God.’ NLT
Laodicea Church Baptistry
s
Mark 10:16
“And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His
hands on them.”
BEARERS OF THE TORCH-THE CHURCH
When the night is dark and storms break over one's path, it is reassuring to have
a light that makes bright and safe the way he should take. When darkness covers
the land and the traveler is hopelessly lost, anyone who bears aloft a light is very
welcome. If the light bearer is a fearless, tried, and safe guide, and knows the
way home, he is of special worth.
But, necessary and helpful and trusty as the bearer of the torch may be, it is the
light that is the essential element. Even a lighted candle can drive away total
darkness. Jesus, the Light of the world, taught His disciples to let their lights so
shine before men that they would glorify the Father. The nearer men live to
Jesus, the brighter their lives will shine for Him.
A period of darkness in Western Europe began with the decline of Roman
civilization and the loss of apostolic simplicity and purity of the Christian
church. It was a time when government was weak, learning was neglected, and
spirituality was low except among a very few. Nations of barbarians from the
north had crossed the Rhine and the Danube and had possessed the land of
the Roman Empire. New languages and cultures were slowly taking form.
The Great Image of Daniel 2
28 
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh
known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy
dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
29 
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed,
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets
maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
Daniel 2:31-35 ...'Thou, O king,
sawest, and behold a great image.
This great image, whose brightness
was excellent, stood before thee;
and the form thereof was terrible.
This image's head was of fine gold,
his breast and his arms of silver, his
belly and his thighs of brass, his
legs of iron, his feet part of iron
and part of clay. Thou sawest till
that a stone was cut out without
hands, which smote the image
upon his feet that were of iron and
clay, and brake them to pieces.'
Daniel Chapter 2
Babylon was the most glorious kingdom of
all. Which is why it was represented as
GOLD.
 Breast and Arms of SILVER

Just as SILVER is 'inferior'

to GOLD, Medo Persia did
not have the glory which
was upon Babylon. Also, it
is known that taxes were
paid in SILVER in Medo
Persia.
 Legs of IRON
IRON was widely used in the
armor and weapons of the
Roman Empire. And what about
the TWO legs? History confirms
that Rome split into TWO
political areas. The Western
Empire ruled from Rome and
the Eastern Empire ruled from
Constantinople (Turkey).
 Feet of IRON and CLAY
EUROPE - The Roman Empire as a one world power
disintegrated due to the attacks from the barbarian
tribes. By 476 AD Rome had lost it's power and the
tribes that sacked the Roman Empire became the
10 nations of Europe. These tribes were the
Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals,
Alemannians, Sueves, Anglo-Saxons, Heruli,
Lombards, and Burgundians. Three of these tribes
were uprooted by Papal Rome (
THE LITTLE HORN POWER) and the other seven
evolved into the nations of Europe today, like Great
Britain, France, Germany, Spain, etc.
 The Destroying STONE
KINGDOM OF JESUS AND GOD - We
reach an end of this prophecy and
the end of this world as we know it,
when Jesus Christ returns at the
second coming and destroys once
and for all the kingdoms of this
world. Then, after the 1000 year
millennium and the earth renewed,
God will establish His kingdom on the
new earth, which will be an
everlasting kingdom. A kingdom of
glory and righteousness, where there
will be no more wicked men to rule
over us, but a just and righteous God.
 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It
34 

struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the
iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces
and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept
them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue
became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
The ten divisions of Rome
1. Alemanni - Germany. 6. Visigoths - Spain.
2. Franks - France. 7. Anglo-Saxons - England.
3. Burgundians - Switzerland. 8. Ostrogoths - Exterminated.
4. Suevi - Portugal. 9. Lombards - Italy.
5. Vandals - Exterminated. 10. Heruli - Exterminated.
Daniel Chapter 7-Four Great Beasts
Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts-Daniel Chapter 7
 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream
and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the
dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared,[a] “I saw in my
vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up
the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different
from one another.
4 
The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were
plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet
like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 
 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised
5 

up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was
told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6 
“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked
like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast
had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 
“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a
fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large
iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot
whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it
had ten horns.
The Parallel of Daniel 2 and 7
Three of the ten kingdoms were to be destroyed by the instigation of the little
horn power. Only the Papacy fits this description. Three kingdoms that did not
accept the papal mandates regarding Christ's divinity were literally uprooted
and mercilessly destroyed. Although the doctrine of the divinity of Christ was
correct, the method of dealing with it was not.
8 
“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a
little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were
uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a
mouth that spoke boastfully.
Since the little horn made its appearance after the subdivision of Rome into
ten different states (after 476 AD) but before the destruction of three of
them because it arises among all ten, we now have a very
definite time frame for the rise of the Antichrist power. The Heruli
, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were eliminated by the year 538 AD. This power
was to arise between 476 AD and 538 AD.
These conquests strengthened the hand of the Papacy, which was
established by the year 538 AD. In that year, Vigilus, the bishop of
Rome, ascended the papal throne under the protection of the Roman
general Belisarius. The date for the establishment of papal Rome as an
independent power can thus be pinned at 538 AD.
“On the chief duties of Christians as citizens, “ dated January 10 1890, Pope
Leo VIII asserted that the supreme in the church is the Roman Pontiff.
Union of minds therefore, requires…complete submission of will to the
church and to the Roman Pontiff as to God Himself. On June 20, 1894, in
“The Reunion of Christendom,” Leo claimed further that “we,[that is,
himself, as also the other popes] hold upon this earth the place of God
almighty.”
 The Anti-Christ
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
“ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy
comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who
opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that
he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
John Wycliffe- a Catholic priest
“We suppose that Anti-Christ, the head of all these
evil men, is the Pope of Rome.” (Foxes Book of
Martyrs, p.90)
John Huss
(1372-1415)
“The Pope is…the true Anti-Christ, of whom it is written, that he sitteth
in the temple of God, among the people where Christ is worshiped…”
Martin Luther
“The vicar is in the place of an absent chief,-what is
such a vicar is Anti-Christ.” “I know and am certain
that the papacy is the kingdom of Babylon.”
(“Works” Vol. ii., p.385)
 Cloud of Witnesses
“Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer; in the seventeenth century,
Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible, and the men who published
the Westminster and Baptist confessions of faith; Sir Isaac Newton, Whitfield,
Jonathan Edwards, and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle, and Dr.
Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of
the papacy as the Anti-Christ.”
(All Roads Led to Rome, by Michael de Semlyen. Dorchestor House
Publications,p. 205.1991)
Daniel 7:7-8
7 
“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a
fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large
iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot
whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it
had ten horns.
8 
“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another
horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first
horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a
human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
 Identifying Marks of the Little Horn
1.It rose out of the fourth beast
2. It came up among the ten horns
3. It came up after the ten horns had been established
4. It was to uproot three horns
5. It was to be greater than the others
6. It was to be different from the others
7. It was to have eyes like the eyes of a man and speak great
words against God
8. It was to make war on God’s saints
9. It would think to change times and laws
10. The saints were to be handed over to it for a time and times
and half a time
11. It shall devour the whole earth
12. It shall reign until the ancient of days comes
13. Its dominion will be taken away
 1.It rose out of the fourth beast
All historians agree that papal Rome emerged out of the ruins of the ancient
pagan Roman Empire. Thomas Hobbes, English Historian, says this:
“If a man consider the origin of this great ecclesiastical dominion, he will easily
perceive that the Papacy is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman
empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.”
 2.It came up among the ten horns
Note that the little horn arises among the ten, which implies that the ten were
already there when it arose and, all ten were still in existence when it made its
appearance.
The Antichrist was to come up among the ten horns, growing from a small
power to the greatest. This is indeed true of the Papacy. After the initial fusing
of Christianity with the pagan religions of the time, the bishop of Rome
increased in power while the emperors of the Roman Empire supported him.
3. It came up after the ten horns had been established

The Roman Catholic Church grew in power after Constantine accepted

Christianity, but it did not control secular affairs until the Justinian decrees went
into effect. The power of the bishop of Rome steadily increased
and papal authority in secular affairs arose after the Barbarian division of Rome
in 476 AD.
The American Catholic Quarterly Review says this:
Long ages ago, when Rome through the neglect of the Western
emperors was left to the mercy of the barbarous hordes, the Romans
turned to one figure for aid and protection, and asked him to rule
them...and thus...commenced the temporal sovereignty of the popes.
So, meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the vicar of Christ (pope)
took up the sceptre to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to
bow in reverence through so many ages.i
 4. It was to uproot three horns

Since the little horn made its appearance after the subdivision of Rome into ten
different states (after 476 AD) but before the destruction of three of them
because it arises among all ten, we now have a very definite time frame for the
rise of the Antichrist power. The Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were
eliminated by the year 538 AD. This power was to arise between 476 AD and
538 AD.
5. It was to be greater than the others

The Papacy wielded greater power than any country or king. The

Papacy has always interfered in political affairs. Countries were divided
by papal decrees, and kings enthroned and dethroned by papal
decrees. Since 800 AD, when Charlemagne received his crown from the
Pope, the Papacy assumed power over kings and nations. In 1077, King
Henry IV of Germany stood in the snow for three days before being
permitted an audience with Pope Gregory VII. Likewise, in 1213 King
John of England stood naked on a cold marble floor waiting for
admission to the Pope's presence in order to apologize to him. 
Read King John's concession
Note the testimony of a Catholic functionary: [T]he vicar of the
incarnate Son of God, anointed high priest and supreme temporal ruler,
(the Pope) sat in his tribunal impartially to judge between nation and
nation, between people and prince, between sovereign and subject.i
6. It was to be different from the others

The Papacy is different from the pagan kingdoms before it, because it is
both a political power and a religious power. Politically, the Vatican is a
recognized state, complete with a traditional guard and its own postal
service. 
The Vatican is the smallest state in the world, occupying a mere 100 acres, but it
has one of the strongest diplomatic bodies in the world. Papal representatives
sit in the capitals of the world, and in turn these countries have their
representatives in the Vatican. The Pope is not only head of the Church, but also
temporal sovereign of the Vatican state.

The little horn represents a king or a kingdom different from all the previous
kingdoms, which were secular kingdoms. The Papacy fits that role because it is
both religious and political.
7. It was to have eyes like the eyes of a man and speak great words
against God

The little horn power is humankind rising up against God and speaking great
words against Him. It refers to a system that defies God directly and sets itself
up in opposition to God.

It is significant that the little horn power is likened to a man. This same symbol
was also applied to Babylon (Daniel 7:4). In Daniel 2, the king of Babylon was
referred to as the head of gold. All power was vested in the king. His word was
law, and he was considered a god.
8. It was to make war on God’s saints
I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and
prevailing against them” (Daniel 7:21).

Throughout history, the great wars of Europe were

fought on religious grounds. The Protestants of Europe
were relentlessly persecuted by Rome. Europe was
plunged into the Thirty Years’ War with the sole purpose
of destroying the Protestant Reformation.
• The historian Lecky says this:
“The Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution
that has ever existed among mankind.”
The Waldenses, Albigenses, and Huguenots were relentlessly persecuted, and the
Inquisition ordered the cruelest of punishments to be executed by the princes of
Europe upon all those who refused to bow to the supremacy of Rome. In 1200,
AD Pope Innocent III ordered the king of France to exterminate the Albigenses
because they refused to accept the papal teachings and regarded the Bible as the
ultimate Word of God. Historians D'Augbigné and Wylie say that more than a
million of these innocent people were massacred in one single campaign.
9. It would think to change times and laws
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25).
9. It would think to change times and laws
Catholic catechisms show that the Papacy has tried to change the law of God.
The Ten Commandments have been tampered with. The Second Commandment,
which refers to images and idols, is absent in Catholic literature. And to make up
for the loss of one commandment, the Tenth is divided into two. The 
Fourth Commandment, which talks about the Sabbath, becomes the third
commandment in the Catholic catechism. The day of worship is shifted
by papal decree from Saturday to Sunday.
Peter Geiermann’s ‘The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine’ 1957.
Questions and Answers:
“Q. “Which is the Sabbath day?
“A. “Saturday is the Sabbath day.
“Q. “Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday.”
“A. “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic church
transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.”
The laws and times mentioned in Daniel 7:25 are laws that God Himself has
established and time that God Himself has set. The law that stands out
throughout the Bible is the Ten Commandment law.
Papal Rome tampered with the law of God and changed the ordinances, even
though God says, "For I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6).
The laws and times mentioned in Daniel 7:25 are laws that God Himself has
established and time that God Himself has set. The law that stands out
throughout the Bible is the Ten Commandment law.
Papal Rome tampered with the law of God and changed the ordinances, even
though God says, "For I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6).
10. “The saints were to be handed over to
it "for a time and times and half a time”
“Then the saints shall be given into his hand 
For a time and times and half a time”(Daniel 7:25 NKJV).
In Bible prophecy, a day represents a year. Numbers 14:34 says, “After the
number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a
year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years.” See also Ezekiel 4:6.
According to the day-year principle, 1260 prophetic days becomes 1260 years.
The word used here for "time" means a prophetic year consisting of 360 days.
Therefore, "time and times and half a time" refers to three and a half prophetic
years, consisting of 1260 prophetic days. This is highlighted in the parallelism of
the prophecy in Revelation where the three and a half year period is equated with
1260 prophetic days, or 1260 literal years.
The Papacy would persecute the saints (God's people) for 1260 years. The legally
recognized supremacy of the Pope began in 538 AD, when Emperor Justinian
elevated the Bishop of Rome to the position of Head of all Churches. This is
known as the Edict of Justinian.

Adding 1260 years to 538 AD brings us to 1798, which is the year the Pope was
deposed when the French General Berthier, under Napoleon, led him into
captivity. Napoleon apparently tried to crush the Papacy, and about 18 months
later the Pope died in exile in Valence, France. This act ended papal power in
terms of enforcing papal decrees.
• On this day the captured Pope Pius VI was taken from Rome, where a Roman
Republic was proclaimed.
• After Napoleon’s troops occupied northern Italy, the French general Louis-Alexandre
Berthier entered Rome practically unopposed and declared a Roman Republic. By
this he wanted to make Pope Pius VI renounce worldly authority over Rome and the
Papal States. When he refused to do this, he was taken prisoner. On this day the
captured pope was taken from Rome to Siena and Certosa near Florence, and then
over Parma, Piacenza, Turin and Grenoble to the town of Valence in France.
• After six weeks of imprisonment in Valence the pope died. The cardinals met in
Venice to elect a new pope. Barnaba Chiaramonti was elected and took the name
Pius VII. It is unusual that the new Pope was crowned with papier-mâché papal
tiara, since the French had seized the original. The new Pope traveled from Venice
to Rome on a rundown Austrian ship that barely sailed and arrived there later that
year.
11.It shall devour the whole earth
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which
shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall
tread it down, and break it in pieces”(Daniel 7:23).
This prophecy is made in reference to Rome, but pagan Rome did not fulfill this
prophecy. However, papal Rome does fit the scenario. The Papacy is receiving the
same supremacy over Europe that it enjoyed in the Middle Ages. This amazing
prophecy is being fulfilled to the letter, and papal standards and decrees will
once again be accepted as laws of nations.
The leaders of the world have granted Rome the recognition she desires and
have hailed her as the "moral superpower." They have credited Rome with
bringing communism to an end and religious bodies are accepting papal
supremacy in religious affairs.
12.“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days
came” (Daniel 7:21-22 NKJV).
Papal supremacy in the Middle Ages was temporarily suppressed in 1798 when
Napoleon invaded Rome and sent the Pope into exile. Rome lost its sovereignty,
but regained it again in 1929, when Mussolini returned the papal states to
the Papacy. The Bible predicts that the little horn power would again reach the
supremacy that it enjoyed in the Middle Ages. 
13. Its dominion will be taken away
“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to
consume and to destroy it unto the end “ (Daniel 7:26).
End of Daniel 7.
 In all epochs men have lived who were light bearers in one sense or another. Some have
appeared to be torches burning brightly for God. These Christian heroes often gave their
lives in witness for truth and holiness: Sometimes the fires that consumed their bodies at
the stake lighted greater ones to guide men on brighter ways to heaven. "In every age
there were witnesses for God,—men who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator
between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who hallowed the
true Sabbath.".
A period of darkness in Western Europe began with the decline of Roman
civilization and the loss of apostolic simplicity and purity of the Christian church.
It was a time when government was weak, learning was neglected, and
spirituality was low except among a very few. Nations of barbarians from the
north had crossed the Rhine and the Danube and had possessed the land of the
Roman Empire. New languages and cultures were slowly taking form.
The church, in the period of the invasions and subsequently received into its
membership thousands of half-converted barbarians. They brought with them
many of their religious customs In time this infiltration changed the character of
the church and many of its ceremonies. It lost much of its original purity of life
and doctrine.
The early church in Britain had been established by men who went out to that
land before the apostolic church lost its purity. When persecution came, some of
these early Christians fled to Scotland. Others went to Ireland, whence came
later the pious Columba and his colaborers. The observance of the Bible Sabbath
was continued by some. In time 'a school was established on the island of Iona,
and missionaries went out to Scotland and England, and as far as Germany,
Switzerland, and Italy.
 These British Christians were simple, humble, and Scriptural in character,
doctrine, and manners. At first the church at Rome made peaceful attempts to
win these uncompromising believers. When these efforts failed, war, intrigue, and
deception were employed against these witnesses for a Bible faith, until the
churches of Britain were destroyed, or forced to submit to the authority of the
pope.
In other lands outside the control of the church at Rome "there existed for many
centuries bodies of Christians who remained almost wholly free from papal
corruption. . . . These Christians believed in the perpetuity of the law of God, and
observed the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Churches that held to this
faith and practice, existed in Central Africa and among the Armenians of Asia.
The Waldenses stood foremost among those in Europe who resisted the
encroachments of the papal power.3 For centuries these godly and liberty-loving
people maintained their separation and independence within the shadows of the
rapidly developing Roman church. The exact time or place of their origin is
shrouded in the uncertainties of incomplete records. As the struggle for freedom
of worship and of thought and for purity of doctrines increased in intensity, the
Waldenses were forced to flee from their homes to the towering Alps or else to
some other country more friendly to their convictions.