The Basics of Bible - Herald of Hope

The Basics of Bible Prophecy
Practical (cont.)
To the overcomers who refuse to
partake in pagan feasts God will
give heavenly manna, a white
stone of acquittal, and a new
personal name indicating a close
personal relationship with Christ.
( In Roman courts, the members
of the court would cast a white
stone into a bowl to indicate
innocence).
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Prophetic (cont.)
The doctrine of Balaam which
taught tolerance to idolatry and
immorality, and the doctrine of
the Nicolaitanes which elevated
the clergy over the people, were
certainly characteristic of the
Pergamum period. The Byzantine
State Church prepared the way
for the Dark Ages under papal
rule.
The Church at Thyatira- lit"continual sacrifice"
(Rev.2:18-29)
Practical
To Thyatira, the Lord is
revealed as the
"Son of God, who hath his eyes
like unto a flame of fire, and
his feet are like fine brass."
Christ is revealed in judgment to
this Church. No other Church has
descended to such depths of
depravity, and no other Church
has such awful judgment
pronounced against it.
Prophetic
Thyatira aptly describes the
fourth stage of Church
history when the papacy
began about AD600 with
Gregory the Great
(AD590-604). The continual
sacrifice of the Mass became the
central feature of the idolatrous
Roman Catholic worship.
Thyatira was also characterized
by a woman who taught idolatry
and fornication. Idolatry in
Scripture is called fornication
(Ezek.16:20-41).
In addition, this church has the
character of Jezebel, who slew the
faithful prophets of the Lord. The
same brutal character is seen in
the Romish church which is
“drunken with the blood of the
saints, and with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus”(Rev.17:6).
Romish worship also has a
woman at the centre as Mary is set
forth as "the Queen of Heaven".
This pagan practice existed in
Jeremiah's day and was condemned
by the prophet (Jer. 45:15-27).