How many times have you wondered whatever became of the 7 ecclesias of the Apocalypse (chapters 2 & 3) ? They must have passed off the scene. They are not in existence today.
Was it because of:-
- The loss of their first love of those in Ephesus?
- Posing as Jews, pretending to be Christians, of those in Smyria?
- Infiltration of the abominable doctrine of the Nicolaitenes in Pergamos ?
- Following teachings of Jezebel (Idolatry) of those in Thyatira?
- Giving false impression of zeal for the Truth, yet dead, as in Sardis?
- Though they contended for the Faith, they had but little strength in Philadelphia.
- The unsatisfactory, Luke-warmness of Laodicea?
Was it because their ecclesial candlestick (lampstand) began to flicker and God permitted their ecclesial light to go out?
These 7 ecclesias were in existence at the very end of the first century. Undoubtedly they carried over into the second century. In the case of the ecclesia at Smyrna (Rev. 2:10) they were warned they would suffer tribulation ten days (10 years on the scriptural principle of a year for a day—see Ezek. 4:6). The devil in Rev. 2:10 was the Pagan Roman authorities. The 10 days tribulation was the persecution under the Roman Emperor Trajan—A.D. 107-117. So Smyrna was at least 17 years into the 2nd century.
We have no definite knowledge when the 7 ecclesias expired. The popular doctrine of today, “the Immortality of the Soul” is said to have made its first appearance in the 2nd century, in a letter to Diognetus (A.D. 135). It reads: “They say the immortal soul dwelleth in a mortal tabernacle and so do Christians dwell by the side of that which is perishable while in truth they wait for immortality from heaven.” This is not a very encouraging or consistent proof of the present day doctrine of the “Immortality of the Soul.”
No writings of the Apostolic Age contain any phrase as “immortal soul” or its equivalent. The doctrine of the “immortality of the Soul” finds no support in the writings of any of those Christians who suffered martydom in the 1st century. Some of the early Christian writers wrote as follows:
Clement of Rome (Bishop A.D. 78-86) wrote to the Corinthians: “All the ages of the world from Adam even unto this day, are passed away, but they who have been made perfect in love have by the grace of God, obtained a place among the righteous, and shall be made manifest in the judgment of the Kingdom of Christ. For it is written: “Enter into thy chambers for a little while till my anger and indignation shall pass away, and I will remember the Good Day and will raise you up out of your graves.”
Ignatius of Antioch — martyred A.D. 115 . . . wrote to Polycarp: “Be vigilant as God’s athlete. The need is incorruptibility and life eternal.” He also wrote to the Trallians: “Jesus Christ was truly raised from the dead by his Father, after the manner as He will also raise up us who believe in Him, by Jesus Christ, without whom we have no true life.”
Polycarp (A.D. 169) suffered martydom at the age of 86. He had been taught by the Apostle John. Eusebius writes of him: “But he (Polycarp) closing his hands behind him, and bound to the stake, as a noble victim selected from the great flock, an acceptable sacrifice to Almighty God, said: “Father of thy well beloved and blessed son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received t h e knowledge of Thee . . . The God of angels and powers and all creation and of all the family of the righteous shall live before thee. I blest thee that thou hast thought me worthy of the present day and hour to have a share in the number of the martyrs and in the cup of Christ unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptible felicity of the Holy Spirit . . . “Among whom may I be received in thy sight this day, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, as thou the faithful and true God hast prepared, hast revealed and fulfilled.”
Polycrattes (A.D. 196) Bishop of Ephesus. He wrote of 1st century believers in these words: “In Asia great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again in the day of our Lord’s appearing in the which he will come with glory from heaven and will raise up all the saints: Philip, one of the 12 apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis and his two aged daughters, His other daughter also having lived under the influence of the Holy Spirit, now likewise rests in Ephesus (not in heaven) Moreover John, who rested upon the bosom of the Lord, who also was a priest, and bore the sacridotal plate, both a martyr and a teacher, he also is buried in Ephesus: also Polycarp of Smyrna both bishop and martyr. Also Thraseus bishop and martyr of Eumenia who is buried in Smyrna. Why should I not mention Sagaris bishop and martyr who rests at Laodecia? Moreover the blessed Papirius and Mileto the eunuch whose walk and conversation were altogether under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who now rests at Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven when he shall arise from the dead.”
Irenaeus (A.D. 202) A disciple of Polycarp . . . Bishop of Lyons—Martyred — wrote: “Life is not of ourselves, nor of our own nature but a gift of God’s favor and therefore he who preserves the grant of life and renders thanks to Him who bestows it, shall receive length of days forever and ever. But he who rejects it and proves unthankful to his Father for creating him and will not know him who bestows it, deprives himself of the duration to all eternity and therefore the Lord speaks thus to such ungrateful persons: “If you have not been faithful in that which is least, who will commit much unto you?” signifying that they who are unthankful to Him for this short temporal life, which is his gift, shall justly fail to receive from Him length of days forever and ever.”
Lactantius—lived beginning the 4th century—called the Christian Cicero. wrote (325 A.D.) “Man stands erect and looks upward, because immortality is offered him, though it comes not unless given from God. For there would be no difference between the just and the unjust if every man that is born were made immortal. Immortality therefore is not a law of our nature, but the wages and reward of virtue. For this reason God seeks to be worshiped and honored by man as Father, that he may attain virtue and a wisdom, which alone impart immortality.”
These early Christian writers wrote in vindication of Christianity, declaring the Bible teaches immortality is to be sought for and is not a present possession of man.
In 313 A.D. Constantine became the champion of Christianity when he published the memorable edict favoring Christians. It allowed anyone to embrace the religion of his choice and restored property to the Christians that had been taken from them during the persecution, and they were given the right to fill public offices. This edict marks the period of the triumph of Christianity and the decline of Paganism (See Rev. 6:14-15) under the opening of the 6th Seal).
While Christianity had gained a triumph over Paganism yet many of the ideas of idol worship had carried into Christian religions.
The formation of the Papacy, a name given to the reigning pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in the early centuries, grew rapidly. It claimed ecclesiastical supremancy because, they asserted, they based the founding of the Church on an apostle—the Apostle Peter, whom they said was vicar of Christ on earth.
They point out they are the only religion tracing its founding directly to an apostle.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One