Posted by John on May 04, 2020 at 11:29:15:
What Happened To The Seven Churches
“Inspired by the previous post”
I’m NOT going to repeat what has already been “revealed” to us in the Holy Bible, and some of the history written of these churches, given in more detail in many Christian books, including “How Near Armageddon”.The purpose is to “find out” what happened to them, and then “record the findings” here, for your information and comments. With due respect, the post is not directed at anyone specifically, so anyone may comment if they so wish, on the research already done.
All seven Asia Minor churches “were” located in modern-day Turkey. If you go there today, where these churches were, you’ll see ancient building ruins, “stones and rocks”, in “the ruins” of more than two thousand year old cities. In John’s recorded account of Revelation, Jesus spoke to the Christians in these cities, “commending some” but “warning most”.
Ephesus- (modern day Selçuk, Turkey)
Ephesus slowly moved to what is now the small town of Selçuk, a few minutes away from the Ephesus ruins.
The town Selcuk is Muslim—as is 99 percent of Turkey. To-day a “small” Protestant church of former-Muslim “believers” gathers in Selçuk for worship.
Smyrna- (modern day Izmir, Turkey)
The ruins of Smyrna are nestled in the thriving seaport city of Izmir, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world.The modern city of Izmir is filled with secular modernists, but officially Muslim by name. They may know that Christians “used to” live in Izmir, but most are unaware of the thriving Christian community of some five hundred “believers” scattered among at least twelve churches (buildings).This Church (believers – body of Christ) survived until to-day.
Pergamum-(modern day Bergama, Turkey)
The ruins of Pergamum sit atop a hill overlooking the modern-day city of Bergama. At the top of the hill one can see the excavated ruins, and the ruins of the temple of Zeus, “Pergamum”, the place where Satan has his throne” Today, there are only a few known “believers” around Bergama, but NO churches (buildings).
Thyatira- (modern day Akhisar Turkey)
The scant ruins of Thyatira have been unearthed in the modern city of Akhisar. There is NO “church” in Akhisar and NO known “believers”, amongst the 100 000 plus population.
Sardis-( modern day Sart, Turkey)
Christ summoned them to “wake up,” “remember,” and “repent” (Rev. 3:2–3 NIV). There are “no known Christian believers” in Sart today, of the 5 000 population.
Philadelphia- (modern day Alaºehir, Turkey)
The modern city of Alaºehir stands on top of Philadelphia. You have to look carefully to find any signs of the city’s former life. Calls to prayer from the adjacent mosque can be heard from the ruins.
Laodicea-(modern day Denizli, Turkey)
Ongoing excavations of the city of Laodicea began only recently, in 2003.
The church of Laodicea is still under excavation.Before the city was named Laodicea, it was called “Diopolis,” the “city of Zeus.”Denizli is a city of over half a million.Out of that number, three or four former Muslims have stepped out to “profess faith in Christ”.
Beware of falling
The “believers” of the first century felt the constant pressure to compromise their faith by worshiping the emperor in cult worship, tolerating false teachers, and leading lifestyles that mirrored the pagan world around them.
Has anything really changed in the past two thousand years? “Christians” today feel pressures to compromise too. Christ speaks often of “endurance” in Revelation.
Expect God to raise up others
A Muslim people, Turks are proud of their final overthrow of the Christian Byzantine Empire in 1453. Yet God’s church is growing. Throughout the many small towns like Bergama scattered across Turkey, men and women are SEARCHING FOR GOD.
In 2017, almost ten thousand individuals answered an advertisement to receive a NEW TESTAMENT” in the mail. God is raising up His church in this ancient land.Many of the Church and city ruins are desolate, stones and rocks: Remember Jesus’s words to the Pharisees who wanted Him to rebuke those who cried,
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” Jesus told them,
“If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:38, 40 NIV).
And, so they do!
Even stones built for pagan worship “cry out” that Jesus is King. He is building His church (body of Christ), and I want Him to “find” me—“find” us—“faithful” to “the end”.
[We are “His church”, “imperfect”, as the Bible says, but still “His church” – my words]
Heavily summarized: from the Internet, from an article by two wonderful authors:
Madeline Arthington is a writer living in Central Asia. Karrie Sparrow is a photographer and has worked with the IMB in Central Asia for the past eleven yearss.