In the previous post, we discussed the first church called Ephesus from the seven churches of the book of Revelation. Here in this posting, we will continue on with the next church in line (the second). Not long after Pentecost, Jewish authorities began to feel threatened by the popularity of the early church.  The Apostles soon found themselves under the pressure of political persecution.  Rome’s intolerance also intensified.  Christianity would suffer severely until the “Edict of Toleration” decreed by Constantine in A.D. 312.  All of the church leaders were persecuted and most met untimely deaths.  Born of crucifixion and nurtured through persecution, it is only fitting that the second letter should be addressed to the church of Smyrna as it represents that entire era of what took place regarding the church.  The theme of the letter that Christ addressed to the specific church located in Smyrna is also what happened to the entirety of the whole church, or body of believers, not only in the specific church of Smyrna, but also to all churches or body of believers during the entire Smyrna age.  Thus, the specific church mentioned in Smyrna represents the entire Smyrna age of time within the “dispensation of grace” we are still living in since the time of Christ and his initiation of the church dispensation approximately 2,000 years ago.  It represents the theme of what happened to that entire era (era of Smyrna) … Continue reading “THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN TIME AGES OF PROPHECY FULFILLMENT: CHURCH CANDLE 2 – THE AGE OF SMYRNA (part 1)” →