Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
People have been arguing about the meaning of John's Vision for Two Millenia, so we will not be having the definitive answer on this thread! :-) However, it will help us all if we examine the various views that have become accepted, and draw our own conclusions as we read along.
The Preterist View says that all the things in the Vision have already taken place. The destruction of Jerusalem, the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire, and other ravages are depicted symbolically by the Seals, Trumpets, Beasts, and Bowls.
The Futurist View sees ALL these things happening in the future, and nothing that is happening now has anything to do with it.
The Historical View sees parallels throughout History, and sees a lot of these Visions coming to fruition even in our own time. The Historical View also sees the Seven Churches as various stages in Church History.
Then there is the Symbolist View, which sees everything in this Book as symbolic. A lot of people fall into this category, because the Book is so intense and violent that it is very hard to relate to it.
My own view of this Book is a kind of mixture of them all. I do believe that John saw some very soon events, such as the Persecutions under Nero. But I can also see that these events have not yet come to fruition in the Second Coming, so a Futurist View also makes sense. And one can not help but see current parallels, such as the Return of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel, that would validate the Historical View. There are some very respectable Theologians who embrace every one of these opinions, so, I suggest we just fasten our seat-belts and put on out helmets and RIDE.
Now, let's talk about Ephesus. When we studied Paul in the Book of Acts, we saw him get into a lot of trouble in that city. Ephesus was a beautiful, cosmopolitan port on the Aegean, and was the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Diana. There was a thriving tourist industry, and Paul's admonition against idolatry caused a riot. But even so, the Church took hold in this glittering and raucous city, and Paul wrote one of his amazing Letters (Ephesians) to address issues that had arisen there.
John is now the messenger of another Letter to the Ephesian Church, this time from Christ Himself. At first, the Ephesian Church is commended for their adherence to good doctrine and their resistance to false teachers. However, they are then rebuked for "Losing their FIRST LOVE". The Greek word here means that they have lost their love for one another. They may have had all their "I's" dotted and their "T's" crossed, but the very identifying hallmark of Christianity had been somehow left by the wayside.
Jesus also mentions the "Nicolatians". Not much has been written about this sect, but early scholars saw them as perhaps "antinomians"(people who were lawless), or from a breakdown of the Greek words (NIKO=Victory over, LAOS=means common people or the laity) that there were some overbearing, Pharisaical leaders among them who were abusing the Believers. Both theories make sense and fit the Letter, even if they are complete opposites!
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS
