1. THE CHURCH PERIODS

2. THE 7 PERIODS OF CHURCH HISTORY
Reference
Approx. date
Meaning
Ephesus
Rev. 2:1-7
90 – 200 AD
Fully purposed
Smyrna
Rev. 2: 8-11 AD
Bitterness and death
Pergamos
Rev. 2: 12-17 AD
Much marriage
Thyatria
Rev. 2: 18-29 AD
Oder of affliction
Sardis
Rev. 3:1-6 AD
Red ones
Philadelphia
Rev. 3: 7-13 AD
Brotherly love
Laodicea
Rev. 3:14-22
1900- Rapture
Civil rights

3. E p h e s u s
Revelation 2:1-7 c A.D.
“fully purposed”

4. E p h e s u s
I. The Commission
Rev. 2: 1a

5. E p h e s u s
II. The Character
Rev. 2: 1b

6. E p h e s u s
III. The Commendation
Rev. 2: 2-3

7. A. It was a performing Church
Ephesus
A. It was a performing Church
“fully purposed”

8. B. It was a persevering Church
Ephesus
B. It was a persevering Church
“fully purposed”

9. Ephesus
C. It was a pure Church
“fully purposed”

10. (Rev 2:2-3) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

11. 1. This means this church was a Holly Church that exercise discipline
E p h e s u s
1. This means this church was a Holly Church that exercise discipline

12. A. Contrast what this church could bear vs. what it couldn’t bear
E p h e s u s
A. Contrast what this church could bear vs. what it couldn’t bear
They could bear seeing their loved ones be:
Being hung
Scourged
Taken to the High place and thrown off
Put on the rack The fire under the rack
Iron Chair
Millstones around the neck
Tied to wild horses
Their bodies thrown to wild dogs after death

13. A. Contrast what this church could bear vs. what it couldn’t bear
E p h e s u s
A. Contrast what this church could bear vs. what it couldn’t bear
… But what they could not to bear to see is someone who said they loved Christ and didn’t.
… Someone who claimed to be save and wasn’t.
… Someone that was called to holiness and was evil.

14. (Rev 2:2-3) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

15. E p h e s u s
2. This means this church gauged the words and work of all so called believers by the Bible

16. (1Co 2:7-13) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory…But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God… Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

17. Christian vs. Biblical Spiritual vs. Scriptural
Warning!
Denoting the difference between:
Christian vs. Biblical Spiritual vs. Scriptural

18. (Rom 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

19. (1Th 5:20-22) Despise not prophesyings
(1Th 5:20-22) Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

20. (1Jn 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

21. Turn to:
II Cor

22. (2Co 10:10)
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

23. (2Co 10:1)
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

24. (2Co 11:1-3) Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

25. (Eph 6:5) Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
(Col 3:22) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

26. How will Satan beguile us?
E p h e s u s
How will Satan beguile us?
The same way he beguiled Eve

27. 1st He tries to get her to question God’s Word
2nd He changes God’s Word
3rd He reinterpreted God’s Word
HIS APPROACH WAS RELIGION!

28. to bring doubt, to change, and to reinterpret the Word of God
So while tracing Church History we must be looking for Men, Movements and Institutions that are
to bring doubt, to change, and to reinterpret the Word of God

29. How will Satan beguile us?
E p h e s u s
How will Satan beguile us?
The same way he beguiled Eve
Through preaching

30. (2Co 11:4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

31. How will Satan beguile us?
E p h e s u s
How will Satan beguile us?
The same way he beguiled Eve
Through preaching
Who are these preachers?

32. (2Co 11:13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

33. (2Co 11:14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

34. (2Co 11:15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

35. Understanding the Issue determining these false Apostles
E p h e s u s
Understanding the Issue determining these false Apostles
It is not their demeanor
It is not their apparent sincerity
It is not their Educational background
It is not even their Godly life
The issue is the WORD of GOD
Does what they say, line up biblically with what God said!!!!

36. Understanding the Issue determining these false Apostles
E p h e s u s
Understanding the Issue determining these false Apostles
The issue is NOT whether they use the bible!!!!
They all use the Bible (out of context)
The question is do they use the Bible correctly

37. (2Co 2:17) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

38. (2Co 4:2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

39. (2Ti 3:13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

40. Turn to:
Gal. 1:6-9

41. (Gal 1:6-9) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

42. (Gal 2:4) And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

43. (Eph 4:13-14) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

44. (Php 3:2) Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
(Php 3:18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: