Chapters 2 & 3 -- A History of the True Church -- (Thyatira to Laodicea 96 to 2026 A.D.)

The Thyatira Era Was Called Waldensian
(96-1356 A.D.)

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first" (Rev. 2:18-19).

The Messiah has eyes like flaming fire and feet like glowing bronze just as this city was noted for it's foundries which had flaming fire that BRONZE smiths used to craft BRONZE helmets. "Thyatira" literally means "to be ruled by a woman." The city was built by Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, in 280 B.C. and was at first a cavalry outpost. "It came into existence to be a garrison city.... But ... It possesses no proper acropolis, and the whole impression which the situation gives is of weakness, subjection, and dependence.... The history of Thyatira is a blank." (Ramsay's Letters to the Seven Churches, pp.318-323). Its leading industries were the smelting and manufacture of brass and bronze instruments using the city's foundries. It was also known for the dyeing of red and purple cloth. Lydia was evidently a salesman for this industry in Thyatira (Acts 16:14). Tradition has it that she carried the Christian message to Thyatira.

A great temple built in honor of Apollo, the sun-god, had a commanding place in the city. In this temple was an altar dedicated to a female deity.

The Thyatira Era began with the Waldenses. At first the Waldensians were basically Roman Catholics who believed laymen had a right to preach without a license (Enchiridion Fontium Valdensium G. Gonnet (ed.), 1958, p.168). "Thyatira is the middle church of the seven, and consequently stands as the symbol of the church of the Middle Ages" (Holzhauser, The Apocalypse, p.158).

Waldensians were not Sabbath-keepers in the beginning. But their "LAST works (were) better than the first" (Rev.2:19) -- possibly a pun on the first day and LAST DAY of the week. Also whole-hearted MARTYRDOM, the last act of a Christian, being better than half-hearted obedience, the first act of a Christian. Also the Reformation took place near the end of the Thyatiran Period and was therefore their "LAST" work. Wycliffe, Huss, Luther, Knox, Calvin, Zwingli and others returned to the truth of the Bible. The mistaken concept that Waldensians kept the Sabbath arose partly because sources in the original Latin described the Waldenses as keeping the "dies dominicalis" or Lord's day (Sunday) but the word for "Sunday" was translated "Sabbath" as early as the time of the Reformation. Also, Waldenses were called "Sabatati, Insabbatatos, Insabatati, Xabatenses and other variants. Writers have supposed this referred to the Sabbath. But instead, "They are called ... Xabatenses from Xabata (sandal)" (ibid., G. Gonnet, 1958, p.144) because Waldensian ministers wore a special kind of open sandal. The word for "shoe" in modern Romance languages is a cognate of this word: French "sabot," Spanish "zapato," Portugese "sapata," Italian "ciabatta," and Provincal "sabata."

"The name Waldenses was given to the members of an heretical Christian sect which arose in the south of France about 1170.... insisting on a high moral standard, and upholding the words of Scripture against the traditions of an overgrown and worldly church.... In France, at Embrum, Peter de Bruys founded a sect known as Petrobrusians, who denied infant baptism, the need of consecrated churches, transubstantiation, and masses for the dead. A follower of his, a monk, Henry, gave the name to another body known as Henricians, who centered in Tours (Encyc. Brit. 28:255-257). Another preacher at this time was called Arnold. They were charged by the Catholic Church with remaining faithful to the WHOLE LAW of God and of observing the SABBATH (Ecclesiastical History by Peter Allix pp. 168-169).

"It was at this time (1170) that a rich merchant of Lyons, Peter Waldo, sold his goods and gave them to the poor ...The Lombard sect (taught) ... that the Roman Church was the scarlet woman of the Apocalypse, whose precepts ought not to be obeyed, especially those appointing fast days.... Attacked in Dauphine and Piedmont at the same time, the Vaudois were hard pressed; but luckily their enemies were ENCIRCLED by a FOG when marching upon their chief refuge in the valley of the Angrogne, and were REPULSED with GREAT LOSS.... Their ministers ... were admitted to office, after receiving the communion, by the imposition of hands of all ministers present. They went out to preach two by two, and the junior was bound absolutely to obey the senior ... they prayed to the Virgin and saints, and admitted auricular confession, but they denied purgatory and the sacrifice of the mass, and did not observe fasts or festivals.... Oecolampadius gave them further instruction, especially emphasizing the wrongfulness of their OUTWARD SUBMISSION to the ordinances of the church: "God," he said, "is a jealous God, and does not permit his elect to put themselves under the yoke of Antichrist." (Encyc. Brit. 28:255-257)

According to The Ancient Churches of Peidmont by Peter Allix, page 154, we read that "He lays it down also as one of their (Waldensian) opinions; that the LAW OF MOSES is to be kept according to the letter, and that the keeping of the SABBATH, circumcision, and other legal observances, ought to take place." A report of an inquisition before whom were brought some Waldenses of Moravia in the middle of the fifteenth century declares that among the Waldenses "not a few indeed celebrate the SABBATH with the Jews" (Johann von Dollinger's Reports on the History of the Sects of the Middle Ages, Munich, 1890, 2nd part, p.661).

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols" (Rev. 2:20).

Who was JEZEBEL? Under Pope Sergius II (844-847), the Empress Theodora (wife of the Eastern Emperor Theophilus, 829-842; VIRGO), tried to exterminate the Paulicians. She restored image-worship which had been abolished many years, thereby "seducing God's servants (GEMINI) to commit fornication, and eat things sacrificed to idols."

Who else was JEZEBEL? She is mentioned in 1 Kings 16-18. This princess of Phoenicia was a priestess of Baal who introduced SUN-WORSHIP in Israel and taught Israel to worship IDOLS and to burn incense to Ashtaroth, the "Queen of Heaven" (1 Ki. 16:31; Jer. 44:18) in the same way that Papal Rome, the "whore" and "mother of harlots" (Rev. 17), introduced SUN-WORSHIP in Israel and taught veneration of SAINTS and worship of the "Virgin MARY" (VIRGO). Jezebel maintained 850 FALSE PROPHETS of Ashtoreth and Baal (1 Ki. 18:19) just as Papal Rome employs a large PRIESTHOOD teaching the worship of "Mother and Child." She used King Ahab over the TEN northern TRIBES as a puppet for her evil plottings (1 Kings 9:7) just as the Papacy used the TEN KINGS of Europe as puppets for evil plottings of the Vatican. Jezebel "SLEW the PROPHETS of the Lord" (1 Ki.18:13) just as Papal Rome SLEW millions of Protestant REFORMERS. Israel suffered THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS of DROUGHT and famine after Elijah informed King Ahab there would be no rain (1 Ki. 17). In the same way, Europe's ten kingdoms suffered 1260 YEARS of spiritual DROUGHT and famine (the "Dark Ages") for lack of the Bible after the "two witnesses" informed the Roman emperors (Revelation 11:3-6;12:6,14; 13:5). Just as rain came again, so also the Protestant Reformation came which is indicated by a cloud and rainbow and a little book open (Rev. 10:1-2). Just as RED and PURPLE cloth were manufactured by Thyatira, so also PURPLE and RED became a vital part of the attire of the apostate church (Rev. 17:4). Numerous Catholic paintings of Mary in the Art Galleries of the world (such as the London Tate Gallery) have a label underneath which reads, "The Queen of Heaven." Many Catholics pray to Mary but Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). "For there is ... one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). Jezebel was violently killed by SEXLESS eunuchs (2 Ki. 9:30-37) just as the Papacy will be destroyed by ATHEISTIC Communists (Rev. 17:15-18) -- both immune from the evil charms.

"And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Rev. 2:21-23).

After Theodora had governed the empire twelve years, she was banished by her unnatural son and his uncle Bardas. She prepared herself for death by spending the last eight years of her life in a monastery, where she (VIRGO) died in 867. This was her "sick bed" (HYDRA). Theodora and Theophilos had seven children. God said he would "kill" her children. Maria (838-855) died before becoming 18. Michael III (840-867), who succeeded as emperor, lived only 27 years. The other five children were exiled to a monastery while in their early 20's and were never recalled except Thekla who lived to be at least 36 years old. In the larger sense, God killed "her children with DEATH" (2:23) using the PLAGUE of the BLACK DEATH beginning in 1347. Pope Clement VI at Avignon estimated that over 23 million people died of the BLACK PLAGUE (see Deut. 28:21-22).

By comparing Revelation 2:21-23 with Revelation 16:9-11 ("they repented not to give him glory ... and repented not of their deeds") we see that the "space to repent" was 1260 years and Jezebel's "CHILDREN" are defined as religious followers imitating the Eastern Orthodox Church or Roman Catholic Church. Thyatira extended through 1356. Rome didn't reform after the Black Plague. "She repented not." Both Wycliffe (1328-1384) and Luther (1483-1546) sought to reform from within, but found it impossible. "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed" (Jer. 51:9). In fact, this verse predicts the Counter-Reformation which was launched in opposition to the Protestant Reformation.

"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 2:24-29).

The "depths of Satan" refer to deeper understanding by initiation into certain mysteries of "Gnostic" type sects. The red radius "ROD of IRON" may refer to the "REED like a ROD" (Rev. 11:1) used to measure the temple. The word "REED" in Hebrew is "kaneh" from which we get the "CANON" of Scripture. Scripture that can't be bent, twisted or distorted is "IRON" Scripture. Pottery when it became unclean was broken (Lev 15:12; Jer 19:10,11). To be given the "MORNING STAR" or "day star" (2 Pet. 1:19), which symbolizes Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:16), is to be given the same ETERNAL LIFE that our Savior has. John Wycliffe (1328-1384) is known as "the morning star of the Reformation" because he heralded the rising of the Sun of Righteousness by being the first to translate the whole Bible into English.

"Not a few, but many know what are the errors of those who are called Pasagini ... First, they teach that we should obey the SABBATH. Furthermore, to increase their error, they condemn and reject all the church Fathers, and the whole Roman Church." (D'Achery, Spicilegium I, f.211-214; Muratory Antiq. med. aevi. 5,f. 152, Hahn, 3, 209) Gilly writes in Waldensian Researches, page 61, note 2 that "Passagii and Passagini, or the inhabitants of the passes, from the Latin word passagium, is one of the names given by ancient authors to the Waldenses."

The Lutheran historian Mosheim describes the twelfth century by saying: "In Lombardy, which is the principal residence of the Italian heretics, there sprung up a singular sect, known ... (as) Passaginians.... Like the other sects already mentioned, they had the utmost aversion to the dominion and discipline of the church of Rome; but they were at the same time distinguished by two religious tenets which were peculiar to themselves. The first was a notion that THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW OF MOSES, in everything except the offering of sacrifices, WAS OBLIGATORY UPON CHRISTIANS; in consequence of which they ... abstained from those meats, the use of which was prohibited under the Mosaic economy, and celebrated the JEWISH SABBATH. The second tenet that distinguished this sect was advanced in opposition to the doctrine of three persons in the divine nature." (Eccl. Hist. part 2, chap.5, sec.14, p.127)

"The Waldenses took the Bible as their ONLY rule of faith, abhorred the idolatry of the papal church, and rejected their traditions, holidays, and even Sunday, but kept the seventh-day SABBATH, and used the apostolic mode of baptism." (IMMERSION not sprinkling) (Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, p.121)

The city of Thyatira worshipped Sambatha, a Chaldean sibyl, possibly one of the many variants of Ishtar or VENUS and the sin John specified corresponds to the debased attributes of this goddess. Christ here appears with eyes like fire, possibly because VENUS, in Akkadian "Mustelil," means "Brilliant." With feet like "brass" -- some sort of Khalkos -- the metal attributed to VENUS. The reward was to be given the "Morning Star" which is VENUS which is the Messiah. The Thyatira Era existed for 1260 years (Jezebel's "space to repent" -- Rev. 2:21 & James 5:17) from the SUN in Sagittarius (96 A.D.) ("eyes like a flame of fire ... in his right hand seven stars ... out of his mouth ... two-edged sword" -- Rev. 1:12-15) around three-and-a-half times to the MOON in Gemini (+1260 = 1356 A.D.) ("her children" -- 2:23) (a red radius line is the "rod of iron"). The Bubonic Plague in 1356 A.D. was Jezebel's "(sick) bed," "great tribulation" (Rev. 2:22) and God killing "her children" (Rev. 2:23). Likewise with the French defeat at Poitiers in 1356 A.D. and the Golden Bull of 1356 which made it law to choose the German emperor without Papal approval.

The Black Plague "was from 1346 to 1356 causing 13 million deaths in China and 20-30 million deaths in Europe" (p.217, Weapons of Mass Destruction, vol. 2, by Croddy & Wirtz).

The black plague (or bubonic plague), first struck Europe in 1348. Over the course of the next three years it killed between one fourth to one third of the population. The plague had originated in China several years earlier and had spread westward via the Silk Road, the ancient commercial link between East and West. Genoese sailors were likely the first to bring it to Europe when they landed in Sicily. From there its progress followed sea lanes, rivers, and roads until all of Europe was affected.

The disease was caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, which could be transmitted three ways. First and most commonly, it was transmitted by contact with an infected person or animal or bite from a flea infected from one of those two sources. It could also be transmitted more rarely through the air or through the blood. Nearly everyone infected died during the plague’s first waves through Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Because of the state of medical knowledge at the time physicians had no medical theory to explain how infection proceeded. Onset was sudden and marked by buboes, large swellings in the lymphatic system that could appear on the neck, armpits, or groin. The buboes grew quickly, were painful, and could burst. After the appearance of buboes, black splotches developed on the skin (the source of the name black death) along with a high fever. Death could occur as quickly as 15 hours or as long a week. A small number of people were immune to the disease.

The initial wave of bubonic plague lasted about four years and affected Christian and Islamic communities equally. Many faithful from both religions saw the plague as a manifestation of God’s anger with humankind. Sociologically, the effects were profound. Families and communities were disrupted, villages and town were depopulated, and opportunities previously closed to many opened. Out groups were blamed for the plague, thus Christians blamed Moslems while Moslems, in turn, blamed Christians. Both religions blamed Jews. In Christian Europe many pogroms (assaults on Jews) resulted from such thinking. Unfortunately, the first wave of the plague was not the last. Another wave began in 1356 and subsequent waves continued into the 19th century. The bubonic plague still exists but antibiotics, public health measures, and the evolution of less virulent strains limit the number of cases to a handful per year around the world today (The Black Plague, McEvedy, 1988).

A timeline for the Thyatira Era is given below:

99 Jewish historian Josephus (Flavius) dies ca. 100 AD. (MERCURY -- 99)
112 Cornelius Tacitus, Pliny the Younger write about Jesus (JUPITER -- 112).
177 Second Marcomannic War (177-180) (SATURN -- 177)
178 Celsus writes True Reason argument against Christianity (SATURN -- 177)
354 -- Birth of Augustine (MARS -- 355)
431 Council of Ephesus rejects Nestorians and declares Mary "Mother of God." (VENUS -- 432)
432 Patrick begins mission to Ireland (VENUS -- 432)
459 Vortigern dies. Mass migration of British refugees across channel to Armorica (later named Brittany) and to Spain. Collapse of British economy. (MERCURY-- 459)
471 Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, rules till 526. (JUPITER -- 472)
537 Belisarius recaptures Rome from the Ostrogoths in 536 (SATURN -- 537)
641 Library of Alexandria destroyed by Arabs
711-715 Muslims Conquor Spain (MARS -- 715)
716 Second Arab siege of of Constantinople commences (MARS -- 715)
716 Iona conforms to Roman usage (MARS -- 715)
723 The Anglo-Saxon Benedictine monk Boniface (Wynfrid) evangelizes in Saxony 726 Byzantine Emperor Leo III declares himself also P-pe of the Eastern church order after ignoring complaints from icondule Roman Dope Gregory II over iconoclasts destroying the picture of Christ on the gate of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey).
732 Muslim reach their limit of expansion when defeated by Charles Martel (“The Hammer”) and his army of French Franks in the Battle of Tours at the Loire River.
750 The Abbasids headed by al Abbas gain control of the Muslim Empire. Abu Jafar al Mansur moves Muslim capital to Baghdad in Mesopotamia, beginning a golden period when al Khwarizmi invents algebra (al jabr).
756 After escaping, Abbasid general Abdullah reunites the Umayyad government in Spain; Abd al Rahman begins to build The Great Mosque and libraries in Cordoba, Spain.
768 Germanic leader Charlemagne named emperor of the former Western Roman empire.
769 At the Lateran Council the cardinals decide that only cardinals can become P-pe
787 Second Council of Nicea. Use of icons in worship is okay.
791 Constantine VI imprisons his domineering mother and assumes power (VENUS --792)
792 Vikings destroy abbey on Lindisfarne Island in 793 (VENUS -- 792)
800 Charlemagne crowned Emperor by Roman P-pe at Aachen.
819 Battle of Kupa (MERCURY -- 819)
832 Arabs invade Egypt (JUPITER -- 832)
844 Defeat of Picts unites Scotland.
869 July 16, Great Filoque Schism of Roman & Byzantine Church (1054?)
897 Cadaver Synod (SATURN -- 897)
969 Descendents of Fatimid (a daughter of Mohammed) conquer Jerusalem from Cairo and North Africa. Inquisitions by P-pe Innocent.
1044 Gunpowder invented in China.
1053 Western Church insists on the celibacy of its higher clergy. 50 years later church excommunicates all married priests.
1054 Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches separate after excommunicating eachother in Great Schism.
1055 Seljuk Turks from central Asia conquer Baghdad.
1066 French under William the Conquoror beat Saxon England in the Battle of Hastings at Norman, England
1075 Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and P-pe Gregory VII argue over who can appoint bishops. (MARS -- 1075)
1076 At Synod of Worms, bishops loyal to Henry IV declare P-pe Gregory deposed. In response, Gregory excommunicates Henry IV. (MARS -- 1075)
1085 Spanish Alfonso VI takes Muslim city Toledo.
1095 Roman P-pe Urban II calls for a holy crusade to protect Christians against Muslims on pilgrimages to Jerusalem, And help Italy capture trade through Constatinopole Byzantine (Greek Orthodox) church territory.
1096 First crusades begin.
1099 July 15, Crusaders enter Jerusalem.
1104 Crusaders take Acre in Israel from Muslims referred derisively as Saracen (roughly meaning "Easterners").
1152 Marriage of Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine annulled on questionable basis of blood kinship. Eleanor promptly marries the younger, handsome Henry of Anjou, allying Aquitaine to his lands of Anjou and Normandy, two months after her divorce. (VENUS -- 1152)
1169 Muslim Saladin becomes King of Cairo, Egypt.
1170 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is murdered for standing up against the English King.
1179 Grand Assize of Windsor increases power of Royal Courts in England. Saladin besieges city of Tyre (MERCURY -- 1179)
1187 After luring Crusaders to a waterless plateau in July and decimating them, Saladin captures Jerusalem from crusaders led by Lusignan
1187 Medieval Knights restore Jerusalem during 2nd crusade.
1189 Jews massacred in England during coronation of Richard I.
1191 Richard Lionheart captures Jaffa, fashions a peace treaty with Saladin (JUPITER -- 1192)
1193 Death of Saladin. Al-Aziz succeeds Saladin (JUPITER -- 1192)
1204 Constantinople sacked by crusaders during the 4th Crusade.
1215 June 15, Magna Carta of liberty signed by king John to avert English Barons' War.
(1182-1226) Francis of Assisi establishes the Franciscian order.
1228 Stephen Langston divides the New Testament Bible into chapters.
1236 Cordoba, Spain falls to Christian forces, leaving Berbers in Granada.
1240 Raymond Nonnatus redeemed captives
1254-1324 Marco Polo at age 16 journeys from Venice, Italy to China.
1257 Simon de Montfort forces King Henry III to agree to the Provisions of Oxford, a legal document requiring a number of governmental reforms including a council of 15 barons. Henry abides by these rules until 1264. (SATURN -- 1257)
1258 Feb. 10, Abbasid-Seljuk Baghdad (and its libraries) falls to cavalry of Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) (Tartars) commanded by nomadic Mongols Kublai Khan (1215-1294), grandson of Genghis Khan. Paper currency first instituted. (SATURN -- 1257)
1258 Abbasid Caliphate comes to an end (SATURN -- 1257)
1275-1292 Marco Polo in China
1291 Crusades end after 8 wars.
1345 Black Plague wipes out 30%-50% of Europe
(1329-1384) John Wycliffe translates Latin Bible into English & converts England

The Sardis Era Was Called Bohemian Brethren
(1356-1507 A.D.)

John wrote, "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Rev. 3:1-2).

The city of Sardis grew into power around 1150 B.C. Built upon a crumbling rock, it stood at an elevation of 1,500 feet. It later became the capital of the very rich kingdom of Lydia where coining of money may have originated. The city looked impregnable due to its almost perpendicular walls of elevation on which it was built. There was only one entrance into the city, and this could easily be guarded. Because of overconfidence, however, during the reign of Croesus, the city of Sardis was captured by Cyrus in 549 B.C. One of Cyrus's soldiers scaled the rock on a dark night when the soldiers were not watching. Entering the city, he opened the gates to the Persians. The same thing was repeated by Antiochus the Great in 213 B.C. "The sudden ruin of that great empire and the wealthiest king of all the world was an event ... emphasing a moral lesson by a great national disaster. A little carelessness was shown; a watchman was wanting at the necessary point, or a sentinel slept at his post for an hour; and the greatest power on the earth was hurled to destruction. The great king trusted to Sardis, and Sardis failed him at the critical moment" (p.377, Ramsay's Letters To The Seven Churches of Asia).

Sardis (lit. "That which is left" or "remnant") who "hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev.3:1), was living on a past reputation of greatness. Applying this message of being "ready to die" to the pre-Reformation period, Wycliffe was ready to die, and said so: "Preach the gospel of Christ to haughty prelates, and martyrdom will not fail you What! I should live and be silent? ... Never! Let the blow fall, I await its coming." (D'Aubigne 17:8). But he died of palsey, not the stake. Huss also was ready to die: "I trust that He will ... accord me his Holy Spirit to fortify me in his truth, so that I may face with courage, temptations, prison, and, if necessary, a cruel death. Jesus Christ suffered for his well-beloved ... He has left us his example ... Why then should we not suffer also?" (Bonnechose 1:147-148). Jerome said, "I am ready to die: I will not recoil before the torments that are prepared for me by my enemies and false witnesses, who will one day have to render an account of their impostures before the great God, whom nothing can deceive." (Bonnechose 2:151). Applying this message to the post-Reformation period, great movements were begun by zealous men like Luther and Knox and Wesley. But their followers, thinking that the battles had been won, settled down to organized State religions, supported by the public treasury, and became dead. Satisfied with past achievements, these Christians had a mere formality. They now had a name "Reformers" or "Protestants" or Lutherans" or "Baptists" or "Methodists" but their churches were dead -- passing from Sardis directly to Laodicean.

In the days of King John, even the throne of David was subject to the Pope. One of the true churches during this time was the Bohemian Brethren (Hussites). But "ready to die" would also refer to Huguenots, Lollards, Waldensians and Anabaptists. They were all ready for martyrdom. But now, after centuries of apostasy and persecution, there was little faith remaining -- just as the city of Sardis in 96 A.D. was nothing of its former glory under Croesus.

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:3).

A thief at night with a SWORD is like our Lord's CRESCENT-sword at night against Ophiuchus. Could this refer to 1389 when thousands of Jews were massacred in Prague because they weren't watching? Or to 1395 when Venice expelled the Jews? Or 1405 when Castile made Jews wear badges? Or to1408 when English translations of the Bible were banned? Many unexpected events occur in human history. It is up to Jews and Christians to "watch" for them and be on the look-out. Proverbs 22:3 says, "A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished." In 1412 Queen Catalina decreed anti-Jewish laws. In 1410 Wyclif’s writings were burned in Prague. In 1413 a Church Council ordered Wycliff’s writings burned. In 1414 John Huss was imprisoned at Constance. In 1415 Sigismund had John Huss burned for heresy. In 1416 Jerome of Prague was burned for heresy. In 1418 Pope Martin and the Council condemned Hussites. In 1420 Albrecht V destroyed a Jewish community. In 1420 Sigismund’s 100,000 crusaders attacked Prague. In 1421 Albrecht V had 212 Jews burned. In 1424 Cologne expelled Jews. In 1431 Essex priest Bagley was burned for heresy. In 1431 six Lollard leaders were beheaded. In 1436-38 the Inquisition burned thousands of heretics in Hungary. In 1438 Augsburg banished Jews. In 1440 Munich banished Jews. In 1450 Robert & Alexander Livingston were beheaded. In 1450 Suffolk was captured and beheaded. In 1451-53 John of Capistrano persecuted Jews in Germany. In 1452 a Papal bull approved slavery of non-Christians (non-Catholics). In 1453 Turks conquered Constantinople. In 1455 Gutenberg printed 180 Bibles. In 1466 the Bible was printed in German. In 1471 the Bible was printed in Italian at Venice. In 1477 the Bible was printed in French at Lyons. In 1483 Seville inquisitors expelled 10,000 Jews. In 1491-98 Savonarola preached to many in Florence. In 1492 Spain ordered all Jews to convert or leave and 60,000 Jews migrated to Portugal. In 1498 Savonarola and two others were hanged. In 1502 Spain ordered unbaptized Moors to leave. In 1504 Moscow stopped tolerating "heretics." In 1507 King Uladislaus of Hungary was presented with two letters viciously denouncing the Bohemian Brethren and therefore he forbade all public and private gatherings and ordered the destruction of all their books and writings. They were commanded to attend Roman Catholic or Utraquistic Churches, their clergy and teachers being prisoners of the king. These followers of John Huss were then severely oppressed and persecuted throughout Hungary from 1507 onward. Thus Sardis ended and Laodicea began. In 1509 Maximilian ordered Jewish books confiscated. In 1516 Erasmus published the dual New Testament. In 1517 Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Church door and then Philadelphia began.

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:4-6).

No wonder Sardis had to wash their garments and were unclean. They had flea-infested clothes and filth in the streets attracting rats. Garbage wasn't covered (Num. 19:15). To prevent Bubonic Plague, a person should AVOID CONTACT with rodents and should check his clothing for flea infestation. DON'T TOUCH sick or dead or unclean animals since it "defiles your garment." WASH clothing after contact (Lev. 11:8-43; Lev. 15:7; Num. 5:1-4). Use hyssop (soap) (Num. 19:18), balm (Jer. 51:8), fuller's soap (Mal. 3:2), wine (Luke 10:34) and other ANTISEPTICS. "TOUCH NOT the unclean" (2 Cor. 6:17). Follow QUARANTINE rules (Lev. 12:1-4; 13:46).

"A few names" may refer to such men as John Huss, Jerome of Prague, Robert & Alexander Livingston, Savonarola, Erasmus, Gutenberg, and John Wycliffe. John Wycliffe began the Reformation in England (1320-1384 A.D.). He translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English and sent his "Lollard" preachers to preach throughout the land. Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenburg Church door in 1517 and William Tyndale issued the first English edition of the New Testament (1526 A.D.). The WHITE toga in Rome symbolized triumph and joy, and was worn by candidates for high office. White is the symbol of purity and righteousness (Rev. 19:8; Zech 3:3-5). Black, a symbol of mourning or defeat, was worn by slaves or captives. When the Roman Emperor gained some great victory, and desired to celebrate it in Rome, he and his chief men walked in WHITE garments called TOGAS. God is clothed "with LIGHT as with a garment" (Ps. 104:2).

Erasmus (1466-1536) mentioned "SABBATH-KEEPING" in Holland and Bohemia by "descendants of the Waldensians" (History by Lewis, pp. 317-320). "They who maintain the SATURDAY SABBATH to be in force, comply with the Anabaptists" (F. White's Treatise of the Sabbath Day, p.132). Russen, speaking of heresies, says: "Under this head I would conclude some of them ... Anabaptists, who have been inclined to this personal reign of Christ, and have embraced the SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH." (On Anabaptists, London, 1703, p.79). "Anabaptists ... denied the validity of infant baptism ... The earliest Anabaptists of Zurich allowed that the ... Waldensians had, in contrast with Rome and the Reformers, truth on their side, yet did not claim to be in their succession ... deferring baptism to the age of 30, and rejecting oaths, prayers for the dead, relics and invocation of saints. The Moravian Anabaptists, says Rost, went barefooted, washed eachother's feet (like the Fraticelli) ... The Lord's Supper, or bread-breaking, was a commemoration of the Passion, held once a year. They sat at long tables, the elders read the words of institution and prayed, and passed a loaf round from which each broke off a bit and ate, the wine being handed round in flagons.... there was no Trinity of Persons ... The Anabaptists were great readers of Revelation and of the Epistle of James, the latter perhaps by way of counteracting Luther's one-sided teaching of justification by faith alone. Luther feebly rejected this Scripture as 'a right strawy epistle.' English Anabaptists often knew it by heart." (Enc. Brit. 11th ed.1:904-905) The Anabaptists became SEVENTH-DAY Baptists of America.

MARS is characterised as having "a name that it lived, but it was dead" (blood red planet). Called in Akkadian Numia, and in Assyrian Baluv, "the star which is not," which has disappeared. One of the characteristics of MARS is to come "as a thief." MARS is Khabbatu, the Plunderer; Nakaru, the Hostile; Tsarru, the Enemy. (Astrology in the Apocalypse by Collingwood, 1886, pp.52-52). The Sardis Era existed from the FULL MOON in Gemini (1356 A.D.) ("her children" --2:23) to the CRESCENT in Ophiuchus (1507 A.D.) ("hold fast ... defiled their garments [by holding a slimy unclean snake] ... walk with me" -- 3:3-4) or 151 years. The "hour" [3:10; 18:10,17,19] that Philadelphia escapes is 2020-2026, or 30 degrees. In Roman times Ophiuchus was known as Asclepius who was a healer who learned the secret of immortality, hence "a name that thou livest" (3:1) -- ASCLEPIUS.

A timeline for Sardis:

1434 Eugenius IV is expelled from Rome and a republic is declared (MARS -- 1435)
1435 Council of Basil (1431-1449) (MARS -- 1435)
1444 Battle of Varna -- Turks defeat Crusaders
1492 Expulsion of Muslims and Jews from from Spain

The Philadelphia Era Is Called Church Of God
(1517-2026 A.D.)

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev. 3:7-8).

Philadelphia means "Brotherly Love." The city derived its name from Attalus II, whose loyalty to his brother Eumenes won him the epithet Philadelphus. The city was founded about 150 B.C. "The intention of its founder was to make it a center of the Greco-Asiatic civilization and a means of spreading the Greek language and manners in the eastern parts of Lydia and in Phrygia. It was a missionary city from the beginning, founded to promote a certain unity of spirit, customs and loyalty within the realm, the apostle of Hellenism in an Oriental land. It was a successful teacher. Before A.D. 19 the Lydian tongue had ceased to be spoken in Lydia, and Greek was the only language of the country." (Letters to Seven Churches of Asia, pp. 391-392, Ramsay). Philadelphia was located at the entrance to the beautiful valley of Hermus, and was a sort of gateway or key to this fertile area. But it was subject to frequent earthquakes and the populace "lived always in the dread of disaster." It was almost totally destroyed in 17 A.D. Most of its citizens fled from the city, and many never returned. Others lived for weeks and months in tents and temporary dwellings. Amidst the wreckage stood a lone column; it was still standing in the eighteenth century. Perhaps it symbolizes the overcomer since Christ promises to make him "a pillar" in the temple of God. Today the Turkish name of Philadelphia is Alasehir, meaning "the Reddish City" or "The City of God." Not one Christian lives there.

What is the "KEY of DAVID"? The CRESCENT-arrow in the hand of Sagittarius. Ancient keys were in the form of a large CRANK, and from their weight and shape, were usually carried on one's shoulder (Isa. 9:6). Callimachus says Ceres carried a key upon her shoulder. Isa 22:15-25: Throughout the reign of wicked Ahaz, the Temple had been SHUT UP, and the Temple area given over to Assyrian idolatry (2Ch 28:24,25; 2Ki 16:1-12). Shebna, along with Urijah the High Priest, was probably responsible to the king for this policy. With the accession of Hezekiah came drastic reformation. The Temple was RE-OPENED (2Ch 29:3) and cleansed (2Ch 29:16-19). Shebna was first transferred to a new office (Isa 36:2; 22:15) and later thrust out altogether (Isa 22:17-19). Probably it was he who was denounced in Ps. 49. A man of godliness -- Eliakim -- replaced Urijah. The KEY of DAVID is therefore ACCESS to GOD through the TEMPLE DOORS and notice that Christ holds the KEY, not Peter (Matt 16:19). Christ is the DOOR (John 10:9), not Peter. What KEY? In 2 Samuel 7:8-17 God promised DAVID an everlasting THRONE over Israel. Jesus is a royal son of David (Luke 1:32) and therefore is heir to the BRITISH THRONE. Papal Rome LOCKED away the Bible with her "KEYS (authority) of St. Peter" when she RULED BRITAIN but DAVID'S royalty on the BRITISH THRONE (2 Sam. 23:5) took the Pope's place as head of the Church of England and with Christ's invisible authority OPENED the Bible by printing it and translating it into more than 1000 different languages. The Protestant Reformation had begun. By 1558 A.D. God had CLOSED the door to the Pope ruling Britain. Queen Elizabeth was enthroned and the Protestant Church established in England. Cassiopeia was anciently a Laconian KEY in Perseus's hand. The KEY to RULERSHIP is on Christ's "shoulder " of responsibility (Isa.9:6-7; Isa. 22:22) and he has opened our ACCESS to GOD.

What is the "OPEN DOOR" set before the church (Rev.3:8)? A great trade route passed through Philadelphia of commerce and prosperity (Milky Way). The Bible defines this symbol as an "OPPORTUNITY" (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor.16:9; 2 Cor.2:12; Col.4:3). A PROTESTANT SOVEREIGN in Britain beginning with Henry VIII is TAURUS ("Ephraim is an HEIFER" -- Hos.10:11; or "BULLOCK" -- Deut. 33:17; Jer. 31:18) with a LUNAR CROWN which is an OPEN DOOR. Second, the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM granted by the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1789 which no man has been able to shut. (The French Revolution which destroyed Papal Rome's Catholic power also occurred in 1789.) It was the only official document in the world ratified by a national government, granting FREEDOM of WORSHIP, FREEDOM of SPEECH and FREEDOM of the PRESS -- like a prison DOOR OPENED so Peter could escape (Acts 12:10). Other "OPEN DOORS" naturally followed, such as printing, radio, TV, airplane travel and internet -- "a DOOR of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ" (Col.4:3). Also Jesus said, "I am the door" (John 10:9). Open doors can refer to restored communion (2Ch 29:3); deliverance from prison (Act 5:19); surrender (Rev 3:20); service (1Co 16:9); and opportunity (Rev 3:8). Shut doors can refer to safety (Gen 7:16); privacy and communion (Mat 6:6); faith and prayer (2Ki 4:5,21,33); self-sufficiency (Rev 3:20); and separation and rejection (Mat 25:10).

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:9-10).

Samaritans were neither Jews nor Israelites, but colonies from Cuthah, Ava, Hamath and Sepharvaim, who were transplanted from the Euphrates to Samaria by Esarhaddon, king of Nineveh, after the ten tribes were taken captive to Assyria by Shalmaneser (2 Ki. 17:6). When Jews were in prosperity, Samaritans would pretend to be Jews themselves. But when Jews were in distress, Samaritans would join their oppressors, and become their bitterest enemies (Ant. 9:14:3; 12:5:5). That is why the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.

What is the "SYNAGOGUE of SATAN"? The word "SYNAGOGUE" is found in James 2:2 referring to a true Christian assembly, but here it refers to a false Christian assembly -- CATHOLICS (Cetus before the feet of Taurus). The ROMAN CATHOLIC clergy and laity must bow down to the Protestant sovereign of the British Empire. CATHOLICS must also respect the laws and Protestant religions of the United States. Isaiah 60:14 says "they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet." "Because thou hast kept the word of my PATIENCE" (Rev.3:10) is defined in Revelation 14:12 as "Here is the PATIENCE of the saints; here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God, and the faith of Jesus." Yes, "thou ... hast KEPT MY WORD, and hast not denied my name" (Rev.3:8). How do people deny Christ? "In WORKS they deny him" (Tit.1:16).

What is the "HOUR of TEMPTATION"? It is 15° of Rev. 18 since 360° day/24 hours = 15° per hour. Seven years total. The city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor suffered frequent EARTHQUAKES which are referred to as the "HOUR of TEMPTATION." Those who could afford it, lived outside the city. God promised to keep the church safe from this SHAKING -- as safe as stable pillars in his Temple. In the same way, Protestant Great Britain and Protestant United States have been kept from the "political EARTHQUAKES" of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte's devastation. Protestant Britain and America have been kept free of invaders in both World Wars. "I will appoint a place for my people Israel, whence they shall NEVER be MOVED, and where the son of wickedness shall AFFLICT them NO MORE as beforetime" (Isa. 49:12). If one day is a year of 360 days (Num. 14:34; Ez. 4:6), and if there are "twelve hours in a day" (John 11:9), then 360 divided by 12 gives an "hour" as 30 degrees. If there are 24 hours in a day, then an "hour" is 15 degrees.

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:11-13).

This continues the figure of a re-opened Temple and worshippers prostrating themselves in the temple court before the entrance of the Holy Place, flanked by Jachin and Boaz or to one of the pillars supporting the Veil (Ex. 26:32; 1Ki 6:31,33). To be a "pillar" must mean ability to withstand unmoved the worst shocks that life can administer. The earthquake-prone Philadelphians "go no more out" in contrast to the masses of panic-stricken Philadelphians camping in the open fields in time of earth tremors. Christ's new name will be "The Lord our Righteousness" (Jer 33:16; 23:6). Individually speaking, "Let no man (your boss, lender, marriage partner, or rich rival) deprive you of your (TAURUS) crown" (see Col 2:18) (eternal life; door to Canada). Nationally speaking, "hold that fast which thou hast (Henry VIII and Parliament abrogated Papal supremacy in England in 1534; the 39 Articles ratified by British Parliament in 1571; the Act of Settlement in 1689 requiring the British monarch be a Protestant; along with that came the Coronation oath requiring monarch to defend Protestant Faith), that no (Jesuit) man take thy (Protestant British) crown (moon on TAURUS'S head)" lest it revert to Papal supremacy again (e.g. "Bloody Mary;" Guy Fawkes) and Catholic idolatry. The Church of the Reformation took a new name. Until the sixteenth century it was never heard before in history. Reformers and martyrs had been known as Wycliffites, Lollards, etcetera. But in 1521, at the Diet of Spires, they called themselves "Protestants" for the first time meaning "Witnesses for the Truth." The Greek word for "witness" is "martus" and also means "martyr."

William Tyndale (c. 1492 – 1536) was an English scholar who became a leading figure in Protestant reform. He translated the Bible into English. He was influenced by Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther. While a number of partial and complete translations had been made from the seventh century onward, the popularity of Wycliffe's Bible in the 14th century resulted in a ban on the publication of the Bible in English; almost all vernacular Bibles were confiscated and burned. Tyndale's illegal translation was the first of the new English Bibles of the Reformation, and the first to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts, and the first to take advantage of the new medium of the print, which allowed for wide distribution. This was taken to be a direct challenge to the hegemony of both the Roman Catholic Church and the English church and state. In 1535, Tyndale was arrested and jailed in the castle of Vilvoorde outside Brussels for over a year. He was tried for heresy, choked, impaled and burnt on a stake in 1536. The Tyndale Bible, as it was known, continued to play a key role in spreading Reformation ideas across the English-speaking world. The fifty-four independent scholars who created the King James Version of the Bible in 1611 drew significantly on Tyndale's translations. One estimation suggests the New Testament in the King James Version is 83% Tyndale's, and the Old Testament 76%."

Sometime between 1517 and 1521, William Tyndale, tired of scholastic games at Oxford and perhaps under suspicion for his emerging views, decided on a change of universities. Foxe says, he sought another environment more conducive to his Scriptural hunger. (Foxe, Acts and Monuments, 5:115.) CAMBRIDGE was a smaller, younger university without the prestige of Oxford, but it was a compelling choice. It offered a quieter setting, one conducive to uninhibited reflection. Overzealous eyes fearful of open examination of Scripture would not be as prevalent as at Oxford, whose graduates had a great awareness of events transpiring at their alma mater. Oxford, after all, produced the majority of Tyndale's later persecutors, including Thomas Wolsey, Sir Thomas Moore, London bishops John Stokesley and Cuthbert Tunstall, and Tyndale's shadowy betrayer, Henry Phillips. Undoubtedly, Tyndale learned of growing Lutheran sentiments brewing at CAMBRIDGE. In 1517, Luther issued the reformer's challenge by nailing his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. The sale of indulgences to finance construction of the massive St. Peter's Basilica in Rome had backfired. The Catholic leadership believed the "uncultured masses" needed "imperishable memorials" highly decorated with art, "something that appeals to the eye" to capture their faith. (Moynahan, God's Bestseller,14.) For whatever reason, CAMBRIDGE attracted the young men who moved the English nation into the Protestant camp. These courageous men all paid dearly for their convictions. Bishops Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley embraced the martyr's stake in Oxford. The place of their burning is still marked to this day. John Frith, one of Tyndale's most beloved followers, as well as Thomas Bilney and Robert Barnes, all early leaders in the Protestant movement, also chose death rather than renounce their faith. Miles Coverdale, who helped Tyndale translate the Old Testament and later saw the entire Bible published in English, also attended CAMBRIDGE. Officially, ideas of reform were discouraged at CAMBRIDGE, as they were everywhere else. But reform was in the air, and would-be reformers began to meet regularly in 1520 to discuss Luther's writings along with Erasmus' Greek New Testament. The meeting house was a tavern in CAMBRIDGE England on the campus of King's College called the WHITE HORSE Inn and the names of those who regularly met there include Robert Barnes, William Tyndale, Miles Coverdale, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Thomas Cranmer, Thomas Bilney and others. Because of the frequent citations of the work of Martin Luther, many referred to this CAMBRIDGE meeting house as "Little Germany."

How often they met and who attended are matters of speculation; nevertheless, many of Tyndale's friends and future fellow martyrs frequented CAMBRIDGE and fueled each other's inquiries into the distressing condition of Christianity. Tyndale may have preferred CAMBRIDGE because he could hone his Greek skills there. In 1516, Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the most intelligent and gentle souls of the Reformation, published a Greek New Testament, thus offering the religious world an opportunity to read the words of Jesus and Paul more directly than the Latin Vulgate allowed. Improved editions that followed in 1519 and 1522 would become Tyndale's tools. John Wycliffe's condemned translation had been drawn from the Latin into English; Tyndale wanted to render his New Testament from the purer Greek and his Old Testament from the Hebrew into English. But English was still considered an emerging language. Its flexibility and grace for conveying classical and scriptural thought was not only denied but was also, in most minds, not worthy of consideration. In all likelihood, the unique environment CAMBRIDGE offered for deeper searching of God's word created enough reason for Tyndale's move. Foxe agrees that the scriptures were the major focus of Tyndale's sojourn at CAMBRIDGE, where he was "further ripened in the knowledge of God's word." (Foxe, Acts and Monuments, 5:115). He was not interested in another degree, having experienced enough scholasticism at Oxford."

Philadelphia (lit. "Brotherly love") began in America when "Stephen Mumford, the first SABBATH-KEEPER in America, came from London in 1664." (Hist. of the Seventh-day Baptist Gen. Conf. by James Basiley, pp.237-238). After seven years, a SEVENTH-DAY congregation of seven members was raised up from these people. They identified it as (a part of) the church of God (Seventh-day Baptist Memorial 1:36). It was located in Newport Rhode Island.

"Already around the year 1530 Sabbatarians emerged in Bohemia. Sabbatarians (Subbotniki), or Judaizers also arose soon thereafter in Silesia, Poland and Russia; in the latter, where they were frequently confused with the Jews in the second half of this century, remain until today. We meet similar sects around 1545 among the Quakers in England. Several leaders and preacher of the Puritans, imbued with the Old Testament spirit, likewise raised the issue of reinstating the day of rest from Sunday to Saturday" (Kohn S. Translated by T. McElwain and B. Rook. Sabbatarians in Transylvania. Christian Churches of God, Wooden (Australia), 1998, p.10-11).

"Strange as it may seem, in the early history of America there was an attempt at suppression of Christmas spirit. The stern Puritans at Plymouth, imbued with the rigorous fervor of the Old Testament, abhorred the celebration of the orthodox holidays. Their worship was on the Sabbath (Saturday), rather than Sunday, and Christmas in particular they considered a pagan celebration. Later immigrants attempted to observe Christmas as a time of joy, but were suppressed. Governor Bradford, Elder Brewster, Miles Standish and other leaders were firm against the yuletide spirit as we know it today" (Sprague H. Letter from the editor. St. Joseph, Mo., Daily Gazette, December 1934 as cited in Dugger AN, Dodd CO. A History of True Religion, 3rd ed. Jerusalem, 1972 (Church of God, 7th Day). 1990 reprint, p. 265).

“Among the Scrooby congregation which fled to Holland but who did not come to America until a decade later was John Dunham, whose grandson, Reverend Edmund Dunham, founded the Seventh Day Baptist church in Piscataway, New Jersey, nearly a century later in 1705.” (Sanford, Don A., A Choosing People: The History of Seventh Day Baptists, Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee (1992) pp. 39-40, 86.) Both John Robinson and William Bradford were members of the Scrooby Congregation.

In 1682 William Penn established and settled the town of "Philadelphia" in America. The first American Congress met there in 1774 A.D. The "Declaration of Independence" was established there in 1776 A.D. Philadelphia became the capital of the United States until 1800 A.D.

William Carey went to India in 1793; Robert Morrison to China in 1807. Robert Moffat to Africa in 1817, followed by David Livingstone in 1841. The British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in 1804 which has printed the Bible in over 1000 languages. The American Bible Society was founded in 1816 (the Sunday-school movement began around this time), the National Bible Society of Scotland in 1861 and the Hibernian Bible Society of Ireland in 1806. Missionary societies were also launched at this time. In 1792 the Baptist Missionary Society started in Britain; the Anglican Church Missionary Society in 1800; the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1796; and the London Missionary Society in 1795. The "everlasting gospel" was carried "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6-7).

Later in 1860 when the SEVENTH-DAY Adventists organized into a denomination, many members of the true church fellowshipped with them. Ellen Gould White (whose name in Latin is 666: l=50, l=50, v=5, l=50, d=500, v=5, v=5, i=1) rejected the name "Church of God" on the grounds that it would "excite suspicion, conceal absurd errors, and be a mark of fanaticism" (Loughborough's Rise And Progress Of S.D.A.'s, 1892, pp.227-228). But the true church "hast not denied my name" (Rev.3:8). Her visions also discouraged marriage, meat, milk and eggs (Testimonies 2:68,400; 3:21; 5:366) reminding us of 1 Tim.4:1-3. Others organized into the Church of God (SEVENTH DAY) which believed in the SABBATH, clean and unclean meats, Wednesday crucifixion and Saturday resurrection, that the Holy Spirit is not a person, that there is no everburning hell, death is like sleep until the resurrection, baptism by immersion, the "Lord's Supper" on the 14th of Nisan, footwashing, the biblical name "Church of God," and that Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Lent and Halloween are of pagan origin (Doctrinal Beliefs of the C.O.G.S.D.)

Herbert W. Armstrong came into contact with this church in 1927 and was ordained in 1931. In 1934 he began a radio broadcast called "the Radio Church of God" and published the Plain Truth magazine. His ministerial credentials were revoked in 1937 when he insisted on preaching the observance of annual Hebrew festivals and British Israelism. However, he retained almost all of the doctrines of the Church of God (Seventh Day) as well as these two new doctrines. He later changed the name to the Worldwide Church of God. This church also believed in avoiding make-up, drugs and vaccines but followed a form of "blind obedience" to the hierarchy. When Herbert Armstrong died in 1986, Joseph W. Tkach took over and began to move toward mainstream Protestantism. He died in 1995. His son, Joseph Tkach Jr., has continued this trend and now presides over a church that believes in the trinity, Christmas and Easter and has abandoned "British Israelism ... the seventh-day SABBATH ... annual festivals ... triple tithe, and that Christians must not eat foods that were 'unclean.'" ("The Plain Truth," Feb. 1996, p.1) About half of the membership left.

The city of Philadelphia was originally called Diospolis. Zeus Meilichios, or Melqarth of Tyre, was worshipped as a stone pillar, identical with the figure of Caivanu or Chiun, the deity of the planet SATURN. The name of this planet in Akkadian is Gigi meaning "Holy & True," just as the Messiah describes himself in his message to Philadelphia. SATURN was worshipped as a pillar or black stone, so the reward of this church is "him that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of My God."

The Philadelphia Era existed from the CRESCENT MOON and SUN in Sagittarius (1507-1517 A.D.) ("eyes like a flame of fire ... in his right hand seven stars ... out of his mouth ... two-edged sword" -- Rev. 1:12-15) to the MOON in Taurus-Perseus-Cassiopeia (+149 = 1666 A.D.) ("key ... openeth [opportunities to teach and understand the Bible as well as escape Babylon] and no man shutteth" -- 3:7) back to Taurus-Perseus-Cassiopeia again (+ 360 = 2026 A.D.) ("shutteth [opportunities to teach and understand the Bible as well as escape Babylon] and no man openeth" -- 3:7).

Did freedom increase for Christians up till 1666 and then wane? Why 1666? Because that is when the Bubonic Plague on London, battles between the Dutch and English fleets, and the Fire of London occurred (which slowed the progress of the plague by destroying so many rats). Notice that the "open door" is the moon in Taurus and those "of the synagogue of Satan" who will "worship before thy feet" are Cetus.

The 15 degrees of Andromeda-Laodicea are the "HOUR of temptation" which our Messiah will keep Perseus-Philadelphia away from portrayed by a US flag in Rev. 18. If a day is 24 hours, then each hour is 15 degrees. Laodicea in the U.S. is being plagued by Fukushima fallout and corexit dispersant from the Gulf of Mexico and the Wuhan Flu from China whose vaccine is worse than the disease, so Christ spits her out of his mouth. She has cataracts and leukemia, plus kidney, pancreas, heart and thyroid problems due to Cesium uptake and can't breathe due to the Wuhan Flu ("wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked"). Philadelphia has moved to Whitehorse Yukon which is "cold" in winter and "hot" in summer -- out of the way of the Fukushima fall-out plume. Radioactive Cesium particles may be the "hail" because their atomic weight is 132, 134 or 137 ("about a talent" is 130 lbs. Avoirdupois). How does Perseus-Philadelphia avoid this "HOUR of temptation"? The same way William Tyndale did. Just as would-be reformers held meetings at an inn called WHITEHORSE, so also should an end-time Philadelphia Church. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done" (Eccl. 1:9). God says, "I change not" (Mal. 3:6). He is "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8). Unlike Andromeda who is chained to a career, family and debt obligations, Perseus has wings on his heals and flies north through the LUNAR CROWN DOOR of Taurus. Whitehorse in Yukon may "keep" the true church from the "HOUR of temptation". Just as William Tyndale in 1521 held meetings at White Horse Inn at Cambridge which sparked the Protestant Reformation, so also Philadelphian Christian reformers may meet with our Lord in a rapture resurrection at a town called Whitehorse that will spark the Millenial Renaissance. By travelling up the Al-Can Highway (Milky Way) to WHITEHORSE (Sagittarius), Perseus goes from "hot" (April 20 to May 20) to "cold" (Nov. 23 - Dec. 22) and avoids "lukewarm." He tastes yummy inside Sagittarius's mouth. Other constellations that see the danger are also in flight along this road (Aquila, Cygnus & Lyra). But when Andromeda-Laodicea tries this, Sagittarius spits her out of his mouth and the Milky Way becomes his sputum. Just as in the Greek legend, Perseus-Philadelphia may save Andromeda-Laodicea from being eaten by Pisces. Laodicea's door is CLOSED with an iron bar as our Lord stands on the horns of Taurus and knocks on her door. She won't invite him into her life, so He closes her door of escape to Canada.

A timeline for Philadelphia:

1514 May 5th, 1514, the representatives from different "TONGUES and NATIONS" of the Church of Western Europe gathered in the Lateran Church at Rome to hear the famous proclamation of triumph, "Jam nemo reclamant, nullus obsistit." No witnesses appeared to testify to the truth. Their voices were all silent as if they were DEAD. Pope Leo X was the beast. The council orator exultingly declared: "Now, no one contradicts, no one opposes." To the Dope he said: "The whole body of Christendom is now seen to be subjected to its head, that is to thee."(VENUS -- 1514)
1518 Zwingli comes to Zurich
1521 Diet of Worms -- Luther's final breach with the Catholic Church; Luther excommunicated byLeo X in 1521 (MERCURY -- 1520)
1529 Moslem seige of Christian Vienna
1534 Act of Supremacy passed. Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of Church of England (JUPITER -- 1533)
1534 Ignatius of Loyola founds Society of Jesus (Jesuits) (JUPITER -- 1533)
1541 Colloquy of Regensburg
1555 Peace of Augsburg
1582 Gregory XIII institutes Gregorian Calendar. Also Douar-Rheims Bible published.
1598 Edict of Nantes (SATURN -- 1598)
1618 Synod of Dort begins
1618 Thirty Years War begins
1620 Mayflower Compact drafted
1620 English Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower land at Plymouth Rock on Cape Cod Massachusetts
1776 American War of Independence begins (MARS -- 1776)
1783 America wins independence.
1797 Second Awakening begins
1798 P--pe Pius VI is prisoner in France
1853 Gadsden Purchase by U.S. (southern New Mexico and Arizona) (VENUS -- 1853)
1854 Immaculate Conception of Mary proclaimed (VENUS -- 1853)
1854 Charles Spurgeon becomes pastor of London's New Park Street Chapel
1874 Ghana made a British colony
1875 Mary Baker Eddy writes Science and Health
1875 Britain acquires 44% share holder in the Suez Canal Company.
1879 Thomas Edison invents practical electric light bulb (MERCURY 1880)
1880 First Northfield Conference led by Dwight Moody (MERCURY -- 1880)
1881 A wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million settle in U.S. Thousands settle in Palestine) (MERCURY -- 1880)
1893 Diesel engine invented (JUPITER -- 1893)
1893 First Matabele War (JUPITER -- 1893)
1901 American Standard Version
1914 Assemblies of God founded
1914 World War 1 starts
1958 Integrated circuit invented by Jack Kilby (SATURN -- 1958)
1959 Alaska and Hawaii achieve Statehood (SATURN -- 1958)
1978 New International Version
2026 Second Coming of Our Lord

The Laodicean Era is Sunday-keeping Protestants
(1517-2026 A.D.)

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:14-16).

Almost certainly the 'bishop' of this ecclesia was Archippus, son of Philemon; Col 4:16,17; Phm 1:2. Also Nymphas (Col 4:15) was prominent at Laodicea. The name is probably a shortened form of the word for 'the one who leads the bride.' Laodicea was a "successful trading city, the city of bankers and finance" (Ramsay pp.422-423). Situated about 50 miles from Philadelphia, it stood at the junction of two important roads. It was a city of wealth with large markets, a large banking exchange, and large manufacturing interests. A rich farming district surrounded it. Valuable wool was produced in the valley, soft in texture, glossy black in color, but tinged as it were with violet. Black garments were worn almost exclusively by the Laodiceans as evidence of their wealth.

Laodicea was one of the leading health resorts in the Greco-Roman Empire. Lukewarm baths and mineral springs attracted many visitors from Europe and Asia. An important school of medicine was situated in the Temple of Karu, one of some 200 temples in the ancient world dedicated to Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, or a counterfeit messiah. Connected with this school was an industry for the manufacture of a special eye medicine, collyrium. It was made from the famous Phrygian stone. W.M. Ramsay says, "This Phrygian powder came through Laodicea into general use among the Greeks" (p.419). Because the city was wealthy and successful, its citizens were proud, arrogant and self-satisfied. Laodicea obtained her water from hot springs piped some distance to the city. By the time it reached the city, it was lukewarm, too cool for health baths, not cool enough to drink. To be "hot" is to be enthusiastic and wholly committed. "Neither cold nor hot" indicate Christians who are sound asleep because of a comfortable, wealthy worldliness -- no help to anyone. Inoculated with just enough Christianity to make them immune from the genuine thing. In districts neighboring Laodicea, Christian inscriptions have been discovered which show a remarkable spirit of compromise with, and toleration of, heathenism. Laodicea is "politically correct." The other church eras have something good and something bad said about them. But Philadelphia has only good and Laodicea only bad. Why? Because Philadelphia and Laodicea exist side by side to the end.

The ruins of Laodicea are situated in a volcanic region upon seven hills (like the mother of harlots). The ruins of three theatres and a circus remain, and one is very fine, as it was capable of containing above 30,000 men. In its apostasy, the ecclesia in this city became the metropolitan, or Mother Church, of sixteen bishopricks, yet it is now desolate.

At the Council of Laodicea in 364 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church decreed that "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, resting rather on SUNDAY. But, if any be found to be Judaizing, let them be declared anathema from Christ." The "little horn" Papacy "will think to change the times and the laws" (Dan. 7:25), the time for the Sabbath law. Most Protestant churches have continued in this error and therefore agree with this Laodicean decision. Perhaps that is why Christ will spit them out of his mouth, just as the land vomits out inhabitants because of their abominations (Lev 18:24-28). The name "Laodicea" means "rule by the people." In other words, it is the era of democracy in the British Empire and the United States. This is a good thing in the sense of tolerating Bible Christians but a bad thing in the sense of tolerating infidels, atheists, Catholics, higher critics and SUNDAY.

This prophecy, when connected with chapter 19, indicates that Christians choose to stay in a LUKEWARM climate (United States) rather than fleeing voluntarily to a "COLD" place in winter and a "HOT" place in summer for safety (Whitehorse, Yukon). Comfort and complacency over obedience. Perhaps British Columbia and Yukon Territory are a type of Great Britain at a time when the Barbarians (Moslems and Roman Catholics) overran the Roman Empire (United States) and therefore would be a place a safety. "I will spit you out of my (Sagittarius WHITE HORSE) mouth (Milky Way sputum)."

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Rev. 3:17).

This may be an allusion to Laodicea's self-sufficiency after a recent earthquake. Of course there are those who suppose "that gain is godliness. From such withdraw thyself" (1 Tim. 6:5). Many Americans have chosen to become "rich, and increased with goods" physically at the expense of obeying God spiritually. As Christ said, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money)." (Matt.6:24). But as prevalent as this sin is, we don't believe it is what Christ is condemning here.

Instead, Laodicean Christians have become "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev.3:17). Specialists in an industrialized world. Rich in fiat PAPER currency -- not GOLD. Dependent on high tech society for everything and helpless otherwise. Not able to farm, ranch, weave clothing, preserve food or live self-sufficiently and independently. The American lukewarm lifestyle includes watching corrupting TELEVISION just as among Laodicea's ruins there have been discovered THEATERS, especially a very large AMPHITHEATER, capable of seating from thirty to forty thousand people. How many Laodicean Christians spent their time watching THEATER and AMUSING themselves? The city of Laodicea was a strong fortress but its water source was several miles from the city. An enemy could besiege the city easily and cut off the water supply. It was outwardly prosperous, but in reality weak and vulnerable.

The same is true of the United States and Great Britain. We are vulnerable to terrorist attack, natural disasters and grid collapse. Our supermarkets have just three days of food on their shelves if not re-supplied by our computerized just-in-time economy. The average item of produce travels 1500 miles to get to the grocery shelf, reducing its freshness and nutritional value but increasing fuel costs and food bills. Imagine if truckers could not get the fuel they need to supply our food. Our washers and dryers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, lighting and heat are dependent on the electrical grid. Within three days of a power outage the refrigerated food would begin to spoil. Our water that flows from our faucets is piped for miles from reservoirs -- a system very vulnerable to disaster and sabotage -- and powered by the electrical grid. The same is true for our sewer system. Our computers, television and radio are useless without the electrical grid or a generator. Nobody has a COMPOSTING TOILET or OUTHOUSE anymore. Nobody uses a WELL in the back yard anymore. KEROSENE STOVES and LANTERNS are considered a novelty and nobody stores KEROSENE. Crank-up radios might work unless there is a nuclear explosion which generates EMP waves that fry all electronics -- including all vehicles. Nobody buys books anymore because the internet has "replaced" them. What happened to 100% WOOL BLANKETS? They are very rare nowadays. People are dependent on electric heating. Buy four Pendeleton WOOL BLANKETS queen size and pin them together to make a high quality sleeping bag. Huskie 100% WOOL SOCKS. Truly we are "wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked" if any catastrophe occurs. Our "riches" consist of complicated gizmos and inventions that require replacement parts or electricity or gasoline or oil to run. They break in six months because they're made of plastic. Not like the solid durable goods of 100 years ago that were hand crank or human power and lasted a lifetime. Our "riches" consist of paper "monopoly money" known as dollars, stocks and bonds and not tangible assets such as physical GOLD and SILVER coins, agricultural LAND and CHICKENS, MILK GOATS, COWS, SHEEP and other livestock. A FISH POND. Real BOOKS not the internet. Vehicles that don't need a specialist to fix them -- like a MOPED or "old-fashioned" BICYCLE.

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Rev. 3:18).

What is "GOLD tried in the FIRE" which Philadelphia OWNS and Laodicea NEEDS? Geographically speaking, it is a RURAL TOWN rather than living in the city. Gold-mining is the main industry of the town of Whitehorse. Fishing and hunting are also plentful in Whitehorse. We must flee Babylon U.S. Physically speaking, it is high quality durable goods that have been proven through time to work. GROVER ROCKET STOVE [sun in Cancer]; WOOD STOVE, brass ALCOHOL STOVE (Trangia) [sun in Cancer]; brass KEROSENE LANTERN (Lehman's -- Don't buy Britelyt lanterns which are very hazardous) [Orion holds his sun lamp high while Virgo holds hers low and Sagittarius holds his near his face]; crank light (Wind n go flashlight); Vitamin D3 SUN LAMP; stainless steel NON-ELECTRIC WATER DISTILLER (Survival Still or make one yourself) [full moon in Aquarius]; WATER FILTER (Katadyn or Big Berkey); CHLORINE BLEACH (Pool Shock has longer shelf life than liquid); COLLOIDAL SILVER generator and COLLOIDAL SILVER antibiotics (full moon drunk by any constellation); two .9999 silver electrode probes in distilled water connected to three 9V batteries in series via two wires allows you to generate your own. POTASSIUM IODIDE powder or preferably seaweed (Dulse, Kombu) to protect from radiation but also as a crucial daily supplement; iron DUTCH OVEN 16" (Lodge) [eclipse in Cancer is a Dutch oven over campfire with ten sticks of wood]; single-speed white cruise BICYCLE (Worksman is heavy duty enough to make into a moped)[sun under Auriga and full moon in Sagittarius making two wheels of the white Milky Way framed bicycle]; a pedal-power GENERATOR (Pedal-Power Prime Mover or K-Tor or Dual-Purpose Bicycle) [sun under Auriga making a "chariot"]; RIFLE and AMMUNITION (M1A or BAR)[sun fire comes out the barrel mouth of Sagittarius' "rifle"]; HAND LAUNDRY WASHER (Lehman's) or James MANUAL WASHING MACHINE (Lehman's)[half-moon in Aquarius producing clean clothing and the detergent in the waste-water is phosphate-free -- not harmful to Picis Australis]; COME-ALONG (Wyeth-Scott "More-Power" Puller); CARPENTRY TOOLS; WELDING TOOLS; LEATHER BOOTS (Red Wing, etc.) [Perseus]; .999 GOLD COINS (Canadian Maple Leaf) and .999 SILVER COINS [Sun or full moon held by Virgo or weighed in Libra or paid to Scorpio]; physical BOOKS (KJV Bible; Strong's Concordance, how-to books etc.) [held as an illuminated scroll by Gemini, Orion, Hercules, and Cepheus -- side view; held by Virgo, Aquarius, Sagittarius and Cancer as guiding lamps -- end view]; non-hybrid GARDEN SEEDS (Heirloom); SPROUTING LIDS; P-38 CAN OPENERS; hand-crank RADIO (CC Solar Observer); CANNING JARS 1/2 gallon size (Ball wide-mouth)[sun lid off Crater glass jar and then on Aquarius glass jar]; VACUUM JAR SEALER with hose (Foodsaver) and MANUAL VACUUM PUMP; WHITE RICE and LEGUMES make a simple protein. Beans are low in Methionine and high in Lysine while rice is high in Methionine and low in Lysine. Together they make a simple protein. (hard red winter wheat and beans or white rice and beans is a complete protein. Store in mylar envelopes with oxygen absorbers in sealed buckets); hand-crank GRAIN MILL (Victorio); canned SARDINES (Brunswick)[lunar crescent pull tab opening Pisces sardines sun can]; canned HERRING (wild caught --not from the Pacific polluted by Fukushima); a FREEZE DRYER (Harvest Right); BONE MEAL (Milk doesn't have a long shelf life. But grass-fed Australian or New Zealand Calcium and Phosphorus in the hydroxyapatite form does have a long shelf life.); GHEE (sun); FISHING ROD [Grus]. Also GOATS [Auriga & Capricorn], COWS [Taurus], CHICKENS [Cygnus; Canis Major -- Chinese], SHEEP [Aries], FRUIT TREES [Scorpio & Canis Minor] and a FISH POND (Tulapia)[Picis Australis & Pisces] etcetera. Canned BUTTER (Red Feather). SALT is very important for extracting blood from meat through soaking. A non-GMO, organic MULT-VITAMIN is essential. Buy a spare ECU computer for your vehicle and swap out after an EMP.

Canned long shelf life food has a shelf life of at least two years from the date of processing. Canned long shelf life food retains its safety and nutritional value well beyond two years, but it may have some variation in quality, such as a change of color and texture. Canning is a high-heat process that renders the food commercially sterile. Food safety is not an issue in products kept on the shelf or in the pantry for long periods of time. In fact, canned food has an almost indefinite shelf life at moderate temperatures (75F and below). Canned food as old as 100 years has been found in sunken ships and it is still microbiologically safe! We don't recommend keeping long shelf life canned food for 100 years, but if the can is intact, not dented or bulging, it is edible.

Spiritually speaking, the "ALMIGHTY will be your gold" (Job 22:25). "GOLD tried in the FIRE" is suffering for His proven BIBLE TRUTH (not just a Protestant belief), and still believing and obeying it long after suffering for it. Resting on the Sabbath and festivals often interferes with earning a living. Rest anyway. This is buying real GOLD character (1 Cor.3:9-16; Job 23:10; 1 Pet.1:7). "FIRE" is "TRIAL" and suffering (Ez.38:19; 1 Pet.1:7).

WHITE raiment, physically speaking, is a good camoflage against the snow which may prove useful in a frontier lifestyle. 100% Alpaca wool sold in Peru is five times as warm as sheep's wool and from that source you can still find WHITE CAPS, WHITE SWEATERS, white mittens and white socks via the internet. White wool LONGJOHNS can still be found in the U.S. (Minus 33 degrees). Spiritually speaking, white clothing is PURITY (Isa. 61:10; Dan.12:10) and "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Rev.19:8) which is contrasted to Laodicea which produced a BLACK wool cloth from the black sheep in the neighborhood. Christ's parable of the man who lacked a wedding garment (Matt. 22) pictures Laodicea. Lacking GOOD DEEDS. In the Greco-Roman world, black was generally recognized as a symbol of subjection. Regarding eye ointment, physical "snow blindness" is a problem for anyone who lives continually in a white snowy environment. Sunglasses or eye protection are needed. Those who suffer dry-eye from a LASIK operation will need lubricating eye drops (Refresh Tears).

Laodicea had a school of medicine and the physicians had OINTMENT to cure physical EYE PROBLEMS but that is again contrasted with "an UNCTION from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20) to cure spiritual BLINDNESS -- "the Holy Spirit which God hath given to them that OBEY him" (Acts 5:32). We must see SPIRITUALLY (Eph. 1:18; John 16:13). Most Americans are blind to "BRITISH-ISRAEL" truth. They mistakenly believe we are gentile and somehow think this teaching is "racist." Most Americans are blind to the requirement to OBEY "Jewish Law." They mistakenly believe it was "done away with" and is "legalistic." (Under this heading would come Sabbath-keeping, a visual calendar to determine when to celebrate holy days; tithing; avoiding pork and bacon, etc.). Most Americans are blind to HISTORICISM. They mistakenly believe only in futurism. Furthermore, Laodicea has CLOSED her mental door keeping the sacrificed Lamb out with a red iron bar. Philadelphia is open to instruction (obedient) and runs toward his living conquering King (Perseus running toward Sagittarius). Laodicea also had a tremendous amount of GOLD and so needed nothing. Christ asks Laodiceans (Americans and British) to buy GOLD character. People who are successful in a career job often have to fill their minds with technical skills and mundane knowledge which crowds out a Bible education. Our minds get distracted by materialism. The more possessions, the more distractions.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door (remove the red iron bar), I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:19-20).

Even Christ has been excluded from Laodicea since he stands at the door and knocks (Rev.3:20) like a diplomat who is "persona non grata" to a foreign government. Americans are too busy on the Sabbath to go to church. Too busy to read their Bibles. Too busy to pray.

Philadelphia has an "OPEN door" (moon) through the CROWN of Taurus (Ephraim Canada) but Christ must "knock" at Laodicea's door implying it is CLOSED with a red iron bar. Philadelphia runs toward the GOLD riches in Yukon (sun in Sagittarius) but Laodicea has PAPER fiat currency (crescent moon under Hercules). Philadelphia has the "KEY of David" (Perseus' key is Cassiopeia or the sword) to open the Bible to understanding (Perseus SEES spiritually) while Laodicea has NO KEY to free herself from her shackles of sin (Andromeda or Hercules is BLIND spiritually). Philadelphia "has not denied my name" (ACTIVE Perseus) but Laodicea "in works they deny me." Andromeda is UNABLE TO MOVE and her door is BARRED with a red iron bar. Our Lord stands on the horns of Taurus and knocks on her door. Philadelphia-Perseus has wings on his heels and travels up the Milky Way (Al-Can) to Whitehorse (Sagittarius) while Laodicea-Andromeda is chained to debt and a career and can't move. Christ will "KEEP" Philadelphia in his mouth but will "SPEW" Laodicea "OUT."

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:21-22).

Who sits with King Cepheus on his throne? Queen Cassiopeia (Laodicean overcomers). The characteristic of MERCURY according to Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos 1:4-7, is that it was "neither cold nor hot." MERCURY is Nabu, the Proclaimer and Ris-risati, the Chief of the beginning, and Ak, the Maker which parallels the Messiah who calls himself the "Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." The reward offered was to sit with the Messiah on his throne, just as MERCURY is closest attendant to the sun, and thus called Alam, the sun's shadow or image. The Laodicean Era exists from Hercules (1507 A.D.) to Andromeda (+159 = 1666 A.D.) ("neither cold nor hot" -- 3:15) and back to Andromeda (+360 = 2026 A.D.) ("neither cold nor hot" -- 3:16) again. The phrase is mentioned twice. Notice that Andromeda is located on the Spring equinox of March 21 which is "lukewarm." Andromeda is "wretched, and miserable, and poor, ... and naked" (3:17), chained to debt and an affluent lifestyle. She starts out as Hercules (Samson) who is "blind" (3:17). She is out of synchronization with Perseus, her husband, and therefore if he escapes the "hour of trial" which is 15 degrees, she will not escape it. She is lacking the gold (sun), white clothing (Milky Way) and eyesalve (sun) that our Lord (Sagittarius) has to offer. When Christ "opens and no man shutteth" he may be referring to the Philadelphia Era; when Christ "shuts and no man opens" he may be referring to the Laodicea Era (rather than both expressions referring to both eras equally), since this is the way each treats him. This brings to mind the parable of the five wise (Perseus Philadelphia) and five foolish (Andromeda Laodicea) virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) (lost ten tribes during five centuries). The "door was SHUT" (25:10) exclusively on the five foolish virgins who weren't prepared. The five foolish didn't have enough OIL (Holy Spirit -- 1 Sam. 16:13; John 16:13; 1 John 2:27) for their LAMPS ("thy word" -- Ps. 119:105). In other words, not enough OBEDIENCE to the Bible because God gives his Holy Spirit "to them that OBEY him" (Acts 5:32) who then become a shining example of "good works" (Matt. 5:16). Notice that "I (Aries) stand at the (gibbous lunar) door (in Aries) and knock." "Open the door" implies that it is closed with a red bar. Laodiceans have a CLOSED mind to new truth and to obedience to the Bible. Philadelphia's door (the Gibbous MOON crown on the head of Taurus) is OPEN and Philadelphia is WILLING to learn and obey (3:8).

A timeline for Laodicea:

1514 May 5th, 1514, the representatives from different "TONGUES and NATIONS" of the Church of Western Europe gathered in the Lateran Church at Rome to hear the famous proclamation of triumph, "Jam nemo reclamant, nullus obsistit." No witnesses appeared to testify to the truth. Their voices were all silent as if they were DEAD. P--pe Leo X was the beast. The council orator exultingly declared: "Now, no one contradicts, no one opposes." To the P--pe he said: "The whole body of Christendom is now seen to be subjected to its head, that is to thee."(VENUS -- 1514)
1518 Zwingli comes to Zurich
1521 Diet of Worms -- Luther's final breach with the Catholic Church; Luther excommunicated
1529 Moslem seige of Christian Vienna
1534 Act of Supremacy passed. Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of Church of England
1534 Ignatius of Loyola founds Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
1541 Colloquy of Regensburg (MERCURY -- 1541)
1554 Mary 1 of England ("bloody Mary") succeeds her half brother Edward VI in 1553 (JUPITER -- 1554)
1555 Peace of Augsburg (JUPITER -- 1554)
1582 Gregory XIII institutes Gregorian Calendar. Also Douay-Rheims Bible published.
1598 Edict of Nantes
1618 Synod of Dort begins (SATURN -- 1619)
1618 Thirty Years War begins (SATURN -- 1619)
1620 Mayflower Compact drafted (SATURN -- 1619)
1620 English Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower land at Plymouth Rock on Cape Cod Massachusetts (SATURN -- 1619)
1776 American War of Independence begins
1783 America wins independence.
1797 Second Awakening begins (MARS -- 1797)
1798 P-pe Pius VI is prisoner in France (MARS -- 1797)
1807 British Parliament abolishes the slave trade.
1854 Immaculate Conception of Mary proclaimed
1854 Charles Spurgeon becomes pastor of London's New Park Street Chapel
1874 Ghana made a British colony (VENUS -- 1874)
1875 Mary Baker Eddy writes Science and Health(VENUS -- 1874)
1875 Light bulb invented (VENUS -- 1874)
1875 Britain acquires 44% share holder in the Suez Canal Company (VENUS -- 1874)
1880 First Northfield Conference led by Dwight Moody
1881 A wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million settle in U.S. Thousands settle in Palestine)
1893 Diesel engine invented
1893 First Matabele War
1901 American Standard Version (MERCURY -- 1901)
1914 Assemblies of God founded (JUPITER -- 1914)
1914 World War 1 starts (JUPITER -- 1914)
1958 Integrated circuit invented by Jack Kilby
1959 Alaska and Hawaii achieve statehood
1978 New International Version (SATURN -- 1979)
1979 Rhodesia remaned Zimbnabwe; Khomeini returns to Iran and Shah leaves.(SATURN --1979)
2016-17 Rapture
2026 Second Coming of Our Lord