Christine Miller

Second Seal Symbolism

August 29, 2016 by Christine Miller Leave a Comment

The Greek word used for “kill” here means to put “to death by violence,” and directly implies murder. (The First Four Seals, pg. 24).

Strong’s G4969: sphazo, “… to slay, slaughter, butcher … to put to death by violence … mortally wounded.”

Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 609.

Now because the same symbolism of a horse and a rider is used with this seal as with the first seal, traditionally, it was believed that this seal is related to the first in both time and meaning (The First Four Seals, pg, 24).

“In the fulfillment of these figures there would naturally be a relation of the first four symbols historically, with the possibility of some overlapping in the fulfillment. Remember then, the design of the book is that the first four symbols in each group are interrelated.”

Fred Miller, Revelation: A Panorama, Ch. 3, “The Opening of the Seven Seals.”

For the Scriptural interpretation of the colors and symbols of the first four seals, as traditionally understood by the church, there is no better source than Albert Barnes, who employs minute detail in his explanation of each symbol, in Notes on the New Testament … : Revelation, pp. 132-158.

Revelation 6:1-8 Endnotes

August 27, 2016 by Christine Miller Leave a Comment

The Pattern of Using the Same Symbol
Scriptural Interpretation of the Symbols
Establishing the Timeline of the First Seal
The Five Good Emperors of the First Seal
Second Seal Symbolism
The Reign of Commodus
One Hundred Years of Disorder
Emperor Sold at Public Auction
The Choenix
Economic Collapse
The Weakened Roman State and Military
The Pale Horse
Pestilence in Ancient Rome
Depopulation in the Empire
The Christians Blamed for Roman Troubles

On Smyrna

August 26, 2016 by Christine Miller Leave a Comment

The letter to the church at Smyrna (The Letters to the Seven Churches, pg. 12).

“The church of Smyrna (a very ancient, still flourishing commercial city in Ionia, beautifully located on the bay of Smyrna) was externally poor and persecuted, and had still greater tribulation in view, but is cheered with the prospect of the crown of life. It was the second century ruled by Polycarp, a pupil of John, and a faithful martyr.”

Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 1, p. 380.

“Smyrna : In ancient times one of the most important and now by far the greatest of the cities of Asia Minor, has preserved an unbroken continuity of record and identity of name from the first dawn of history to the present time. … The situation of Smyrna on the path of commerce between Lydia and the west raised it during the 7th century [BC] to the height of power and splendour. It lay at the head of an arm of the sea, which reached far inland and admitted the Greek trading ships into the heart of Lydia. One of the great trade routes which cross Anatolia descends the Hermus valley past Sardis, and then diverging from the valley passes south of Mt. Sipylus and crosses a low pass into the little valley, about 7 miles long and 2 broad, where Smyrna lies between the mountains and the sea. Miletus, and later Ephesus, situated at the sea end of the other great trade route across Anatolia, competed for a time successfully with Smyrna, but both cities long ago lost their harbours, and Smyrna remains without a rival. … The beauty of the [ancient] city, clustering on the low ground, and rising tier over tier on the hillside, is frequently praised by the ancients and is celebrated on its coins.

“In the Roman period … Smyrna vied with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title ‘First (city) of Asia.’ A Christian church existed here from a very early time, having its origin in the considerable Jewish colony. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna and was martyred there AD 155.”

“Smyrna,” The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 25, pgs. 281-282.

Smyrna | revelationrevealed.online — Smyrna from the north west | *Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.*

On Philadelphia

August 23, 2016 by Christine Miller Leave a Comment

Philadelphia is the sixth of the seven churches addressed in Revelation. (The Letters to the Seven Churches, pg. 14).

“Philadelphia: A city of ancient Lydia in Asia Minor on the Cogamus River, 105 miles from Smyrna. It stood upon a terrace 650 ft. above the sea. Behind it are the volcanic cliffs to which the Turks have given the name of Devitt, or ‘inkwells’; on the other side of the city the land is exceedingly fertile, and there was produced a wine of whose excellence the celebrated Roman poet Virgil wrote. Philadelphia is not so ancient as many of the other cities of Asia Minor, for it was founded after 189 bc on one of the highways which led to the interior. … it sometimes bore the title of ‘Little Athens’ because of the magnificence of the temples and other public buildings which adorned it. Philadelphia quickly became an important and wealthy trade center, for as the coast cities declined, it grew in power, and retained its importance even until late Byzantine times.”

“Philadelphia,” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

On Laodicea

August 23, 2016 by Christine Miller Leave a Comment

The church at Laodicea was a neighbor of Colossae, and was one of the wealthiest cities of Asia Minor. (The Letters to the Seven Churches, pg. 14).

“The city of Laodicea was among the very wealthiest of the Roman Empire, and the place was renowned as a banking centre, and a place where medicine was not just practiced but researched, Laodicean eye-salve being sought after the world over. The citizens were so wealthy that when, in ad 60, a massive earthquake destroyed the place, they were able to decline an offer of financial help from the Roman Senate to rebuild. That is wealth indeed.”

William Cooper, Old Light on the Roman Church, Pt. 2, “Paul’s ‘Lost’ Letter to the Laodicean Church.”

“Towards the end of the Roman Republic and under the first emperors, Laodicea, benefiting from its advantageous position on a trade route, became one of the most important and flourishing commercial cities of Asia Minor, in which large money transactions and an extensive trade in black wool were carried on. The area often suffered from earthquakes, especially from the great shock that occurred in the reign of Nero (60 AD) in which the town was completely destroyed. But the inhabitants declined imperial assistance to rebuild the city and restored it from their own means. … Its wealthy citizens embellished Laodicea with beautiful monuments. … The city minted its own coins, the inscriptions of which show evidence of the worship of Zeus, Æsculapius, Apollo, and the emperors.”

“Laodicea on the Lycus,” Wikipedia.

Colonnaded street in Laodicea | revelationrevealed.online — Colonnaded street in Laodicea. By Rjdeadly (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Second Seal Symbolism

Revelation 6:1-8 Endnotes

On Smyrna

On Philadelphia

On Laodicea

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