Last Words of Polycarp before burned at the Stake: “Eighty six years I have served him and he has done me no wrong! How can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten men with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.” Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna. (69-155 A.D.)
Tag: bishop
Vanity Fair! Revelation 2:13
Jesus said Antipas is my faithful martyr! Antipas was the Bishop of the church at Pergamos during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian. The Apostle John ordained Antipas as Bishop of the church at Pergamos. Antipas was burned inside an idol which was a bull shaped copper structure. His crime was casting out demons worshipped by the local population! Some of the hero’s of the Faith are listed in Hebrews Chapter eleven! Stephen was a faithful martyr listed in the Book of Acts! Antipas was most likely a Greek who converted to Christianity. Antipas is the shortened name of Antipater. Remember that was the name of one of Alexander the Great successful Generals. (397-319 B.C.). Remember Herod the Great was known by this name! Jesus will avenge the blood of the Saints! Why did Jesus call Pergamum Satan’s Seat? Even Ephesus with all of its advantages with the Great Temple and bustling port, could not match the importance of the once royal seat of the Attalids! Situated on a scenic acropolis Pergamum was embellished with the largest number of Greek and Roman Temples in the whole of Asia Minor! Examples are Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Demetia, Dionysis and Aphrodite. On another site was housed the largest Aesclepium of the Empire. Its library of two hundred thousand volumes rivaled the renowned library in Alexandria! The eminent Doctor Galen was among her favorite sons! Roman Emperors came to seek healing at the famous Aesclelpium! Aesclepium was honored as the god of healing in the classical world. When the cult of “Dominus et Deus”, was initiated at Pergamum, the great Basilica was erected, adding to the rostrum of numerous idol Temples! The visitor today Bergama (Turkish name of the present day city), will see the immense structure at the edge of the bustling center. Basilica became the monument of vice and cruelty! Every citizen was forced to burn a few grains of incense here and worship the Emperor of Deus. Then they would proceed to their preferred practice a common syncetistic act which never lacked its double-faced devotees! For anyone who refused to submit to this profane practice death was imminent! Where as the Temple of Zeus was referred by the early Christians as the “Seat of Satan”, the appellation was later transferred to this center where some Christians felt compelled to pay obeisance! Source: Thomas Cosmades Comment: Remember God’s church was established in the midst of all this evil! The venerable Polycarp followed Antipas in martyrdom! Christ and his Cross was raised up over “Satan’s Seat”, to defeat Satan the eternal enemy of man! This battle rages on today between the One True God and the millions of the gods of men! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Salvation Neccessary! John 3:16
Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemy! Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (340-397 A.D.)
Who was Polycarp? A.D. 69-155
He was a disciple and personal companion of the Apostle John. As a youth he studied at the Apostle’s feet and was ordained as Bishop of Smyrna. Some scholars believe that the Angel of the Church at Smyrna mentioned in the Book of Revelation was referring to Polycarp. Our Lord had no criticism for the Church at Smyrna and told them that they were rich! Their tribulation and poverty was translated into wealth of spirit! Polycarp lived to be about 87 years old and was martyred in 155 A.D. To escape martyrdom he only would have had to say, “Caesar is Lord.” Polycarp was a powerful leader both living and dying! Who is your Lord? Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
The Flying Bishop! Ezekiel Chapter 1
Bishop Milton Wright was President of two Bible Colleges and Bishop of two denominations here in America over his career! In the late 1800’s he had travel to the annual Bishop’s Conference. His son Wilbur drove him to the train station by horse and buggy. He boarded a steam engine locomotive for travel to the conference. As presiding Bishop things went well at the conference except for one crazy Pastor who had visions of men flying in machines! This Pastor disrupted the conference with his loud outbursts about this vision. Bishop Wright put this Pastor on probation and warned him he would not tolerate weird behavior in our denomination! When Bishop Wright got home he explained to his son’s Wilbur and Orville the strange vision this Pastor had at the conference! By the way boy’s what are those strange contraptions you are assembling in our barn? Boy’s please tend to your farm work and take care of our horses, cows, pigs and chickens! Boy’s our barn is starting to look like a machine shop? One thing I have learned for over 50 years of Bible study is that what we see on earth first existed in Heaven! The key in life is how do we get back to Heaven? There is only one way but I will let you do your homework and study your Bible and figure it out! Read your Bible it is “Front Page News!” Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com