Page 4 - 03b The Seven Churhces-Smyrna

THE STORY OF THE SEER OF PATMOS

Stephen N. Haskell

“Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at
hand” Revelation 22:10.

“Ephesus” means “first,” or “desirable.” In the

first century, Ephesus was capital of Asia

Minor, and the center of trade from both the

east and the west. It was strongly under Greek

influence, and in position, corresponded to

Corinth in Greece, and Alexandria in Egypt. It

has been called the “rallying place of

paganism,” and was a stronghold of the

recognized religion and the popular education

of the world, when, soon after the death of the

Saviour, it was first visited by the apostles. It

may well be taken to symbolize that period of

ecclesiastical history when the Gospel in its

purity met, in open conflict, the darkest forms

of pagan worship. Side by side with the

Greeks, dwelt Jews, men who ought to have

held aloft the worship of Jehovah, but who had