Page 2 - 03a The Seven Churches-Ephesus

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.

CHAPTER III. THE MESSAGE TO THE

CHURCHES - Smyrna

Smyrna, the second church addressed, was

only about fifty miles from Ephesus, and

doubtless knew of the conditions at the

central church of Asia Minor; but as it was not

a great trade center, many of the perplexities

with which Ephesus had to contend were not

present in Smyrna. Its members were poor,

but still they worked earnestly for others. The

wealth of Ephesus was one of the greatest

drawbacks to the spirituality of that church;

but Smyrna, though poor in worldly goods,

was rich in the eyes of the Lord. Through false

teachers, claiming to be the children of God,

persecution came to those who wished to

follow the teachings of Christ. The true Jew is