OUTLINE STUDIES IN THE REVELATION 9
‘parties that sprang up within the church, undermining the
truth by mysticism and fanciful teaching. Under profession
of a higher philosophy of God and a more spiritual under-
standing of the doctrines of Christ, they brought heathen no-
tions and moral corruptions into the church.
~ 6. This and other references show plainly that the Eden
that once was on earth has been transplanted to heaven.
7. 2 ‘Sniyrna’ signifies ‘myrrh,’ fit appellation for the
church of God while passing through the fiery furnace of per-
secution and proving herself a ‘sweet-smelling savor’ unto Him.”
houghts on Revelation.
8. “Which was dead and is alive” This is an assurance
that One who has gone down into Satan’s prison-house, con-
quered death, and brought the key away with Him, was
qualified to bear a message of hope and comfort to the church
in that age when many were to seal their testimony with their
blood.
¢. In these times of pagan persecution, the issue was
practically the same as we must again face—the Christian
principle of religious liberty as opposed to the Roman prin-
ciple of governmental regulation of religion. The Roman law
was: “No man shall have for himself particular gods of his
cwn; no man shall worship by himself any new or foreign
gods, unless they are recognized by the public laws.” The
prophecy speaks of “ten days.” The last and severest per-
secution of this period was a sustained effort to suppress
Christianity, lasting ten years. Ten days. prophetic time—a
day for a year—would be ten years, literal timeX, “It was not
tilt A. D. 311,” says Lecky, “ten years after the first measure
against the Christians, that the Eastern persecution ceased.
Galerius, the arch-enemy of the Christians, was struck down
by a fearful disease” He suspended his edict and besought
Christians to pray for his recovery.
Prayerfully consider the unentered fie(ds.