speedily visiting the churches of Proconsular Asia, especially that at
_Colosse_ (Philem. 1:22), and desired a lodging to be prepared for him
at the house of Philemon. We may take for granted that this purpose was
accomplished, and that _Ephesus_, as well as Colosse, was visited at
this time. Ephesus has been already described. (See page 125.) Colosse,
called also Colassæ, was a city on the Lycus, near Hierapolis and
Laodicea, and on the great caravan road from Ephesus to the Euphrates.
At one time it was a large and flourishing place, but declined as other
cities gained its Eastern trade. Paul had never before visited this
city, and its church had been founded by Epaphras. Yet Paul was well
acquainted with several of its members, and addressed to it, during his
imprisonment, the Epistle to the Colossians; and to one of its members
the Epistle to Philemon. The site of the ancient city is near the modern
village of _Chonas_.
2. Just before his release, Paul dispatched Timothy to Philippi,
expecting soon to follow him. (Phil. 2:19-24.) Timothy fulfilled his
mission, and came to Ephesus, where Paul left him in charge of the
church, and himself went to _Macedonia_. (1 Tim. 1:3.) Here he doubtless
visited the churches which he had planted in Philippi, Thessalonica and
Berea, and probably journeyed as far south as Corinth.
3. We judge that to this time belongs his visit to _Crete_. (Titus 1:5.)
He had touched at this island during his voyage to Rome, and may have
gone on shore at Fair Havens; but now he organized the church, and left
it under the care of Titus, who had accompanied him to the island.
4. We find that after this Paul was at _Nicopolis_, a place not
previously mentioned in his history. (Titus 3:12.) There were no less
than ten cities of this name in the ancient world; but it must have been
one of three among them: Nicopolis of Thrace, of Cilicia, or of Epirus.
The latter has been generally accepted as the one where Paul "determined
to winter." It was in the Roman province of Achaia, near the Adriatic
Sea and the Ionian Isles; and was built by Augustus to commemorate his
victory at Actium. The place is now called _Paleo-prevesa_, "old
Prevesa," and contains extensive ruins, among which is a building said
to have been Paul's place of prayer. Some think that Paul was arrested
here before his final imprisonment; but there is no certainty concerning
it.
5. _Troas._ (2 Tim. 4:13.) It is evident that Paul passed through this
place, and stopped with a certain person named Carpus, where he left his
mantle for winter wear, and some manuscripts. Farrar is of the opinion
that he was here arrested, and in such haste that he could not obtain
these articles. He may have come from Nicopolis by way of Macedonia,
passing through Philippi, and sailing across the Ægean Sea.
6. An allusion in 2 Tim. 4:20 hints at another place visited by the
apostle, perhaps as a prisoner. If arrested at Troas, he would probably
be sent to _Ephesus_, the residence of the proconsul, for trial. And at
Miletus, near that city, we find that he left his companion, Trophimus,
who had been with him at the time of his former arrest in Jerusalem. It
is a slight confirmation of this view, that there is among the ruins of
Ephesus a place pointed out as the prison of Paul.
7. From Ephesus he may have set sail once more as a prisoner for _Rome_.
He was accompanied by several friends, as Titus, who had left Crete once
more to follow him; Luke the physician, his companion to the last; and
Tychicus. We know nothing concerning the voyage, and therefore represent
it on the map by the most direct route from Ephesus. At Rome we know
only that his imprisonment was short; that his friends were few, for the
church had been scattered by the terrible persecution of Nero; that Paul
was left alone at his first hearing, his friends having gone in various
directions, some on errands of duty, and others in fear of the world;
that he wrote earnestly to Timothy to come, bringing Mark with him (2
Tim. 4:9, 11); and we infer from his own expectations and the tradition
of the church, that his martyrdom was not long delayed.
The traditional place of his execution is shown at Aquæ Salvæ, now _Tre
Fontane_, three miles from Rome, near the road to Ostia.
OUTLINE FOR REVIEW.
1. Colosse and Ephesus. 2. Macedonia. (Philippi,
Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth.) 3. Crete. 4.
Nicopolis. 5. Troas. (Arrest?) 6. Ephesus. 7.
Rome. (Martyrdom.)
[Illustration: THE ISLES OF GREECE AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES.]
THE ISLES OF GREECE AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
I. AS THE islands of the Ægean Sea are often referred to in the Acts,
especially in the account of Paul's voyage to Phoenicia, in his third
missionary journey, we present a map representing them upon a larger
scale, with those portions of Asia and Europe adjoining them. Such of
the islands as are mentioned in the history have been already described.
One of the smallest is brought to our notice in the book of Revelation,
=Patmos=, to which the apostle John was banished. This lies 20 miles
south of the island of Samos, 24 miles west of Asia Minor, and about 70
miles southwest of Ephesus. It is about 20 miles in circumference, and
is rocky and barren. Its loneliness and seclusion made it a suitable
place for the banishment of criminals; and to it the apostle John was
banished by the emperor Domitian, near the close of the first Christian
century: though some scholars give an earlier date, under the emperor
Nero. A narrow isthmus divides the island into two parts, north and
south. On a hill in the southern part is a monastery named after the
apostle John, and near it is the cave where it is said by tradition that
he received the vision of the Apocalypse. In the Middle Ages the island
was called Patmosa, and it is now known as _Patmo_.
II. The term =Asia= was used by the ancients in varied extent of
meaning. 1. Its earliest use in Homer refers only to a meadow near Troy
(Troas), which was called the "Asian meadow." 2. The lands of Mysia,
Lydia, Caria, and a part of Phrygia, were known as Proconsular Asia, as
they formed the province of Asia under the Roman government. This was
originally the dominion of the last king of Pergamos, whose title was
"king of Asia"; and was by him bequeathed to the Romans. 3. Asia Minor,
as a whole, was sometimes called by the name Asia, though not often. 4.
The entire Asiatic continent was known by this name in ancient times;
but this use of the word is not found in Scripture.
[Illustration: LAODICEA FROM HIERAPOLIS.]
III. =The Seven Churches of Asia= were all located in Proconsular Asia,
in the immediate neighborhood of Ephesus. There were other churches
besides these, as Hierapolis and Colosse, both near Laodicea, and
referred to in the Pauline Epistles; but these are named as the most
important, and a group of seven is the arrangement most frequently found
in the Bible, especially in its symbolical writings. To these Seven
Churches were sent the messages in the opening chapters of the
Revelation.
1. _Ephesus_ (Rev. 2:1) was the most important city of the district, its
church was the largest, and it was the first addressed. (A description
and plan of this city may be found on page 125.)
2. _Smyrna_ (Rev. 2:8) is north of Ephesus, about 40 miles in a direct
line, though longer by the route of travel. It is on the Ægean Sea, at
the head of the Hermæan Gulf, at the foot of Mount Pagus. The earliest
city was built B.C. 1500, by the Greeks, and destroyed and rebuilt
several times. From the time of Alexander the Great, who was one of its
builders, it became an important city. Its earliest mention in Christian
history is in the Revelation. Polycarp, a pupil of John, was martyred
here A.D. 155. His grave is still shown on a hill near the city. Despite
fires, earthquakes and wars, it has retained its importance, and is now
the largest city on the Asiatic side of the Ægean Sea, having a
population of nearly 200,000 people. The modern city is about two miles
from the ancient site.
3. _Pergamos_ (Rev. 2:12), more properly Pergamum, was 60 miles
northeast of Smyrna, in the district of Mysia, 3 miles north of the
little river Caicus, and 20 miles from the Ægean Sea. It was the capital
of a small but wealthy kingdom, which arose in the breaking up of
Alexander's empire. It was celebrated for its large library, which at
one time contained 200,000 manuscripts, but was by Mark Antony presented
to Cleopatra, and removed to Alexandria. The city was devoted to the
worship of Æsculapius, the patron divinity of medicine; and was, like
most idolatrous places, corrupt in its morals. It is now a city of
25,000 inhabitants, called _Pergama_.
[Illustration: ISLE of PATMOS.]
4. _Thyatira_ (Rev. 2:18) was a city in the province of Lydia, on the
road from Pergamos to Sardis. It was founded by Alexander the Great, who
planted it with people from Macedonia, which may account for the fact
that "Lydia of Thyatira" was found by Paul at Philippi, in Macedonia. It
was a prosperous manufacturing town, but never a great city, and its
scarlet cloth still has a reputation throughout the Orient. It is now a
place with a population of from 17,000 to 20,000, and is called _ak
Hissar_, "white castle."
5. _Sardis_ (Rev. 3:1) lay 30 miles south of Thyatira, between the river
Hermus and Mount Tmolus. It was the capital of Croesus, the wealthy king
of Lydia, whose empire was overthrown by Cyrus the Great. After the time
of Alexander it belonged to the kingdom of Pergamos, until its
absorption into the Roman empire. It was a place of extensive commerce,
which led to prosperity, and the worldliness of the Christian church,
rebuked in the message of the Revelation. It is now a miasmatic region,
with scarcely an inhabitant, and bears the name _Sert Kalessi_.
6. _Philadelphia_ (Rev. 3:7) was about 25 miles southeast of Sardis, on
the river Cogamus, a branch of the Hermus. It was built and named by
Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamos, and was the centre of a rich
farming region, which has kept it inhabited through all the vicissitudes
of the centuries. It was destroyed by an earthquake A.D. 17, but
rebuilt. Its population is now about 10,000, and its modern name is
_Allah Shehr_, "city of God."
7. _Laodicea_ (Rev. 3:14) was the capital of Phrygia, and was 50 or 60
miles from Philadelphia, according to route. It was on the bank of the
Lycus, near Hierapolis and Colosse. Its ancient name was Diospolis, but
was changed by the Syrian king, Seleucus II., in honor of his wife,
Laodice. In A.D. 62 it was destroyed by an earthquake; but its people
were sufficiently rich to decline the aid of the Romans in rebuilding
their city. Its worldly prosperity was reflected in its church, which
received the sharpest rebukes of the Revelator. The Mohammedans
destroyed the city, which is now a mass of ruins, surrounding a village
called _Eski-hissar_.
It will be noticed, that, in the order of the Revelation, the Seven
Churches are arranged in a circuit, as one would find them, starting
from Ephesus, and traveling north to Smyrna and Pergamus, then southeast
to Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia, until the southern and eastern
limit is reached at Laodicea.
OUTLINE FOR REVIEW.
I. Let the teacher draw the outlines of the coast
of both Europe and Asia, and call attention to the
lands as already noticed under other maps. Then
locate and name the principal _Islands_,
especially those referred to in Paul's voyage to
Palestine (map on page 122), and _Patmos_.
II. Explain the four meanings of the name Asia, as
used by the ancients.
III. Locate and name the _Seven Churches_, as
given in Revelation. _Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos,
Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea._
THE TABERNACLE.
[Illustration: THE TABERNACLE, ACCORDING TO FERGUSSON.]
I. =Its Origin.= The Tabernacle was the tent in which the emblems for
divine worship were kept from the time of Moses to that of Solomon, 400
years. It represented the idea of God dwelling among his people, in the
centre of the camp of Israel. The earliest institution for worship was
the Altar, built wherever the patriarchs pitched their tents. Next we
find a place consecrated and kept for the house of God, as Jacob's
pillar at Bethel, to which the patriarch returned as to a sanctuary in
after years. The Tabernacle arose when Israel was no longer a family,
but a nation, needing a centralizing power and a system of worship as
the uniting element among the tribes. It was erected under the direction
of Moses, by divine command, while the Israelites were encamped at Mount
Sinai.
II. =Its History.= During all the journeys of the Israelites through the
wilderness, the Tabernacle stood in the centre of their camp, or, while
on the march, was taken apart and carried by the Levites. At the time of
the conquest, it remained at Gilgal, the fortified camp of Israel, near
Jericho. After the war it was established at Shiloh, in the tribe of
Ephraim, where it continued until the great defeat of Israel at Ebenezer
(1 Sam. 4:1-11), when the ark was taken, and probably Shiloh was
ravaged. The Tabernacle was removed to Nob, in the tribe of Benjamin,
where it remained until Saul's slaughter of the priests. (1 Sam. 21:1-6;
22:18, 19.) It seems to have been at Gibeon, while the ark was in
seclusion at Kirjath-jearim. (2 Chron. 1:4.) There is no mention of the
Tabernacle after the building of the Temple; but a Jewish tradition is
that its curtains were rolled up and laid away in one of the rooms
connected with the Temple.
III. =The Departments of the Tabernacle.= This will require us to
notice: 1. The Court. 2. The Altar. 3. The Laver. 4. The Tent. 5. The
Holy Place. 6. The Holy of Holies. The dimensions of these are given in
cubits; and, as the authorities differ as to the length of the cubit, we
will consider it here as being about a foot and a half, or 18 inches,
the length generally given.
1. _The Court_ was 150 feet long by 75 wide. It was separated from the
camp by a curtain of fine linen, supported by 60 pillars, of which 20
were on each side, and 10 on each end. The pillars were probably of wood
covered with brass. (There is strong reason for believing that the word
"brass" in the Old Testament refers to copper.) They were fastened
together by cords, and rested upon bases of brass, which were fastened
to the ground, perhaps by spikes from the bottom. Each pillar was 7-1/2
feet (5 cubits) high, and was covered with a silver cap. The curtain was
made of linen, in sections, extending from pillar to pillar, a distance
of about 8 feet, and was fastened to the pillars by hooks of silver. The
entrance was on the end toward the east, 30 feet wide, and consisted of
an embroidered hanging, which could be raised or lowered at pleasure.
None but the priests and Levites were allowed within the court; and the
worshipers presented their offerings without at the entrance. (Review.
1. Dimensions. 2. Pillars. 3. Curtain. 4. Entrance. 5. Priests.)
2. _The Altar_ stood within the court, in front of the entrance, in the
most prominent situation of the camp, and was the largest article of the
tabernacle furniture. It was a plain structure, 7-1/2 feet square and
4-1/2 feet high, hollow within, and made of acacia wood, to avoid
excessive weight; but covered with plates of brass, as it was exposed to
the fire. Upon each corner projected a horn from the top, upon which the
blood of the victim was sometimes sprinkled, and to which suppliants
sometimes fled. Around the altar, midway between the top and bottom, was
a "compass" (Exod. 27:5), or ledge, upon which the priest stood while
sacrificing. There is mention also of "a grate" (Exod. 27:4), which was
formerly supposed to have been placed inside the altar, so that the fire
might be built upon it, and the ashes fall through it; but this is now
by the best scholars considered to have been upright, and under the
"compass," and not a grate, but a lattice-work of brass, surrounding the
altar. It is believed that at each encampment the altar was filled with
earth, and that upon this the fire was kindled, according to Exod.
20:24, 25. At each corner was a brass ring, and through the pair of
rings on each side a rod was passed, by which the altar was carried
from place to place during the marches of Israel. The fire upon the
altar was kindled miraculously (Lev. 9:24), and was never suffered to go
out, but was kept alive even on the march by live coals in a vessel.
Twice each day the high-priest offered the general sacrifice for the
people, besides the individual offerings of worshipers. In officiating,
the priest approached the altar by an ascent of earth, as steps were
forbidden (Exod. 20:26), and he stood upon either the north or south
side, as the ashes were thrown out on the east side. (Lev. 1:16.) The
utensils of the altar were five, all of brass. 1. _Pans_, used to convey
the ashes outside the camp. (Lev. 6:10, 11.) 2. _Shovels_, for taking
off coals of fire to put in the censers. 3. _Basins_, for receiving and
carrying the blood of offerings. 4. _Flesh-hooks_, for placing the
sacrifice on the fire. 5. _Fire-pans_, for carrying the fire while on
the march. (Note for Review. 1. Situation. 2. Dimensions. 3. Horns. 4.
Compass. 5. Grate. 6. Earth contents. 7. Rings. 8. Fire. 9. Sacrifices.
10. Approach. 11. Utensils.)
[Illustration: THE TABLE OF SHEW-BREAD.]
3. _The Laver_ is less minutely described than the altar. It was a large
tank for holding water, an abundance of which was needed in the
sacrifices, and was made out of the metallic "looking-glasses" of the
women who worshiped at the Tabernacle. (Exod. 38:8.) It stood at the
door of the Tabernacle, and west of the altar. (Exod. 30:18.) With it is
mentioned "its foot," which was probably a lower basin, into which the
water ran from above, made to prevent the earth around from becoming
saturated with water. Its size and form are not stated in the account.
(Review. 1. Purpose. 2. Material. 3. Place. 4. Foot.)
4. _The Tent._ This was the Tabernacle proper, to which the court was
the adjunct. It stood as the representation of God's house, wherein he
dwelt in the midst of his own chosen people. It was 15 feet wide and
high, and 45 feet long, divided into two rooms by a curtain, or vail.
Though many details are given, yet it is not possible to give certain
conclusions either concerning its plan of construction, or even its
general appearance. For example: some authorities conclude that the
curtained roof was flat, or even sagging downward in the middle, while
others are sure that it was pointed, by means of a ridge-pole, as
represented in our engraving. We consider neither as certain, but
incline to the latter opinion. The walls and rear end of the tent were
made of upright boards, covered with gold, each 15 feet high, and 2 feet
3 inches wide; of which there were 20 boards on each side, and 10 in the
rear, while the front was open. Upon each board were rings of gold, so
arranged that, when the walls were erected, the rings were in three
rows, and through them long poles were passed to hold the structure
together. Each board was furnished at its lower end with two tenons,
which fitted into mortises in bases of solid silver, each weighing
nearly 100 pounds. These bases stood side by side, forming a firm and
continuous foundation, and protecting the lower ends of the boards from
decay. The roof of the tent was supported by pillars, of which there
seem to have been five in the front (Exod. 36:38), and probably as many
in the rear. These were covered with gold, and rested upon bases of
brass. The covering of the Tabernacle consisted of four curtains, one
over another. 1. A covering called the "tabernacle cloth," of linen,
woven in various colors, and embroidered with figures of cherubim. 2.
Over this was stretched a covering of cloth made from goat's hair,
larger than the other, and therefore extending beyond it. 3. Next came a
covering of "rams' skins dyed red." 4. Over all was spread a covering
skin, called in the Hebrew, _tachash_, translated "badgers' skins," but
supposed by many to mean _seal skin_, taken from animals found in the
Red Sea, and intended to preserve the roof from the effects of the
weather. The front, on the eastern end, was protected by a hanging of
fine linen, embroidered in blue, purple and scarlet, and resting upon
the five pillars named above. (Review. 1. Purpose. 2. Dimensions. 3.
Form. 4. Walls. 5. Rings. 6. Bases. 7. Pillars. 8. Coverings. 9. Front.)
5. _The Holy Place._ This was the larger of the two rooms, and was
separated from the smaller room within by the _Vail_, which was an
embroidered curtain hanging upon four pillars. Its dimensions were 15
feet in width and 30 feet in length, with walls 15 feet high. There is
no mention of a floor, and probably there was none. It contained three
articles of furniture. On the right of a person entering, midway between
the two ends of the room, stood the _Table_, made of shittim wood
(acacia), covered with gold; it was 3 feet long, a foot and a half wide,
2 feet 3 inches high, and surrounded with a "crown," or ornamental band,
of gold. On the corners were rings, through which rods were passed, to
carry it from place to place. On this table were kept 12 loaves of
unleavened bread, which were renewed every Sabbath. On the left,
opposite to the table, was the _Lamp-stand_, generally called the
Candlestick, but incorrectly, as it contained lamps, not candles. This
was a tree of gold, probably 40 inches high, having three branches on
each side of the central trunk, so arranged that the seven summits, each
holding a lamp, stood in a horizontal line. It is uncertain whether the
lamps were kept burning at all times, or only during the night. Directly
in front of the vail, at the western end of the Holy Place, stood the
_Altar of Incense_. This was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, whence
it was frequently called "the golden altar." It was a foot and a half
square, and three feet high. It had horns on its corners, and rings for
carrying, and an opening in the top, wherein was placed daily a censer
full of incense, which was lighted by live coals from the altar of burnt
offering in the court. The lighting of the incense with common fire was
the crime for which the two elder sons of Aaron "died before the Lord."
(Lev. 10:1, 2.) Into the Holy Place the priests entered daily, to trim
and refill the lamps, and offer the incense. (Review. 1. Vail. 2.
Dimensions. 3. Table. 4. Lamp-stand. 5. Altar of Incense. 6. Daily
uses.)
6. _The Holy of Holies._ This was the inner room, at the western end of
the building, entered only on one day in the year, the Day of Atonement,
and only by the high priest. Its dimensions were those of a cube, 15
feet in breadth, length and height. It contained the most sacred _Ark of
the Covenant_, which was a chest, the receptacle for the stone tablets
of the Law, given by the Lord to Moses. It was of shittim or acacia
wood, covered without and within with gold, 3 feet 9 inches long, by 2
feet 3 inches wide and deep; furnished on the side with rings, that it
might be carried. The lid was made of gold, and was called the
_propitiatory_,--in our version, "mercy seat." Upon it stood golden
figures of the cherubim, and between them was believed to dwell the
cloud which denoted God's presence. (Review. 1. Uses. 2. Dimensions. 3.
Ark.)
[Illustration: THE BRAZEN ALTAR.]
OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.
1. Draw upon the blackboard a diagram representing
the ground-plan of the Court of the Tabernacle,
and, within it, the Tabernacle itself. Tell the
class its origin and history.
2. Locate upon the diagram each of the parts
referred to, and describe them, following the
outline given at the end of each paragraph.
3. Review the facts given, frequently during the
lesson, and finally at the close.
[Illustration: THE BRAZEN ALTAR, ACCORDING TO MEYER.]
[Illustration: THE TEMPLE IN THE TIME OF CHRIST (HEROD'S).]
THE TEMPLE.