"I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be writen." John 21:25
In modern day Turkey are many ancient ruins of a people that existed in biblical times. Ephesus for example is of biblical record. An ancient city fed by a harbor that existed in a small inlet of the Aegean Sea. Lots of things have changed sense those biblical writings were made record. For example, the harbor no longer exists and was filled in with river soot long ago. However, some things still stand, like the theatre that is mentioned in the book of Acts (pictured above).
Acts 19:28-30
"And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not."
Back ground: "Diana" or "Artimus" was the goddess used to justify many acts of fornication. Apearently the Ephesians loved their way of life and didn't apreciate Paul trying to change it. Some things never change. Eventually, Paul teaching these kinds of things ended with his execution in Rome.
Dispite these setbacks Paul had great success in Ephesus where many Jews and Gentiles became disciples of Jesus Christ. However, it wasn't long after these events that being a disciple of the Christ became a dangerous endevor. I was reminded of this by one of the locals who looked at me with a piercing eye and told me that not following what the people believed would get me boiled in oil. She may have been a little to serious and personal for my taste, however, it gave me a small feel of what it was like to be an Early Day Saint in Ephesus.
Outside of Ephesus is St. Johns Basilica. The Basilica was created in the 6th century AD. It was built over a church that was built in the 4th century AD that was allegedly built over a John's grave from sometime in the 1st century. As I was taking this picture, contemplating the huge gaps in history here and observing the left over ruins of the Basilica, I couldn't help but think that John is not there. Secretly, as I was standing there, I was hoping that John would come up from behind me and put his arm around me and say "funny, isn't it?". Instead, a british man walked up to me and said, "Have you ever read the book of Revelation?". I said, "yes many times", hoping to strike a good conversation. He then said, "this is the guy who wrote that". I said "yes, on the Island of Patmos. However he is not here". I then explained that in the book of John it says that he would live until the second comming and it was the resurected Christ that said that (John 21:22,23). He then pointed out that there is that and then there is reality. Now, understanding that it takes a great deal of faith to believe in such a thing and there is no point in dieing on that hill, I left it at that. I think he determined that I was crazy and he said, "reality people are going this way now", and he walked away. Imagine the faith it takes to believe in Jesus Christ. A person doesn't learn it from a man. After all, how can he trust a man. He gets it from a devine source (Matthew 16:15-17). Maybe there is still hope for the British (wink). I am sure that the struggles of Latter Day Saints and Early Day Saints are much the same. However, every once in a while there is someone ready for a devine intervention and it is evident in Ephesus and other places that the Gosple of Jesus Christ has reached.
The road that lead to what was once a harbor in Ephesus.
The goddess Diana
Peter wrote his first epistle in Ephesus, Paul taught there and John and Mary had a home there. All of the Apostles were martyred with the exception of John the Beloved. Imagine that.
Of all the Christian churches that came from or evolved out of the third century Nicaean creeds, comissioned by the Imperor Constantine, None of them teach that John is alive.
