Answers to Trivia Questions October 2009

1.     According to the “letter” to Pergamum, who lives there?

a.     Antipas

b.    Mary, the mother of Jesus

c.     Paul

d.    Satan

Answer:  d.  Since most names in Revelation are symbolic, “Satan” too may refer to a contemporary earthly individual.  One candidate is the emperor Domitian – who exiled John to Patmos.

2.     The “letter” to Thyatira describes Jesus as having -- :

a.     eyes of compassion

b.    eyes like fire

c.     pierced feet

d.    a voice of thunder

Answer: b.  The pacific image of Christ has little place in Revelation, who is usually the terrifying Rider on the White Horse, dripping the blood of his enemies.

3.     The letter to Philadelphia contains the first reference to :

a.     the Siege of Jerusalem

b.    the Great Fire of Jerusalem

c.     the New Jerusalem

d.     the temple in Hieropolis

 Answer:  c:  Later on, in chapter 21, John describes the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a thousand miles long and wide and (possibly) a thousand miles high!

 Answers to Trivia  Questions September 2009

1.     The “Nicolaitans”:

a.   were founded by Nicholas of Antioch

b.  approved of adultery

c.   ate food sacrificed to idols

d.  are otherwise unknown

Possibly all of the above!  Church fathers identified the founder of the Nicolaitan sect denounced in the “letters” to Ephesus and Pergamon, as the Nicholas of Acts 6:5.   The Nicolaitans are roundly denounced as adulterers and eaters of “food offered to idols”.  This second charge was sometimes leveled against Paul’s followers, and his “don’t ask” policy described in I Corinthians would support such a charge.   The Nicolaitans may be one of the libertarian sects of early Christianity, who did not help the reputation of the growing religion. 

2.     Ephesus contained one of the Wonders of the World :

a.     The Mausoleum

b.    The Temple of Diana

c.     The Hanging Gardens

d.    The Pyramids

                     Answer:  b.    The Temple of Diana – the Artemision. The temple was a center of pilgrimage, and contributed greatly to the economy of the city.  St. Paul was attacked by the local artisans for having threatened their livelihood by questioning the temple.  The theater into which his companions were dragged still exists.

3.     The message to Smyrna refers to the “crown of life.”  This may relate to :

a.     a prize given at the civic games

b.    the great buildings overlooking the city

c.     the imperial status of the city

d.     a great statue

Answer:  b.   Possibly the reference is to a group of buildings known as the “Crown of Smyrna”