The Basilica of St. John at Selcuk – Revelations and the Anti Christ

Posted on by CD

St John Basilica, Sacred tours, Turkey, Selcuk, Ephesus
I had no idea that I would be visiting the place where the idea of the Anti-Christ was born or the book of Revelation was composed, but there I was clowning around in the baptismal pool of the church that was built on the grave of St. John, apostle of Christ and author of Revelations.

It was an impressive ruin. If it were still standing it would still be the 7th largest Christian church in the world, but it’s not standing. It’s crumbling. Amazingly as we walked through, I saw something blue on the ground and reached down to see what it was and realized I was walking over an unprotected fresco that no one had bothered to uncover. It wasn’t a recognizable scene, but I spent the next few minutes uncovering it so that others might notice it and maybe someone would even put some sort of barrier around it.
Christian tradition says John lived to an old age and to have died a natural death at Ephesus about A. D. 100. He was the last survivor of the apostolic group. The Gospel was probably written later than the three Synoptic Gospels, about A. D. 85-90.
Basilica of St. John, Selcuk
Apparently after Christ was crucified, John and Jesus’s mom came along and settled in this area. John preached and wrote. John was the best writer of the ancient world. Just look at the way he uses words. Here are some of my favorite bits attributed to him:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know
John 1:26
baptized at Basilica of St. John
Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it
John 12:14
I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation, 3. 12
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death.
Revelation, 6. 8
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation, 13. 18
Basilica of St. John, turkey, Christian Holy Sites
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Revelation, 17. 5
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Revelation, 18. 21

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Revelation, 22. 15

Good stuff. The Basilica was built by the Emperor Justinian in the 4th century AD on the spot where John was said to have been buried. Not far away in the hills is the house of the Virgin Mary. We didn’t make it there this time, nor did we make it to the cave of the seven sleepers which is supposed to be a place where seven young men fell asleep for a few centuries and woke preaching about God.

John was the first science fiction writer. It was he who put those crazy ideas about Jesus being the son of God into all those crazy Christian heads and he also provided the creepy lyrics for that great Iron Maiden song, The Number of the Beast.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=7mHe6FMs46o%3Ffs%3D1%26hl%3Den_GB

5 thoughts on “The Basilica of St. John at Selcuk – Revelations and the Anti Christ”

  1. “John was the first science fiction writer. It was he who put those crazy ideas about Jesus being the son of God into all those crazy Christian heads and he also provided the creepy lyrics for that great Iron Maiden song, The Number of the Beast.”
    You are an intelligent man. One with a heart and deep spirit.
    I would never judge YOUR beliefs. It is the right of each human to “choose.” You cannot, however, speak for another’s writings.
    You were not there. No one can JUDGE your visions or opinions. You alone know the truth for you. I will not condemn what YOU CHOOSE to believe in your life – NOR RIDICULE it. I respect your right to choose, without besmearing the validity of it. That is my opinion; I hold true to my beliefs.
    I care for you and Hanane deeply and pray for your happiness and health every single day.

    Reply

  2. Oh yea – what the hell does iron maiden have to do with anything…a rock group that has been negative and repulsive since I can remember….

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    1. Frankly, I find Christians to be creepy. Those that actually follow the words of Christ, well, that’s a different story. By the way, did you know that early Christians didn’t accept the idea that Christ was God or the son of God? That was determined by the council of Nicea in 325 AD which was called by Constantine, a Roman Emperor who converted but wanted Christianity to appeal to the Roman masses and so was in favor of making Christianity similar to the older religions…so in fact, you might just be worshiping Dionysus, the wine god of the Greeks:

      Hundreds of years before Jesus, there was a passion story told about a God man, born of a virgin mother, in a stable. He travels about with his followers, preaching and performing miracles, including turning water into wine. Eventually, he incurs the wrath of the religious authorities, who are appalled that he refers to himself as the son of god. He allows himself to be arrested and tried for blasphemy- a willing self-sacrifice. He is found guilty and executed, only to rise from the grave three days later, where the women weeping at his tomb do not recognize him until he assumes his divine form. This god, also one of the first depicted crucified, is the vine-God Dionysus
      His birth was observed on December 25. He was worshipped throughout much of the Middle East as well. He had a center of worship in Jerusalem in the 1st century BCE. Some ancient coins have been found in Gaza with Dionysus on one side and JHWH (Jehovah) on the other. In later years, his flesh and blood were symbolically eaten in the form of bread and wine. He was viewed as the son of Zeus, the Father God.

      Maybe you should call yourself a Dionysin instead of a Christian, because my reading of the New Testament shows none of the above. Just a guy with a great philosophy trying to show people that love is a better option.

      Reply

      1. Actually, maybe your’re really a Mithran:

        An inscription in the Vatican states plainly,
        “He who will not eat of my body, nor drink of my blood, so that he may be one with me and I with him, shall not be saved.”
        This is not terribly surprising, unless you consider that this is inscribed on the remains of the temple the Vatican was built on – one dedicated to the God Mithras. Mithras was a solar deity whose worshippers called him redeemer; his religion died out not long after the advent of Christianity.
        Such eerie parallels between the pronouncements of Jesus and Mithras are not the only similarities between the two religions. Mithras was known to his followers as “The light of the world,” or “The good shepherd,” and exhorted his followers to share ritual communion meals of bread and wine.
        Mithras was also born in a cave, with shepherds in attendance, on the twenty-fifth of December.
        Mithraism (6th century B.C. Persia and India). Mithras was born of a virgin, with only shepherds present. Mithras was known as “the way,” “the truth,” “the Life,” “the Light,” “the Word,” the “Son of God,” and “the Good Shepherd.” He was pictured carrying a Lamb on his shoulders. Sunday was sacred and known as “the Lord”s Day” centuries before Jesus was ever born.
        On December 25th, there were glorious celebrations with bells, hymns, candles, gifts, and “communion” was observed by the followers. From December 25 until the Spring Equinox (Estra or Easter) were the “40 days” which later became Christian Lent.
        The followers of Mithras believed there would be a day of “judgement” when non-believers would perish and “believers” would live forever with Mithras in “paradise,” which is a Persian word, not Hebrew.
        Mithra was a Persian savior. Worship of Mithra became common throughout the Roman Empire, particularly among the Roman civil service and military. Mithraism was a competitor of Christianity until the 4th century. Their god was believed to have been born on December 25, circa 500 BCE. His birth was witnessed by shepherds and by gift-carrying Magi.
        …Some followers believed [actually, this was common Persian and Roman belief] that he was born of a virgin. During his life, he performed many miracles, cured many illnesses, and cast out devils. He celebrated a Last Supper with his 12 disciples. He ascended to heaven at the time of the spring equinox, about March 21.

        Coincidence? I think not. I hope your prayers have made it to the right deity.

        Reply

  3. One thing I love about you is that you never hesitate to respond, with integrity and intellect, to any comments made about your posts!
    I do agree with you – most Christians are CREEPY. I really consider myself more of a world spiritual person who happens to believe in the man Jesus, as the the only begotten son of God. As far as the trinity, I think that is man’s creation, and actually Sunday is really not even the Sabbath! Man has twisted and turned his own flawed ideas into religion.
    As far as authentication of my personal choices, I can only go by what I’ve studied and learned over a lifetime. The sign of a believer to me is one who holds true to personal choices about spiritual matters; one who walks a path as his or her beliefs designate
    Your information is indeed thorough, and your travels are enlightening in this realm of the Spiritual world and religious history.
    You are so dedicated to learning, and I am grateful you are of a deeply Spiritual man
    Don’t think I mentioned the last part of the Vagabond Files was quite interesting, and some of your thoughts in the book, profound, I believe. By the way, I never believed Jesus was born on December 25th – again man’s creation. I believe WE ALL worship the same Deity, who is known by many names.
    I pray often, asking for God’s understanding for the many “specifics” I can only guess at, not knowing for sure. I am human. I will not declare to ever know all the answers! I will declare what I have see, what I consider to be miracles in my lifetime (in healing and in answered prayers).
    I do think the sign of a true believer of( his or her) chosen spiritual path are those who LIVE what they believe – not simply talk about it. Perhaps I am a Mithra…God only knows. 🙂

    Reply

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