And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Ver. 1. _I know thy work_] _Sapiens nummularius Deus est; nummum fictum non recipiet._ (Bernard.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Ver. 2. _Be watchful_] Rouse up thyself, and wrestle with God, shake thee out of sin's lethargy, as Samson went out and shook him when the Philistines were upon him. _ Tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Ver. 3. _And thou shalt not know_] Calamity the more sudden, the more terrible; for, 1. It amat... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. Ver. 4. _Thou hast a few names_] Though no thanks to the pastor, who was a mercenary eye-servant. Here the people's praise is the pastor's shame. These good souls w... [ Continue Reading ]
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Ver. 5. _Clothed in white_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 3:4 _"_ The book of life] Wherein the just that live by fa... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Ver. 6. _See Trapp on "_ Rev 2:7 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Ver. 7. _That is holy_] And therefore to be "sanctified in righteousness,"Isaiah 5:16 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Ver. 8. _An open door_] A fair opportunity of doing thyself good; which those that go about to deprive thee of shall be sure to... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Ver. 9. _I will make them_] The conversion of the Jews shall be the wonder of the Gentiles. _ Whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Ver. 10. _The word of my patience_] So called, 1. Because we must suffer for the truth of it. 2. Because, hid in the heart... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Ver. 11. _That no man take thy crown_] Not that crown of eternal life (for that is unlosable), but that honour that God hath put upon thee, Revelation 3:9. A Christian may, by falling into reproachful courses, "lose... [ Continue Reading ]
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, _which is_ new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and _I will write upon him_ my new name. Ver. 12. _... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Ver. 14:. _And unto the angel_] Archippus, it may be; for he was... [ Continue Reading ]
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Ver. 15. _That thou art neither cold_] Such are our civil justiciaries, political professors, neuterpassive Christians; a fair day mends them not, and a foul day pairs them not; peremptory never to be more precise;... [ Continue Reading ]
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Ver. 16. _I will spue thee out_] I will please myself in thy just punishment. Ah (saith God, as one ridding his stomach), "I will ease me of mine adversaries, I will avenge me of mine enemies,"Isaiah 1:24... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Ver. 17. _Because thou sayest_] _Si dixisti, satis est, periisti, _ saith Augustine. He that thinks he knows anything, knows not... [ Continue Reading ]
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and _that_ the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Ver. 18. _I counsel thee_] Having first convinced thee,Revela... [ Continue Reading ]
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Ver. 19. _As many as I love_] _q.d._ Think not that I hate you, because I thus chide you. He that escapes reprehension may suspect his adoption. God had one Son without corruption, but none without correction. We must look t... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Ver. 20. _Behold, I stand_] Christ stands, he doth not sit; now while a man is standing he is going. Christ is but a while with men in the opportunities... [ Continue Reading ]
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Ver. 21. _To sit with me in my throne_] The thrones of those eastern kings were large and capacious, after the manner of a couch, set on high and covered with tape... [ Continue Reading ]
See Rev 4:1... [ Continue Reading ]