Revelation 1:20

THE SEVEN ANGELS.--I shall not take up space to discuss the various views as to the nature of the angels of the churches. It has been held that they were heavenly angels, were diocesan bishops of the cities, were pastors or elders, or were messengers sent from the churches to visit John in Patmos. The word angel means. messenger, and is equally applicable to the messengers of God and those of men. John the Baptist is called in Mark 1:2, an angel, or messenger, and the term is often applied to human beings. It is certain that it is in this passage. John is told to write to these angels, and certainly the letters were not sent to the angels of heaven. Nor does this language suggest the idea of messengers sent to visit John in Patmos. In that case the letters might be sent by them to the churches, but would certainly not be written to them. It becomes evident, therefore, that the angels were men filling some office in connection with the churches. There is not the slightest evidence that diocesan bishops existed in this age, and hence. do not think that they are meant. The term can hardly apply to an elder, for there seems to have been. plurality of elders in all the churches, and it is not likely that one would be singled out. It is my judgment that the angels were the preachers or evangelists of the churches. As these evangelists not only labored at home, but were often sent out, and were messengers to carry the good tidings, there is. fitness in applying the term to them. We know from the epistles of Paul and from church tradition, that Timothy was long the evangelist at Ephesus, and it is possible that he may have lived and labored until the time of John's banishment. If so, he was the angel to whom the epistle to the church at Ephesus was directed. Then we conclude that the seven stars held in the hand of the Lord, supported and strengthened by him, shining with his light, are the seven preachers of the churches of Asia.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES.--At the time when John wrote there were hundreds of churches in existence. On the Asiatic Continent many had been founded in Judea, Syria, and elsewhere, and in the district of which Ephesus was the commercial metropolis, and which was especially designated as Asia, we know that in the last quarter of the first century there were not only the seven churches named, but Colossae, Hierapolis, and perhaps many more. Why then should the Lord direct his message to the seven churches alone? If the reader will turn over the pages of Revelation he will be surprised by the frequency with which the number seven occurs. There are the Seven Spirits of God, the Seven Stars, the Seven Churches, the Seven Horns and Seven Eyes of the Lamb, Seven Trumpets, Seven Thunders, Seven Vials, etc., etc. It will help us to understand the reason for the use of seven in many instances to remember that it is the perfect number and denotes perfection, or completeness. In several of the instances just given this is evidently its meaning, especially where it refers to the Spirit, or to the Lamb, and. suppose that seven churches are named fur. similar reason. This complete number would make them fitting representatives of the entire Church, and those selected probably represent every condition that ever prevails among churches that have not apostatized from the faith. There is first, the metropolitan church of Ephesus, where some had departed from their first love and zeal for Christ, and which is commanded to repent under the penalty of the removal of its candlestick. There is second, the persecuted church of Smyrna, whose members would be cast into prison and endure tribulation, and where. little later Polycarp was burned alive. There is third, the martyr church of Pergamos, persecuted by heathenism, where most had held fast to the name of Christ, but where some had fallen into the worldly sins of Balaam. Next comes the church of Thyatira, seduced by false teachings and induced to compromise with sin. In the fifth place, there is the spiritually dead church of Sardis, which is called to repentance. Sixth comes the tried church of Philadelphia, which had not denied the Lord's name; and lastly, the lukewarm church of Laodicea, which he threatens to spew out of his mouth. In addressing these seven churches the Lord addresses the Church universal in every phase of its existence.

The plan of the seven letters to these churches is in each instance the same. In each we find, 1. An order to write to the angel of the church. 2.. glorious title of the Lord. 3. An address to the church which describes its condition and gives it an admonition to perseverance or repentance, as its state demands. 4. An announcement of what will come to pass. 5.. promise to him that overcometh. 6.. closing injunction: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

THE FATE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES.--It will interest many to learn the subsequent history and fate of the seven churches thus singled out to represent the entire body.. will indicate briefly. 1. The church at Ephesus was founded by Paul (Acts, XVIII. and XIX.); enjoyed the labors of Aquila and Priscilla, of Apollos and of Timothy; had at one time the presence of the great apostle for three years and. half, and finally enjoyed the presence of John. The seat of government for the province of Asia, and the commercial metropolis of Asia Minor, the strong church established in this great center received an unusual share of attention, and was honored with two epistles, one from the apostle of Christ, and the other directly from the Lord. During the half century of its existence, which had passed when John wrote, it had fallen from its first love and was threatened with extinction. It continued to have. visible existence until the Mahometan torrent swept over Asia Minor about six hundred years after John wrote. When the light appears after. century of darkness, confusion, and carnage, the church at Ephesus has passed away, and the city is in ruins. In our generation explorers are excavating the ruinous masses to discover the remains of the great ancient city. 2. Smyrna appears first in sacred writ in this connection, and we know nothing of the previous history of the church. The letter to it speaks only words of praise. The city of Smyrna still exists as the most flourishing port of Turkey in Asia, and has. numerous Christian population. On account of the large proportion of Christians in its population it is regarded by strict Moslems as unclean, and is called "Infidel Smyrna." It is at this date the chief center of missionary operations in the East. 3. The city of Pergamos stood about twenty miles from the sea, and was once capital of. kingdom by the same name. It still exists, is called Bergamos, and has. population of about 14,000, of whom 3,300 are nominally Christians. 4. Thyatira is named first in Acts, chapter XVI. It is probable that Lydia and her household formed the nucleus of the church. The name is not mentioned again until it appears in Revelation. The city was situated near Pergamos, still exists under. new name, and contains about. thousand houses. The church was rebuked in the letter of the Lord, for falling under the influence of. woman whose likeness to the idolatrous Queen of Ahab gives her the name of Jezebel. There has always been. professed Christian population. 5. Sardis was the capital of the great ancient kingdom of Lydia, which was overthrown by the Persian Cyrus. It was the residence of the rich King Croesus, whose name has passed into. proverb. Of the history of the church we know nothing; but we do know on the testimony of Jesus, that it "had. name to live and was dead." The ravages of the Saracens and Turks, and the shocks of earthquakes have converted the ancient city into. ruin, with only crumbled walls to tell of its ancient glory. 6. Philadelphia stood about twenty miles from Sardis and was the second city in importance in the province of Lydia. It is first mentioned in Revelation, and the praises bestowed upon the church show that it was worthy of. city of Brotherly Love. Though the old name has been laid aside by the Turks, the city still has three thousand houses and. Christian population. There are said to be five churches in the place, and it is the seat of. Greek bishop. 7. Laodicea is last named. The city was situated about twenty miles from Ephesus, and near Colosse. The church was honored with an epistle from the apostle Paul. See Colossians 4:17. Still, it had fallen into the besetting sin of churches and had become lukewarm. This sin is rebuked in the severest language, and the consequences are indicated by. most vigorous figure. The ancient city and church have passed away, and the ruins are entirely deserted. It has been spewed out of the mouth of the Lord.

I have now briefly outlined the introduction and the letters to the seven churches. This carries us over the first and second parts of the Revelation, or the things John " had seen, and the things that are. " The third part, which is strictly prophetic and begins with chapter IV., will be entered upon next in order.