_THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF SARDIS IS REPROVED, EXHORTED TO REPENT, AND THREATENED IF HE DO NOT REPENT. THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA IS APPROVED FOR HIS DILIGENCE AND PATIENCE. THE ANGEL OF LAODICEA IS REBUKED FOR BEING NEITHER HOT NOR COLD, AND ADMONISHED TO REPENT. CHRIST STANDETH AT TH... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT ARE READY TO DIE:— By this _death_ we must understand the death of their faith, since, when men lose their faith, they are dead to Christ. When our Saviour says in the beginning, _that he hath the seven Spirits,_ that is, the Spirit of God in all his active powers, he there lays a foundation, u... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER, THEREFORE, &C.— Reflect again and again what doctrine thou hast received and heard from the apostles of the Lord; for this is a plain reference to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles; from which, as from a fountain, all the streams of sound Christian doctrine have flowed; and from the... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST A FEW NAMES— _Names_ are here used for the _persons_ called by them. This symbol therefore seems to allude to the _diptychs_ or _matricula_ used in the primitive church, in which were registered the names of all the faithful; whence St. Luke uses this very phrase, Acts 1:15 and St. John he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME— The same allegory is pursued. This is elsewhere stiled to _cast out the name_ (Luke 6:22.)—to reject, to excommunicate, by blotting the name out of the _matricula,_ or catalogue of Christ's saints, which is here called _the book of life;_ none but saints who are in... [ Continue Reading ]
CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA— So called from Attalus Philadelphus, its builder. It is distant from Sardis about twenty-seven miles to the south-east, and is called by the Turks _Alah-shahr,_ or "the Beautiful City," on account of its delightful situation; standing on the declivity of the mount Tmolus, and... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR,— St. Paul uses this symbol to signify the free exercise and propagation of the gospel; Acts 14:27. 1 Corinthians 16:9 but at the same time this shews, that the liberty here used, is in a more limited degree than when other symbols are employed; and theref... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THEM OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN;— See ch. Revelation 2:9. Here we have the Jews mentioned again, who, through hatred to Christ, moved the Heathens to persecute the Christians; and it is likely that the persecution, in which the faith of this angel had been tried, like that at Smyrna, was contriv... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL I MAKE A PILLAR— As a _pillar_ is both an ornament and a support of the building, so these martyrs and confessors shall accordingly have greater power, and thus bear the weight of government in the New Jerusalem more than others. The allegoryis here continued from buildings,and perhaps there ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH OF THE LAODICEANS— _Laodicea_ lay south of Philadelphia in the way to Ephesus; and if you inspect the maps, you will find the seven churches to lie in a kind of circular form; so that the natural progress was from Ephesus to Smyrna, from Smyrna toPergamos, from Pergamos to Thyatira, from... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD THOU WERT COLD OR HOT.— This is not to be understood absolutely, but comparatively; as when our Saviour says, _If any one come to me and hateth not his father,_ &c. the meaning is, not that a Christian should absolutely _hate his father,_ but that he should love Christ above him, or any worl... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH.— The allegory is continued, for lukewarm things, as water, provoke to vomit, according to the observation and prescription of the ancient physicians. See Celsus _de Re. Med._ lib. 1. 100. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THOU SAYEST, I AM RICH, &C.— This _angel,_ or his church, is quite the reverse of the _angel_ of Smyrna: ch. Revelation 2:9. Here is a beautiful gradation in the words before us. It is something to be _rich,_ more to be _increased with goods,_ and still more to be _in want of nothing;_ this... [ Continue Reading ]
I COUNSEL THEE, &C.— "I counsel thee, that, with a humble sense of thy condition, so extremely unhappy, thou apply to him, who alone is capable of helping thee: and as I require no price or equivalent for my treasures, but only a conviction of such an incapacity to make an adequate return for them;... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK:— "Behold, I have stood for a long time, and I still stand at the door, and knock; waiting for admittance into your hearts. If any man hear my voice with a due regard, and open the door; if he welcome me with affection due to such a Friend and such a Saviour, h... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE,— The accomplishment of this promise is declared, ch. Revelation 20:4. We only observe, that notwithstanding this angel is described with the worst character of all the seven, yet the most glorious of all the promises is applied to him; to shew, that, upon re... [ Continue Reading ]