II. (1) UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF (literally, _in_) EPHESUS. — On the word “angel,” see Note on Revelation 1:20, and _Excursus A._ Adopting the view that the angel represents the chief pastor or bishop of the Church, it would be interesting to know who was its presiding minister at this time;... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THY WORKS. — This phrase is probably common to all the epistles. See, however, Note on Revelation 2:9. It expresses the way in which all actions are naked and open before the eyes — those flame-like eyes (Revelation 1:14) — of Him with whom we have to do (Psalms 11:4; Psalms 139:11; Hebrews 4... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST BORNE. — This verse needs some change to bring it into harmony with the best MSS. It should stand, _And hast_ (or, _hadst_)_ patience, and didst bear for My name’s sake, and didst not weary._ In this last word there is a recurrence to the word (_kopos_) translated labour or toil in Revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS I HAVE SOMEWHAT AGAINST THEE. — Better, _I have against thee that thou didst let go._ This is the fault, and it is no trifle which is blamed, as the word “somewhat” (which is not to be found in the original) might be taken to imply; for the decay of love is the decay of that without whi... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM WHENCE THOU ART FALLEN,... AND DO THE FIRST WORKS. — It is argued that we have here evidence that the later, or Domitian, date of the Apocalypse is the true one, since it describes a fall in spiritual life which might have occurred in thirty years, but would hardly have taken... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THIS THOU HAST, THAT THOU HATEST THE DEEDS (better, _works_) OF THE NICOLAITANES. — The Nicolaitanes were, as has been expressed, the Antinomians of the Asiatic Church. The life and conduct were little thought of, and the faith professed was everything. Some have thought that they were a sect wh... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH AN EAR... — Or. _Let him that hath an ear, hear._ These words — an echo from the Gospels — recur in all the seven epistles. In the first three, however, they are placed before the promise; in the remaining four they follow it. The heart which is hardened is the precursor of the ear that... [ Continue Reading ]
Smyrna, the modern _Ismir,_ now possessing a population of about 150,000. Its mercantile prosperity may be measured by its trade. In 1852 the export trade amounted to £1,766,653 — about half of this being with England. The imports in the same year were £1,357,339. It has always been considered one o... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THY WORKS. — Some would omit the word “works;” but the phrase “I know thy works” is admitted to be genuine in five out of the seven epistles; and it certainly seems natural to conclude that it was intended to be common to all, and to remind the Christian communities that whatever their state... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS. — Though Christ proclaimed His yoke to be easy, He also said that His followers must expect tribulation (John 16:33). He never conceals the difficulties or dangers of His service. (See Matthew 10:16; Acts 9:16.) So here He proclaims, “Behold, the devil shall cast some....”... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OVERCOMETH (or _conquereth_) SHALL NOT BE HURT. — The words used are precise, and give certainty to the promise. THE SECOND DEATH. — This phrase is a new one in Bible language. It is said that Jews were familiar with it through its use in the Chaldee Paraphrase. It clearly points to a death... [ Continue Reading ]
PERGAMOS. — Unlike Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamos was not distinguished as a commercial city. Its importance was due to other causes. A striking coneshaped hill rose from the plain which bordered the northern banks of the Caicus. The hill was considered sacred. Its value as a strong natural fortress w... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THY WORKS. — Here, as in Revelation 2:9, some MSS. omit “thy works,” and read, “I know where thou dwellest — even where Satan’s _seat_ is.” The word is translated elsewhere “throne,” and should be here, “Where the throne of Satan is.” But why should this pre-eminence in evil be assigned to Pe... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I HAVE A FEW THINGS AGAINST THEE. — The word “few” is not to be taken as though the ground of rebuke was a trifling one. The little leaven might leaven the whole lump; and those who had been brave unto death in the days of persecution had been less temptation-proof against more seductive influen... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HAST THOU ALSO THEM THAT HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANES — _i.e.,_ thou, as well as those of old, hast such teachers. There is little doubt that this is the connection between the verses, but opinions are divided whether we are on this account to identify the Balaamites with the Nicolaitane... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH. — The promise should run thus: — _To him that conquereth will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name graven, which no man knoweth, but he who receiveth it._ On this promise we may notice (1) that it is appropriate: those w... [ Continue Reading ]
THYATIRA was situated between Pergamos and Sardis, a little off the main road which connected these two cities. It was a Macedonian colony, founded by Alexander the Great after the overthrow of the Persian empire. The Macedonian colonists appear to have introduced the worship of Apollo, honoured as... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WORKS, AND CHARITY. — In the words of commendation we find two pairs. We have the Christian community commended for charity and service, the outward ministrations which manifest the inner principle of love; their _labour_ of love, or their work and _love_ (Hebrews 6:10) in general. In the second... [ Continue Reading ]
A FEW THINGS. — The Sinaitic MS. has “I have much against thee; but the reading, _I have against thee that thou lettest alone,_ &c., is to be preferred. JEZEBEL. — Some adopt the reading, “thy wife Jezebel.” From these words it has been thought that there was some personal influence at work for evil... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I GAVE HER SPACE. — Read, _And I gave her time to repent, and she will not_ (or, _is not willing to_)_ repent of her fornication,_ or, _to repent out of_ — _i.e.,_ so as to forsake her fornication. Here, as before, we are reminded that true repentance is a repentance whereby we forsake sin. (Com... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL CAST HER INTO A BED. — The chamber of voluptuousness will become the chamber of sickness. The spot of the sin shall be the scene of punishment. (Comp. 1 Kings 21:19.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HER CHILDREN. — This is to be understood of her followers. The so-called prophetess led the way in looseness of morals, under the pretence of some deeper knowledge. She had her associates and their disciples; the evil and the evil consequences would grow; the disciples outrun their teachers, and mor... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO YOU I SAY (omit “and unto”) the rest, &c. THE DEPTHS. — Or, _the deep things._ These teachers, as was the case with the Gnostics, professed to have a deeper insight into mysteries, the deep things of God. They may have garnished their speech with this very phrase, borrowed — in sound though... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER (or, _authority_) OVER THE NATIONS: AND HE SHALL RULE THEM (or, _shepherd them_) WITH A ROD OF IRON; AS THE VESSELS OF A POTTER SHALL THEY BE BROKEN TO SHIVERS. — The promise is of authority (“the might of right, not the right of might”) to share in the shepherd-like sovereignty of the anointe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MORNING STAR. — The pledge of the coming day, both for the waiting witnesses, and for the ungodly, who loved darkness because their deeds were evil: the earnest of the sovereignty of light over darkness, when the children of the day would be manifest, and shine as the stars for ever and ever (Da... [ Continue Reading ]