II. 12-15.

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful 14 martyr, who was slain among you', where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things 15 sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."

6

"This city," observes Dean Woodhouse, "is described by Strabo, Pliny, and Livy, to have been in their times a splendid metropolis, honoured and enriched by a long succession of the Attalian kings. A heathen city, of such a description, may be supposed to have been corrupt in doctrine and morals, and thus to have merited the appellation given to it by our Lord, the throne of Satan.' Its famous library, of two hundred thousand volumes, had rendered it a seat of Oriental learning, whence sprang the philosophy and vain deceit condemned by St Paul (Col. ii. 8); and the Báon, or depths of Gnostical heresy, ascribed to Satan in the address to the church of Thyatira (chap. ii. 24); and this circumstance may have contributed also to its designation under this title"." Still, amidst all these temptations, and under circumstances of severe persecution and suffering, they had nobly undergone the fiery trial. The reproof of this church, however, is, that she had in her bosom some, who, like Balaam, (described in the 25th and 31st chapters of Numbers,) held such doctrines as would "turn the grace of God into lascivious

1 "No account has been transmitted to our times of this martyr; but Andreas Cæsariensis reports that he had seen

the history of his martyrdom." Woodhouse.

2 Woodhouse, Annotations, ad loc.

ness." This, by the Apostles Peter and Jude, is called following the way or error of Balaam. (2 Pet. ii. 10—15; Jude 4.)

There were others also, who, as in the church at Ephesus, had adopted the dangerous opinions of the Nicolaitans. They are charged, therefore, to repent.

II. 16, 17.

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will 16 fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that 17 hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

Such are the weapons with which the Lord declares that he will carry on his warfare against the enemies of the truth: "I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth;" and such were the weapons with which St Paul instructed his Ephesian converts to contend against the enemies of their salvation: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!" Such also are the rewards which are promised to those who with faith and patience endure the trial. They shall receive "the hidden manna,”—even that bread, which whosoever eateth shall live for ever,-"the life which, at present, is hid with Christ in God," but which will be fully

3 Ephes. vi. 14—17.

4 John vi. 51.

18

manifested in that day, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, and when all his faithful servants shall appear with him in glory'.

4. The fourth Epistle is addressed to the Church at Thyatira :

II. 18-29.

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a 19 flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, 20 and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit for21 nication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent 23 of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you accord24 ing to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will 25 put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have 26 already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and

keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power 27 over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: 28 even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the 29 morning-star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

The message to the church of Thyatira is of a purport similar to those which were sent to the preceding churches; and relates to the purity and integrity with which they had preserved their first faith. In this respect, the manner in which this church is spoken of is of the most gratifying character: "I know thy works, and charity, and service,

Col. iii. 3, 4. See the excellent illustration of the expressions in ver. 17,

which is given by Dean Woodhouse ad locum.

and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." There were, however, persons connected with this church, who had induced some of its members to introduce different heathen corruptions into it, and to intermix heathen impurities with their religious services. Such were those who taught their followers "to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols;" practices which were expressly forbidden by the Apostolic council to the Gentile converts (Acts xv.); and of which we find traces in other churches. Many of these corruptions formed the distinguishing characteristics of some of the Gnostic sects; and they are here stamped with the opprobrious appellation of "the depths of Satan."

To those who held fast their Christian profession, and kept their works unto the end, is promised a participation in those glorious privileges which were given to the Redeemer himself as the reward of his sufferings and death. Such is the nature of the promise which is implied in the expressions: "To him I will give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in shivers :"-expressions which are borrowed from the second Psalm, and are prophetical of the spiritual kingdom of the Redeemer; a kingdom, of which it is expressly declared in the prophet Daniel, that "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints

2 See 1 Cor. viii; Ephes. v. 3—12, and Whitby's notes ad locum. Some commentators interpret Jezebel, mentioned in ver. 20, of some person of distinction in the church of Thyatira, to whom the name of Jezebel might be

aptly applied. It is however applied, perhaps with more correctness, by Vitringa and Dean Woodhouse, to a sect of false teachers: and in this sense it was understood by the ancient commentators. See his notes ad locum.

of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him1." But it is moreover declared of him that held fast to his Christian profession, "And I will give him the morning-star." Now by a star, in the figurative language of Scripture, is meant a teacher2. Our Lord is eminently such; such he entitles himself, chap. xxii. 16, "the bright and morning-star ;" as such he was foretold by Balaam, (chap. xxiv. 17.); and it was a star which declared his birth to the Eastern sages. To this probably allusion is made in other passages of Scripture, in which the light of heavenly truth is represented under the images of "the day-star arising in the heart," and our being "visited by the day-spring from on highs." In this passage, the expression seems to import that knowledge of the mysteries of God, and particularly of the glorious issue of the great scheme of Redemption, which is promised, not only in this passage, but in other parts of the book of Revelation, to the faithful servants of God1.

The length, at which we have dwelt on the epistles to these churches, renders it unnecessary to dwell, in the same manner, on those which were directed to the three remaining churches of Sardis, of Philadelphia, and Laodicea. But, in thus passing them over with a cursory notice, it would be improper to omit alluding to the solemn warnings which they contain, both to churches and to individual Christians, against corruption and lukewarmness in their Christian profession,-warnings which are sufficient to make every serious person tremble; and the glorious promises, which they hold forth to all sin

1 Dan. vii. 27. See Woodhouse ad locum.

See Woodhouse on chap. i. 16.

32 Pet. i. 19; Luke i. 78.

4 Compare Dan. xii. 10, and see Dean Woodhouse ad locum.