We will now briefly glance at the addresses that follow.
To Smyrna there is no word of reproof, but of encouragement; and if the saints are in “tribulation and poverty” as far as earthly circumstances are concerned (“but thou art rich,” is what He says), the tribulation is not without its limit, and they are called to be “faithful unto death.” Should we be less faithful in the more subtle, but less avowed, antagonism of to-day?
How different is the state of Pergamos, where, not content to “dwell alone” (Numbers 23:99For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. (Numbers 23:9)), the church is seen as dwelling where is Satan's throne! Is it, then, to be wondered at-for “evil communications (` consortium et sermones ') do corrupt good manners” —that we find here the toleration in their midst of some “holding” the doctrine of Baltiam, as well as of others that “of the Nicolaitanes in like manner”? Is this a small evil? “Repent, therefore, or else I am coming unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (2:14-16). These are the words of Him who presents Himself to this church as having “the sharp two-edged sword” (ver. -12), and He threatens His instant coming and war against these holders of evil doctrines.
An advance of evil comes before us in Thyatira. If in Ephesus there was the righteous abhorrence of the “deeds” of the Nicolaitanes, so hateful to the Lord (ver. 6), in Pergamos we have the sufferance in the midst of the holders of the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,” &c. (ver. 15); whilst here in Thyatira there is the “letting alone” of the woman Jezebel who “teacheth and deceiveth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols” (ver. 20). How grievous where there is (by “letting alone,") this sinful acquiescence in guilty commerce with the world (what is here signified by “fornication”), instead of holy separation from it, and there is acknowledgment of other claims on the heart than those of the Christ of God (the eating of “things sacrificed to idols”)! His eyes are as a flame of fire, and His feet like to burnished brass, and He will have all the churches to know that He searcheth reins and hearts, as well as ways and deeds. The indictment here is—not the personal guilt of the teacher only, but the suffering or allowing what another does. “But I have against thee that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel.” To be personally clear of, and to condemn, the evil doctrine taught-important as this assuredly is for every child of God-is not enough. We see from these addresses that the Lord calls for more, viz., that where there are those that teach or even hold what is offensive to Christ, He demands that we “repent” of their presence in our midst, for all are affected by the tolerance of the evil within, whether actively taught or only passively held. Are we sufficiently alive to the defiling power of sin? Do we really believe that “a little leaven” —whether of doctrine (Galatians 5:99A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9)), or of walk (1 Corinthians 5:66Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6)), “leavens the whole lump”? It is not our measure of what is wickedness, but what God reveals in His word so to be. Our thoughts—even of “the wise of this world” —are vanity. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,” &c.
Sardis-” Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful... for I have not found thy works complete before my God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard; and keep, and repent” (3:1-3).
Insubjection to the word of God leads to forgetfulness of how and what we may have received and heard. But we need to be brought back, and are exhorted to keep or hold fast what we have received from the Giver of every good. The truth does not “accommodate” itself to the fitful changes of time, but is ever according to godliness. It sanctifies divinely, and commands our obedience. Our loins are to be girt about with truth, and our souls are purified by obedience to it. Do we desire that our works should be “complete before God?” This is what the Lord desires, and should we not be “ambitious (φιλοτιμούμεθα) that, whether present or absent, we may be well pleasing to him” (2 Corinthians 5:99Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:9))? There were a few in Sardis that called forth the Lord's approval, and who are they? Those who had “not defiled their garments” in their walk here below, of whom it is said, “They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” How blessed thus to have “honorable mention” from Him! And if so for the few in Sardis, may we in these days not despise such an encomium.
What of Philadelphia? “Thou hast little strength!” How despicable in the eyes of onlookers! Man wants something great and commanding. Even the prophet Jeremiah warned Baruch, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.” But how great is the snare even to-day! What is mostly “great” in this book of the Revelation is what comes under judgment. Apostate Christendom will become great. “Great Babylon” will come in remembrance before God (16:19). “The great city” Babylon shall be thrown down with violence. “The great men of the earth” shall be her merchants (18:23). And later there will be “the great supper of God” to which all the fowls that fly in mid-heaven shall be called to eat the flesh of kings... and of all men... both small and great” (19:17, 18).
But what is according to God is holiness. He “showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (21:10)-spoken of the bride, the Lamb's wife (ver. 9). This is not a description of heaven, but of saints since Pentecost, who as forming the church, are now espoused as a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:22For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)). Then the marriage of the Lamb will have taken place (19:7), and the bride (18:21) is seen displayed as “the holy city” having the glory of God. “The glory which thou gavest me I have given them,” said our Lord to His Father. “And when Christ who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory” (Colossians 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)). Here, then, is the glorious fulfillment.
We have in display, first Satan's wonderment, his counterfeit, in all its meretricious gorgeousness (17:14), of that for which Christ gave Himself for presentation without spot-holy and blameless. “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, afterward that which is spiritual” —may apply here. The judgment of the corrupt vine of the earth clears the way for the subsequent manifestation in glory of that which is according to the mind of Christ.
But, if in possession of “little strength,” Philadelphia had kept Christ's word, and not denied His name. And He, “the holy” and “the true” records it, and promises exemption from the hour of temptation. May we hold fast what we have, till He come.
(Continued from page 64)
(To be continued).