Revelation 2:1 From Whom the Epistle Comes. I. The form that John beheld in the opening vision, and at whose feet he fell down as dead, was that of the glorified Jesus, arrayed as a royal Priest, holding seven stars in His right hand. The holding has energy in it; none can pluck them out of His ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:2 What Christ approves in Ephesus. These words disclose the Lord's marvellous generosity. He is quick to see and ready to acknowledge all the good that exists among His people; in this how different from many that speak in His name, and who are perpetually engaged in faultfinding and... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:4 What was Wrong in Ephesus. I. The spectacle Ephesus presented was that of a Church working most laboriously and patiently, the machinery kept steadily in motion, all at work and always at work, but with waning love, the fires going down. The word "somewhat" in our English version su... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:5 The Cure of what was Wrong. How shall old, faded love be revived? In reply to this question, a great many plans have been proposed and urged, while the Lord's own method has been either overlooked or perversely set aside. The directions He gives are few and simple, but they go to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:6 What was Hopeful in Ephesus. At a first glance this verse seems out of its place. It looks like a part of the Lord's commendation that had been forgotten at the proper moment, and is now mentioned as an afterthought. A little reflection, however, shows that it occupies its proper pl... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:7 The Promise to the Overcomer. I. In Ephesus the special evil to be contended against was the waning of first love. The overcomer, therefore, in Ephesus, would be the man who rose above the tendencies to waning love, the man in whose heart love continued, not merely to abide, but to... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:10 Faithfulness is the main distinction of the noblest and best of all these angels of Christ's Church. The high moral excellence of honourably discharging the duties which were assigned to them is obviously made by our Lord the great principle and test of acceptable service. These wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 2:17 The New Name. I. The new name is Christ's and ours. It is His first; it becomes ours by communication from Him. (1) It includes revelation: "I will give him a new name" a deeper, a more inward, a fresh knowledge and revelation of My own character, as eternal love, eternal wisdom, al... [ Continue Reading ]