Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Ver. 1. _Unto the angel_] This was Timothy, as some think; who not stirring up the gift of God that was in him, had remitte... [ Continue Reading ]
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: Ver. 2. _I know thy works and thy labour_] Not thy works only, but thy labour in doing them, and what en... [ Continue Reading ]
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Ver. 3. _And hast borne_] Bear the false apostles thou couldst not; but hast borne much from them. _Morientium nempe ferarum violentiores sunt morsus._ Beasts bite hardest when to bite their last.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless I have _somewhat_ against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Ver. 4. _Thou hast left thy first love_] Those first ripe fruits that Christ's soul desireth, Micah 7:1, that kindness of youth, that spousal love, that God so well remembereth,Jeremiah 2:2. This Ephesus had left, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Ver. 5. _From whence thou art fallen_] viz. From thy former feelings and present fitness for God's kingdom... [ Continue Reading ]
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Ver. 6. _But this thou hast_] That they might not say, when called upon to repent, Nay, but there is no hope, Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 18:12. Christ picks out that which is praiseworthy in them, and commends it. De... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Ver. 7. _Let him hear_] Not with that gristle only that grows upon his head, but with the ear of his heart. Let him... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; Ver. 8. _Of the church in Smyrna_] Sweet smelling Smyrna, the poorest but purest of the seven.... [ Continue Reading ]
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and _I know_ the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but _are_ the synagogue of Satan. Ver. 9. _I know thy works and tribulations_] Mark (saith one) the conjunction, "works and tribulations." Active stirring Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast _some_ of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Ver. 10. _Fear none of those things_] Quit thy heart of that co... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Ver. 11. _Shall not be hurt of the second death_] Shall not be killed with death, as Revelation 2:23. Death shall not be to him (as it is to the wicked) a trap door t... [ Continue Reading ]
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; Ver. 12. _And to the angel_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 2:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Rev 1:16 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
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 martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Ver. 13. _Even where Satan's seat is_] There was the c... [ Continue Reading ]
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 sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Ver. 14. _I have a few things_] More he might have had, but t... [ Continue Reading ]
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Ver. 15. _The doctrine of the Nicolaitans_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 2:6 _"_ In the year 1067, the popish synod of Milan made laws against simony _a_ and the heresy of the Nicolaitans; by which latter they meant pries... [ Continue Reading ]
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Ver. 16. _Or else I will come unto thee_] He was in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks before. But when he comes to correct, he comes out of his place,Isaiah 26:21, and it is a motion that... [ Continue Reading ]
He that 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_. Ver. 17. _Of the hidden manna_] That is... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet _are_ like fine brass; Ver. 18. _Who hath his eyes, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 1:14 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Rev 1:15 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last _to be_ more than the first. Ver. 19. _The last to be more_] This is not every man's happiness. _See Trapp on "_ Rev 2:4 _"_ It is a disputable question (saith one) whether any Christian (except he... [ Continue Reading ]
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 fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Ver. 20. _Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel_] It is a fault, then, not... [ Continue Reading ]
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Ver. 21. _And I gave her space to repent_] "In space comes grace" proves not always a true proverb. They that defer the work, and say that men may repent hereafter, say truly, but not safely. The branch that bears not timely f... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Ver. 22. _Behold, I will cast her into a bed_] A bed of affliction for that bed of security upon which she had stretched herself, Amos 6:4. God hath his season, his... [ Continue Reading ]
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 according to your works. Ver. 23. _And I will kill her children with death, _] All men die (saith a divine, descanting upon this text), b... [ Continue Reading ]
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 put upon you none other burden. Ver. 24. _But unto you I say_] Here Christ comes with his fan, shedding and shoaling out his own from others, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
But that which ye have _already_ hold fast till I come. Ver. 25. _Hold fast_] κρατησατε, hold by strong hand, tug for it, with those that would take it from you.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Ver. 26. _And keepeth my works_] In opposition to Jezebel's works, _q.d._ that keepeth himself unspotted from the world, that foul lust that lieth in that wicked one, 1 John 5:19 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. Ver. 27. _And he shall rule them_] _q.d._ I will communicate myself wholly to him. See Psa 139:6-9 Matthew 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:2,3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will give him the morning star. Ver. 28. _I will give him the morning star_] _i.e._ I will clear his wronged innocence, Psalms 37:6, and grant him a glorious resurrection, Daniel 12:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Ver. 29. _He that hath an ear_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 2:7 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]