_To the angel of the church in Sardis write_ This city, “once the renowned capital of Crœsus and the rich Lydian kings, is now no longer worthy of the name of a city. It lies about thirty-three miles to the south of Thyatira, and is called by the Turks, _Sart_, or _Sard_, with little variation from... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be watchful_ Therefore awake to a sense of thy danger, and stand on thy guard against the enemies, visible and invisible, which threaten thy eternal destruction; _and strengthen_ By prayer, hearing and reading the word, by meditation thereon, and a conscientious use of every private and public mean... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet _thou hast a few names_ That is, persons; _even in Sardis_ Corrupt and indolent as the general state of the place is; _who have not defiled their garments_ Who, notwithstanding the common corruption, have preserved their purity, having neither spotted themselves, nor partaken of the guilt of oth... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that overcometh_ That is finally victorious over his spiritual enemies; _shall be clothed in white raiment_ In the habit of victory, joy, and triumph; _and I will not blot his name out of the book of life_ Like that of the angel of the church at Sardis. See on Philippians 4:3; Daniel 12:1. This... [ Continue Reading ]
_And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write_ “Philadelphia, so called from Attalus Philadelphus, its builder, is distant from Sardis about twenty-seven miles to the south-east. It is called by the Turks Alah Shahr, or the beautiful city, on account of its delightful situation, standing on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I_ Who have all power, and when I exert it they must then comply; _will make them_ Who are indeed _of the synagogue of Satan_ And under all the solemn guise of religious worship are carrying on Satan's cause and interest; _which say they are Jews_ Pretend to be my people, but _are not; I wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I come quickly_ To put an end to those trials which for the present are so painful; _hold that fast which thou hast_ With resolute fidelity; _that no man take thy crown_ That no person or thing may prevent thy receiving that crown of everlasting glory which will be the gracious reward of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write_ Laodicea lay south of Philadelphia in the way to return to Ephesus: for the seven churches lay in a kind of circular form, so that the natural progress was from Ephesus to Smyrna, and so forward in the order in which the cities are here addres... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because thou sayest, I am rich_ In gifts and grace, as well as worldly goods; _and increased with goods_ Greek, και πεπλουτηκα, literally, _And have enriched myself_, by my own wisdom and virtue; _and have need of nothing_ Imagining thy state in religion to be very prosperous and happy; _and knowes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I stand_ Or, _I have stood_, as εστηκα literally signifies, namely, for a long time and I still stand, even at this instant; _at the door_ Of men's hearts; _and knock_ Waiting for admittance: _if any man hear my voice_ With a due regard, namely, the voice of my providence, word, and Spirit;... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hath an ear, let him hear_, &c. This stands in the three former letters before the promise; in the four latter, after it; clearly dividing the seven into two parts; the first containing three, the last four letters. The titles given our Lord in the three former letters peculiarly respect hi... [ Continue Reading ]