THE EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22) Since 'seven' is the perfect number, the 'seven churches' represent all the Churches of the province of Asia. At the same time, the special circumstances of each Church are faithfully pictured in each epistle. Ramsay points out t... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESUS] the metropolis and great commercial centre of the province of Asia, famous for a temple to Diana. After St. Paul's work in Asia was ended, Timothy was stationed there for a time (cp. 1 Timothy 1:3), with general authority, till 2 Timothy 4:9. Soon afterwards it became the home of St. John.... [ Continue Reading ]
APOSTLES] i.e. traveling envoys representative of Christ, in a sense not limited to the twelve: see on Romans 16:7. The title was claimed by some to whom it was not due. HAST.. LIARS] RV 'didst find them false': cp. 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 11:13. 4, FIRST] i.e. at the beginning of their C... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST WORKS] i.e. such as those inspired by their early love. I WILL COME.. QUICKLY] RV 'I come to thee.' REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK] If the flame of Christian love dies down, the candlestick will be put away as useless, i.e. the organised Church will come to an end: cp. John 15:6. The Church in Ephesus... [ Continue Reading ]
NICOLAITANES] Mentioned again in the letter to Pergamum, in connexion with Balaam (Revelation 2:14.), and probably referred to in the letter to Thyatira (Revelation 2:20.). It has been supposed, from the mention of Balaam, that they were Antinomians, i.e. men who held that Christians were not bound... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH, etc] cp. Christ's words, Matthew 11:15, etc. THE SPIRIT] John was under the influence of the Spirit: cp. Matthew 1:10. OVERCOMETH] i.e. continuously. The Christian life is a continual fight against sin and tribulation, and this book's purpose is to give heart to overcome. TO EAT OF, ET... [ Continue Reading ]
SMYRNA] about 50 m. N. of Ephesus, was a wealthy port and the most splendid city in the province of Asia. In 26 a.d. a temple was founded there in honour of Tiberius. Polycarp, its bishop, was martyred 155 a.d., when he had served Christ 86 years. Smyrna was the last stronghold of Christianity in As... [ Continue Reading ]
WORKS, AND] RV omits. RICH] i.e. spiritually: cp. Matthew 6:19; James 2:5. BLASPHEMY] RM 'calumny,' i.e. which thou sufferest. SAY THEY ARE JEWS] i.e. they are Jews in name only: cp. Revelation 3:9; Romans 2:29. The Apostle uses the name as an honourable one, equivalent to 'those who are not Gentile... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVIL] Persecution is prompted by the devil: cp. Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:4; 1 Peter 5:8. PRISON] i.e, as a prelude to execution. TRIED] cp. James 1:3; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:12. TEN DAYS] not lit.; the persecution would be short and sharp. FAITHFUL] Ramsay suggests that here, as... [ Continue Reading ]
SECOND DEATH] a Jewish phrase for the final condemnation of sinners: cp. Revelation 20:6; Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 10:28. 12-17. To the Church in Pergamum Christ speaks as He who destroys the wicked (Revelation 2:12). The Church is praised for faithfulness during a time when Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
PERGAMOS] RV 'Pergamum,' about 50 m. N. of Smyrna. Under the Roman empire it was resorted to by invalids, who attended for healing at the temple of Æsculapius. Until the 2nd cent. a.d. it was regarded as the capital of the province of Asia. Under Augustus a temple was built at Pergamum, probably 29... [ Continue Reading ]
SATAN] i.e. the official authority opposing the Church. SEAT] RV 'throne,' in the temple at Pergamum. NAME] Christians had to conform to the State religion or suffer death. EVEN IN THOSE, etc.] RV 'even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Numbers 25:1.; Numbers 31:16; Acts 15:28; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Judges 1:11. 14, 15. THEM] RV 'some.' DOCTRINE] RV 'teaching.'... [ Continue Reading ]
NICOLAITANES] RV 'Nicolaitans in like manner,' i.e. the Nicolaitans held the teaching of Balaam: see on Revelation 2:6. WHICH THING I HATE] RV omits.... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT] RV 'Repent therefore,' i.e. by casting out the Nicolaitans.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO EAT] RV omits. HIDDEN MANNA] cp. Exodus 16:33; Hebrews 9:4; Jewish tradition held that the ark and its contents, including the pot of manna, were hidden by Jeremiah, and that they would be restored when the Messiah came. This tradition is used here to symbolise the bread of life: cp. John 6:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
THYATIRA] a busy commercial city in the northern part of Lydia, between Pergamum and Sardis. FINE] RV 'burnished.'... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA Christ speaks in His majesty as Son of God (Revelation 2:18). The Church is praised for its increase in love and faith and the service of others, and its patience under trials (Revelation 2:19). Yet it harbours corrupt teaching (Revelation 2:20), and those who follow such t... [ Continue Reading ]
CHARITY] RV 'love.' SERVICE] RV 'ministry,' i.e. towards men: cp. Mark 10:43. AND THY WORKS; AND, etc.] RV 'and that thy last works are more than the first,' i.e. the Church was even more faithful and earnest than at the time when it was founded: see on Revelation 2:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding', etc.] RV 'But I have this against thee, that.' JEZEBEL] probably so called because she led astray Christians, as the wife of Ahab had led astray Israel. She seems to have been a prophetess, who taught that it was possible to be a Christian while remaining in ordinary pagan society... [ Continue Reading ]
BED] i.e. the couch of the feasts, now changed into a couch of tribulation. ADULTERY] i.e. unfaithfulness to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH] RM 'pestilence.' REINS, etc.] i.e. the inner thoughts and desires: cp. Psalms 7:9; Jeremiah 17:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO THE REST] RV 'to the rest.' DOCTRINE] RV 'teaching.' DEPTHS] RV 'deep things.' SPEAK] RV 'say'; i.e. these misguided Christians called their philosophical arguments 'deep things of God' (cp. 1 Corinthians 2:10), but they were really 'deep things of Satan': cp. Revelation 2:9. NONE OTHER BU... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH YE HAVE] i.e. the faithfulness, etc: cp. Revelation 2:19. HOLD FAST] because the Deliverer is near.... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER] RV 'authority': cp. Psalms 2:8. Christ's disciples will share in His kingdom: cp. Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 22:5;... [ Continue Reading ]
RULE, etc.] quotation from Psalms 2:9. A figurative description of the victory of the Messiah in which His people would share. At this time 'Rome was the only Power on earth that exercised authority over the nations, and ruled them with a rod of iron, and smashed them like potsherds' (Ramsay). But t... [ Continue Reading ]
MORNING STAR] i.e. the glory of Christ, who brings in the perfect day: cp. Revelation 1:16; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 22:16; Numbers 24:17; 2 Peter 1:19.... [ Continue Reading ]