Revelation 2:29

18-29 Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them. Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that their last works may be their best works. Yet this church connived at some wicked seducers. God is known by the judgments he executes; and by this upon seducers, he shows his certain knowledge of the hearts of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper. Encouragement is given to those who kept themselves pure and undefiled. It is dangerous to despise the mystery of God, and as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. Let us beware of the depths of Satan, of...

Verse Revelation 2:29. _HE THAT HATH AN EAR_] Let every Christian pay the strictest regard to these predictions of Christ; and let them have a suitable influence on his heart and life....

HE THAT HATH AN EAR ... - See the notes on Revelation 2:7....

EXPOSITION REVELATION 3:1 _The epistles to the seven Churches. _Once more we have to consider rival interpretations. Of these we may safely set aside all those which make the seven letters to be pictures of _successive periods _in the history of the Church. On the other hand, we may safely deny that the letters are _purely typical, _and relate to nothing definite in history. Rather they are _both historical and typical. _They refer primarily to the actual condition of the several Churches in St. John's own day, and then are intended for the instruction, encouragement, and warning of the Church and the Churches throughout all time. The Catholic Church, or any one of its branches, will at any period find itself reflected in one or other of the seven Churches. For two Churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, there is nothing but

HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR,.... Revelation 2:7....

II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE, THE SEVEN CHURCH MESSAGES, AND THEIR PROPHETIC MEANING CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Ephesus: The post-apostolic period (Revelation 2:1)_ 2. Smyrna: The period of persecution (Revelation 2:8) 3. Pergamos: The corruption period (Revelation 2:12) 4. Thyatira: The Romish corruption (Revelation 2:18) The two Chapter s which follow the introductory chapter contain seven messages to seven local churches which were in existence in the province of Asia in the days when the Apostle John was prisoner in the isle of Patmos. The view held by the late Dr. Bullinge

REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. These letters are addressed to individual churches, but their messages are intended for the Church as a whole. In every letter there occurs the phrase, He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches....

_THYATIRA_ IS NAMED FIRST IN ACTS, CHAPTER XVI. IT IS PROBABLE THAT LYDIA AND HER HOUSEHOLD FORMED THE NUCLEUS OF THE CHURCH. THE NAME IS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN UNTIL IT APPEARS IN REVELATION. THE CITY WAS SITUATED NEAR PERGAMOS, STILL EXISTS UNDER. NEW NAME, AND CONTAINS ABOUT. THOUSAND HOUSES. THE CHURCH WAS REBUKED IN THE LETTER OF THE LORD, FOR FALLING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF. WOMAN WHOSE LIKENESS TO THE IDOLATROUS QUEEN OF AHAB GIVES HER THE NAME OF JEZEBEL. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN. PROFESSED CHRISTIAN POPULATION. THE SEVEN CHURCHES.--At the time when John wrote there were hundreds of churches in existence. On the Asiatic Continent many had been founded in Judea, Syria, and elsewhere, and in the district of which Ephesus was the commercial metropolis, and which was especially designated as _Asia,_ we know that in the last quarter of the first century there were not only the seven churches...

THE LETTER TO EPHESUS (Revelation 2:1-7)...

_He that hath_&c. For the position of these words, see on Revelation 2:7....