Revelation 2

A.M. 4094. A.D. 90.

In this and the following chapter, the state of the seven churches in Asia, at the time of the vision, is described, as to what was commendable and deserved encouragement, and what was faulty and called for reproof and reformation. This part of the prophecy, which is designed to show the constant care of Christ over his church, is contained in seven letters, endited by Christ, and written by John, to the pastors of the Asian churches, that they might transmit them to their people, commending, reproving, warning, and encouraging them, as their present state required; and intimating what mercies or judgments they might expect, according to their future conduct. Four of those letters are contained in this chapter, namely, one to each of the following churches; to that at Ephesus, Revelation 2:1-7 ; that at Smyrna, Revelation 2:8-11 ; that at Pergamos, Revelation 2:12-17 ; and that at Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-29 .

Of the following letters to the angels of the seven churches it may be necessary to speak first in general, and then particularly. In general we may observe, when the Israelites were to receive the law at mount Sinai, they were first to be purified. And when the kingdom of God was at hand, John the Baptist prepared men for it by repentance. In like manner these letters were designed to prepare these churches for the worthy reception of this glorious revelation. By following the directions given therein, by expelling incorrigibly wicked men, and putting away all wickedness, they were prepared to receive the precious depositum. And whatever church or individual person, in any age or nation, would profitably read or hear the contents of this book, must observe the same admonitions. These letters are a kind of seven-fold preface to the book. Christ now appears in the form of a man, (not yet under the emblem of a lamb,) and speaks mostly in proper, not in figurative words. It is not till Revelation 4:1, that St. John enters upon that grand vision which takes up the residue of the book.

There is in each of these letters, 1st, A command to write to the angel of the church. 2d, Some character and attribute of the speaker, taken from the vision in the first chapter, and appropriated to the matter of each epistle. 3d, An address to the angel of the church, containing a testimony of his good, bad, or mixed state; commendations or reproofs, with suitable promises or threatenings, and an exhortation to repentance or steadfastness: and then in all the same conclusion, He that hath an ear, &c. The address in each letter is expressed in plain words, the promises in figurative. In the address our Lord speaks to the angel of each church which then was, and to the members thereof, directly; whereas in the promise he speaks of all that should overcome, in whatever church or age, and deals out to them one of the precious promises (by way of anticipation) from the last chapters of the book.

“These seven churches,” says Bishop Newton, “are addressed particularly, because they were under John’s immediate inspection; he constituted bishops or pastors over them; he was, as it were, their metropolitan, and resided much at Ephesus, which is therefore named the first of the seven. Many contend, and among them such learned men as More and Vitringa, that the seven epistles are prophetical of so many successive periods and states of the church, from the beginning to the conclusion of all. But there are in these epistles several innate characters, which are peculiar to the church of that age, and cannot be so well applied to the church of any other age. Besides other arguments, there is also this plain reason; the last state of the church is described in this very book as the most glorious of all, but in the last state in these epistles, that of Laodicea, the church is represented as wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. But though these epistles have rather a literal than a mystical meaning, yet they contain excellent precepts and exhortations, commendations and reproofs, promises and threatenings, which may be of use and instruction to the church in all ages. And indeed, what the Spirit saith to one church, he saith, in some measure, to all the churches.” For there can be no state, either of any pastor, church, or single person, which has not here suitable instructions. All, whether ministers or hearers, together with their secret or open enemies, in all places and all ages, may draw hence necessary self- knowledge, reproof, commendation, warning, or confirmation. Whether any be as dead as the angel of Sardis, or as much alive as the angel at Philadelphia, this book is sent to him, and the Lord Jesus hath something to say to him therein. For the seven churches, with their angels, represent the whole Christian Church dispersed throughout the whole world as it subsists, not in one age after another, but in every age. This is a point of deep importance, and always necessary to be remembered; that these seven churches are, as it were, a sample of the whole church of Christ as it was then, as it is now, and as it will be, more or less, in all ages.