We continue… we seek
a blessing, we seek knowledge, we seek comprehension, we seek the Holy Spirit's
power in us all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
*******
Daniel and the
Revelation by Uriah Smith
Page 361
Revelation Chapter
II
The Letters of Jesus
to the Churches
In the first
chapter, the prophet outlined the subject of the seven churches, represented by
the seven candlesticks, and the ministry of the churches, represented by the
seven stars.
He now takes up each
church particularly, and writes the message designed for it, addressing the
epistle in every case to the ANGEL, or the MINISTRY, of the church. (((God's
people))))
Revelation 2:1-7
Unto the angel of
the church of Ephesus write;
1 These things saith
He that holdeth the seven stars in His
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know
thy works, and thy labor, 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: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat
against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 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. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 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.
The Church of
Ephesus.--Some reasons why the messages to the seven churches should be
regarded as prophetic, having their application to seven distinct periods
covering the Christian age, have been given in the remarks on Revelation 1: 4.
It may be added here that this view is not new. Thomas Newton says, "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."
Thomas Scott says:
"Many expositors have imagined that these epistles to the seven churches
were mystical prophecies
Page 362
of seven distinct
periods, into which the whole term, from the apostles' days to the end of the
world, would be divided."
Although Newton and
Scott do not themselves hold this view, their testimony is good as showing that
such has been the view of many expositors.
Two of them say:
"The earliest
commentator on the Apocalypse, whose work has come down to us, was Victorinus,
Bishop of Pettau, or Petavium, who died a martyr in the year 303. He was the
contemporary of Irenaeus, and a man of piety, diligence in setting forth the teachings
of the Scriptures, and vigorous in his perceptions of the meaning of the sacred
writers. Most of his writings have been lost, except some fragments. His
comments on the Apocalypse survive, in a text less pure than we could wish, but
sufficiently giving the substance of his views. In his Scholia in Apocalypsin,
he says that what John addresses to one Church he addresses to all; that Paul
was the first to teach that there are seven Churches in whole world, and that
the seven Churches named mean the Church Catholic; and that John, to observe
the same method, has not exceeded the number seven.
"What
Victorinus means, is that Paul, in writing to seven Churches, and to seven
only, intended to have it understood that all the Churches of all time are
comprehended in seven; and that, in the same way, the seven Churches in the
Apocalypse are meant to comprise all the Churches in the world: that is, the
Church Catholic of all ages. This was also the view of Tichaenius, of the
fourth century; Arethas of Cappadocia, and Primasius of Adrumetum, in the
sixth; and Vitringa, Mede, More, Girdlestone, and a large body of divines, of
later periods."
"Mede expounded
the Seven Epistles as prophetic of the Seven Ages of the Church, so that all
good should there be prophesied of themselves and all evil of Rome (see Trench,
l.c., p. 228). Later will Vitringa expounded the Epistles on
Page 363
the same principle;
and he writes (pp. 32-36): 'Existimo Spiritum S. sub typo et emblemate Septem
Ecclesiarum Asiae nobis . . . voluisse depingere septem variantes status
Ecclesiae Christianae . . . usque ad Adventum Domini'; adding--'demonstratur
illas Prophetice non Dogmatice esse exponendas.'
"Mede ('Works,'
Advert., ch. x, p. 905) states his opinion more fully as follows: 'If we consider their number being Seven,
which is a number of revolution of times, or if we consider the choice of the
Holy Ghost in that he taketh neither all, no nor the most famous Churches in
the world, as Antioch, Alexandria, Rome. . . . If these things be well
considered, may it not seem that these Seven churches, besides their literal
respect, were intended to be as patterns and types of the several Ages of the
Catholic Church a principio ad finem? that so these Seven Churches should
prophetically sample unto us a Sevenfold successive temper and condition of the
whole visible Church according to the several Ages thereof. . . . And if this
were granted . . . then surely the First Church (viz., the Ephesian state) must
be the first, and the Last be the last. . . . The mention of false Jews and the
synagogue of Satan, &c. (Apoc. ii) in the Five middle ones, will argue that
they belong to the times of the Beast and Babylon. And for the Sixth in special
was have a good character where to place it, viz., partly about the time the
Beast is falling, and partly after his destruction, when the New Jerusalem
cometh.' "
It appears from the
authors above cited, that what has led commentators of more modern times to
discard the view of the prophetical nature of the messages to the seven
churches, is the comparatively recent and unscriptural doctrine of the temporal
millennium. The last stage of the church, as described in Revelation 3: 15-17,
was deemed to be incompatible with the glorious state of things which would
exist here on this earth for a thousand years, with all the world converted to
God.
Page 364
Hence in this case,
as in many others, the Scriptural view is made to yield to the more pleasing.
The hearts of men, as in ancient times, still love smooth things, and their
ears are ever favorably open to those who will prophesy peace.
The first church
named is Ephesus. According to the application here made, this would cover the
first, or apostolic, age of the church. The definition of the word
"Ephesus" is "desirable," which may well be taken as a good
descriptive term of the character and condition of the church in its first
state. Those early Christians had received the doctrine of Christ in its
purity.
They enjoyed the
benefits and blessings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They were noted for
their works, labor, and patience. In faithfulness to the pure principles taught
by Christ, they could not bear those that were evil, and they tested false
apostles, searched out their true characters, and found them liars. That this
work was done by the literal and particular church at Ephesus more than by
other churches of that time, we have no evidence. But this work was carried on
by the Christian church as a whole, in that age, and was a most appropriate
work at that time. (See Acts 15; 2 Corinthians 11: 13.)
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea
taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of
Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small
dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas,
and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and
elders about this question.
Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church,
they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the
Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they
were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared
all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and
to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for
to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter
rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while
ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the
word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to
bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave
audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had
wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James
answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did
visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets;
as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build
again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the
ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the
Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who
doeth all these things.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the
beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not
them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they
abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them
that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with
the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the
brethren:
Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this
manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain
which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls,
saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such
commandment:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with
one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who
shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to
us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,
and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if
ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Act 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to
Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the
epistle:
Act 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for
the consolation.
Act 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also
themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Act 15:33 And after they had tarried there a space,
they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
Act 15:34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide
there still.
Act 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Act 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas,
Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the
word of the Lord, and see how they do.
Act 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them
John, whose surname was Mark.
Act 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with
them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the
work.
Act 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them,
that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and
sailed unto Cyprus;
Act 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
Act 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia,
confirming the churches.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Revelation 2 :
1 These things saith
He that holdeth the seven stars in His
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know
thy works, and thy labor, 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: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat
against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 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. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 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.
*******
There are thousands
of years of history between the birth of Christ's church and now. Throughout
these thousands of years many have come up with their thoughts on this
prophecy. We are now among them. We will continue to read what the various
scholars have had to say, and while we are doing that we must pray for the Holy
Spirit to open our hearts to the TRUTH as it is found in our Savior.
So far comprehending
that the first church, the first people of Christ, were had been cautioned to
keep to their first love. They were commended for hating those who were
deceitful. I don't want to get into this
too much just yet because we aren't finished reading what Uriah Smith wrote on
it all.
Hoping not to
overload us too much I will pause here and by the grace of GOD continue more on
this tomorrow!
Please Father,
please bless us! We need Your blessing like never before!
All through the
GRACE and MERCY of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment