And I will give him the morning star.— This is one of Christ's titles, ch. Revelation 22:16 which he takes upon him, to signify that he is the first Prince of the resurrection; and so this is as much as if he had said, "I will give him power to be the morning-star, even as I am myself." A star, in the symbolical language, signifies a king, prince, or ruler. But our adorable Saviour is both a Star and a Sun. See Malachi 4:2. We maymark the opposition between the threatening to the idolatrous Jezebel, and the reward promised to the saints. She was the first destroyed and extirpated out of memoryfor her sin. The martyrs and faithful confessors shall bethe first glorified and rewarded for their constancy in the faith. Again, we may observe the gradual increase of this reward; first, to have power over the nations,—to conquer; then, to rule them; next, to subdue all opposition, and destroy all enemies; and, lastly, to rule and reign, quietly, even before the rest of the saints.
Inferences.—Let the ministers of Christ rejoice, that they are as stars in the right-hand of their Redeemer. "Support them, O Lord, by thy almighty power, and guide all their motions by thine infinite wisdom." Let all the churches of Christ remember, that he walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks; may they be pure gold; may their lamps shine with unsullied lustre, that their Father may be glorified, and their Saviour delighted with the survey.
He sees our labour, our patience, our fidelity, and our zeal. May he see that we cannot bear those who would corrupt our religion, without exerting ourselves to silence their false pretensions, and to guard the churches, to which we are related, especially from the venom they might diffuse over them! In all these respects, may we daily approve ourselves to him in a more perfect manner! But, alas! does he not perceive in many of us, what he complained so early of in the church of Ephesus; that we have lost our first love, and that much of that zeal with which we set out in religion, is declined? If so, let us take the alarm; for dreadful indeed would it be, to have our candlestick removed out of its place; to have the gospel and all its privileges taken away from us. To prevent this awful judgment, let us recollect from whence we are fallen; if we are indeed in a backsliding and declining state; and humbly and heartily repent, and vigorously exert ourselves against the enemies of our salvation; that overcoming the difficulties of this howling wilderness, we may be received to the enjoyments of the heavenly country; and when we can no longer share in the bounties of Providence in this inferior state, be feasted with the fruit of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Again, let us direct our eyes to that glorious person, who is the First and the Last; and who, though it may appear incompatible with that divine title, was once dead, and is alive again; and since he is awfully represented as with a sharp sword going out of his mouth, let us be greatly concerned, that we do not incur his displeasure by our irregular conduct, lest he smite, or even destroy us. Let us observe and imitate what he commends in some of the churches whom he addresses; their humility in being sensible of their poverty, when enriched by his grace; their patience, their diligence, and the resolution with which they retained the honour of his name, notwithstanding the throne of Satan was in the midst of them, and the rage of persecution had destroyed Antipas before their eyes; that blessed, that triumphant hero, whose fidelity and constancy his divine Saviour commemorates with approbation, and even with satisfaction and pleasure. Who would not be ambitious of dying in the same manner, were it ever so severe and terrible, to be thus honoured and celebrated by our Lord Jesus Christ, or any of his faithful apostles? Let us not be terrified at the apprehension of what we may suffer from the malice of Satan, and by his instruments, even though not merely imprisonment, but death itself, were to await us. It is only for a limited time that he can occasion tribulation to any of the faithful people of God; and our blessed Lord will never be unmindful of that gracious promise, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. O! let us by faith survey that innumerable company, who, though they have fallen by the stroke of the first death, have been, and shall for ever be, unhurt by the second,—that blessed society who are encircled with immortal crowns, which their triumphant Leader, whom they followed with such undaunted fortitude, has bestowed upon them; who, though they partake no longer of the bread that perisheth, nor are feasted with earthly viands, are yet eating of the hidden manna; who have received the white stone, in token of their absolution; and while the names and memory of many of them have sunk into oblivion, and the honours attending others are of little consequence, they are known in the heavenly regions by a new name, conferred as a mark of favour and distinction by the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are drawing on to the completion of that blessed hope. And that we may not be disappointed, may we, by divine grace, be preserved from the artifices of those who call themselves the people of God, while they are indeed of the synagogue of Satan, and from whatever, like the doctrine of Balaam, would ensnare our consciences, and defile our souls!
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The first epistle is directed to the angel of the church of Ephesus. We have,
1. The preface, informing us who dictated what the apostle wrote, even that glorious Personage that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, and who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Note; The Lord Jesus is he who makes his ministers bright stars: he gives them purity of doctrine and holiness of life, and enables them to shine to his own glory. May we each be upheld by his almighty arms, and be fed with oil from the living source, shining brighter and stronger till we come to the eternal temple above.
2. The contents.
[1.] The epistle contains matter of great commendation. I know and approve thy works, and thy labour, as a minister of zeal, and the works of the church in general, as exemplary; and thy patience under persecutions; and how thou canst not bear them which are evil, abhorring their principles and practices, and removing them from communion with you: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not; and hast found them liars, detecting their impostures, and demonstrating the falsehood of their pretended commission from Christ: and hast borne many conflicts, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured with fidelity, and hast not fainted. Note; They who are put in trust with the ministry, may expect many trials. They have need of peculiar faith and patience, that they may persevere in their labours, and not faint.
[2.] We have a needful rebuke and admonition. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love, and grown colder of late in affection to me and my ways. And such a backsliding in heart the Lord Jesus observes, and cannot but be highly displeased with. 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. Note; (1.) They who are fallen, should remember how much they have lost, and with grief and shame consider their ways, conscious of their danger of eternal loss. (2.) They who truly repent, will return to their first works, and then they will return again to a sense of the divine grace and love. (3.) The churches that neglect Christ's admonitions, may expect to be visited with his judgments.
[3.] A word of encouragement is added. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate; their idolatrous, vicious, and impure principles and practices. Note; True Christians will maintain a holy hatred to all the ways of sin.
3. The conclusion. Where we have, (1.) A solemn call to attention. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Note; The scriptures are of general use for all ages; and what was written of old, was written for our instruction, as well as for those to whom it was more immediately addressed. (2.) A gracious promise. To him that overcometh, and perseveres unto the end, manfully fighting under my banners against sin, Satan, and the world, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God; admitting him to all the blessings and happiness of the celestial paradise, infinitely surpassing that from which Adam for his transgression was rejected. Note; In Christ Jesus, and by his grace, we may be advanced to much higher glories than even man in innocence enjoyed.
2nd, The form of the second epistle is similar. We have,
1. The preface, to the church of Smyrna. These things saith the First and the Last, the Creator and Judge of all, the Origin and End of all things; who was dead, and is alive, who was delivered for our offences to make the one great atonement, and is raised again for our justification.
2. The contents. (1.) Their commendation. I know thy works, and tribulation, how zealously thou hast laboured, and how much thou hast suffered; and thy poverty (but thou art rich); for whatever the faithful lose for Christ, and the gospel's sake, shall procure them much more substantial treasures in a better world. And I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan, who, while they pretended a peculiar covenant-title to God's favour, were, in fact, Satan's emissaries, and the bitter enemies of the spiritual Israel. (2.) Warning is given them of approaching trials. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer, so as to be terrified from the path of duty: behold, the devil, by cruel persecutors his instruments, shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and your faith and constancy proved in the furnace of affliction; and ye shall have tribulation ten days,—that is, for so many years. (See the Annotations.) Note; God's people need not fear the malice of their most envenomed persecutors. If he be for them, no matter who may be against them. (3.) An encouraging promise is added. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life; and then, though it be won by martyrdom, our gain will be unspeakably great.
3. The conclusion. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; what encouragements there are to fidelity, and how watchful God is over his believing people: He that overcometh in the holy warfare, and is finally victorious over his spiritual foes, shall not be hurt of the second death, has nothing to fear, has every thing to hope for in eternity.
3rdly, We have in the third epistle, as before,
1. The preface, to the angel of the church of Pergamos. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; the sword of his word and his providences, to defend the faithful, and cut off all enemies and apostates.
2. The contents. (1.) Notice is taken of their perilous situation. I know thy works, and behold with satisfaction whatever is excellent among you; and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, environed with enemies: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, amid the fire of hottest persecution, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth, and manifests his bloody rage against my loyal subjects. Note; Steady fidelity in perilous days, is doubly commendable. (2.) A reproof is given them for what was amiss. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Some such seducing teachers were among them, who inculcated the lawfulness of eating idol-sacrifices, and of fornication. So hast thou also them that held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate; and countenance their impure and abominable practices. Note; God hates all impurity; and they who make light of fornication, will feel the heavy wrath of an offended God, which it provokes. (3.) They are warned to repent. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly in judgment, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth: and no sword is so fatal to the body as the denunciations of his wrath are to the guilty soul. Note; By speedy repentance alone we can prevent the threatened judgments. And not only must we cleanse our hearts from the love of sin, but separate ourselves from all communion with scandalous offenders, lest we become by connivance partakers of their guilt and ruin.
3. The conclusion. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh, faithful in the arduous conflict, will I give to eat of the hidden manna, feeding him with the abundant grace and consolations of my Spirit and my gospel in this world, and in the world to come with the joys of heaven: and will give him a white stone, absolving him from all his iniquities; and in the stone a new name written, the name of a child of God and heir of glory, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
4thly, The fourth epistle is directed to the angel of the church of Thyatira.
1. The preface describes the Son of God, who dictates to the sacred penman. These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, infinite in wisdom and knowledge, discerning the secrets of all hearts; and his feet are like fine brass, almighty to support his faithful people amidst every danger, and to tread his enemies and theirs into the dust.
2. We have the contents. [1.] They are highly commended. I know thy works, and am pleased with them; and thy charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first; that in all divine graces and good conversation thou art increasing with the increase of God, growing more exemplary and eminent. Note; It is well for us when he who knoweth our hearts, bears witness that our last works are more than the first. [2.] They are reproved for what was blameable among them. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess (probably some woman of eminence among them, who pretended to inspiration, and had her abetters, and followers,) to teach, and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols, perverting their souls, and leading them to corporal and spiritual idolatries and impurities. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not; therefore behold swift vengeance shall overtake her and her adherents: I will cast her into a bed of languishing and misery, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation; the partakers of her sins shall partake of her plagues, except they repent of their deeds, and prevent the threatened judgments: and I will kill her children with death, as surely as the sons of Ahab perished by the sword of Jehu: and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, and can discover every hidden principle and secret of the soul, distinguishing the hypocrite from the faithful; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Note; (1.) They who abuse the patience of God, and harden themselves in sin, instead of repenting of their iniquities, will bring aggravated guilt and ruin upon their souls. (2.) God's omniscience cannot be deceived, nor his justice eluded; the faithless professor will be detected and sentenced at his impartial tribunal. [3.] He encourages the faithful among them. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, abhorring all such impure principles and practices, which impostors influenced by deep Satanical subtilty, seek to inculcate, I will put upon you none other burden, nor add any farther injunctions or restraints than those revealed in my word. But that which have already, the doctrines and precepts of the gospel which you have embraced, hold fast till I come, to take you to my eternal rest, and deliver you from all your temptations for ever. Note; (1.) The Lord knows how to separate between the precious and the vile, and will secure his faithful people amidst all the arts of deceivers. (2.) They who would meet Christ with comfort at his coming, must hold fast his truth in principle and practice, and never be moved away from the hope of the gospel.
3. The conclusion. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, patiently and faithfully persevering in the profession and practice of the gospel, to him will I give power over the nations, when he shall sit with me on my throne at the great day; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, breaking in pieces all the wicked of the earth; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received, in my office-capacity, a kingdom of my Father: he shall share my glory, and reign with me for ever; and I will give him the morning-star, so that he shall shine bright in the eternal glory as the stars for ever and ever. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Lord, open thou mine ears, and make me earnestly take heed to the things that are spoken!