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JOHN

TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA.

"GRACE be unto you, and peace, from HIM WHICH IS, and WHICH WAS, and WHICH IS TO COME;

"And from the SEVEN SPIRITS which are before his throne ; "And from JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The circumstances under which this Revelation was given to John.

"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

The day on which it was given.

"I was in the Spirit on the LORD'S DAY."

The command that was given.

"And I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and, What

thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches

which are in Asia;

Unto Ephesus, and

Unto Smyrna, and

Unto Pergamos, and

Unto Thyatira, and
Unto Sardis, and

Unto Philadelphia, and

Unto Laodicea."

The appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ with the symbols of his power.

"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.

"And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto THE SON OF

MAN,

"Clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

"His head and his hairs were white, like wool, as white as snow; "And his eyes were as a flame of fire;

"And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ;

"And his voice as the sound of many waters.

"And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

The effect of this vision on the mind of the Apostle. "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead."

What the Lord Jesus Christ said.

"And he laid his right hand, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which SHALL BE HEREAFTER ;"—

Which things are-that is, the things which John had seen, which he did then see, and which should happen onwards to the end of time-these things are,

“The mystery of the seven stars which," saith Christ, “thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the seven churches."

So that the whole contents of this book consist of the mysterious providences that were to happen in connexion with the church of Christ, both as it respected pastors and people; the number seven, here so generally used, implying completeness and perfection. Just as if it had been expressly said, "What is to happen 'hereafter' is the mystery concerning the church of Christ-that church which he bought with his own blood-those who proclaim which, he holds in his right hand, and in the midst of which, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, there he is-and thus he walks amongst the candlesticks or lamp-bearers."

So that, commencing this most important revelation by describing the things "which are," appears to be done for the purpose of holding up a glass or mirror for the church to view itself to the end of time. In the seven addresses, therefore, which follow, are described the various states in which at one time or other, in one place or other, the church has ever appeared from that time to this. And in studying them, we ought not merely to generalize them; but, as component parts of that body of which they speak, of which body Christ is the head,

we ought individually to bring them home to our own bosoms, and to consider them as addressed personally to us and our own consciences will tell us where they apply. The first address is

TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS.
(ch. ii. v. 1-7.)

"Unto the angel of the church in Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

"I know thy works, and thy labour, 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 and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

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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.

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

"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 second address is

TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA.

(ch. ii. v. 8-11.)

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou

art rich,) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, but are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried: and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."

The third address is

TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS.

(ch. ii. 12-17.)

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

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Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

"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 hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

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