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tre, from which opinions were to be most extensively propagated; and by his residence, "all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."*

The history of those periods is imperfect; as might be presumed from the destruction of the Christian records during the persecutions. But it is ascertained that Christianity, violently opposed by the priests and the populace, for its repugnance to image-worship, was constantly involved in still more serious perils by the attempts of the half-converted Jews, and philosophers, Egyptian and Asiatic, to mingle it with their own mysticism. Against the traditions of the Jew and the Platonic fables of the Sophist, the Apostles continually warred. But the energies of truth and reason are feeble against prejudice fortified by interest and habitual impurity. The Asiatic Churches had gradually given way. Exposure to the ready fury of the Roman sword alone stopped them in their degradation. The trial was long and terrible; it lasted for nearly three hundred years. But it was effectual. Gnosticism, the great corruptor of the faith, lost its temptation. It lingered for an obscure period in the perishing schools of the Alexandrian philosophy.. But early in the sixth century it perished, and is heard of

no more.

The church of Ephesus long retained the rank attached to it by the peculiar presence of St. Paul, of Timothy, and of St. John. The Nicolaitanes, whom the text reprobates, seem to have been Gnostics, who added to their mysticism, as was the custom, personal licentiousness. The Ephesian congregation is praised for denouncing their perverted practices; but reproved for a decay in its early devotedness to the Christian cause. Finally, a promise is given, that all

* Acts xix. 10.

who adhere to the faith in the approaching persecution, shall obtain an immortal reward.

In the general fall of the Greek Empire in Asia, (A. D. 1312,) Ephesus was ruined. Its remnant is now Aiasalic, a village of fifteen cottages, containing but three Christians.

PROPHECY.

Ver. 8. And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive;

9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10. 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.

11. 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.

INTERPRETATION.

Smyrna, now the chief commercial city of the Levant, was considered, in the time of the Apostles, the second city of Asia;* Ephesus holding the first rank. One of its early bishops was Polycarp, who had been the disciple of St. John. His successors sat in the general councils for a long period. Like Ephesus it was ruined in the Turkish invasion. Yet its admirable situation for commerce revived it, and it is now large and opulent, containing 140,000 inhabitants, of whom about 2,000 are Greek, 6,000 Armenian 5,000 Roman Catholics, and a few Protestants.

The Apostolic Church in Smyrna seems to have been harassed by the insults of the Jews, the original persecutors, who retained their hostility, and even

* Pliny Hist. Nat. l. v. c. 29.

their power long after the fall of their city. Eusebius* describes them as actively hostile, even in the time of the emperor Verus.

To the Church of Smyrna it is prophesied, that it shall have persecution ten days. This peculiarity of date most probably alluded to the final persecution under Diocletian and his successors; which is always described by the ancient writers as "the ten years' persecution." The period was remote. But the whole bearing of the prophecy to the seven Churches sustains the idea, that it was applied to the entire course of that regularly established persecution which, grounded upon the law of Trajan, never altogether ceased till the fourth century, and marked the last period of its existence by ten years of massacre. This final fury fell equally upon all the Churches; for the trial to one is predicted as the trial to all. Each prophecy is obviously generalized; "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches."

Days are in prophetic language years,t The use may have arisen from the adoption of the seven days of the creation for the model of the week of years ending with the Sabbatical year, and of the other Jewish cycles. A sufficient proof of the authority of this use is to be found in its accurate accordance with the completion of the several prophecies.

PROPHECY.

Ver. 12. And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13. 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.

* Euseb. H. E. 1. iv. c. 13.

† Ezekiel iv. 6; Lowth's Isaiah chap. xx. 3; Numbers xiv. 34.

14. 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.

15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

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

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

INTERPRETATION.

The city of Pergamos was celebrated for its magnificence, as the ancient capital of the line of Attalus; for its libertinism; and for its literature; the famous library of 200,000 volumes naturally rendering it the seat of philosophy, &c. It is here called the throne of Satan," in reference alike to its vices, its false doctrines, and its cruelty to the Christians. The martyr Antipas is mentioned by Andreas Cæsariensis.*

The "doctrine of Balaam❞t was image worship and dissoluteness. The "two-edged sword" is the word of God. "The manna," or bread of life, and the "white stone," or token of acquittal, usual in the earlier ages, are emblems of the immortal happiness promised to those who held the faith at the hazard of their lives.

Pergamos was the seat of a Proconsul. It flourished long, was finally overrun in the Turkish invasion, and exists as a remnant, still retaining its ancient The Christian population amounts to 3000.

name.

Com, in loco.

Numbers, chap. xxv. and xxxi. 16.
* Heb. iv. 12.

.3

PROPHECY.

Ver. 18. And unto the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22. Behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23. And I will kill her children with death; and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searchest the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24. 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, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burthen.

25. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28. And I will give him the morning star.

29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.

INTERPRETATION.

Thyatira was a considerable city; it is mentioned as the residence of Lydia, who had at Philippi received St. Paul. It still exists in Ak-hizar, and contains 30,000 inhabitants, of whom 3000 are Greeks. The cavil reported by Epiphanius, and repeated by Gibbon, that in St. John's time there was no Church in Thyatira, is entitled to no credit. The

Acts xvi. 14.

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