Rev. ii. 12-17. PART VIII. THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS. THE THIRD IN considering the third period of Christian history as set before us in the above-named fourfold form of prophecy, the first thing which claims our attention is the spiritual aspect or phase represented in THE THIRD EPISTLE. 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. 14 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. 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. We have already seen in our exposition of these Epistles, that they form a most important part in the construction of the Prophecy of this book, which cannot be understood in its completeness without them. They have not only a universal application to the Church of CHRIST at all times, which is full of instruction; but they set before us also prophetically, the seven states or conditions through which she would have to pass during seven great epochs of the Christian age. The first aspect of her history presents her to us under the condition of having forsaken her first love; the second shows her in the season of sorrow and persecution; and this third refers to her union with and elevation in the world. At this stage, we have reached a period of her history, in which the evils arising from her departure from the ways and ordinances of the LORD, assume a more indelible character. As it was said of Israel, that "they served Judges ii. 7. the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the Elders that outlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD that He had done for Israel:" so it may be said of the spiritual Israel, that they continued following the LORD all the days of the Apostles, and of the Elders that outlived the Apostles, which had known all the works of the LORD that He had done for them; but from that time forward being unmindful of the Word of the LORD in His Apostles, the Church placed herself in connexion with the Imperial power, and sought the protection and guidance of the State. Pergamos" signifies elevation, or lifting up, which very aptly represents the exaltation and honour to which the Church attained at this period. She became allied to, and united with the State, and was lifted up into temporal power by the Roman governors who had embraced Christianity, the first of whom was Con stantine. Theodosius is also mentioned as having conferred great honour upon the Church. Gibbon says, "Among the benefactors of the Church the fame of Constantine has been rivalled by the glory of Theodosius. If Constantine had the advantage of erecting the standard of the Cross, the emulation of his successor assumed the merit of subduing the Arian heresy, and of abolishing the worship of idols in the Roman world." The position in which the Church was now found was fraught with greater peril to her spiritual welfare than when she suffered persecution, and she now stood especially in need of admonition and rebuke. The Faithful Bishop, jealous over His flock, which He had purchased with His own blood, heads His Epistle to the angel of this church with these words: These things saith He which hath the sword with two edges." This description of our LORD is very different to the two preceding addresses in the Epistles to the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna. The former expresses pastoral watchfulness and security; the latter, His ever-present power to give eternal life to His people, and to sustain them under persecutions. But in this He represents Himself as One ready to execute the power of His Word on the wicked and Heb. iv. 12. disobedient, unless they repented of their deeds. “The Word of the LORD is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." And that He might prepare them for it, He notices first those things which He approves as well as those which He condemns, that so they might know He used the sword in faithfulness and love. 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." In this commendation, we have an evident allusion to a previous period of persecution, and a martyr's name is mentioned, which is found nowhere else in the history of the time. The LORD JESUSs is styled in the prefatory vision to the Epistles, "The Faithful Martyr." And here He speaks of Antipas in the same terms, "My faithful martyr." What a dignity and honour are here put upon the spirit of witness-bearing and martyrdom, which had now well nigh departed from the Church! A faithful witness is nothing less than a martyr entering on his course of imprisonment and death. But how many fail in the beginning of their witness, and attain not to the glory of this faithful testimony! The Pergamos state of the Church is unfavourable to martyrdom. For it is one in which she is seduced by the flatteries of the world and the desires of the flesh. And such as follow these will not attain unto the prize of their high calling, nor win the martyr's crown. Regarding, then, this Epistle as prophetic of the spiritual condition of the Church in the period to which we are applying it, this allusion to Antipas as the LORD's faithful martyr acquires a significancy not otherwise seen; and the name Antipas becomes descriptive of a class of faithful witnesses, or of that noble army of martyrs who gave themselves unto the death during the previous period of persecution which had just passed away. The Church of Pergamos is also said "to dwell where Satan has his seat or throne." Satan is called R "The prince of this world." And when he offered all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them to the LORD, He did not question his power to give them. His seat or throne, therefore, must be in the high places of rule and government. And these words intimate, that Christian men were found at this period occupying the high places of power and authority in the government of the empire. The history of this time abundantly shows that such was indeed the case. The place of Satan's throne, and habitation, was that into which the Church of Pergamos had come, and that not as a temporary abode, but as a permanent dwelling. What is here said of the Church under Constantine formed no part of her previous history. And as this is the first time in which she is described as dwelling where Satan dwelleth, and where his throne is, it is evident that this period is the time referred to. But there are certain things for which the angel of the Church of Pergamos is particularly commended— "Thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith." Many are the names and titles given to our LORD. But the one to which our LORD here emphatically refers, is that name which the prophecy of this book particularly concerns, and which is written on its title page, and that name is "JESUS CHRIST." And when we consider the import of these words, the mystery they contain, and the fundamental truths they set forth, we need not marvel at the importance attached to the holding of it fast. Whoso holdeth not this name hath not GOD; does not know GOD; holds no truth of God in its integrity; but misconstrues all, and perverts all. It is that name which flesh and blood revealeth not unto us, but our FATHER which is in heaven and which, as embodying and embracing all : |