Ver. 24. The depths of Satan.] Our interpretation of the word Jezebel in a figurative sense, seems to be confirmed. She had a doctrine, and taught deep mysterious knowledge, calling it perhaps with Saint Paul, τα βάθη τ8 Θε8, Ta baby To Oe8, the deep things of God, but it is declared to be τα βαθη το Σατανά, the depths of Satan. Traces of such philosophizing sects are to be seen in the writings of the apostles, and of the apostolical fathers. And the Gnostics, who dealt eminently in these bun, thus afterwards entered and corrupted the church. Ver. 25. Until I come.] See note, ch. i. 3. Ver. 27. Power over the Nations.] The expressions in this passage have near resemblance to those of the second Psalm, which are undoubtedly prophetic of Christ f. He is there declared, "a king "over the nations, even unto the ends of the earth." He shall "rule over the nations with an iron rod," or sceptre," and break them to pieces, as a potter's vessel." But our Lord informed his disciples, that "he appoints unto them a kingdom, even as "his Father had appointed unto him §;" and the promise is continued by them to their successors in the * 1 Cor. ii. 10. + See Acts iv. 24. In this passage in the Septuagint, the word wow is used, as well as in the Apocalypse. And the ancient Hebrew text probably agreed with it. (See Reeves's Collation of Hebrew and Greek texts, Ps. ii. 9.) This character, of shepherd of the people, was anciently attributed to good kings. Such was the won awy of Homer. By such a character, did the great Cyrus desire to be distinguished. (Xenoph. Cyrop. lib. i.) It is frequently applied in Scripture to the Messiah, and occurs in that sense four times in the Apocalypse. So "Pados is properly translated sceptre, as in Heb. i. 8. See Schleusner, in voc. § Luke xxii, 29. John xxi. 16. Acts xx. 8. 1 Pet. iii. 2. church. church. It is a kingdom of great power and glory, yet not after the fashion of this world; for it is neither acquired nor preserved by arms. It is not founded on worldly policy, over which it is destined to prevail. It is the ftone of Daniel's vision, which, cut out of the mountain without hands, breaks to pieces the kingdoms of the world, miraculously increasing till it fills the whole earth. "And the king"dom and dominion, and the greatness of the king"dom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose king"dom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions "shall serve and obey him*." Ver. 28. The morning star.] A star is a teacher† ; our Lord is eminently such; and such he intitles himself in ch. xxii. 16. Ở astue ở reupos vai offervos, “the shi ning and morning star." As such he was foretold in Numbers, xxiv. 17; and a star, in the eastern and morning quarter of the hemisphere, preceded his birth t As this star, seen by the wise men, signified to them his first coming; so by the star, promised in this passage, we must probably understand the signs denoting his second coming; a knowledge of "the mysteries of the kingdom of hea ven §," and of its approach in power. Saint Peter, speaking of prophecy, whose office it is in part to reveal these mysteries, recommends us to attend. diligently to this "light shining in a dark place," until some clearer manifestation shall be reveal ed; έως έως 8 ήμερα διαυγασε και φωςφορος ανατελή εν ταις nagdias úμwv, until the day shine forth, and the day * Dan. vii. 27. See the note, ch. ii. 7. and the Scriptures there quoted. This reign of the saints is again described in ch. xix. 15. † See note, ch. i. 16. ↑ Matt. ii. 2. § Matt. xiii. 2. star star (or morning star, for so it should be translated,) shall rise in your hearts: until that time, when the prophetical information, imperfect in its nature, being "done away," that perfect knowledge shall succeed, which is like knowing "face to face." But beside this time of perfect consummation to which both these apostles may be thought principally to refer, there is a time promised when the Divine Power shall "remove the veil spread over all nations t," and the earth "be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the seat.' This glorious and extensive reign of Christ and of his religion, is the subject of many sublime prophecies, and is copiously prefigured in the sequel of this book. To those, whether they be churches or individuals, who, in full assurance of faith, resist the temptations, and surmount the difficulties of their Christian warfare, looking forward to the accomplishment of the divine promises with spiritual discernment, to such shall be granted the dawnings and first light of these happy times; they shall see them, though afar off§; and seeing, they shall rejoice || ; and this joy no one shall take from them ¶. * 1 Cor. xiii. 10. & 12. Heb. xi. 13. + Is. xxv. 7. || John viii. 56. Hab. ii. 14. ¶ John xvi. 22. PART PART I. SECTION VIII. The Address to the Church in Sardis. 1 Καὶ τῷ ἀγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπιὰ πνεύμαλα τῇ Θεῦ, καὶ τὰς ἁπλὰ ἀςέρας Οιδά σε τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχεις, ὅτι ζῆς, καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ. 2 Γίνε γρηορῶν, καὶ τήριξαν τα λοιπά, ἃ μέλλει ἀποθανεῖν ἐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σε τὰ ἔςτα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τῇ Θε8 με 3 Μνημόνευε Εν, πως εἴληφας καὶ ἔκασας, καὶ τηρεῖ, καὶ μελανός ησον· ἐὰν ἔν μὴ χρη[ορήσης, ἥξω ἐπὶ σὲ ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ ὲ μὴ γνώς, ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ. 4 Αλλ' ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν. ἢ ἐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὑτῶν, κ περιπαλήσεσι μελ ἐμᾶ ἐν λευκοῖς· ὅτι 5 ἄξιοί εἰσιν. Ὁ νικῶν, ὗτος περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς· CHAP. iii. VER. 1-6. 1 And to the angel of the Church in Sardis write: Thus saith he who hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and thou 2 art dead. Be watch ful, and strengthen the things remaining, which are about to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before my God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. For if thou shalt not be watchful, I will come upon thee, as a thief; and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee. 4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which 1 And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis, write, These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art 2 dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things. which remain, that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before 3 God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will 4 come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be καὶ ἐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῇ ἐκ το βίβλος τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ἐνώπιον To walgos μe, x ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων 6 αὐτό. Ὁ ἔχων ἐς, ἀκεσάτω, τὶ τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. cometh, the same shall ther, and before his an ear, let him hear clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his 6 angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Ver. 1. Sardis.] Sardis, situated on the Pactolus, the ancient seat of Croesus, and of the Lydian kings, was proverbially the seat of Riches. This city had suffered grievously by an earthquake some time before the date of this vision; but, by the bounty of Tiberius Cæsar, had been restored to splendour *. Sardis possessed, from its natural situation, extraordinary means of acquiring riches. But riches are corruptive, and are apt to lead to that supineness in religion, and profligacy in morals, which in this epistle are so severely rebuked. Sardis is now no more than a village. An ancient Christian church supplies the Turks, who inhabit it, with a mosque. The few Christians (if such they may be called) who still continue there, are represented to have neither Church nor minister. Ib. The seven Spirits of God.] See note, ch. i. 4. Ib. Name.] Character or reputation. Ib. That thou livest, and thou art dead.] In the same figurative language, our Lord commanded his |