Chapters 2 and 3: the Things Which Are {Introduction}

In the second and third chapters we have presented to us the next section of THE REVELATION —
The things which are {Rev. 1:3, 19}.
That these seven assemblies really existed at the time there can be no doubt, and it is very profitable to have the Lord’s judgment recorded of the condition they were in, and of what He had to command or to reprove. We thus get a line of instruction that is most valuable to us both individually, and as connected together on assembly ground.
Believers, in this dispensation, have a high, holy, and heavenly calling, are brought into very wonderful privileges, receive most blessed spiritual gifts, and, therefore, have solemn responsibilities. God is also building together those who are saved by grace. There are, therefore, corporate as well as personal obligations to Christ, who is
over His house {Heb. 3:6}.
Hence Christ judges, commends, instructs, rebukes, and chastens.
We must bear in mind, as before remarked, that it is not the Church as seen in heaven, or truth of one body that is here considered; but local assemblies on earth, associated not only with Christ and His truth, but with evil and failure, and exposed to outward persecution and conflict with Satan. The circle embraces those who were standing out under the profession of the name of Christ. The Lord, therefore, judges. Peter says:
The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God {1 Pet. 4:17}.
We can judge ourselves by these just weights of the sanctuary.
But while it is plain, that these addresses strictly represent the condition of seven actual congregations, there are good reasons for believing that they are intended to give us a prophetic sketch of the Church on earth to the very end.
1. Because we have no mention in the Revelation of churches on earth after the close of these chapters; that is, the Church is never seen on earth, after the conclusion of “the things which are.” the saints are seen in heaven from the fourth chapter onward, having been caught up to meet the Lord at His coming.
2. Christ speaks of the seven candlesticks as a mystery, giving us the idea of there being something symbolic in their meaning (chap. 1:20). The Lord is seen only in the midst of these seven; but no one doubts that Christ was in the midst of all the perhaps hundreds of assemblies on earth at that time. Again, the number seven, called a perfect number, is frequently used in this book as symbolical of a whole. Thus we have seven spirits before the throne, seven lamps of fire, seven stars, seven candlesticks, seven
eyes, seven horns, seven seals, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven vials, and seven last plagues.
3. The first assembly named exactly corresponds with the earliest failure of the Church in this dispensation — declension of heart:
Thou hast left thy first love {Rev. 2:4}.
This was the beginning of falling away —
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen {Rev. 2:5}.
The last church of the seven is so thoroughly self-satisfied, heartless, and indifferent to Christ’s glory, that He is ready to disown it altogether:
I will spue thee out of my mouth {Rev. 3:16}.
This, too, is what we expect at the close. The word of the apostle concerning this dispensation is
Be not high-minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity, but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in His goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off {Rom. 11:20-22}.
These are solemn words. We know that they are not intended to shake the security of the true believer in Christ, but to intimate that God will disown apostate Christianity, as He has apostate Judaism. The intermediate assemblies remind us also of outward persecution, the polluting ravages of Balaam’s doctrine — carnality and worldliness; the abominations of adulterous Jezebel and her children — Popery, with the coming in of hope of the Lord’s return; dead formality — Protestantism, with a few walking with the Lord; some spiritual reviving, with promise of being kept from the hour of temptation, just before the awful indifference sets in: ending in being disowned by Christ altogether.
If it be asked, What is meant by “the angel” of the church, to which each letter is addressed? We reply, There is no scriptural ground whatever for identifying it with “the pastor.” While pastors are blessed gift of the ascended Jesus, the idea of “the pastor” is not found in the New Testament; for there might have been many “pastors” in each assembly. There were many overseers at Ephesus, and also “bishops” and “deacons” in the church at Philippi. It is easier to say what the angel is not, than exactly to define what it is. We would speak humbly on a subject of such controversy. But finding the expression,
The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest . . . are the angels of the seven churches,
and that they are held in the
right hand {Rev. 1:20}
of the risen and ascended Jesus, we are inclined to believe that the angel is symbolic of gifted persons mentioned in Eph. 4, those who have the Lord’s work at heart, through whom the Lord could communicate His mind, and whom He holds in a certain sense responsible, both as to faithfulness and failure of the assembly.
In each of these epistles the Lord presents Himself in a character suited to the peculiar condition of the assembly. He asserts His rights as Son over His own house and judges. The saints are taught their responsibilities to Him, and to view everything in relation to Him. Many grieve at having offended a brother, but how have we treated Christ? Have we honored Him? Have we been faithful to His truth? Have we given to Him His right place? Has He had our affections? Have we walked worthy of Him? He informs each assembly that He is thoroughly acquainted with it.
I know thy works {Rev. 2:1, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15}.
Observe that Christ’s rule is to commend everything He can first, and then to enter upon failure. We commonly find this in the New Testament. If Christ had to reprove one for doubting, He first acknowledged the faith:
O ye of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? {see Matt. 14:31}
and when Paul wrote, by the Holy Ghost, to the saints at Corinth, who were dishonoring the Lord in so many ways, he began his epistle by enumerating the things he could approve in them. This is always a mark of spiritual-mindedness. We are looking at persons carnally, if we think only of their failures. We do well to be imitators of God, as dear children, in this respect.
In those addresses, while corporate responsibility to Christ is fully owned, yet each individual conscience is appealed to:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches {Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22}.
Observe, too, that each is to hear what is addressed to all the assemblies, according to the truths of the one body and one Spirit. This makes every part of these addresses of deep personal import to all. The promise is also to the individual that overcomes —
Him that overcometh, etc. {see Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21}.
A word of instruction, remonstrance, or exhortation is also given to each assembly, calculated to restore; and also an encouragement set before the overcomer. If it be asked, What is meant by “him that overcometh”? We are answered by the same apostle in another letter:
Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? {1 John 5:4, 5}.
The overcomer, then, is the true follower of Christ. He it is that holds fast to the end; for He that has begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Christ. The promises, therefore, to the overcomer are generally similar to the promises of the gospel; such as, he shall
eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God {Rev. 2:7};
thou shalt have a crown of life {see Rev. 2:10};
he
shall not be hurt of the second death {Rev. 2:11}, etc.
Now let us look a little at the peculiar features of each assembly.