Revelation 3

Revelation 3:1

[a] Sardis] That Sardis is the first reformed church, in the anti-type, that of Germany, begun at Wittemberg by Luther, A. D. 1517, is the affirmation of Mr. Brightman; but without any other proof, but either that Sardis is more southerly than Thyatira, and so, according to his fancy, must have more of the life of truth in it; or because there is no mention here of Balaam and Jezebel, (which he had resolved must signify the doctrines of Christian Rome,) the absence of which must signify to him a breaking off from the Roman communion; or that she had a name to be living, but was dead, which, saith he, must refer to the doctrine of consubstantiation among the Lutherans, an argument that they were hugely amiss, and spiritually dead after that reformation. But, alas! how far are these from being marks in the forehead, or the writing an epistle to Germany by name, which in his epistle he promised to shew us! This were a strange rate of interpreting of dreams, which no oncirocritic would allow of, but a much stranger of explaining of prophecies. The same course hath he taken in the other two remaining churches: Philadelphia must needs be the Helvetian, Swedish, Genevan, French, Dutch, Scotch reformed churches; but no reason for it again, but that the city of Philadelphia was yet further south than Sardis, and so must needs signify some increase of reformation; and secondly, that the name of Jezebel was not in it; and thirdly, that the word Philadelphia, signifying brotherly love, cannot be applied to any but this pattern of all piety, (to which the author had so much kindness,) the church of Helvetia and Geneva, &c. And the reformed church of England must be the church of Laodicea, not from any denotation in the name, or characters in the forehead, (which he promised to all in his epistle, and attempted to shew in the former of them,) but only because episcopacy was here retained, and so was a mixture of cold with that of heat in the purity of the doctrine, and consequently is the lukewarm church which is here found fault with. How easily any favourer of episcopal government might

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Revelation 3:2

And some that have not as yet fallen are yet ready to do so, if they be not speedily fortified; wherefore a great care must be taken of those, that they be upheld: for though there be faith in this church, yet there wants that love which must consummate this faith; and this that perfect love, that casts out fear, that will make men confess Christ in time of greatest hazard, this, I say, is wanting among you.

Revelation 3:3

Remember therefore the pure Christian doctrine, which requires confession with the mouth, as well as faith, and be strong and constant, and make amends for your former failings. And if by continued negligence you thus fall again, expect that my judgments on you shall be sudden and unpreventable.

Revelation 3:4

Some few names, that is, persons, (Acts i. 15.) there are in this church, which have not failed in this kind, have held out constant against all terrors, and confessed, and suffered for my name; and these shall not fail of the reward of martyrs; they shall be clothed in shining garments, that is, gloriously or royally; and this as a reward of their Christian constancy, for they have behaved themselves as they ought.

Revelation 3:5

He that holds out against all temptations, and confesses Christ before men, shall be rewarded with the richest martyr’s reward; and though he be slain here, he shall be sure to gain life by losing it: I will make good my promise to this confessor of mine, in confessing and owning him before my Father and his angels at the day of judgment.

b Christ, that is pure and faithful to us, and that loveth, and owneth, and rewardeth those that continue pure and faithful, undefiled, and constant to the professing of him, that hath as a King (see note [h] Matt. xvi.) supreme, independent, absolute power and authority put into his hand over the church of God, and so whatsoever he doth, shall stand against all control;

[b] book of life] This book, wherein names are said to be written, and from thence blotted out sometimes, is here used by analogy with registers in cities containing the names of all citizens, and from which rebels and deserters were blotted out. Censores populi avitates, soboles, familias censento, “Let the censors set down, or register, all men’s ages, children, families,” saith Tully, de Leg. 3. These were at Athens called ληξιαρχικὰ γραμματεῖα. See chap. xiii. 8, and ch. xx. 12, where this book of life is distinguished from the books which were the records of what was done, (such as are mentioned Esth. vi. 1, 2,) out of which it seems the records are brought, by which the wicked are judged κατὰ τὰ ἔργα, according to their wicked works, which are there recorded, from which certainly it is that any man’s name is blotted out of this book of life, or is not found written in it. And so St. Chrysostom and the ancients understand this book of life to be that in which, according to their qualifications and demeanours in their lives, and especially at their hour of death, men are said to be written or blotted out. See Luke x. 20, and note [a] on Phil. iv.

Revelation 3:8

You have behaved yourselves courageously, and so as I approve of, and this behaviour shall be a means of enlarging the bounds of Christian doctrine, of bringing in proselytes to Christ, in despite of all the cunning or force of the adversary; and this, because that little church, or host, or congregation among you, hath been kept entire, and neither defiled with the impure mixture of the Gnostics, nor with their doctrine of renouncing Christ in time of persecution, but hath held out against all.

Revelation 3:9

And for the Gnostics, that have joined with the Jews to persecute you, that have not only been thus careful to preserve themselves by subtle compliances, to appear to be Jews, to escape persecutions from them, (see note [r] ch. ii.) being indeed the most polluted villains in the world, but further have joined with them to annoy the Christians, let them know that their cunnings and subtilties shall stand them in little stead; the time shall come, that they shall see that those which have served Christ most faithfully and courageously shall fare best, even in this world, and that God’s love is more useful and worth having

a saith the holy, the true, λέγει ὁ ἅγιος ὁ ἀληθινός.

Revelation 3:10

And because you have observed my command of constancy, persevered in the confession of Christ, even in time of persecution, and have been content to suffer for me, I will preserve and deliver you from those persecutions which are about to fall upon the Christians every where, as a sharp trial to them.

Revelation 3:11

This patience and purity of yours I shall speedily reward: be ye therefore sure to persevere now this little while, that all that hitherto you have suffered be not lost and unrewarded, as it would if now at last you should fail.

Revelation 3:12

He that thus holds out, shall be a pillar of the church, and live quietly to perform the office of an apostle in it, he shall no more be disturbed, or cast out (Matt. viii. 12). And I will acknowledge him as a person truly godly, a true member of the pure catholic Christian church, known by the name of the new Jerusalem descending from heaven, (see note [b] ch. xxi.) one that is approved by me as a faithful true Christian: (see note [l] ch. ii.)

This is the message of Christ, the Amen, in whom all the promises of God are fulfilled, the faithful witness, that hath confirmed the doctrine brought from his Father by laying down his life for it, (and so is a witness that deserves to be believed,) and requires all his disciples to do the like when there is occasion for it, he that is the Father of the Christian church;

Revelation 3:14

[c] true witness] The word μάρτυς, a witness, is in this book, and since in the ordinary use of the church, set to signify one that for the testifying the truth of God lays down his life. And he that doth thus, as he is πιστὸς, faithful, to God, who hath employed him, so is he ἀληθῆς, true, (in the sense that on the Gospels we have oft given of that word,) one that deserves to be believed: and both these words, πιστὸς and ἀληθῆς, faithful and true, are the just rendering of the Hebrew מַאֲכִין, which is here expressed by Amen, a word which comes from the root אָכִין, which in Hiphil signifies credidit, believing, but in the noun fidus, fidelis, verus, and fide dignus, faithful, or worthy of belief. This title then of Amen, or μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθῆς, faithful and true witness, is here bestowed on Christ, who, to testify the message or doctrine (which he brought) to come from heaven, laid down his life. And therefore the church writers, which have sorted the martyrs of the church into several ranks or forms, and given them distinct titles accordingly, to Stephen that of πρωτομάρτυς, the first martyr of the church; to the rest of the apostles, bishops, and ecclesiastical persons, that of ἱερομάρτυρες, sacred martyrs; to the great or noble men that of μεγαλομάρτυρες, noble martyrs; to the virgins and women that of καλλιμάρτυρες, fair martyrs; to the common people of ἀγιομάρτυρες,

Revelation 3:15

I have examined and considered your temper, and find it such as I can no ways like: you profess the Christian faith, know and receive the gospel, and so are not quite cold, and yet have no Christian zeal or love to endure any thing for Christ.

Revelation 3:16

And so you are of a very indifferent temper; though there be none of those which directly renounce the faith among you, yet, on the other side, there be none that confess it with any warmth or zeal: and certainly the faith of Christ is such, that if it be at all received, may deserve our utmost fervency, the laying down our life for it; and if it be not thought worth that, it were better never to have received or professed it at all. This indifferency of yours, like lukewarm water, nauseous to the stomach, and cause