The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 1 · Verse 19-20
Verſe 19. Write the things which thou haſt ſeen, and the things which are, and the things which ſhall come after:
Verſe 20. The myſtery of the ſeven Stars which thou ſawest in my right hand, and the ſeven golden Candleſticks, is this, The ſeven Stars, are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, and the ſeven Candlesticks which thou ſaweſt, are the ſeven Churches.
After Chriſt had fitted and confirmed John in his Prophetical Office, by laying his hand upon him, and by giving his Spirit to him, and aſſuring him, that it was he that is the firſt and the laſt, that is alive, but was dead, and had the power over hell and death, moſt able and mighty therefore to bring to paſs, and execute all the dreadful predictions and viſions which Chriſt ſhould make known unto him, and being thus qualified and confirmed, he receives his commiſſion to write the things that he had ſeen, and the things which are; that is, to Record theſe things which he had ſeen, and were repreſented to him, by, and in the precedent viſions, which relate unto things that are preſent, and in being; to wit, God's diſcovery of his will and judgements, towards the famous ſeven Aſian churches, ſome whereof had much back-ſlidden from their native purity, which the firſt, ſecond, and third chapters do treat of, as things that were then preſent, and in being. Next, Iohn is commanded to write the things which ſhall come after; that is, he is to record viſions and things which he ſhall ſee, which are related unto the future.
Obſerv. Hence Note, That this book of Propheſies is not only a Hiſtorical relation and diſcovery, under hyerogliphick figures of things preſent, but alſo of things to come: Iohn is commanded to write to the then ſeven Aſian churches, and that as an Introduction to all the future Propheſies; and this is that that is intimated in cap. 5. v. 1. where a book is repreſented, written within and without; within, that is, ſecret, ſealed under ſeven Seals, and their end yet in part to come: written without, that is, plain for diſcovery, open to the view: All which imports, that Iohn was to write of the then preſent ſtate of Affairs, and of the churches, which was plain and open, and as of things that are: and alſo of the future ſtate of things, which are as a book written within, ſealed and ſecret, in reſpect of their futurity.
2. Another Note hence is, That God's true Prophets, and faithful Miniſters, will commend no more to the obſervation of their churches, as viſions from God, then what they have really ſeen, and hath been diſcovered from God unto them: They are not to come with the word of the Lord in their mouth, and pretend viſions from God, like the falſe prophets in Ier. 14, whiles their mouths and hearts are full of lying vanities. Iohn writes no more then what he ſaw to the ſeven churches, nor diſcovers no more then what he ſaw was then preſent, or ſhould come to paſs in after time. What we hauehave ſeen and heard, ſaith the Apoſtle, we ſpeak, and are bold to preach, and to commend unto you. Chriſt's Miniſters ſhould preſs no more then what they are aſſured are experienced truths: I doubt me, every opinion concerning outward forms of Government, Diſcipline, and the like, will not at laſt appear to be viſions of God, which ſome do now a days ſo hotly contend for, it may be one day ſaid unto ſuch hot-ſpurs. Boanerges, ſons of Thunder: who required ſuch things at your hands? whiles you let the greateſt works, as of love, righteouſneſs, and judgement, lie proſtrate at your feet, as if they did not concern you.
Verſ. 20. The myſterie of the ſeven Stars, &c.] Chriſt in the laſt verſe, to make things plain unto John, and to give him a taſte of the diſcovery of thoſe myſteries in his book, interprets the myſtery of the viſion of ſeven Stars, and of the ſeven Candleſticks, preſented unto his ſight in the precedent 12 and 16 verſes, and he calls it, the myſterie of ſeven Stars and candleſticks; becauſe indeed unto John it was a ſecret and hidden thing, what thoſe figures of ſtars and candleſticks did myſtically mean or repreſent; and unto John it would be ſtill a myſterie, if Chriſt himſelf had not here interpreted. Hence Note,
That this book of Revelations is made clear, obvious, and manifeſt, by a diligent obſervation, and a right applicationof the myſtical characters and figures of each viſion: Chriſt himſelf in this verſe, hath made the firſt enterance and eſſay on this account: He tells us, that the ſeven Stars in his right hand, and the ſeven golden candleſticks, do myſtically repreſent the ſeven Angels, or Meſſengers of his churches, and the ſeven candleſticks, the churches themſelves. In the ſeventeenth chapter Chriſt is more large in interpreting the myſterie of Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, &c. All which connotes unto us,
Obſerv. That the wiſe obſervant chriſtian, may attain unto the revelation and diſcovery of the myſteries of this book of Propheſies by the help of the Spirit of God, upon a diligent enquiry thereinto: The Spirit ſays often in the ſecond and third chapters, Let him that hath an ear; hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches: and in chap. 13. verſ. 18. Here is wiſdom, let him that hath wit count the number: Here is the mind that hath wiſdom, cap. 17. v. 9. ſo that it is for him that hath an ear, an intelligent underſtanding ear, and wiſdom, a wiſe heart to conſider, that is fit and capable to open and apply aright the myſteries of this book: It is a myſtery therefore difficult to all, but unto the ſpiritualized eye, and unto the mind, that hath wiſdom; but it ſhould not therefore be accounted preſumption in ſuch, to undertake this eſſay, ſeeing it hath pleaſed Chriſt to give us the firſt fruits himſelf, in opening the myſteries of the viſion of the ſeven ſtars, and the ſeven golden candleſticks, which is as an enterance into the whole; and ſince he hath interpreted unto us, that by the ſeven ſtars are meant the ſeven Angels of the churches; by the ſeven golden candleſticks, the ſeven famous Aſian churches; by the woman arrayed in ſcarlet, the mother of harlots in the ſeventeenth of the Revelations, to be the great City that reigneth over the Kings of the earth; and the Beaſt with ſeven heads and ten horns, to ſignifie a Government, Empire, or Kingdom on ſeven Mountains, where the great harlot reigneth under ten Kings; why ſhould it be thought ſtrange, raſh, or preſumptuous, to interpret the reſt of the myſtical figures, and hyeroglyphick characters of this book, according to their natural and genuine tendency, and as they are opened and applyed in other prophetical writings, by one and the ſame Spirit of Propheſie; whoſe wiſdom it was ever from the beginning, to repreſent the riſings, progreſs, and downials of the great Empires and Kingdoms of the word, by ſuch dark and myſterious figures and repreſentations, unto God's ſervants, his Prophets▪ And conceive one great reaſon of this dark and myſterious carriage of the Spirit, is, That the Intendments of God towards the Powers and Kingdoms of the world, may be revealed and made known but unto few, ſuch as have ſpirits ſutable, and wills to conform to the will of God in all things; for if thoſe great events, and revolutions of State were made vulgar, and known unto all, it would raiſe innumerable combuſtions in the world, and great ſufferings and afflictions to the children of God, from thoſe Powers that they live under, for whoſe ſakes theſe great concuſſions and ſubverſions of States and Kingdoms do come to paſs, that Chriſt's and their Intereſt may be exalted at the laſt.
2. Note. That it is the Spirit of Chriſt in his Word, that makes known, and opens the ſecrets of all Divine myſteries unto his ſervants. Chriſt diſcovers unto John thoſe myſteries of ſtars, &c. It is this Spirit that ſearcheth into the deep things of God: He ſhall take of mine (as Chriſt ſaith, John 16.15. and ſhall ſhow it unto you: and hence he is called the Comforter; becauſe he makes the love of the Father, and the grace of Chriſt, which was beforehand hid in the boſome and counſel of God, manifeſt unto poor ſouls, and ſo ſheds abroad the love of God in their hearts by faith. The diſcovery of Divine myſteries, are too high a work for the ableſt and wiſeſt perſon in his natural capacity, without the help of Chriſt's Spirit; for they are ſpiritually, not carnally to be diſcerned.
But to proceed, The myſterie of the ſeven ſtars, Chriſt interprets to be the Angels of the ſeven churches. Stars in all prophetical writings, do ſignifie perſons of eminency and honour; and in Heraldry, it is accounted the moſt noble ſort of blazoning, peculiar alone to the Armory of Princes. The Angels of the ſeven churches, or rather Meſſengers, for ſo the Greek word ſignifies, becauſe they come with the beſt meſſage and news that ever came to man; to wit, the glad tydings of peace through Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore beautiful are their feet, and ſo may rightly be repreſented myſtically or figuratively by thoſe lightſome and noble creatures, the ſtars: but to prevent tediouſneſs in repetition, I refer to the Notes on the precedent ſixteenth verſe, where I have fully diſcuſſed the ſame ſubject.
And the myſtery of the ſeven golden Candleſticks, Chriſt interprets to be the ſeven Churches; to wit, in Epheſ, Smyrna, Pergamus, &c. In Exodus 25. amongſt the Adorements and Inſtruments of the Tabernacle, God commanded M…ſes to make a Candleſtick of Beaten Gold; Chriſt in this verſe takes up the Figures and Types of ſeven golden Candleſticks, to repreſent myſtically his Tabernacles with men, his ſeven famous Aſian Churches, wherein his glorious preſence did moſt reſplendently appear: for it is ſaid verſe 13. That he appeared in the midſt of them, in great luſter, glory, and ſplendour. Golden Candleſticks are fit Types and Emblemes to repreſent Chriſt's churches: Firſt, In reſpect of their choiceſt mettal; they are golden Candleſticks.
Obſerv. Chriſt's churches are of that precious allay and temper, that they excel all other aſſemblies in the world. Others of the world, though never ſo great and eminent, are but as Lead or Tin, but thoſe like precious gold. Secondly, Gold is the moſt tryed and refined mettal that is; ſo are Chriſt's churches, they go under ſeven fold refinements: They have tryals from God and man: Refinements by afflictions, refinements by the Spirit of Grace, whereby their droſs is done away, and ſo become moſt precious and ſhining gold. Thirdly, Gold is the moſt noble, deareſt, and higheſt eſteemed mettal amongſt men, ſo Chriſts churches are the moſt highly reſpected by God of all creatures, the world was made for their ſakes, yea they are the right heirs, that is, that have the more eſpecial right, by bleſſing, promiſe, and compact, unto the world, and the good things thereof, whether things preſent, or things to come; why, all is yours, if Chriſt be yours, 1 Cor. 3.23. Fourthly, It is the moſt extenſive and ductible of all mettals; ſo Chriſt's churches they have the largeſt bowels of true charity of any ſort of people in the world, for they will endeavour the converſion, and pray for it, even of their very enemies. Fifthly, Gold is the moſt weighty of all mettals: Chriſt's churches are of the greateſt weight with God, all others are but as the duſt of the ballance in compariſon of them; they are of ſuch weight with God, that they are to ſtand in the gap, to ſtay the hand of God when he goes out to execute his judgements: If two or three righteous perſons be in a City, God will not deſtroy it for their ſakes. Sixthly, and laſtly, Gold is moſt fair and ſhining of all mettals: ſo Chriſt's churches, they are moſt ſhining in their graces, they are not guilded Candleſticks, but golden ones; yea beaten ones, as that of the Tabernacle was. Thou art all fair, ſaith Chriſt to his Spouſe in Cant. 1. my Love, behold thou art fair, behold thou art fair, like a Lilly among the Thorns, ſo is my Love among the daughters. Cant. 2.2.
In the next place, conſider the Types and Figures; the ſeven Candleſticks that are the emblemes of thoſe ſeven Churches, and how they ſuit fitly for this purpoſe, all know; The proper work of Candleſticks is to contain and hold their ſhining lamps or candles, as in Exod. 25.37. And thou ſhalt make the ſeven Lamps thereof, and the Lamps thereof ſhalt thou put thereon, to give light toward that that is before it. As the golden Candleſtick of the Tabernacle was to have ſeven lamps or lights, to give light to all that was before it, ſo theſe ſeven golden Candleſticks, thoſe ſeven Aſian churches, have their ſeven Lamps or lights therein, which number denotes perfection, to enlighten all that was before it: they have alſo their ſeven Angels, ſeven faithful Meſſengers, Miniſters, or Ambaſſadors of Chriſt's Word and Truth, to enlighten every ſoul that comes with a teachable heart before them. Hence Note,
Obſerv. That every church of Chriſt, as the candleſtick of the Tabernacle, Exod. 25.37. ought to have their ſhining Lamps in them; that is, Miniſters and Teachers that are both godly and faithful ones: Each one of the ſeven Aſian churches had its Angel, its light, its Lamp within its candleſtick: and a church without theſe lights, theſe Angels, is as a candleſtick without its lamp, or light, ſtanding for ornament and faſhion ſake, but wanting much of its honour, life, light, and ſervice, which thoſe Lamps and lights would yeild unto it; for Chriſt hath placed in his church ſome Apoſtles, ſome Evangeliſts, ſome Prophets, ſome Teachers, ſome Paſtors, ſome Elders, and all for the edifying and compleating of his Body, the church. Churches thus organized with their Angels and Miniſters, are moſt comly: yea that high expreſſion in Cant. 6.4. may be well applyed to ſuch, Thou art beautiful, O my Love, as Tirza, comly as Jeruſalem, terrible as an Army with Banners. Amidſt thoſe ſeven golden candleſticks that had their Angels or Lamps ſhining within them, Chriſt made his glorious appearance in the likeneſs of the Son of man, verſe 13. The diſcoveries of Chriſt's ways and preſence, both in the way of grace and judgement, are moſt clearly to be learn'd and diſcern'd amongſt his churches, that have their Angels, Miniſters, and Teachers ſhining moſt bright in their life and doctrine, in the midſt amongſt them; and like to this, was the advice which Chriſt himſelf had given to the Spouſe in the Canticles, chap. 1.7, 8. when ſhe had loſt, or could not find her Beloved: Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth! where thou feedeſt? Where thou makeſt thy flocks to reſt at Noon? His anſwer is, If thou know not, thou faireſt among women! Go thy way forth by the footſteps of the flock, and feed thy Kids beſide the Shepherds Tents. Therefore, O thou the beloved of my ſoul, cauſe my ſoul, that by its wandrings have long miſſed thee, to ſeek for thee among thy golden candleſticks, in thy Ordinances and holy Aſſemblies, in the midſt whereof thou doſt appear, that my ſoul which languiſheth, may be comforted with Apples, and ſtayed with Flaggons (with ſpiritual comforts and refreſhments) from thy ſelf, who dwelleſt in the gardens, and feedeſt thy flocks beſide the Shepherds Tents.
Obſerv. 2. That Chriſt's churches are his chiefeſt Treaſuries here on earth of light and truth. If ſouls deſire to come into the true light and truth of God, where ſhould they rather repair, then unto thoſe golden candleſticks, whoſe proper ſervice is to hold forth light unto all comers? Chriſt is found walking in the midſt of them, verſe 1…. and therefore where the Sun runs its courſe, there muſt needs be light in that Firmament, and much glory: and for this reaſon in this place, theſe ſeven famous Aſian churches are repreſented by the figures of ſeven golden candleſticks, and alſo in Zach. 4.3, &c. the ancient church of the Jews is repreſented by a golden candleſtick, with ſeven Lamps thereon; and in Rev. 4. the two Goſpel Witneſſes are ſaid to be the two candleſticks, to wit, the two churches of Jews and Gentiles, with their two Olive branches by their ſide, to wit, the two adminiſtrations of Law and Goſpel, which are always pouring out their oyl for light into the miniſterial Lamps of theſe golden candleſticks: Here muſt needs be then much light and truth; for theſe are the two anointed ones, that ſtand by the Lord of the whole earth, Zach. 4.2.12 and 14 verſes.