The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 2 · Verse 11 – Verse 12
Verſ. 11. Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches. He that overcometh, ſhall not be hurt of the ſecond death.
The Spirit doth often inculcate in this and the next chapter, this charge and duty on the judicious and enlightened chriſtian, to take notice what the Spirit of Chriſt in this ſpiritual appearance, ſaith unto the churches: To avoid repetition, ſee more on this on verſe 7. of this chapter. But, he that overcometh, that is, that abideth conſtant and faithful unto Chriſt and his truths under all temptations and tribulations, and ſo a faithful chriſtian overcometh, it is he that ſhall not be hurt of the ſecond death; that is, the ſecond death mentioned in 21 chap. Rev. ver. 8. and 20.14. In that Lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone for evermore, ſhall not touch him. Negatives in Scripture ſtrongly evince the enjoyment of the contrary; as, Thou ſhalt not be hurt of the ſecond death; that is, thou ſhalt ſurely live, thou ſhalt taſte of the Tree of life in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God, and a crown of life ſhall be thy portion. It is here called the ſecond death, in reſpect the firſt death is but a partial puniſhment of the wicked; but the ſecond death is, that when the firſt death and hell ſhall deliver up the dead were in them, and they ſhall be caſt into the Lake of fire, cap. 20. 13, 14. there is a firſt life, and a ſecond life that we ſhall enjoy; the firſt life is that that we now at preſent enjoy; the life of grace, the ſecond life, we ſhall be made partakers of at the reſurrection of the juſt. The life that the ſoul in heaven enjoys, is but a partial life, and incompleat, in reſpect of that at the reſurrection; as the puniſhment of the wicked under the firſt death, either ſpiritual or corporal, is but partial, ſo the glory of the elect is but partial and incompleat now in heaven, in reſpect of that that will be revealed at the reſurrection. Abraham now doth not know us, and Jacob is ignorant of us, neither do the faints departed know our wants, nor are touched with our infirmities: Their condition is happy, but what it is we know not; but this we are ſure of, at the reſurrection we ſhall know, as we are known; and ſee as we are ſeen; and this is eternal life, and the crown of life, that is ſo often promiſed to the Saints in Scripture. So then, there is a firſt death, and a ſecond death; the firſt death is but a partial puniſhment for the wicked, but the ſecond death is the compleat execution of divine wrath upon them, in the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone for evermore.
Obſerv. The Obſervation from the words are, That the conſtant, faithful, and perſevering Chriſtian, is ſecured from all dangers of death whatſoever.
Tribulations in this life, and death it ſelf, does him no hurt; that tries him, refines him, and renders him glorious into the hands of his Creator; Hell, Satan, Law, nor the ſecond death cannot take hold upon him, for it is Chriſt that died for him; for Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? It is Chriſt that is riſen for their juſtification, therefore they are beyond all danger of miſcarrying, and ſo may juſtly tryumph and ſay, O Death! where is thy ſting? Hell! where is thy victory? But thanks be to God who hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 15.
Verſ. 12. And to the Angel of the Church which is at Pergamus, write, this ſaith he which hath the ſharp ſword with two edges.
Chriſt here followeth the charge againſt the church at Pergamus: It is inſcribed to the Angel or Paſtor of the church which is at Pergamus, and in the 18. verſ. following, To the Angel of the Church which is at Thyatira: the Spirit herein clearly denoting unto us, that the inſcription in the firſt verſe of this chapter, To the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, or, of the Epheſian Church; and here, To the Angel of the Church at Pergamus; or, in Pergamus. foreign, are of one and the ſame ſignificants and latitude; and therefore ſuch places are very incongruouſly taken up, to prove a Church of the ſame extent and latitude with the Nation: And though we may lawfully uſe the terms of the church of England, of Scotland, France, &c. it muſt always be underſtood in a limited ſenſe; not that all England, Scotland, France, Epheſus, Smyrna, or Pergamus, were the Church, but that it is the church of England, or in England, of Epheſus, or in, or at Epheſus, of Pergamus, or rather as it is here, in Pergamus, foreign, in, or at Thyatira. And therefore it is moſt ſafe, to keep cloſe to the ſound of wholſom words, in ſuch expreſſions.
Write, this ſaith he that hath the ſharp ſword with two edges. Chriſt ſets himſelf forth unto each church in a diverſe mode; John ſaw him in the firſt chapter, in a general and full appearance and diſcovery of himſelf in his full luſter. And now he diſcovers himſelf by parts unto the churches, according to their ſeveral wants and imperfections. Where, by the way, take this Note.
Obſerv. That Chriſt's diſcoveries of himſelf unto his Churches, are always moſt ſuitable to their preſent conditions.
To afflicted and perſecuted faithful churches, as Epheſus and Smyrna were, he appears as a God of protection and ſalvation unto them, as in the firſt verſe, under the deſcription of having the ſeven Stars in his right hand, and walking in the midſt of the ſeven Golden candleſticks; and in the eighth verſe he ſaith to the church of Smyrna, for a comfortable diſcovery unto them, write, theſe things, ſaith he, that is first and laſt, which was dead and is alive. But now unto the more unſound and corrupted churches of Pergamus and Thyatira, his diſcovery is in another poſture, as one having a two edged ſword proceeding from his mouth, and eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine braſs, v. 18. an appearance of indignation, Wrath and Judgment. Faithful afflicted Chriſtians need diſcoveries of grace, peace, and conſolation, but unfound and corrupt ones, ought to have the doctrine of Judgments and wrath preach'd unto them; he that knoweth not rightly to divide the words of truth, is no compleat workman in Chriſt's Vineyard, he is a workman that need not be aſhamed, that knows how to preach Goſpel, and glad tidings of reconciliation and peace, to poor humbled and repentant ſinners; But Hell, and wrath, and judgments, and fiery indignations, to the obſtinate and impenitent, the doctrine of grace and threats are not contradictories, being wiſely managed; yet in this appearance of Chriſt of having a ſharp two edged ſword proceeding out of his mouth, there is much mercy in it; for underſtand, that by the ſword of Chriſt's mouth is meant his word and doctrine: confer with Heb. 4.12. Pſal. 148.6. and 56.5. Prov. 5.4. for that is two edged, and cuts two ways. Firſt, it cuts off the ſin and corruptions of the faithful, by its kindly operating through the influence of the Spirit. Secondly, It cuts, confounds, and deſtroys the wicked, not through any innate quality in the Word, but by accident; for by their refuſal and contempt thereof, ſo conſequently of the divine Majeſty, the Author and Inſtituter thereof, God goes out with the other edg or ſide of his ſword againſt them, on his black and red horſe of wrath and Judgments. Hence Note,
Obſerv. That God's Judgments towards his back-ſlidden Churches are mingled with much merciemercy.
Though Chriſt's appearance to Pergamus and Thyatira was much in wrath, for their defilements and back-ſlidings, yet he added much grace and mercy thereunto, both in approbation of their graces, and calling them to repentance for their defections. Chriſt gives always line upon line, and precept upon precept; providence after providence, and mercy after mercy, to invite us to repentance, before he will take his laſt cauſe of Judgment with us; his heart is ſtill towards our amendment, though he is provoked highly by our ſins againſt us; and who but an heart of Adamant would not believe him, when he ſwears, As I live ſaith the Lord, I will not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould turn and live? And the very weapons that he uſes againſt ſinners, are the ſword of his mouth with two edges; it heals as well as wounds: the one edge is anointed with the balm of Grace, though the other with the gall of Judgment.