The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 2 · Verse 18
Verſ. 18. And unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira write, Theſe things ſaith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine braſs.
Here it is evident who …t is all along that gives theſe premonitions to each church, it is Chriſt the Son of God, who in the former verſes is called the Spirit, for his ſpiritual appearance in the likneſs of the Son of man. In the firſt cap. from verſ. 13. to 16. this Son of God that appeared unto John in the likneſs of the Son of Man in the midſt of the ſeven golden candleſticks, gives a general diſcovery of himſelf unto John in all his attributes, as God and Man, as King, Prieſt and Prophet, as the Saviour and Preſerver of his church, alſo as a juſt Judge and avenger of his enemies. But now when Chriſt appears with the particular charges againſt each church, he takes as it were his attributes aſunder, and cloaths himſelf with that attribute which is moſt ſuitable for the preſent condition of the church that he is to deal with. To the churches of Epheſus and Smyrna, which were the moſt ſound and ſincere, he appears under the attributes of a merciful Father who was dead and is alive, ver, 8. and of a gracious preſerver of his church, ver. 1▪ who holdeth the ſeven Stars in his right hand. But now unto the churches of Thyatira and Pergamus, which were more debauched and unſound, Chriſt manifeſts himſelf in a far different reſemblance and poſture, having a Sword with two edges proceeding out of his mouth in his appearance towards the church of Pergamus, and here unto Thyatira, like one that hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine (or burning) braſs. This is a poſture of indignation and wrath; for eyes ſparkling like fire, betokneth wrath; and feet like fine braſs, readineſs of execution: Here Chriſt from head to feet is preſented in a fiery colour: This is Chriſt's poſture when he goes out in judgments againſt a church or Nation, when he goes out to war againſt his enemies, he puts on this fiery poſture, Rev. 19.11, 12, 13. See more hereon cap. 1. ver. 14, 15.
Obſerv. That when Chriſt goes out in judgment againſt a people, his appearance is very dreadful.
The Prophet Malachi ſpeaking of the coming of Chriſt, when he comes who may abide the day of his coming? and who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth? For he is like the Refiner's fire, and ſhall ſit as a Refiner and purifier of ſilver cap. 3. 2, 3. A Refiners fire is the hotteſt, it melts, purges, conſumes, and is terrible; ſuch a fire is Chriſt in his judgments: When he comes to deſtroy Antichriſt and his Kingdom, Paul ſays, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. He ſhall come in flames of fire. Have not moſt of our weſtern Nations, as Germany, France, England, Scotland, &c. ſeen this terrible appearance of Chriſt of late in his judgments among us, who hath laid many Kingdoms and Nations almoſt in the duſt, deſtroy'd many ancient Families, Houſes, Cities, Townes and Countries by the Sword, and yet who layes it to heart? And yet Chriſt will be more terrible, for the great day of his wrath is at hand, and who will be able to ſtand? Rev. 6.17. The great ones of the earth that are found fighting againſt him, ſhall that day call for the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the face of him that ſits upon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. This is the terrible and unknown name of Chriſt, which no man knoweth but Chriſt himſelf, which one day he will manifeſt, when all his enemies are made his footſtool, and takes the Kingdom unto himſelf. O let this thy Kingdom come; and bleſſed is he that ſhall ſit down with Chriſt in his Kingdome.
Obſerv. 2. Chriſt is very zealous and intenſe on the puniſhment of delinquent Churches.
Chriſt comes all in a fiery poſture againſt Thyatira, and withall tels her, ver. 22 23. that for ſuffering Jezabel within her; Behold I will caſt her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great Tribulation, except they repent of their deeds: And I will kill her children with death, &c. Chriſt when he whipped out of the Temple the buyers and ſellers, Jo: 2. did it ſo zealouſly that for that very act it was formerly propheſied of him, The zeal of thy houſe hath eaten me up. How zealous was Chriſt in his carriage, and ready to puniſh all thoſe delinquent Aſian churches? He tels Epheſus in the firſt place, Except ſhe repent and recover her firſt love, and do her firſt works, he will come quickly and remove her candlestick out of its place. To Pergamus he ſaith, Repent or I come quickly againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth. How zealous was Chriſt againſt the zeal-fallen church of Laodicea cap. 3. 15, 16. I know thou art neither hot nor cold, I would thou wert cold or hot; ſo then becauſe thou art lukewarm, I will ſpew thee out of my mouth. You ſee Chriſt will not ſpare his delinquent churches, but come quickly againſt them except they repent: And this proceeding of Chriſt with his Churches, anſwers to this apparition of his to Iohn, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and feet like burning braſs, cap. 1. 14, 15.