The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 2 · Verse 8-9
Verſe 8. And unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, Write theſe things, ſaith the firſt and the laſt, which was dead, and is alive.
Verſe 9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty; but thou art rich: and I know the blaſphemy of them which ſay they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.
Chriſt having finiſhed his charge to the church of Epheſus, goes on on the ſame account with the church of Smyrna, and commands the Angel, or chief Paſtor, or Miniſter of the ſaid church, who (as Ireneus teſtifies) was Policarpus, ſcholar unto S. John, to write thoſe things for them to take notice of, which he was about to diſcover to them: The perſon that gave out theſe diſcoveries and charges to the churches, is here plainly manifeſted to be Chriſt, who was dead, and is alive, as in v. 18. of the precedent chapter more fully. The matter of the diſcovery is wholly of encouragement and approbation; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty; but thou art rich: that is, I know thy works, thou church of Smyrna, and the trouble, affliction, and tribulation that thou endureſt by reaſon of the opprobrious, ſcandalous, and reviling ſpeeches which thoſe caſt out againſt thee, which call themſelves Jews, and are not: And I know thy poverty, and ſcantineſs in worldly riches; but I add withal, thou art rich in ſpiritual graces; and though thou art accounted poor in this world, yet thou haſt treaſures abiding for thee in heaven: And withal, I know the blaſphemy of them which ſay they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan: As if he had ſaid, I alſo know and take notice of the reviling ſpeeches that thoſe which call themſelves Jews (and ſo perhaps were ſo by blood) and yet are not true Jews, true ſpiritual Iſraelites, but rather by reaſon of their unbelief, and malicious practiſes, and perſecution of the truth, and the profeſſors thereof, are the very divel's diſciples, and of the Synagogue of Satan: Here is a two-fold knowledge, or ſeveral acts of one and the ſame knowledge, and far different the one from the other: The one is a knowledge of approbation, love, and complacency, the other of hatred and abhorrency. Chriſt knows the works of the church of Smyrna, of her tribulation, perſecution, and poverty, and loves her, and honours her for it. Chriſt alſo knows the works of her adverſaries, of blaſphemies, reproaches, and enticements to evil, againſt the true Profeſſors of godlineſs; and not only hates them for it, but ſets a character of ignominy upon their head for ever: for what may be more reproachful or ſtigmatizing, then for thoſe that think themſelves ſomwhat in the church of God, that call themſelves Jews, the keepers of the Oracles and myſteries of God, yet indeed, to be juſtly numbred among the diſciples of the Synagogue of Satan; that is, of the divel's church: for the word Synagogue, in the Greek ſignifies ſo much as Convention, Meeting, or Church, which is commonly uſed now in the worſer ſenſe, which was appropriated firſt, chiefly to the Jewiſh Phariſaical and Prieſtly meetings, and called the Jewiſh Synagogue; but Chriſtians having renounced the name and thing, have appropriated to their meetings or conventions, a more ſignificant name, to wit, the Church, Eccleſia; and leaves the Synagogue to unbelieving Jews, Antichriſt, and the Divel, to nouriſh their Diſciples in. From Chriſt taking knowledge, with approbation, of the works and tribulations of the church of Smyrna, ſee the Notes on v. 2. of this chapter, to which I refer. But from this verſe explained, one Note ſhall be,
Obſerv. That a poor afflicted and perſecuted church of Chriſt, is more dear, precious, and rich in his eye, then all other the potent, rich, and mighty Societies in the world.
Chriſt looks upon the latter, but with an eye of common providence, as the Sun ſhineth, and ſhower falleth on the field of the righteous and unrighteous alike; herein there is no diſtinction of love or mercy: God equally diſpenſeth thoſe common gifts equally alike unto all; neither is any one to be accounted godly or ungodly, elect or reprobate, from the abounding or want thereof; for ſome godly have abounded, and others have wanted herein: But the church of Chriſt, they have diſtinguiſhing mercies, their afflictions and tears are treaſured up in a bottle of remembrance, for a reward and crown unto them: they are as the apple of his eye, his jewels, members of his myſtical body, and therefore muſt needs be dear unto him; for no man ever hated his own fleſh, for them the world was made, and is preſerved and continued to this day for their ſakes; and I dare be bold to affirm, if there were none of his elect members on earth, the world would ſoon ſee its night and period, and forthwith relapſe to its primitive and everlaſting chaos, or at leaſt, paſs away, and periſh, that its place be no more found. Chriſt is ſtill walking amongſt thoſe golden Candleſticks, viewing their order, and takes his delight in thoſe Gardens, and Beds of Spices, and ſo gets up early into theſe Vinyards, to ſee if the Vine flouriſh, whether the tender Grape appear, and the Pomgranates bud forth, Cant. 7.12. his delight was ever to be with the children of men, and takes much pleaſure, not only in ſeeing and ſmelling the ſavoury exerciſes, and ſpiritual ſacrifices of the more grown chriſtians, but alſo takes much complacency in viewing the growth, production, and fruitfulneſs of younger chriſtians, and leads them gently by the hand, by his doctrine and diſcipline, until at laſt they are brought unto the Winecellars of his love, where he bids them to take their fill of love; but by the way, comforts them with apples, and ſtays them with flaggons, till at laſt he bring them home unto himſelf, purified and cleanſed by the purgatory of afflictions and tribulations, as gold, ſeven times tryed by the fire of the Chymiſter. The genuine uſe of this is, to demonſtrate the danger of perſecution of Chriſt's members or churches, to all perſons in the world. They are his members, and in as much as it is done to one of them, it is done unto himſelf; and better a milſtone were hanged about the neck of ſuch offenders, and caſt into the Sea, then to offend one of his little ones.
The reaſons that Chriſt's churches, though afflicted, ſcorned, or perſecuted, are ſo dear and precious to him, are,
Firſt, Becauſe they are his Members, and it is moſt natural to love ones ſelf; for he that loves not himſelf, cannot love another, and we are bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh.
Secondly, Becauſe of their graces and unction; we having received all of his fulneſs, grace for grace, and of the ſame anointing with himſelf, though in an inferiour meaſure: The ſame oyl that was poured on Aarons head, ran down to the skirts of his garments; ſo the ſame unction of the Spirit, that was poured on Chriſt, is, in ſome meaſure, poured on all his inferiour members, and therefore moſt dear and beloved to him. Omne ſimile, gaudet ſimili.
Thirdly, By reaſon of Union, Chriſt and his Members bei… one, by a myſtical and ſpiritual union, they muſt needs be moſt dear and precious to him.
Fourthly, and laſtly; the great reaſon that Chriſt's Saints and churches are moſt dear unto him, is, In that he hath laid down his own moſt precious life for them: for greater love then this was never ſhown, in that he died for us, even whiles we were fighters againſt God, and enemies by evil works.
Obſerv. 2. Another Note is, That though the world looks upon the faithful diſtreſſed churches of Chriſt, as a broken, poor, and forſaken people, both in outward eſtates, and intellectuals alſo, yet God ſets another rate upon them, and accounts them rich, wiſe, mighty, comly, beautiful, and as the moſt accompliſhed people in the world.
Is not this a ſtrange Paradox to the infatuated worldling? But it is not ſo ſtrange, as true: Chriſt here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich; for ſhe was rich indeed with ſpiritual graces, that their perſecuting adverſaries were ignorant of; ſhe was rich in immortible Treaſures, laid up for her ſervice in heaven above, where moth could not corrupt, or thi… …reak thorow and ſteal, which her blaſpheming enemies never dream'd of; what wiſe worldling does think a poor afflicted chriſtian wiſe? He looks upon him ſo far beneath himſelf, that from his Machiavilian plots and counſels, he tells the wiſe and prudent chriſtian ſoul.—Procul hinc, proculate prophani: Yet God tells them plainly, That the wiſe of the world are taken in their own ſnare, whilſt true wiſdom is juſtified of her children: And, God hath choſen the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe; and God hath choſen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty, &c. 1 Cor. 1.27, 28, 29. The wiſe of the world think themſelves a wiſe, politique, and highly contriving Statiſts, when they have brought the Saints of God, and the whole world under their feet and ſubjection; but the Saints of God know no ſuch wiſdom, but that wiſdom which is of God, the eternal Word, and Chriſt, who of God is made to us, wiſdom, and righteouſneſs, and ſanctification, and redemption, that no fleſh ſhould glory in his preſence. The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies (as a Torrent) to carry all before them; Alas, they are deceived, there are others more mighty then they; the poor afflicted churches of Chriſt can do more with their prayers, and uſing their intereſt with God, then all the Armies in the world: they can pray for legions of Angels, and they are ready at their commands: Witneſs the hoſt of Sennacherib, deſtroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah, and Iſaiah the Son of Amos: 2 Chron. 32.20. How many heathen Armies do we read of in Hiſtories, were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly, or at leaſt, their force diverted another way: A poor deſpiſed chri… David with a ſling and pebble, can do more by the prayers of faith, then Goliah with his ſpear: Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation, whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them? The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to deſtroy, for the preſence of our God was in the midſt of them, for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings. Oh therefore, ye ſoveraign Governours, take heed how ye offend theſe little ones of Chriſt, that they may not avert their prayers from you; make good your intereſt with Chriſt and his Saints, and be one with them in faith and prayers; then never fear the boiſterous ſtorms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion ſhores, which will prove but as the daylie ſurges that waſhes our rocks and clifts, and ſo daſh themſelves into froth, and vaniſh. Next, the gaudy Gallant of the times, thinks himſelf the moſt fair and comly of all God's creatures, and looks upon a ſober and prudent chriſtian, as a deſpicable creature in reſpect of his gay Worſhip, whiles God himſelf ſets another character upon both: The one is clothed with the white garments of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, and is all fair with the beauties of holineſs, whiles the other is only covered and …hed with the excremental extravagancies and menſtruoſities of ſmall, earthy, brutiſh, and deſpicable creatures, and at beſt, do ſerve but in the room of Fig leaves, to be ſomwhat more honourable badges of their ſin and miſery: it is a ſhame to glory in that which are the ever-living Enſignes of their ſin and ſhame; and ſeeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery, little reaſon to glory in thoſe rags of ours. Next, the Glutton, that makes his belly his god, and fareth deliciouſly every day, conceives he hath a heaven on earth, and that the poor afflicted chriſtian comes far ſhort of his happineſs, in that he hath not that fulneſs every day in the varieties of Viands, and Feſtivals, that he enjoys: But alas, this wretched Dives never conſidered, that a poor chriſtian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of; he hath ſpiritual Manna, bread from heaven, and the wine of Paradice, that he is quite ignorant of, that he that eateth thereof, ſhall never hunger or thirſt more. Laſtly, the wiſdom of the world looks upon the diſtreſſed diſciples of Chriſt, as fools, wittols, and ma… men, and thinks them to be ſo indeed: But on the contrary, the judicious chriſtian knows the wiſdom of the world to be fooliſhneſs and madneſs to purpoſe: for who but fools and mad-men, would perverſly run on in the ways of deſtruction, as the wiſdom of the world does prompt unto? Whilſt Chriſt's faithful ones, though ſuppreſſed and broken by afflictions and tribulations, yet do walk in the way of life, and ſhine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces.
Obſerv. 3. That the ſharpeſt perſecution comes from ſuch as are the higheſt pretenders to truth and godlineſs.
The Jews were ſuch, that boaſted much of their div… … cles, and priviledges from Abraham, Luke 3.8. yet …ere the moſt inveterate and bitter adverſaries to the Goſpel of Chriſt, and to the primitive Apoſtolical churches, of any perſons in the world: Witneſs their reproachful blaſphemies, which conſiſted not only againſt Chriſt himſelf, but againſt his members alſo: They reproached him that he had a divel, and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles, and caſt out divels; yea, their malice was not only to him living, but reached him after his crucifiction and reſurrection, that if poſſibly they could deſtroy or weaken the faith of his diſciples, and withal, hinder the promulgation of the truth: and to that end blaſphemed, and raiſed a moſt falſe report touching his reſurrection, and affirmed, That his Diſciples came and ſtole him away out of his Sepulcher, and that he was not indeed riſen, as they affirmed, but conveyed away cloſely by them, that he might be deified: And this the unbelieving perverſe Jews ſay unto this day. Their malice ſtops not here againſt the Head, but alſo falls foul upon his members and churches in ſucceeding ages: We ſee how maliciouſly they fall upon Stephen in Act. 7. and how zealous Saul himſelf was, whiles an unconverted Jew, againſt the Diſciples at Damaſcus, Acts 9. What uproars did the Iews raiſe, and what provocations did they uſe, to incenſe the Magiſtrates and chief Governours againſt the Apoſtles and Diſciples of Chriſt in every place and City? Theſe Aſiatique churches were not free of their clamours, or their invectives againſt the chriſtian profeſſion. Paul met them at Antioch, Acts 13.45. and at Iconi…m, Acts 14.2.19. who ſtoned Paul, and at Theſſolonica, Acts 17.5. an uproar was riſen by the Iews by reaſon of him, at Corinth he was drawn before Gallio at the Iudgement ſeat, by the envie of the Iews, Acts 18.12. and at Epheſus he found the ſame malicious dealings from the Iews, Acts 19.9. he found ſome of the ſame Blaſphemers there, that were in the church of Smyrna and Philadelphia, Rev. 3.9. that ſpoke euil of that way of the chriſtian faith before the multitude: Yea, the very heathens themſelves were more friendly to the chriſtians, then the Iews, the profeſſed people of God; witneſs the entertainment of Paul amongſt the Athenians, Acts 17. the carriage of Gallio, Festus, Felix, and Agrippa towards him; Pilate a Roman Prefect, would waſh his hands from the death of Chriſt, whiles the Iews, the viſible people of God, cryed out, Crucifie him. At Malta, amongſt the Barbarians, Paul was almoſt deified, Acts 28.6. But when at Ieruſalem, and amongſt the Iews, they would hauehave torn him to pieces, Acts 21. and 23.12. O ſtrange! That zeal perverted ſhould ſo rage in fury againſt the truth of God, and his Chriſt. Theſe Iews did not only occaſionally oppoſe the faith of Chriſt, and the publiſhers thereof, but of ſet purpoſe, did go to every City and place where it was taught, for to oppoſe and ſuppreſs it if they could; elſe poſſibly they could not be found in ſo various places and Cities, and at ſo far diſtance one from the other, doing their parts, and venting their malice againſt it
Object. But ſome may ſay, That thoſe that raiſed blaſphemies in the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, were not properly Iews by blood, but ſuch as ſay they were Iews, and are not, but do lie, cap. 3. 9.
I anſwer, Indeed they were not worthy to be called Iews, who had many eminent priviledges peculiar to their Nation; our Apoſtle Paul could boaſt that he was an Ebrew of the Hebrews, and Rom. 3.1, 2. they had much advantage every way; chiefly, Becauſe unto them were committed the Oracles of God, and the word of peace and reconciliation by Chriſt, was firſt to be preached unto them, then next unto the Gentiles, Mat. 10.5. And indeed, they were not worthy of the name of Iews, that had ſuch great and glorious priviledges, and yet ſo averſe unto the Truth.
Yet ſecondly, I ſay, they muſt needs be the ſame Iews, of the ſame blood and progenie that oppoſed, perſecuted, and blaſphemed Paul, and other true churches of Chriſt alſo, with thoſe found, blaſpheming, reviling, and perſecuting in Smyrna and Philadelphia, being ſo like one the other in their curſed practiſes.
But laſtly I anſwer, Though they ſay they are Iews, yet indeed are not; for he is not a Iew that is one outward, but he is a true Iew, a true Iſraelite of God, that is one inward: It is not he that tals and boaſts of his carnal priviledges and birth-right, as from Abraham, and does not the works of Abraham, is a Iew, but ſuch an one is a true ſpiritual Iew, that walks in the ſteps of faithful Abraham; but for thoſe reviling perſecuting Iews, they were rather to be termed Rabſhekahs, and Barbarians, then Iews; for their circumciſion was become unto them, by reaſon of their impieties and blaſphemies againſt the truth, uncircumciſion, and therefore not worthy to be called Iews: Iuſt as a nominal chriſtian, when turned antichriſtian, and a blaſphemer and perſecutor of the true profeſſion of Chriſt, who will think him worthy of the name of chriſtian? And though he arrogates to himſelf that name and Title, and ſays (as the Iews here did) he is a chriſtian, who will not ſay unto him, he is not, but a lyar, and a Barbarian, or at beſt, an antichriſtian.
But if it were demanded, What were the blaſphemies of thoſe Jews, againſt the church of Smyrna and Philadelphia, &c.
I anſwer, as before, Doubtleſs their blaſphemy was Bicernis, or two-fold. The one horn thereof ſtrook directly at Chriſt. The other, at the churches, and his members. This appears by Acts 19.9. when Paul preached in the Jews Synagogues Chriſt and his Doctrine, divers were hardned, and believed not, but ſpoke evil of that way before the multitude. Firſt, They would blaſpheme the Maſter, and ſay, that he was a deceiver, and caſt out Divels by Beelzebub, and a deſtroyer of their Laws and Cuſtoms which they had from Noſes: And next. That his Diſciples and Followers were ſeditious, and perverters of all Magiſtracy and Governments; and alſo amongſt themſelves unclean, uſing promiſcuous luſts, as the Nicolaitans were, denying the holy Laws of God, ſo by theſe Diabolical artifices, to bring them into contempt with the whole world, and ſo under the rod of perſecution and tribulation. See the charge of Tertullian, the Orator of the Jews, againſt Paul, Acts 24.5, 6, &c. tending partly to this effect: and the Jews perceiving the hereſies of the Nicolaitans, Gnoſticks, and others, of like unclean practiſes, to creep in among the churches, were bold to reproach them, as all ſuch, and of the ſame unclean judgements and practices with the former. Conſider the words of Epiphanius to this purpoſe, out of M. Baxter's book of Infidelity, page 131. Which ſort of men (ſays he) Satan ſeems to have fitted, and ſent for a reproach, and ſtumbling block to the church of God; and having put on themſelves the names of chriſtians, that for their ſakes the Nations being offended, ſhould abhor the profit of the church of God, and ſhould refuſe the truth declared to them, becauſe of their ſavage wickedneſs, and incredible vileneſs; that I ſay, their frequent vilanies being taken notice of, they might perſwade themſelves, that thoſe are ſuch, that are of the holy church of God, and ſo may turn away their ears (as I ſaid) from the true doctrine of God; or at leaſt, beholding the diſhoneſty of a few, might caſt the ſame reproaches upon all, &c. Theſe doubtleſs were the advantages that the Jews took, to blaſpheme the churches of Chriſt with, and ſo to make Chriſt's doctrine and followers ſeem abominable, whiles ſome that were called chriſtians, were truly and worthily abominable. This artifice and method Satan keeps ſtill afoot to this day, to vilifie Chriſt's Truth's, and his followers, by terming their doctrines Novel, and new Lights, though of above 1600 years ſtanding, and of Apoſtolical Inſtitution; and if they prove faithful Aſſertors of it, are preſently termed factious, or Schiſmatical for it, being (as they ſay) Diſturbers of the National Peace, perverters of Cuſtoms, Laws, and Governments, and forthwith branded with Anti-magiſtratical, and Anti-Miniſterial Titles; as if they were againſt Magiſtracy; when they ſay in the firſt place, Fear God; in the next, Honour the King: Or if they were againſt all Miniſters, becauſe they are againſt the formal, lazie, and belly-god Prieſts, whoſe very forms, as carnal ordinances, are periſhed with uſing, and in the room thereof, deſires a Miniſtery, ſound, able, godly, efficacious, ſpiritual, and more edifying in the aſſemblies and churches of Chriſt.
In the next place, if any defection happens in the churches of Chriſt, as if ſome among them turn looſe Nicolaitans, or the like, there will not be wanting the Nominal Jews, formal chriſtians, to blaſpheme them, as if they were all of that feather. The Papiſts, as ſoon as they heard of ſome hereſies broken forth among the Proteſtants, preſently cry out, and blaſpheme the whole name of Proteſtants, as if they were all of that hereſie. Among the old Epiſcopal men of our Nation, it was a common ſaying, That a Geneva Presbytery made a fair gap, and was a downright way to Browniſm and Anabaptiſm, as M. Hooker's Preface to his Eccleſiaſtical Policy manifeſts. And if any Non-conformiſt turned Anabaptiſt or Browniſt, preſently they would ſay the Presbyters were all ſuch: And again, if any Independent, or Baptiſt now a days, became a Familiſtical Quaker, or Antiſcripturiſt, preſently the Presbyters lay the ſame harſh judgement and contumely upon the whole churches of the ſame profeſſion, to render them abominable in the eyes of all; as if the eleven Apoſtles were all Judaſſes, becauſe one in twelve was a Judas. This Satanical method ſhould be quite laid by, by ſuch as have truly learned Chriſt. This was the old Jewiſh trick and ſtratagem, againſt the primitive precious Aſiatique churches of Chriſt, who were not all Nicholaitans, becauſe ſome Nicolaitans were crept in among them, but precious in the eye of God, both for their graces, and ſufferings for the teſtimony of Jeſus. But for ſuch as will blaſpheme the true doctrines of Chriſt, and the Profeſſors thereof, by means of the evil among them, and to caſt a reproach, tribulation, and affliction thereby upon them all, let them too withal not be diſcontented to read their judgement in this verſe, Whiles they ſay they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.
Obſerv. 4. The laſt Note from theſe words ſhall be, That a miſ-led zeal, is both dangerous and pernicious.
Little did the Jews think that they were fighting againſt the God of heaven, when they were perſecuting and blaſpheming the Profeſſors of Chriſt: Nay, they do it, and think as Paul in his ignorance, that they do God good ſervice in it: If our zeal be not commixt with ſound knowledge, inſtead of promoting the glory of God, we may do the downright work of Satan. Theſe poor Jews had an indubitable aim and zeal to glorifie God, for ſo Paul bears teſtimony of them, Rom. 10.2. but it was exerciſed amiſs, in that it was not according unto knowledge; if their judgement had been rightly informed, or bore the leaſt proportion with their zeal, they would not perſecute the diſciples of Chriſt from city to city, and from Town to Town, much leſs put the Lord of life to death amongſt them. But the Scriptures muſt be fulfilled.
Uſe. Chriſtians now adays ſhould look to it, leſt they go about to do the work of Satan, when they blaſpheme and perſecute all others that are differently minded from them in ſome particulars: They may call themſelves chriſtians, but are not; for it ſavours not of a chriſtian ſpirit, which is ready to cover and heal the infirmity of his chriſtian brother, not to revile, or caſt a rancour on it, to Gangrene it, which is the work of Satan: Though I am not for the leaſt toleration of evil or hereſie in the church of Chriſt, yet I would have all to take heed, how they blaſpheme, perſecute, or ſpeak evil of that way or practiſe, which has the viſible ſtamp of Chriſt upon it, though at preſent, by reaſon of ſome clouds of ignorance over them, they cannot plainly diſcern the truth of it: In this caſe, the counſel of Gamaliel, Acts 5. is very ſeaſonable; Refrain your ſelves from theſe men, and let them alone; for if their work be of men, it will ſurely come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot deſtroy it, leſt ye be found even fighters againſt God.