The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 3 · Verse 3
Verſe 3. Remember therefore how thou haſt received, and heard, and hold faſt, and repent; if therefore thou ſhalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou ſhalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Call to minde therefore the doctrine of grace which thou haſt formerly received and heard, and cleave faſt thereunto, and repent thy ſtraying there from: But if thou wilt not repent, and be awaken'd out of this thy ſleep of ſin, I ſhal come as a thief, ſuddenly unawares upon thee, and ſeize on thee with unexpected judgements. Chriſt takes up this metaphor and compariſon of coming as a thief, for divers reaſons. 1. Becauſe a thief cometh ſpeedily, in a time when no man looks for, Mat. 24.43. This ſets us on a diligent watchfulneſs. If the good man of the houſe did know in what watch the thief would come, he would watch, and not ſuffer his houſe to be broken thorow, or his goods ſtolen. 2. As a thief comes in the dark or dead of night, ſo Chriſt comes when there is the greateſt darkneſs, and deepeſt night of errour on the whole world; and therefore Chriſt ſays in Luke, when he comes, ſhall he find faith on earth? True faith will be ſuch a rarity at Chriſts coming, that it will be found in very few, his elect only. This quickens our faith, and puts us upon the tryal of it. 3. A thief comes prepared and reſolved to over-maſter all oppoſitions: ſo Chriſt's coming in judgement is with power, and to tread down, and make all his enemies his footſtool. This ſupports and comforts the diſtreſſed afflicted Saints: He formerly came as a Lamb to ſuffer, and he after came as a comforter, to ſupport all thoſe for whom he ſuffered and died: and he hath an other coming, his ordinary particular temporal judgements againſt his enemies, which he frequently and very often ſends forth againſt them for their tranſgreſſions, and ſo he threatens to come here againſt Sardis and his offending churches. And laſtly, he comes in his laſt and ultimate judgement with great power and glory, to overthrow and deſtroy all his antichriſtian foes and enemies whatſoever, in Rev. 16.15. it is ſaid, Lo, I come as a thief: and preſently follows the great battel of Armageddon, and the utter deſtruction of Babylon, by the ſeventh Vial of God's plagues and judgements.
Firſt, from the former part of this verſe, obſerve,
Obſerv. That a calling to mind of God's former gratious dealings with us, is not only a great preſervative against ſin but an effectual means for the recovery out of ſin, by a holy repentance.
Look back unto the Rock from whence thou art hewen, and review thy former unregenerate ſtate, and how you were therein aliens, ſtrangers, and enemies unto God by evil works, and how it is far better with you now in your ſtate of faith, then it was then in ſin and wrath: for when ye have ſin preſented unto you in its enticements and provocations, it will make gracious ſouls to reaſon thus with themſelves, Was I not once an enemy unto God in my ſinful unregenerate ſtate, and ſhall I again fall back into it, as the Sowe into the myre? God forbid! How ſhall I do this great wickedneſs, and ſin against God? Will not then my latter eſtate be far worſe then the firſt? Becauſe God hath been gracious unto my poor ſoul, and delivered it as a Bird out of the ſnare, or ſnatch'd it as a brand out of the fire, ſhall I again caſt my ſelf into the bonds of Satan, and into the flames of hell, by my turning this grace of God into ſin and wantonneſs? The Lord forbid! Again, for the recovery of backſlidden ſouls, that are almoſt ſpiritually dead, and have almoſt nothing but the name and common reputation of living ones; It is moſt uſeful and advantagious to ſuch poor ſouls, for their recovery, to recognize and look back on thoſe good things they formerly received of God, and heard concerning him. For firſt, They heard that God was a gracious reconciled God, and a merciful Father in Jeſus Chriſt, ready to receive thoſe of his choſen ones, even in their blood and ſin, that did come to him by faith in Chriſt to be healed of their tranſgreſſions; and this they not only heard by the hearing of the ear, but received it alſo into their hearts by faith: And if God was ſo ready then to receive us into reconciliation with himſelf, whiles enemies unto him, how much more will he be now ready and willing, being reconciled by his blood, to receive us again into his gracious favour after our backſlidings, upon our repentance, and turning unto him from our ſins then formerly, being now adopted children, and no longer ſtrangers and enemies. The contemplation of this grace, made the prodigal childe in the Goſpel, to return unto his father, and he was not miſtaken of his father's good will towards him; for, as ſoon as his father ſaw him but a far off, he had compaſſion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kiſsed him, Luke 15.20. Oh the wonderful grace of God! That no ſooner have we hearts or deſires to return unto God, and to have an eye towards him, after we have played the prodigals, and gone aſtray from him by evil works, but preſently he meets us more then half way, being yet a far off, and falls upon our necks, and kiſſes us with kiſſes of his love and favour. Though we play the prodigals, yet we are children ſtill; the prodigal was a ſon, though he plaid the bankcrupt, and ſpent almoſt all his ſtock of grace. The conſideration that we are children, though wanton ones, will make us deſire to return unto our father, though provoked againſt us by our ſinful courſes; and for our comfort and encouragement herein, conſider that of John, If any man ſin, we have an advocate with the father, Jeſus Christ the righteous, 1 John 2.1. It is our advocate, the childrens advocate, believers advocate, and therefore we may come and return unto the father with the greater boldneſs.
Obſerv. 2. Another Note from hence is, That we are to ſtick cloſe to, and hold faſt that doctrine which was firſt delivered unto the Saints.
The church of Sardis that was almoſt loſt and dead in her ſpiritual ſtate and condition, is not commanded by Chriſt to ſeek out any new ways or novel doctrines; but to call to mind and remember the old ones which they had formerly received and heard from the faithful Apoſtles and Miniſters of Chriſt: They were not to ſeek after any new diſcovery of light which was not formerly delivered to them; there was great danger in ſuch ways: They might attain unto the new lights of the Gnoſticks, Nicolaitans, and the high ſpeculations thereof, or rather, the depths of Satan as they ſpeak, and yet periſh eternally: For the way to life is the good old way diſcovered firſt unto Adam after his fall, in the promiſed ſeed of the woman, to break the Serpent's head, Gen. 3. and more and more manifeſted under the promiſes and the darker types and ſhaddows of the Law, till at laſt it came to its meridian and full diſcovery by the Son of God himſelf, in the Goſpel: And this Doctrine of this Goſpel of Chriſt, was it that Sardis was commanded to remember that which ſhe had formerly received and heard, and to keep cloſe unto it, from which he had made a defection great and foul? This is the ſum of wholeſome Doctrine that we are commanded to keep cloſe unto, and this was that that Paul enjoyned Timothy to attend unto 1 Tim. 3.14, 15. Continue thou in the things which thou haſt learned and art perſwaded thereof, knowing of whom thou haſt learned them: and that thou hast known the holy Scriptures of a child, which are able to make thee wiſe unto ſalvation, through the faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus. The only way that is to reſtore and renew the ſoul that is almoſt dead in ſin, to attain the new Name, the new Life, the new Jeruſalem that cometh down from God, is to keep cloſe to and hold faſt the old way, the old Doctrine, the old light delivered by Chriſt and his Apoſtles: For all innovations in Doctrines or Worſhip, carry great danger with them.
And I will come on thee as a Thief, &c.
Obſerv. 3. That Chriſt will fall upon the wicked with his judgments when they leaſt think of, in an hour that they ſhall not know of: his judgments will prevent their expectations.
None would believe in Jeremiah's time that the captivity would come upon Jeruſalem; but every one would put far away the evil day, Lam. 4.12. as if it were to come in after generations and not in theirs. See Ezek. 12.22, 37. The Jews little thought in Chriſt's days that the period of their City and Temple was ſo nigh, though he foretold them that ſhortly it ſhould come to paſs, that not one ſtone ſhould be left upon another. The old World was ſecure until Noah entred into the Arke, and the floud came and deſtroyed them all. Sodome and Gomorrah would not believe God's threatnings until they felt the conſuming fire and brimſtone Gen. 19. Whilſt Belſhazzar was carrouſing in his cups, God writes a MENE, TEKEI UPHARSIN over his head and Kingdome, Dan. 5.4 &c. England and other Nations did not think that bloody Judgments were ſo near: Whatſoever ſinners think, Chriſt is at hand, the Judge and Judgment is at the door. Sinners are ſecure and think Judgments ſlumber, when they are upon the march and upon the wing, Iſa. 5.26. Lam 4.19. Wicked men ſay as thoſe in Iſa. 5.19. Let him make haſt and haſten his work that we may ſee it; and let the counſel of the holy one of I…rael draw nigh and come that we may know it: They mocked the Prophets of God that told them of judgments and deſtruction; but God will avenge them ſpeedily, I come quickly (ſaith Chriſt) Rev. 22.20. and the reaſons that God brings on judgments with ſpeed, and ſooner then they are looked for, are,
Firſt, From the ſins of the wicked, who highly wrong and provoke God's j…tice and patience, and call for his wrath upon them by their ſins▪
Secondly, Becauſe of the Prayers of the godly, who daily importune God to avenge them of their enemies, Luk. 18.7, 8. And ſhall not God avenge his own Elect, which cry night and day unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them ſpeedily. It was the cry of thoſe precious ſouls clothed in white, Rev. 6.10. that brought deſtroying Judgments and deſolation on Babylon. How long O Lord holy and true, doſt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwel on the earth? It was anſwered them that they ſhould rest yet for a little ſeaſon, until their fellow ſervants alſo, and their brethren that ſhould be killed as they were, ſhould be fulfilled. See more hereon cap. 2. 16.
Obſerv. 4. The execution of all terrible judgments is committed to the hand of Christ.
He comes as a thiefe to deſtroy, ſpoil, and undo his enemies; he will not only rob them of a little, but take all their pretended graces and comforts from them: Only here lies the difference (for compariſons and parables do not always run on all four) The wicked and unjuſt theives ſpoil and plunder the honeſt, thriving, peaceable men; but Chriſt as the juſt thief, ſpoileth and maketh deſolate the wicked and unrighteous only. Chriſt comes as a Thief in the time of his coming, in the maner of his coming, in the diſpoſition of his coming, it is to deſtroy and ſpoil. When Chriſt ſaid unto the man that had not the Wedding Garment, Friend how camest thou in hither without thy Wedding Garment? Take him, bind him hand and foot, and caſt him into utter darkneſs. This was an act of a dreadful Judge, in cap. 1. ver. 14, 15. Chriſt eyes and feet were like unto flames of fire; he had fiery judgments in his hands againſt his churches, which deſtroyed and diſſolved them for their ſins and tranſgreſſions. It was Chriſt that ſent the miſerable deſolating judgments on the Jews by Titus, and continues it over them until this day: It is Chriſt that ſends the ſword and blood unto the Nations round about, for their iniquities: It is Chriſt that goeth forth on his red Horſe of judgments; to War againſt Babylon, the Beaſt, and falſe Prophet, and all their curſed complices and adherents, Rev. 19 We may conceive, and conceive amiſs, when we think that it is man that blows theſe coals of War and contentions in the world; but it is Chriſt that doth it, Luk. 12.49. I am come to ſend fire on the earth, and Mat. 10.34. I come not to ſend peace, but a ſword; for I am come to ſet a man at variance againſt his Father; and the daughter, againſt her mother; and the daughter in Law, againſt her mother in Law; and a mans foes ſhall be they of his own houſhold: And this fire hath been kindled among us, and other neighbour Nations; and who is able to put it out unleſs it be Chriſt, to whom power is given to compoſe all our differences and diſſentions; who hath the Key of David; and opens, and no man ſhuts; and ſhuts, and no man opens: If Chriſt opens the ſluce and door of his deſolating judgments, who can ſhut it up, or keep them back? But if he ſhuts the door of his wrathful judgments, and ſets a ſtop unto the current and progreſs of them, who can open it? For it is he alone that can treat War, and all the miſeries thereof, and can again produce the happy fruits of tranquility and peace.
Object. But if any one ſhould unadviſedly Object, This were an evil to affirm that Chriſt ſends the ſword, and war into the world: or think it harſh that he that is the Lamb of God, ſhould put on ſuch a fiery poſture, abhorrent to his meek and peaceable nature, or ſay it is not ſtrange for the wicked to do this work, or to ſee fire come forth from a bramble, Judg. 9.15. this were but ordinary; but to ſee fire come out from the Vine, from Chriſt, this is moſt ſtrange and abhorrent to their underſtandings.
I anſwer, As Chriſt is the Lamb ſlain, ſo alſo he is the Judge of all the earth, and a Judge you know, muſt have his Sheriffs, the Executioners of his Judgments and Sentences: So Chriſt takes the Sword, War, Famine, and Peſtilence, they are the Executioners of Chriſt's Judgments againſt the delinquent wicked ones of the world, and ſo he uſes them lawfully and juſtly: And for ſuch as will not kiſs the Son, obey him, fear him, and love him, he can be angry with them, though they be the Kings, the great ones, and Judges of the earth: Pſal. 2.10, 11, 12. Chriſt can raiſe up Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, Heathen Kings, and call them his Servants, and make them his Inſtruments to do his works of Judgments againſt his rebellious Prophets, and ſend them forth, as Ottoman, Mahomet, Selimus, &c. to be juſt Executioners of Gods wrath upon dead, formal, and luke warm chriſtians; and therefore I ſay unto all ſuch as have but the leaſt ſpark of grace and true life in them, hold faſt, be watchful and repent, or elſe Chriſt will come upon thee ſuddenly, as a thief, both with his particular temporal Judgments, and with his eternal alſo.