PART VII.

THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA.

THE SECOND

SEAL. THE SECOND TRUMPET. THE SECOND VIAL.

WE proceed to consider the fourfold form of Prophecy in relation to the second period of the Christian dispensation, in the same order as before, commencing with the spiritual phase as revealed in

THE SECOND EPISTLE.

11.

1 And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna write: These Rev. ii. 8— things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

2 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.

3 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

4 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The second Epistle is addressed to the angel of the Church in Smyrna. This name signifies myrrh. The Scriptures notice two kinds of myrrh. Myrrh electa, literally free myrrh, flowing as it does spontaneously of itself without incision, which is also called stacte, and considered the best; and another kind of myrrh, which is obtained by incision or bruising, both kinds

Exod. xxx.

23.

Ps. xlv. 8.

S. Matt. ii.

yield a fragrant smell. That kind called stacte formed one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil, which was used at the consecration of the Priests under the law. Frequent mention is made of it in the Scriptures. The Psalmist says of the bride, "All thy garments smell of myrrh." When the eastern Magi came to worship the LORD, they "presented unto Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh." As gold is an emblem of truth, being the most precious of all metals; and frankincense of intercession; so myrrh is an emblem of sorrow. And as JESUS is the Truth, and the Intercessor, so is He emphatically the "Man of Sorrows." How often did the heart of JESUS overflow with sorrow! It flowed from Him spontaneously, as well Vide Isa. liii. as by bruising. "He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." "He was also wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities."

11.

14.

The angel of the Church in Smyrna knew the fellowship of CHRIST's sufferings, and was made conformable unto His death. Polycarp is supposed to have been the angel of the Church to whom this Epistle was written, and he is spoken of as having suffered martyrdom in that place for the sake of CHRIST.

The period to which this Epistle refers was one of great suffering and trial, such as the Church never witnessed before, nor since; nor ever will again, until the final trial under the personal Antichrist. As the fragrance of the pure myrrh is most agreeable and pleasant to our senses, so the sufferings which the faithful servants of GOD willingly and patiently endured for His sake, were most acceptable unto God, and ascended up before Him as incense, yielding a sweet

1 S. Pet. iv. perfume: for thereby He was glorified. These sufferings were also needful for the Church had left her

first love, and with this she had lost the ministries which were given for her perfection, and which alone could preserve her as a chaste virgin, pure, and undefiled; and she needed now especially to be tried and purified by suffering. But there was One who manifested the most tender sympathy and compassion in all her tribulation, and showed Himself present to help and sustain her under them: as notified in the following words:

"These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive again." This designation, like all the seven, is contained in substance in the prefatory vision to the Epistles, of which we have already spoken, and is strikingly adapted to the Church in Smyrna, and to that period of Christian history, during which the Church of CHRIST was called to endure these heavy trials and persecutions. Therefore He presents Himself as "The First," the Primordial One, from whom all things originated, without whom nothing hath ever existed, or can subsist; and "The Last,' the eternal, immortal, unchangeable One, by and through whom all events are directed and made subservient to the eternal purpose of GOD. In the midst of vicissitudes, bereavements, and suffering, He remaineth the same, administering consolation, strength, and blessing. "Having loved us from the beginning, Vide S. John He loveth us unto the end." He is also touched Heb. iv. 15.

with the feeling of our infirmities; for He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, and therefore He is able to succour them that are tempted." "He was dead." He came into the lowest condition of the creature, even the dissolution of its being. His body was entombed, and His soul descended into hades. But His soul was not left in hades, neither did

Q

xiii. 1.

29.

His body see corruption. The gates of hell could not prevail against Him. He rose from the dead, and is "The Living One," over whom death hath no more power, and He assures His faithful servants, that it shall not have dominion over them. He will swallow up death in victory. Because He lives, we shall live also.

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich." This commendation of the Church shows that at this period of her history represented in the Epistle, she still bore a faithful witness to the truth; that she was a doer of the word, and not a hearer only. The living testimony which she bore to the truth brought her into great tribulation, and like her Divine Master, she was poor in this world's goods. Her spiritual riches stood in striking contrast with her worldly poverty. "I know thy poverty, but thou art rich." Poor in this world's possessions, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. The Church also, at this period, was tried and sore vexed by deceivers and blasphemous persons, holding the truth in unrighteousness.

"I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." The term Jew is here used to designate a true Christian. That this is the meaning of the term, is evident by its being used by S. Paul, who says in his Rom. ii. 28, Epistle to the Romans, "He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of GOD." In his Epistle to the Colossians he writes thus, "In whom also (that is, in CHRIST,) ye

Col. ii. 11.

are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of CHRIST, buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of GOD who raised Him from the dead." To the Philippians he says, "We are the Phil. iii. 3. circumcision which worship GoD in the Spirit, and rejoice in CHRIST JESUS, and have no confidence in the flesh." The blasphemers, therefore, of whom the LORD speaks in the Epistle, were mere professors of His religion. The Church having lost its defences, gave admission to her greatest enemies. "I know," Acts xx. 29 says S. Paul, "after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Some of whom entered even in the Apostle's time, and seized upon the highest offices. Heresies concerning the work and person of the LORD were common in the Church during this period, through which the Name of CHRIST was blasphemed; and those who followed these false teachers, forming themselves into separate communities, are here called "the synagogue of Satan," or the assembly of the adversary. In order to purge the Church of these enemies, it may be, the LORD permitted those terrible persecutions to come upon it, that it might be made manifest who were, and who were not, the spiritual seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise. Indeed, the sanctification of the Church under these troubles, seems implied in the following encouraging words

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer or fear thou in nothing the things which thou art about to suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto