Vide the

Book of Re

velation, in

by Samuel

Prideaux

Tregelles.

them are also declared to be of such a character-such an exposure of sin-that "all the Churches shall know that the SON of GOD searcheth the heart and trieth the reins." The idolaters shall be rewarded, every one of them, according to their works. The works for which the angel is commended were acceptable in the sight of GOD, but the works of Jezebel were works of darkness.

"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in ThyGreek, &c., atira," or "unto you, the rest that are in Thyatira, I say," (as the text may be rendered on the authority of the best manuscripts,) as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden ; but that which thou hast already, hold fast till I come." The promise here given is unto the faithful remnant," to you who are left,"-who have kept yourselves from the seducer, though worshipping in the midst of an idolatrous Church. The passage may be rendered-" Unto you, even the remaining ones who are in Thyatira." There is no hope held out to the Church of Thyatira, as a body, but to individuals only-the Saints in Thyatira, who shall preserve their faith unto the end. As there was a remnant preserved during the dominion of the typical Jezebel, "even all who had not bowed the knee to Baal," even so should it be in Thyatira. It deserves particular notice, that Thyatira is reduced to this remnant, not from the departure of those who fall away from the visible Church, herself abiding faithful, but by the apostacy of that visible Church itself, otherwise the address would have been, not to the several persons remaining faithful, but to the angel of the Church, however small his flock might have been. "The rest who have

not this doctrine," that is, the doctrine of Rome; "and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak," that is, who have not been one with her in her abominations; who have not embraced or adopted her errors; (and every error she has held appears to have been the perversion of some Catholic doctrine, whereby the truth of GOD has been turned into a lie,) "upon such will I put none other burden, but the holding fast of that which they have till I come." The burden which the remnant is to bear, is the maintenance of CHRIST's testimony and patience, doing the works of CHRIST, in the midst of the perversion of all truth, and the oppressive domination of the spirit of Antichrist. The LORD JESUS does not require more than this, that they be faithful over what they have known of His truth; and that they hold this fast until He come. Here again we must remark that this is enjoined on them as individuals, the truth as it is in CHRIST JESUS not being held by the visible Church, but by the faithful remnant. And the words, "Until I come," set before them the blessed hope of CHRIST'S appearing, when they, having held fast what they had, shall exercise dominion with Him.

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I have received of My FATHER." The works for which the angel is commended are the works of CHRIST, as proper to His Church, in contradistinction to those which were of men. The commendation is peculiarly appropriate to this Epistle to the Church of Thyatira, which concerneth works, both good and evil; thereby distinguishing the righteous from the wicked,

and revealing also the righteousness of GOD in His dealings towards them. The true servants of JESUS CHRIST are distinguished at this period by patient endurance under oppression, in fulfilling the works of CHRIST, whilst the Church, as a body or community, is doing the works of Jezebel, the Papal harlot. Hence the peculiarity in the conditions concerning the promises. In all the other Epistles, the condition necessary to inherit the promises is-" he that overcometh;" but in this it is added, " and keepeth My works unto the end." The works for which the angel is commended are doubtless the works of CHRIST, as proper to His Church, which the faithful remnant is encouraged to hold fast till He come. In contradistinction to the works of the mystic Jezebel, they have the honourable appellation of "My works," and they stand in the Epistle in contrast with their works, of which they are called to repent.

to us.

The suitableness also of the promises in this Epistle is no less remarkable than in the preceding, whether regarded in the historical or prophetic aspect presented The Papacy assumed in its government, both temporal and spiritual dominion, and in the exercise of both, brought in the iron rule of the flesh, having fearfully usurped and perverted the rule of CHRIST. And to those who were not seduced by these depths of Satan, but who resist and overcome, keeping the works of CHRIST, it is promised that they shall exercise dominion with Him over the nations at the period of His Advent.

The "rod of iron" is not the sceptre of CHRIST'S kingdom, but is emblematical of that power which the LORD will use to break in pieces the oppressor, who shall be beaten, as it were, with his own rod, and

dashed in pieces by the works of his own hands, through the Omnipotent power, and overruling, overmastering Providence of the Son of GOD. And, as a foreshadowing of this event, it is not a little remarkable, that whilst the principles developed at the Revolution of 1793, have wrought to the destruction of existing constitutions, the men who advocated them have not been able to build up again, to restore, or make whole anything. The "iron rod" has in a manner been doing its work among the nations, dashing the vessels to shivers, and no power on earth can restore them. But this is by way of application only, as foreshadowing its fulfilment. The promise has especial reference to the infliction of the judgments of the LORD upon the Antichrist of the last time, when those who escape his power by translation, shall be with the LORD, in the breaking of the nations, and shall come out of heaven with Him to the destruction of the beast and the false prophet.

"Even as I have received of My FATHER." Here is evident allusion to the prophetical declarations of the second Psalm, where it is said, "THOU shalt break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Whereupon there follow immediately these admonitory words, "Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." This seems very much like the call to repentance in the Epistle on the one hand, and the promise made to those who overcome and hold fast what they have on the other.

Rev. xxii. 16.

2 S. Pet. i. 19.

The

"And I will give him the morning star." Papacy having forestalled the kingdom, and perverted the rule of CHRIST by its works, the hope of the kingdom was set aside for that blessed hope was felt to be incompatible with the pretensions of the Romish Church. The works of CHRIST, and those of Jezebel, could not coalesce, and the former were only held by a remnant, and to that faithful few the promise was made. To every one who should overcome, it is said, "I will give him the morning star." We are not at a loss to know what this means for CHRIST says, "I am the bright and morning star." And S. Peter tells us, that we do well to take heed unto "the sure word of prophecy," "until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts." And he mentions this in relation to the LORD's appearing and kingdom, which he would have us always to keep in remembrance. Therefore, the giving of the star to the faithful, implies in the first place, that CHRIST should be in them the hope of glory. Secondly, that they should behold it when it appears in the spiritual firmament of heaven as the harbinger of coming day. And, thirdly, that they should partake of His glory when He cometh. The giving of the morning star entitles them to "the resurrection from the dead," that is, the FIRST resurrection, and shows that when CHRIST, Who is their life, shall appear, they shall appear with Him in glory.

How appropriate are these promises to the faithful in Thyatira! And how clearly does this Epistle show the spiritual aspect of the Church in the period we are considering. And whilst its speciality is so fully and distinctly defined, we are reminded of its Catholicity, and the responsibility of every member of CHRIST's