The Revelation

by F. J. SMALE, Winnipeg | Category: The Revelation | Aug 1943

Chapter 2.1-7. It cannot reasonably be denied that God required others beside those in Ephesus to give heed to the Spirit's Ephesian message. Verse 7 not only proves this to be the case, but makes plain also that those in Ephesus had to listen to His message to the other churches. Departure in heart from the Lord does not always shew itself in the same way. Paul writes to the Corinthians of there being "contentions" among them, of "fornication" among them of such kind "as is not even among the Gentiles," of division and disorder, and of some who were even denying the resurrection of the dead.

The Galatians were backsliding from Christ and reverting to the law under the influence of teachers who perverted the Gospel of Christ, and to them the charge came" With freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and he not entangled again in a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5.1).

Writing to the Romans Paul says in chapter 1., "4 thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world," but in the last chapter we have these words of entreaty, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned and turn away from them." In the epistle to the Philippians he writes, "I have no man likeminded, who will care truly. for your. state. . For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2.20, 21). The second epistle to Timothy may close the sorrowful picture of this record of declension,- "At my first defence," Paul wrote, "no one took my part, but all forsook me," and again,-" This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me " (4. 16; 1.15). The names of Phygelus and Hermogenes are mentioned as being of those, Whilst in chapter 2.17 Hymenieus and Philetus are described as "men who concerning the truth have erred and overthrow the faith of some." He instructs Timothy that he who would be "a vessel unto honour sanctified meet for the Master's use,." must purge himself from such vessels of dishonour and bids him know that "in the last days grievous times shall come when men would be found holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof (3 1 5)

Peter, John and Jude add fresh features to this woeful picture but we need not dwell upon it further The true hearted are always a remnant..

Even in John's day he concluded the last hour had come because so many antichrists had arisen (1 John 2 18)

The Lord continues His reproof of the Ephesians Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee and will move thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent" He approves their attitude towards the works of Nicolaitans and concludes with words of cheer to the over comer. It will be his "to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God." There is to be no yielding no matter how the difficulties of the way increase God's stars shine by night as by day the darkness makes them apparent so may the light of the overcomers shine the brighter in dark days. The incentive to continuance comes from above and no sorrows of the way should becloud the beauty of the Paradise of God.

Of old, the tree of life meant a dependent life to be ministered to Adam by its means, and for us redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and possessors of eternal life there is still life in dependence Christ is "the Life, the Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us (1 John 1. 2). Of the fruits of this we shall partake for ever. How suited therefore to the condition of the Ephesians was this promise! Failure to maintain the place of dependence in receiving out of His fulness was the cause of their lapse Keeping close to Christ is the way to overcome and to those who already know the blessedness of this place, how encouraging it is to look forward to the time when the full results shall be attained when it will be theirs eternally to enjoy that dependence which ensures His ministry of love to us for ever! "To Him be the glory for ever Amen."

Verses 8-11. Decline on the part of God's people opens the way for the power of the enemy to show itself The assault is two fold It comes from within and from without The result differs in each case. The assault from without fails for it is impossible for the Lord to leave His saints to be subdued by Satan's power, but the defeat of Satan's wiles is another matter and for victory here it is required that we "Put on the whole armour of God" (Ephesians 6. 11)

Smyrna means "myrrh " and as this was used in the embalming of the dead it may remind us of how precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints (Psalm 116. 15). It is as " the First and the Last, which was dead, and lived again" that the Lord speaks here. He speaks as the One who though Divine stooped down to death and has come out of it in glorious resurrection-power, and who gives them to drink of the cup of which He Himself has partaken, to be baptised with the baptism wherewith He has been baptised. How fully He can say, "I know thy tribulation"! How sweet to them the commendation, that, knowing their poverty He could yet say, "But thou art rich"! In the days of His flesh He said,-" Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad." Now from the throne on high He says,-" Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer ... Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." There are five crowns of reward mentioned in the New Testament,-(l) the incorruptible crown of 1 Corinthians 9.25, the victor's crown; (2) the crown of rejoicing of 1 Thessalonians 2.19, 20, the soul-winner's crown; (3) the crown of righteousness of 2 Timothy 4.8, for those who have loved His appearing; (4) the crown of glory of 1 Peter 5. 1-4, the elder's crown; (5) the crown of life of James 1.12, for those who endure temptation, or as here in Revelation 2 10, who are faithful unto death, the martyr's crown.

" Through waves, through clouds and storms,

God gently clears the way:

We wait His time; so shall the night

Soon end in blissful day."

The truth expressed in Gerhardt's hymn

"God everywhere hath sway,

And all things serve His might,

His every act pure blessing is,

His path unsullied light"

cannot be denied, yet, as we see from the message to Smyrna, the power of the Adversary at times prevails, and it is this which has built up a priestly hierarchy of man-appointed mediators. How Satan triumphed in the blasphemy of those guilty ones who called themselves Jews, but were "a synagogue of Satan"!

A further triumph of the Devil lay ahead when he would cause some of them to be east into prison where they would endure "a tribulation of ten days" (verse 10 R.V. Margin).

To fortify them against those coming days of suffering and testing the Lord bids them "Fear not," and gives the charge, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Then follows the command that is common to all the Revelation letters, and in conclusion the overcomer is assured he "shall not be hurt of the second death."

F. J. SMALE, Winnipeg | Aug 1943
The Revelation