William Perkins on Revelation 1:11

Verse 11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and that which thou seest write in a booke, and send it vnto the seuen Churches, which are in Asia, vnto Ephesus, and vnto Smyrna, and vnto Pergamus, and vnto Thyatira, and vnto Sardai, and vnto Philadelphia, and vnto Laodicea.

These words containe the third description of this voice, whereby Iohns heart was prepared, touching the substance and matter which was vttered: which consisteth in two things. The first is a testimonie in these words: I am Alpha, and Omega, the first and the last. The second a commaundement in the wordes following: That which thou seest write, and send &c.

I. Touching the testimonie, the substance thereof is set downe in the eight verse, where the words were handled, and the meaning shewed. They do serue directly to proue the Godhead, and eternitie of Christ, which Christ himselfe doth here auouch, to giue vnto Iohn, and vnto the Church full assurance, that the things now vttered and deliuered, were from God: for saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, it is as much as if he had said: I which speake vnto thee am God, and therefore the things I deliuer, are from God.

In this testimonie note Gods speciall care in regard of his truth, hee doth not content himselfe with reuealing his will vnto his Church; but more specially his care is, to certifie the Church of the truth thereof, that it is indeed from God. This hath beene Gods care from the beginning: When Peter receiued a vision from God, withallAct. [illegible: 1 letter]0 19 Gods spirit assured him, that the things reuealed therein were certen & sure. And so when Christ preached the will of his father among men, hee did withall worke strange miracles, to confirme and seale vp the truth of his doctrine, that it was from God.

This speciall care of God ouer his Church doth first confute the Papists opinion touching Scripture. The Vse. They hold the Scripture to bee certen in it selfe, but not vnto men, till the Church giue testimonie thereunto. But this is false: for God euer had this care ouer his Church, not onely to reueale his will vnto them, but also to vse meanes for the assurance of their consciences, that that which was reuealed was his vndoubted and perfect will. And therefore the word of God is certen, and euer was, not onely in it selfe, b[illegible: 1 letter]t to the consciences of beleeuers, and that without the testimonie of the church: and so should bee, through the testimonie of the church should neuer come thereunto.

Secondly, hereby are confuted many carnall men, who will be of no religion; because (say they) there is no certainetie in the matters of religion: mens opinions therein are so diuers, that so many men, so many minds almost, and no man can tell who speakes the truth. Answ. It may be that men in sundry matters hold sundry priuat opinions: yet in the church of God, all the true members of Christ hold the same opinions touching the foundation of religion. But let it bee graunted, That all men on earth were of diuers opinions touching matters of religion, should religion therefore bee vncertaine? God forbid. For religion is certaine vnto men, by the meanes that God hath appointed to certifie the conscience of the truth thereof, and thereby might men come to the truth and certaineti[illegible: 1 letter] of religion taught by the Prophets and Apostles, though all men in the world were of diuers opinions touching the same: Thus much of the Testimonie.

II. point. The commaundement giuen to Iohn is in these words: That which thou seest write in a booke, and send it to the seuen Churches which are in Asia. This commaundement hath two parts: First, To write the things seene in a booke: secondly, to send the booke to the seuen churches here named. And both these must Iohn do, being now disabled by his exile to preach these things vnto them personally, for these causes. First, that these churches might be edified in the faith, and strengthened in these most grieuous times of persecution. Secondly, that they might become keepers of this booke for the good of others: for the church of God is the pillar of truth: not onely, for that it publisheth Gods truth: but also because it keepeth it, and giueth testimonie therunto.

In this commaundement note sundry things. First, that the word of God, written and penned by the hand of man, is a notable helpe to the church of God, and a worthy meanes to edifie the same, els Christ would neuer haue commaunded Iohn to haue written these visions, and sent them to the Churches. Which serueth to confute the blind Papists, which say the word written is but an inkie letter, and a nose of waxe; because the sence thereof may be turned euery way as man will. This also confuteth the Anabaptists, which so much magnifie their Reuelations, and make no account of the word written. If the Lord had thought it best, hee would haue taught these churches by reuelations: but they must learne by the word written.

Secondly, that the reading of Gods word either publickly or priuately, is an ordinance of God: for the Lord commaunding Iohn to write this booke, and send it to the churches, hereby implieth, that they must reade the same as they did other bookes of Scripture. The preaching of the word is indeede the most worthy instrument for the founding and confirming of Gods Church, whereby ordinarily iustifying faith is wrought in the heart: and yet reading must haue his due reuerence, as a meanes to confirme, and encrease true knowledge, faith, and repentance, where it is begun.

Thirdly, here note, that a man may be vnder the crosse, and in persecution, and yet remaine in the speciall fauor of God: for this banishment into such a desart place, was vnto Iohn a grieuous crosse: and yet the Lord vouchsafed there to reueale himselfe vnto him, and to make him the penman of this booke. Which honour hee vouchsafeth not to all, but to them that are most dear vnto him. Which thing each one should carefully obserue: for our nature is so corrupt, that when wee are vnder the crosse, it would persuade vs, we are cast out of the loue and fauour of God.

In the end of the verse, the seauen Churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, and the rest are named. Which seuen places, were seuen famous cities in Asia, wherein were planted the most famous churches that were in those parts, and for their excellencie are they named. And thus much for the meanes of Iohns preparation: Now follow the parts thereof, which are two: first is hearing, folded vp with the former meanes: And I heard a voyce. Second is Turning of himselfe, to see the partie that spake vnto him in these words.