William Perkins on Revelation 2:12

Verse. 12. And to the Angell of the Church which is at Pergamus write, This sayth hee, that hath that sharpe sword with two edges.

Here is the third particular commaundement which Christ gaue to Iohn, whereof wee haue spoken before in the first verse: shewing there what is meant by Angell; and why this particular commaundement was giuen vnto Iohn. This third Epistle of Christ, as the former, hath three parts: a Preface in this verse: The Proposition of the Epistle, verse 13, and so forward vnto the 17: And the Conclusion in the 17 verse.

I. part. The Preface sheweth in whose name this Epistle is written; namely, in Christs name: The causes whereof we haue shewed before in the first verse. Christ is here set foorth by an action of his kingly office, borrowed from the former Chapter, verse 16. These things sayth hee, that hath that sharpe two edged sword: that is, He who is not onely Priest and Prophet of his church, but the king thereof, to guide and gouerne the same. The sword which hee hath in his hand, or in his mouth (as Isay sayth) is that two edged sword, yea, that sharpe two-edged sword▪ thereby is signified the whole word of God, the Law and Gospell: which is so called, by reason of the operation thereof, as it is Hebr. the 4.12.

Christ is thus described to comfort this Church of Pergamus. For hereby three things are signified: First, his wonderfull power in slaying originall sinne and corruption by his word; in all them that beleeue in him: so as there is no hope of recouerie for sinne, after it is once wounded. Secondly, that hee will strengthen and preserue his Church, and all the true members thereof, by the same word, against all their enemies. This it doth after this manner: The whole word of God, both law and gospell, must both bee knowne, and beleeued; then whensoeuer any temptation commeth, faith maketh the same word powerfull in vs, to repell the temptation, and to strengthen vs in affliction: for it is that sword of the spirit, whereby wee wound all our enemies. But if it bee not beleeued, it is but as a sword in a sheath, and will nothing helpe vs. Thirdly, hereby he signifieth, that hee destroyeth all their enemies: this is the chiefe end why hee so describeth himselfe in this place. How Christ woundeth his enemies herewith, wee haue shewed in the former Chapter, and the sixteenth verse, with the vses thereof.