Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 2

1 UNTO the Angel of the church of Ephesus write , These things, saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand , who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks :

Ephesus was the principal City of Asia the less, it lay in the Western parts of it upon the Ionian Sea, a City of great Riches and Trade, but much given to Idolatry and Superstition, famous for the Temple of Diana; Paul was there twice, at his second coming he staid thereabouts three years, Acts 18. ch. 19, ch. 20. He was by a Tumult driven thence into Macedonia, and left Timothy there, 1 Tim. 1.3. It appears from Acts 20.17. that there were more Ministers there than one; but they were all Angels, and from the oneness of their Business, are all called an Angel.

That is, Christ, ch. 1 16, 20. who hath put an Honour on his Ministers, sheweth special Favour to them, and will protect them.

Who hath a special Eye to his Church, being not an idle Spectator, but present with his Church, to observe how all in it walk, and perform their several parts, and is at hand, either to reward, or punish them.

2 I know thy works , and thy labour, and thy patience , and how thou canst not bear them which are evil : and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not ; and hast found them liars :

These words being in the Front of all the seven Epistles, cannot be interpreted, as signifying a Knowledge of Approbation, as Psalm 1.6. but of a Comprehension in the Vnderstanding, and as signifying Christ's Omnisciency; tho it be true, that [illegible: 1 letter]he Lord both understood, [illegible: 2 letters]d approved of some of the Works of this Church particularly.

Their Labour in propagating the Knowledg of Christ, and Doctrine of the Gospel, and their patient taking up, and bearing the Cross.

And their Zeal and Warmth, that they would not endure either Persons erroneous in Judgment, or lewd in their Lives, in their Communion.

In the Primitive Church there were some that falsely pretended an immediate Call, or Mission from Christ, to preach what they did, but this Church would not indure them. It appears from Paul's Epistle to Timothy, that there were then false Teachers very busie in that Church[illegible: 1 letter]punc; possibly Ebion and Cerinthus, (who both lived in this time, and Cerinthus preached in Asia) or their Disciples, might be some of them. They tried them, possibly, by the Word of God, according to the Rules given in it to try the Spirits.

And found that they had no such immediate Mission, no Authority from Christ.

Marginal references: Ver. 13, 19. Chap. 3.1, 8. 1 Joh. 4.1.; Ver. 13, 19. Chap. 3.1, 8. 1 Joh. 4.1.

3 And hast born , and hast patience , and for my names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted .

The Contradiction of false Teachers, and the Persecutions of Iews, and Pagans, (for at this time the second Persecution was began by Domitian)

Grace (with Quietness and Submission) to bear the Will of God in any sort of Evils.

And for me hast laboured actively in propagating the Truths of my Gospel, as well as passively in the Fornace of Trials and Persecutions.

And hast persevered so as thou hast neither been seduced to other Doctrine by false Teachers, nor lost thy Integrity, and Holiness of Conversation.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee , because thou hast lost thy first love .

Something to accuse thee of, and blame thee for.

Of late thou hast not been so warm in the Propagation of my Gospel, and maintaining my Truth. The love of many in this Church, both toward God and their Brethren, probably was cooled, tho not wholly extinguished.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do thy first works ; or else I will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy candlestick out of his place , except thou repent.

That is, in what degree thy Love was formerly, and compare it with what it is now.

Repentance in Man, signifieth both the change of the Heart, and of the Actions.

Recover thy former warmth of Love, and Zeal for good Works.

If thou dost not, I that know th[illegible: 1 letter]e, and walk in the midst of thee, will shew my self an Enemy to thee,

and u[illegible: 1 letter]church thee, and say unto thee, Loammi, you are not my People. Which threatning is long since made good; for where is now the famous Church of Ephesus?

6 But this thou hast , that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans , which I also hate .

Thou hast yet thus much to commend thee.

Thou hatest the Deeds of those who teach the Lawfulness of a common Use of Wives, and eat things offered to Idols; for these, they say, were the Tenets of the Nicolaitans, so called from one Nicholas; but whether he were one of the first Deacons named, Acts 6.5. (who, they say, to avoid the Imputation of Jealousie, brought forth his Wife, being a beautiful Woman, and prostituted her) or from some other of that Name, I cannot determine.

God, as a lover of his own Order, and of Human Society, hateth such Doctrines and Practices, as are contrary to the Rule of his Word, and tend to the Confusion of Human Societies.

Marginal references: Ver. 1[illegible: 1 letter] ▪

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches : To him that overcometh , will I give to eat of the tree of life , which is in the midst of the paradise of God .

To whom God hath given an Ability, and Power to understand what I say. It is a Form of Speech which Christ often used, when he would quicken up Peoples Attention, Match. 11.15. and 13.9, 43. Mark 4.9, 23. and 7.16. we shall find it again in there two chapters six times; from which some would conclude, that in these Epistles there is something mysterious, parabolical, and prophetical, it being a Form of Speech prefixed to many Parables.

The Holy Spirit of God, from whose Inspiration all Scripture is.

Not only at Ephesus, but elsewhere in Asia, or any other part of the World.

That is, a Conqueror in fighting the good Fight of Faith, against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.

I will give him a share in my Merits, and eternal Life; which blessed Enjoyments are set out unto us under the Notion of Eating, Luke 12.37. and 22.28, &c. This is the Promise he hath made, John. 10.28. 1 Iohn 2.25▪ Heaven is expressed to us under this Notion, with reference to the Tree of Life mentioned, Gen. 2.9. whi[illegible: 1 letter]h was in the Old Paradise; for it is added,

which is in the midst of the Pa[illegible: 1 letter]adise of God; or which is the same, Christ himself is here intended▪ who is the Tree of [illegible: 1 letter]i[illegible: 1 letter]e mentioned, chap. [illegible: 2 letters].[illegible: 2 letters] and the Happiness of Heaven is thus exprest, 1 Thess. 4.17. We shall be ever with the Lord: This is the sum of the Epistle to the first mentioned Church, by which those that judge these Epistles Prophetical, understand all the Primitive Churches, during the Apostles Age, or the most of their Ages, for Iohn himself lived under the second Persecution.

Marginal references: Ver. 11, 1[illegible: 2 letters] 29. Chap. 3.6, [illegible: 3 letters] 22.

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write , These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive .

Smyrna was a City in Ionia, we read not when, or by whom the Gospel was first planted, and a Church gathered there; nor can we tell who are meant by the Angel of this Church, see chap. 1.20. That it was no single Person, is probable, for he speaks plurally, v. 10. the Devil shall cast some of you [non-Latin text not transcribed], into Prison.

For the meaning of this Phrase, see Annotat. on chap. 1.8, 17, 18. only it is observable how Christ speaking to this Church, under great Tribulation and Persecution, fits a Name proper to comfort them, for he himself was Dead, and yet now alive, and, he living, those that believe in him, because he lives, shall live also, Io. 14.9. and as he was the first, so he will be the last, surviving all his Enemies, and be at last a Conqueror over them.

9 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 .

Though the term know, doth not necessarily signify approbation, yet both as to the Church of Ephesus and Smyrna, the particular works mentioned, assure us, that God approved their patient suffering affliction for his Name,

and the poor condition (as to outward things) into which they had brought themselves, for their owning and profession of the Gospel of Christ, having their Estates rent from them, &c.

But yet they were Rich, both really in the Love and Favour of God, and also in the esteem of God, who accounteth them rich who abound in Spiritual Habits, and good Works, the exercise of those Habits.

God also knows the evil Speeches of his Church's Enemies, whether Native Iews, glorying in Circumcision and the Law, and that they were descended from Abraham; or, false Christians, who may be here meant (called Iews by a Figure; the Iews being once the only Church of God.)

But are indeed a collection of Devils, or the Children of the Devil, whose works they do, continually reviling true Christians, and murdering the Saints, after the manner of their Father, who was a Murderer from the Beginning.

Marginal references: Ver. 2.

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

Thou art like to suffer yet sharper things than thou hast suffered; the Persecutions are but begun, but pluck up a good Courage, fear not your Enemies, Matth. 10.28.

You shall be cast into Prison, by Iews and Pagans, who are the Devils Instruments, and execute his Malice against you, which should both incourage you that your Fight is with the common Enemy of Mankind, and teach you to pity and Pray for your Persecutors who are but the Devil's Instruments, whose Hearts he hath filled with Malice against you.

Interpreters are divided about these Ten Days, what space of time is meant by them; some think the whole time of the Ten Persecutions, but they lasted above 200 years; others will have them the 10 years of Trajan's Persecution from 99, to 109. Others observe that in 10 days are 240 Hours, which make up the number of years from 85, when the second Persecution (under which Iohn at this time was) to 325, when all the Persecutions ceased, But to let these fancies go: It is either a certain number put for an uncertain; or, it signifies many days; as in Gen. 31.42. Thou hast changed my wages ten times, that is, many times, so 2 Sam. 19.43. Iob 19.3. Or, else it signifies a little time, as in Gen. 24.55. Amos 5.3. and 6.9. If we understand this Epistle, as only concerning the Church of Smyrna at that time, it may signify a small time. If we understand it Prophetically, describing the state of all Churches, till the Paga[illegible: 1 letter] Persecution ceased (which was more chan 240 years) ten days signifies a long time.

That your Faith, Love, Patience, Obedience may be tried.

Hold fast to thy Profession of Faith and Holiness, to the end of thy Life here.

And I will give thee Eternal Life and Salvation, which shall be a great reward. It is call'd a Crown of Righteousness ▪ 2 Tim. 4.8.

11 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 .

For the opening of these passages; see the Notes on v. 7.

We read of the second Death, chap. 20.6, 14. the meaning is, that he shall escape the Eternal D[illegible: 1 letter]mnation of Soul and Body in the day of Judgment. Those that make these Epistles Prophetical say, that the Church of Smyrna was a Type of all the Churches of Christ to the year 325, (when Constantine overcame Lycinius, and gave rest and peace to the Churches of Christ,) which was all a time of severe Persecution under the Roman Emperors, who to that time were all Hea[illegible: 1 letter]hens: It is very observable, that Christ blameth nothing in this Church, the Church of God keeps always its Purity best in the Fire; but doubtless there were in this time many Apostacies, and other Errors, but God allows much to his Peoples Temptations; hence though Iob shewed much impatience, yet we are call'd to behold him as a pattern of Patience.

Marginal references: Chap. 13.9.; Chap. 21.8.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write These things saith he, which hath the sharp sword with two edges .

Pergamos was a famous City of Troas, we read of Pergamos no where else in Scripture, but of Troas we read, of Paul's being there, Acts 16.8, 11. and 20.5, 6. and Preaching Christ there, 2 Cor. 2.12.

See the Notes on chap. 1. v. 16.

Marginal references: Chap. 1.16.

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest , even where Satans seat is , and thou holdest fast my name , and hast not denied my faith , even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain amongst you where Satan dwelleth.

Ver. 2.

God knows all his Peoples Circumstances, where they dwell, as well as what they do, and how they behave themselves in their habitations.

Where the Devil rules by his Pagan Deputies and Antichrist's Officers.

The Word of my Truth, by which I am known, as a Man by his Name.

Neither by the Words of thy Mouth, nor by any Apostacy from this Profession, notwithstanding the Temptations thou hast had from Seducers, and from Persecutors, and the sight of those who have been put to Death for their Profession.

It is much no Ecclesiastical History makes mention of this Martyr Antypas, which argueth him to have been a person but of an obscure note in the World; but Christ seeth and taketh notice of those little ones who belong to him, though the World overlooks them. Our being able from no History to give an account of this Martyr, hath inclined some to think this Epistle wholly Prophetical, and that Antipas signifieth not any particular person, but all those that have opposed the Pope, as if it were A[illegible: 1 letter]tipapa. But certainly there was such a Martyr as Antipas belonging to the Church at Smyrna, at that time, who suffered for the Truth, though we do allow this Church to have been Typical of all the Gospel-Churches for many years.

14 But I have a few things against thee , [illegible: 1 letter]ecause thou hast there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam , who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto Idols, and to commit fornication e.

Though I have much to commend thee for, yet I have some things to accuse thee of, and to compain of [illegible: 1 letter]hee for.

By the Doctrine of Balaam, he means the Doctrine of the Nicolai[illegible: 1 letter]ans (as he expounds himself, v. 18.) which was like the Doctrine of Balaam ▪

That Balaam of whom we read, Numb. chap. 24. chap. 25. who being sent for by Balak the King of Moab, to come and Curse Israel, and finding that God restrained him, and turned his Tongue from Cursing them, to pronounce Blessings to them, instructed Balak at last, how to lay a stumbling-Block before them, to make them to fall, viz. to set the M[illegible: 1 letter]abitish Women to tempt them to commit Uncleanness with them, and so to Feast with them in their Idols Temples, and eating of their Mea[illegible: 1 letter] first Offered unto their Idols.

Marginal references: Num. 31.16.

15 So ha[illegible: 1 letter]t thou also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans , which thing I hate .

So saith he, thou sufferest in thy Communion filthy persons, who maintain Fornication lawful, and the lawfulness of eating Meat offered to Idols, which exactly corresponds with Balaam's Doctrine, or Counsel given to Balak in order to his weakning the Israelites, by separating them from God.

His Counsel took place, to the Destruction of 24000 Israeli[illegible: 1 letter]es. I am the same God still, and hate such Doctrines, as much as ever I did in the time of Balak.

16 Repent ; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will sight against them with the sword of my mouth .

Thou that art guilty of con[illegible: 1 letter]iving at such things change thy Mind and P[illegible: 1 letter]actice, and let those who have [illegible: 1 letter]ntertained these Opinion, and run into those filthy practices, change their Hearts and [illegible: 3 letters]ctices, on els[illegible: 1 letter]

I will quickly come against thee, and punish thee; see the Notes on ver. 5.

And Fight against them by my Word; either convincing them, or pronouncing Sentence against them; or, by raising up other Teachers, who shall preach my Word more faithfully, and whose Doctrine shall be like a Sword to devour and to destroy them.

Marginal references: Isa. 11.4. 2 Thess. 2.8. Chap. 1.16. and 19.15, 21.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna , and will give him a white stone , and in the stone, a new name written , which no Man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it .

See the Annotation on v. 7, 11.

Here is a manifest allusion to that Bread from Heaven, with which God fed his People in the Wilderness, called Angels Food, Psal. 78.25. The Story of it we have, Exod. 16.31, 32. a Pot of which God ordained to be kept in the Ark, for a Memorial of God's Mercy, Heb. 9.4. It was a Type of Christ who was the true Bread that came down from Heaven, Ioh. 6.32, 33. it here signi[illegible: 2 letters]es Christ himself with all the influences of his Grace, whether for Strength or Comfort. As a Feast was wont to follow a Victory; so Christ promiseth to those that fought, and overcome in the Spiritual Fight, to feast them with himself and the influences of his Spirit.

The use of Stones anciently was so various, that it hath given a great Liberty to Interpreters to vary in their Senses of the White-Stone here mentioned. They made use of them (as we since of Counters) to compt: They used them also in Judgments, acquitting Persons by White-Stones, in which their Names were wrote; as they condemned others by Black Stones; they also used them in giving Suffra[illegible: 2 letters]s in Elections, &c. They also used them to mark happy or lucky days, and they used other Stones to mark such days as they counted unlucky; and finally, they used them as Rewards to those who Conquered in their Games▪ Hence Interpreters vary in their Opinions, whether this be a general Promise of a Reward, or a more particular Promise of Pardon and Absolution; or, of the assurance of their Election to Life. It seems most properly to be Interpreted of Pardon, or the notification of Pardon of Sins, or more generally of a Reward.

By the new Name which

no Man knoweth but he that hath it, the same thing seemeth to be signified, the Spirit wi[illegible: 1 letter]nessing with their Spirits, that they are the Children of God. They say, that in those White Stones (used in Absolutions of Persons▪ or in [illegible: 2 letters] ving Suffrages) the Name of the Person Absolved or Chosen, was wont to be written, and none knew it [illegible: 1 letter]u[illegible: 1 letter] those that had it, unless they imparted it, to which custom this allusion is. Those that make this Church Typical, say it [illegible: 1 letter]ypified the Churches of the Gospel during the times of Popery, to the end of the Persecutions of the Waldenses and Al[illegible: 2 letters]ge[illegible: 1 letter]ses, when about 100000 of them were destroyed by 8000 Papist[illegible: 1 letter]; or, the time when Antichrist first [illegible: 1 letter]ate in the Temple of God, as chap. 13. and the Woman f[illegible: 1 letter]ed into the Wilderness, chap. 11.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.12.

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira, write , These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire , and his feet are like fine Brass .

Thya[illegible: 2 letters]ra was a City of Mysia or Lydia, not far from Philippi the chief City of Macedonia; for Lydia, who traded in Purple, and was of this City went to Philippi to Trade, as we read, Acts 16.12, 14.

See chap. 1.14, 15. it signifies eithe[illegible: 1 letter] angry Eyes, or quick and piercing Eyes.

The comparing of his Feet to fine Brass, seemeth to signify bo[illegible: 2 letters] the purity and holiness of his wa[illegible: 1 letter]s and methods of Providence, and also his firmness and steadiness in them.

19 I know thy works and charity , and service , and saith , and thy patience , and thy works ; and the last to be more than the first .

The works of the Ministry of this Church, were such as Christ knew, not only with a knowledg of comprehension, but approbation also.

Such were his Charity to Christians that were in distress.

His Diligence in his Ministration.

His Faith and adherence to Christ▪ and the Doctrine of the Gospel.

His meek beating of his Crosses and Trials, and

his other Works, the fruit of Faith and Love:

And his proficiency both in spiritual habits, and good works, the fruits of them.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee , because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel , which calleth her self a prophetess , to teach, and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols .

See the Notes upon v. 4.14.

The Doctrine of the Nicola[illegible: 2 letters]ans mentioned v. 6.14. is so plainly expressed in the Latter part of the Verse, viz. [illegible: 1 span] the lawfulness of eating things o[illegible: 2 letters]ered to Idols, and of For[illegible: 2 letters]cation; that whosoever this Woman was, it is plain she was one of that filthy Sect: It is also plain, that she is called Iezebel, with allusion to that wicked Woman of that Name who was the Wife of Ahab, of whom we read 1 King. 16.31. She was an Instrument to bring Ahab her Husband to serve and worship Baal. It is also plain; that she was one

that pre[illegible: 1 letter]ended to Divine Revelations, she called her self a Prophetes[illegible: 1 letter]

and that [illegible: 1 letter]aught in publick, which no Wo[illegible: 1 letter]en but Prophetesses might do, 1 Cor. 14.34. 1 Tim. 2.11, 12.

And that she [illegible: 1 letter]aught a community of Women, and

the lawfulness as of Fornication, so of eating things o[illegible: 1 letter]fered to Idols, directly contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine, 1 Cor. 9.10. But what she was cannot be determined: for though we allow this Church to be Typi[illegible: 3 letters] of the Church i[illegible: 1 letter] the times of Popery, and the Popish Synagogue, which maintaineth both these things to be the A[illegible: 1 letter]tityp[illegible: 1 letter]; yet certainly, there was some famous Heritical Strumpet i[illegible: 1 letter] this Church, which the Governors did no[illegible: 1 letter] restrain and cast out of their Communion, which is the thing Christ had against this Church, and the Officers in it who ought to have restrained her extravaga[illegible: 2 letters]i[illegible: 1 letter]s both in teaching such Doctrines (being contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine in the places before mentioned,) and from Teaching at all, being [illegible: 1 letter]o Prophetess though she pretended to it.

Marginal references: 2 Kings 9.7.; Exod. 34.15. Act. 15.20. 1 Cor. 10.19, 20.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication , and she repented not .

I was not quick with her, but gave her a time of Patience, and did not cut her off at first;

But she was incorrigible, and went on in her sinful Courses.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed , and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation , except they repent of their deeds .

Another kind of Bed than she hath sinned in and by, not a Bed of Ease and Pleasure, but of Pain and Torment.

Nor shall the Seduced escape, they shall be also cast into great Tribulation, Pains and Torments of Conscience, or afflictions more corporal, either from the more immediate hand of God, or the hands of Men.

This is to be supposed to all God's Threatnings of Judgments▪ the execution of them ordinarily may be prevented by Repentance, and such is the Patience of God, that he gives the vilest Sinners a space to Repeat.

23 And I will kill her children with death : and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one o[illegible: 1 letter] you according to your works .

Those who are seduced by her,

I will destroy them, unless some special Death, such as the Plague, be here threatned.

So shall all the Churches near Thya[illegible: 1 letter]ire know, that I am a God who do not only take notice of overt, scand[illegible: 1 letter]lous acts, but of the secret thoughts, motions, counsels and de[illegible: 1 letter]igns of Mens Hearts, Psal. 7.10. Ier. 11.20. & 17.10. and that I am a Just God, who will deal with all according to their works.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 16.7. 1 Chro. 28.9[illegible: 1 letter] and 29.17.; Rom. 2.6. and 14.12. 2 Cor. 5.10. Gal. 6.5. Chap. 20.12▪

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, 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 .

You that are the Ministers, for they are distinguished from the rest in Thyatira. The Word again is Plural, which lets us know these Epistles were directed to no single Persons.

The rest of the Members of the Church in Thyatira who have not embraced this Doctrine of the Nicolaitans published by Iezebel, &c.

Those Seducers call their Doctrine Deep things, great Mysteries revealed to them; as there are the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. So these Seducers would pretend their Doctrines also were deep things. Christ calls them the Devils Mysteries, deep things of Satan.

I will lay no other Burden of Trials and Afflictions.

25 But that which you have already , hold fast till I come .

Then you already groan under. Or no other Precepts than what you have had from the Apostles; The Precepts of God are called Burdens, Matth. 11.29. Acts 15.28.

Hold fast your Professio[illegible: 1 letter], your [illegible: 1 word] and Holiness till I come [illegible: 1 word] Iu[illegible: 1 letter]gment.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.[illegible: 2 letters].

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works to the end , to him will I give power over the nations .

See the Notes on v. 7▪ 11▪ 17. Overcoming is here expounded by keeping Christ's Works; that is either the Works by him commanded, [illegible: 1 word] walking as he walked, and persevering therein to [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 letter]nd of his or their Lives.

[illegible: 1 word] to judg those who live Heath[illegible: 1 letter]nish Lives; or to [illegible: 1 word] Na[illegible: 1 letter]ions to the Faith or which is most probable, Matth. 19.28. he shall sit with me upon a Throne in the day of Judgment, and Iudg the World, 1 Cor. 6.2.

Marginal references: Luke 22.19▪ Chap. 3.21.

27 (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 received of my Father .

An Iron Rod, either signifies a [illegible: 1 letter]ight Rod, that will not be easily bent, and made crooked, or a severe Rod, (which is most probably the sense) See Psal. 2.9. chap. 12.5. The words by the Psalmist are applied to Christ; and to the Church, Rev. 12.5. To particular Saints here, who rule the Nations either in Christ their Head, or with Christ as their Chie[illegible: 2 letters]ain, with the Word of God powerfully convincing the World of Sin and Righteousness.

And all Paganism and Heathen Idolatries, shall be broken in pieces. Or in the day of Judgment the Saints that persevere shall sit with Christ, and judg and condemn the World severely, and then they shall be broken in pieces, never again to be sodered or cemented.

For such a Power and Authority my Father hath given me, and I will give it to all them.

28 And I will give him the morning star .

Either the Light of Glory, the Blessed Vision of God; or a certain Hope of Eternal Life, or the Holy Spirit, called so, 2 Pet. 1.19. or rather of my self. Christ himself is not only called the Su[illegible: 1 letter] of Righteousness, Mal. 4.2. but the Morning-Star, chap. 22.16. Because he excelleth all other Stars in Glory, and scattereth the darkness of Ignorance and Error by the Light of his Gospel; I will make him partaker of my self.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches .

Here the same conclusion of this Epistle, as of all the rest, v. 7, 11, 17. See the Notes on v. 7. Those who make this Epistle Typical and Prophetical, make it a Type of all the Churches of Christ, from about 1260, or the end of the Persecution of the Waldenses until the Protestant Religion so far obtained, that whole Nations owned it, which was about 1560, by which time England and Scotland had made it the Religion of those Nations; it had before this prevailed in Germany, Helvetia, France, and many other places where it was the Religion of whole Cities and particular Jurisdictions, &c.