Revelation 2 and 3 Introduction

 Revelation 2 and 3 Part I Observations 1. Unto the angel…“We have no right to substitute for it any such specific term; an that to do so is to narrow down, if not completely to lose the great and broad idea here taught; it must mean messenger in a broad general sense (Ramsey).” And, “All the Bishops and Presbyters, because it speaks of them indefinitely, whether there be more or fewer (Durham).” 2. The churches…these were little churches, but like prophecy of old, they apply to churches, hypocrites, and the truly elect in all age. We shall consider these epistles to the churches and “their intimate an essential connection with the rest of the book.” 3. Who walks in the midst of…here is mentioned the omniscient, sovereign governance of Christ the mediator, and Savior of His people. 4. I know…Christ’s sole attention is seen as set on the care of His people, to whom He is sovereign, jealous, active, and aware. 5. Somewhat against thee… 6. Remove thy candlestick… 7. He that hath an ear…here is a general call to the church to listen. 8. What the Spirit saith… 9. He that overcomes… 10. Works (in the Word) , labor, patience, tribulation, poverty, charity, service, faith…noted actions of the seven churches here observed by Christ. Doctrines I. The Perseverance of the Saints. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own freewill, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace: from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. II. The Sovereign Providence of God God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. II. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge, and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly, yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. III. God, in his ordinary providence, maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at his pleasure. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof. III. The Kingdom of God We see then that the two cities were created by two kinds of love: the earthly city was created by self-love reaching the point of contempt for God. The Heavenly City by the love of God carried as far as contempt of self. In fact, the earthly city glories in itself, the Heavenly City glories in the Lord. (Augustine, Concerning the City of God Against the Pagans, 14.28) History was, Augustine explained, ‘a tale of two cities’, the City of God and the Earthly City, which ‘Two states are intimately connected and promiscuously blended with one another in this life until they are separated by the final judgement.’9 Cain and Abel were the archetypes of the two cities, Cain the founder of the earthly city, Abel a citizen of the Eternal. ‘These two states have been created by two different sets of affections, the earthly by the love of self to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God to the contempt of self. That one glories in self; this one in God.’10 The City of God is a stranger in the world, it is not Rome, and it is to be identified with no human city, state or system; its founder is God himself. Uses 1. For our contemplation. 2. For our consideration. 3. For our reproof. 4. For our consolation. Uses