In these chapters the Lord Jesus as Son of Man is giving us a prophetic picture of the state of the assembly from the time John wrote, till the Lord judges it. It is not the writer’s purpose to give an exposition of these chapters, but only an outline, to point out the downward course that the assembly pursued. There were actually these seven assemblies existing at the beginning, but these have all passed away. The Word of God remains for the benefit of believers until the last. “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.” There is no part of it but may be of use to us now, as the Holy Spirit sees that our souls need the lessons contained in it.
It is not the aspect of the body of Christ in which the assembly is looked at here, but in its responsible character as a light for Him in this dark world. And we know that before His judgment falls upon the corrupt assembly, all the members of the body of Christ will be taken out of it, and home to glory. There is no condemnation for His own. He cannot spue them out of His mouth, as He will the professing assembly that is left behind. Their blessed hope is to be with Himself who loved them and gave Himself for them.
In this historic picture, we see declension begun in Ephesus. The Judge recognizes all the good His unerring eye sees in them. To everyone else it was a beautiful assembly, but He had against them that they had left their first love; their bridal affection had waned. He was no longer the loved object of their hearts; they are a fallen assembly. No outward display of zeal for Christ could make up for their heart’s affections, and the assembly is warned to judge this evil, or their candlestick must be removed. In each one of these seven assemblies we, find overcomers spoken of.
In Smyrna there is no fault found. It is their sufferings that He speaks of. “I know thy tribulation and thy poverty.” It was the time of persecution for Christ, so we find some brightness. There was a legal company, the synagogue of Satan, saying they were Jews, who railed at them, but the Lord encourages them to go on suffering for Him. It was only suffering for time; the second death could never touch them. This was the time of the ten periods of pagan persecution, but it was limited. His eye watched over them. It was allowed for their good, and for His glory.
In the third, Pergamos, we have the assembly sunk into the world. “I know where thou dwellest, where the seat, or throne, of Satan, is.” The wiles of the serpent accomplished what the roar of the lion could not do. The persecution died away, and the friendliness of the world ruined their spirituality. Evils came in, and were taught as doctrine. The doctrine of Balaam taught them spiritual fornication; and the deeds of Nicolaitanes, which God hates, sets up a clergy that claims and gets from man a more spiritual place than the laity, or people, and robs God of the worship of His own, putting them practically at a distance from Him. This has, in Pergamos, become doctrine, as if it was truth, but God hates it. The Judge threatens them with the sword, and promises the overcomer a special mark of His appreciation in the glory. The way the Lord presents Himself to all these assemblies is important to notice, and helps us to read the character of each assembly.
This is seen in Thyatira, where, as Son of God, His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass, He speaks forth judgment on the fallen assembly, while acknowledging what good may still be there. But it is Jezebel here, and her abominations are practiced, and there is nothing for her and her children but judgment and death. It is works and more works, and ignorance of the finished work of Christ, who, in the end, will give to every one according to his works. Now we find a remnant marked out for the first time as different from the whole (2:24). “But unto you I say, the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine” —these are found holding fast till the Lord comes. These are not like the many, seeking dominion in this world, but are promised it when Christ reigns, and they will have the Morning Star. So we see the state pictured in Thyatira runs on to the end. Notice the words, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies.” Now follows the promise to the overcomer, which indicates that the body of profession is not addressed here. This leads us to think of the darkness of the assembly before the reformation began. It marked that period, and while other things have come in, this state continues, though in a more hidden manner in most places.
In Sardis, we might notice what follows the reformation period. The reformation itself was truly an important movement of the Spirit of God, and was a testimony against some of the evils of popery. God used it for the deliverance of many. But what is seen in Sardis is an attempt to set up the assembly afresh, but this could not be. It resulted in what the Lord says about it, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” In this we get Protestantism, which, while there are in it many dear children of God, yet it stops short of the truth, and so becomes formal religion. At first, in the reformation, “justification by faith” was held and taught, but as it is said, “I have not found thy works perfect before God.” “Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain.” This has not been done, so He says, “I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee.” That really means that He will treat them as the world (compare 1 Thess. 5:2, 32For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑3)), but those that are His own people, their names cannot be blotted out of the book of life. He will confess their names before His father, and before His angels.
In what is said to the assembly at Philadelphia, we have the revival of truth that was given nearly 100 years ago, which brings before our souls the blessed person, and work, and coming, of our Lord Jesus as Head of His body and His bride, the mystery of Christ and the assembly, that for such a long period had been lost sight of (Rom. 16:25, 2625Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:25‑26); Ephesians 1:22, 23; 3:4-622And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)
4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:4‑6); Col. 1:26, 2726Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:26‑27)). He presents Himself as He that is holy, He that is true, He has the Key of David. All the treasures, and all the power are under His control, and He promises an opened door to them. Here, too, we get the legal opposition distinctly marked as the synagogue of Satan, but they have the promise of His coming. The promised reward shows that they were weak and despised here, but they were associated with His despised name, and will be associated with it when it will not be despised. The name “My God” repeated four times, showing their state, is stamped with God’s appreciation, as well as Christ’s new Name. This is the last revival that we see recorded by the Word for the assembly. May we seek to be in separation to the Lord, who is holy and true, and holiness and truth become each one that names His Name. May we all take this into our souls, that we might hear Him say, “Thou hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.” We may not be able to say it of ourselves. We need to wait, and watch, and walk, in His ways till He comes, if we are to be counted an overcomer.
Laodicea, the last of the seven, is a very sad state, The Lord speaks here as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” He makes all God’s glory good. He is alone as the faithful and true witness. As the beginning of God’s new creation, He has gone through death, and in resurrection, surrounds Himself with His brethren. All must be real. Then He tells this assembly that they are neither cold nor hot. They are nauseous to Him, for they have no heart for Him. Their riches are not His riches, and what they boast of is nothing to Him. They do not know that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He counsels them to buy of Him gold purified by fire; white garments to clothe them, that the shame of their nakedness do not appear. He wants to give them eye salve to anoint their blind eyes, to make them see. What a sad picture of what calls itself the assembly of Christ, but among those in this sad state, there are those whom He loves. He rebukes and disciplines them. Do we, beloved brethren, hear His voice? “Behold, I stand at the door, and am knocking.” Have you another object to live for but Christ? Does this lukewarm condition have its effect on you, though you are one of His loved ones?
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from among the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.” He says, “If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Precious promise!
The end is near. No new state of the assembly is now to be looked for. The apostasy is now begun. What we need is to be on our faces before God. The assembly’s failure is my failure. If I seek to keep His word, and not deny His name, I will be humbled to the dust about myself, and the whole assembly of God.
May we use our few remaining days or hours, as the case may be, till the Lord comes, in true devotedness to Christ, obeying His word and confessing His name.
It is evident to the spiritual mind, that, with the exception of the Lord’s coming, this prophecy has become history. The last four states are collateral now. The last grows increasingly prominent. Knowledge is increased, but so has indifference increased. Toleration is the cry of the day. The person of Christ as the Son of the Virgin, and as the blessed God, His atoning Work, the integrity of the Word of God, the judgment of the wicked, are laughed at by many who are called men of character. The wet blanket of indifference is thrown over the profession of Christianity. Those who seek faithfulness to Christ at all costs need to suffer reproach—the reproach of Christ.