THE KING’S BUSINESS
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o f Popery is not confined to the Roman Catholic Church. The Lord Jesus hates the whole business. Ears were given us to hear with, and we are under solemn obliga tion to use them for that purpose. That to which we are under the most solemn obligation to listen is, “What the Spirit saith.” W oe be to the onfe who does not listen to “what the Spirit saith,” happy indeed is he who does listen, and listen keenly, to “ what the Spirit saith.” In clos ing the message to the Church in Ephesus, the Lord pronounces an especial blessing upon the one who overcomes (or rather gets the victory). A blessing is pronounced at the end o f the message to each o f the seven churches upon the one who gains the victory. How to gain the victory, we are told in 1 John 5:4, 5. vs. 8,'9. “And unto (to) the angel of the church in Smyrna write; ( : ) These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (who was dead, and lived again:) I know thy works, and (omit, works and) (add , thy) tribulation, and (add , thy) poverty (but thou art rich), and I know (omit, I know) the blasphemy of them which (that) say that they are Jews, and (add , they) are not, but are the (a) synagogue o f Satan.” There are words o f strong praise, and words o f lov ing encouragement, but not one word of criticism for the Church in Smyrna. This the church where Polycarp labored and suffered martyrdom at a later day. The church was suffering persecution even when John wrote. The persecuted church is likely to be the pure church. In the description o f our Lord, He appears as Divine, the First and the Last (cf. Isa. 44:6; 48:12), but also as real man (one who died but now lives again). This par ticular description o f the Lord was occa sioned by the fact that the saints in Smyrna were being persecuted even “unto death.” The church was in “tribulation” because o f persecution. It was also very poor as concerned earthly possessions, but it was rich with the real and enduring pos sessions. j The financially poor churches
are usually the richest in the things which are o f real and lasting worth (James 2 :5 ), and the rich churches are almost inevitably the poorest. vs. 10, 11. “Fear none of those (not the) things which thou shalt (are about to) suf fer: behold, the devil shall (is about to) cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: (.) Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a (the) crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto (to) the churches; (:) He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Still greater hardships were just ahead, but there was no occasion for Jear. These hardships patiently and loyally endured would bring a blessing and not an injury. Indeed they would bring a crown, “the crown o f life.” How foolish we are to whine or cringe or complain or shrink when persecution for Christ comes, even if it is persecution unto death: it only is a messenger from God with a crown in his hand. There are doubtless great persecutions just ahead for real believers to-day, but we should not dread them but rejoice in them (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; 2 Tim. 2:12). vs. 12, 13. "And to the angel o f the church in Pergamos (Pergamum) write; ( : ) These things saith he which (that) hath the sharp sword with two edges; (two- edged sword:) I know thy works, and (omit, thy works, and) where thou dwell- est, j even where Satan’s seat (throne) is: ( ;) and thou boldest fast my name, and hast not denied (didst not deny) my faith, even in those (the) days wherein ( of) Antipas was my faithful martyr (my witness, my faithful one), who was slain (killed) among you, where Satan dwelleth.” The Church in Pergamum was in a pecu liarly difficult situation; for Pergamum was Satan’s headquarters, his “throne” was there. Many a worker in some o f our modern cities ha-s been tempted to think that he lived and worked in Pergamum. But even in its peculiarly trying position the church had proved faithful, even
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