The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 83

It had no h1dng for the purity, the self-denial, and the unworldlineBII of the Church, but revelled in the very reverse of all these thin~ All that could sap and undermine the faith and the faithml was there in full force. It was Satan's throne indeed. Now, for that even there they held fast Christ's na.me, they deserved, and here receive, high com- mendation from the Lord. But the sword (2) separates the evil; for there were amongst them (a) men who held the truth in unrighteousness. This was what Balaam did. No man ever knew, no man ever professed, a purer faith, a holier doctrine, than did he; and yet, blinded by his greed of gain, he held it so imprisoned in unrighteousness that it had no power over him, and left him unchecked to all the wickedness of his heart. Now, there were such men at Pergamos; and where have they not been and are they not still? And (b) there were those who perverted the gospel to licentiousness. There were the Nicolaitans. And they, too, have had, and have still, their successors: God keep u,q from being of their number I But then the good and the evil were so blende'd together that to separate them was beyond mere human power. In the brightness of the good some might not perceive the evil; in the darkness of the evil others might not perceive the good. But the sword of the Spirit severs them. For Churches, for individuals, Christ by his Word does this still. Pray him to do so for ourselves. 2. Its double edge. For it had this as well as its piercing point. And this, probably, that BB with the literal sword the soldier in the thick of the fight might strike on the •right hand and the left, with the back as well as the front, so with this sword of the Spirit foes on either hand might be smitten down. Thus is it in this letter. (1) It smites presumption and all high-handed sin. Read the awful threatenings here. How they hew down those who set themselves against the Lord I (2) Despondency and despair. This is a 'peril on the other side, a foe to faith as formidable as the other; and by this sword the Lor/l smites this adversary also. Read the sweet, soothing,· soul-assuring promises (ver. 17). (a) "The hidden manna." It means that support and sustenta- tion of the soul_ as it presses on through the'wilderness of life, beave"Q.ward, which the Lord will give, and does give, to his faithful ones, as the manna BUBtained Israel on their march Canaanwards. "I am the true Bread from heaven," said Christ (cf. John vi.). It is real, substantial, effectually supporting the soul, as ten thousand facts testify. But hidden, because unseen and unknown by the world. " Your life is hid with Christ in God." What, then, though weary leagues of barren, burning sand lie between God.'1 Israel and their home? here is promise of all need supplied, every want met. (b) The :whi~ stone with the new name; i.e. Christ's faithful shall have given them personal assurance of their membership in the family of God (of, "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God"). Now, the white stone is that on which a oommunication is written (cf. Luke i. 63). Hence it tells of a communication, real, in writing as it were, to the soul of the believer. And this communication consists of "a name." When a child is bominto a family,a n:i.meisgiven it. So in God's family. To the children of the world it will be said, "I never knew you ; " but for his own children there is a name given. And a new name, indicating admission to higher privilege and favour, as did the names of Abraham, Sarah, Israel, Hephzibah, Beulah, Peter. They were all new names, and all told of new grace and favour from God. And a name unknown to all but the receiver. The proofs of the believer's sonship are known only to himself and God. The Spirit's witness: who can put that into words, and tell it out to others? Many a one cannot tell you why he knows he is God's child, but he does know it. The white stone has been given to him, and blessed is he. And is not this a stay against all despafr, despondency, and everything of the kind? As the well-known verse sings-- "When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell t.o every fear, And wipe my weeping eyea." 0ol!l'.OLUBI01'1'. All this supposes that you are of the Oflef"COming onea. This word is "to him that overcometh." Not to them that are overcome. But you may over- come. By fervent prayer, by unreserved CODB8Cllltion, by constant " looking unto Jesus," by use of all means of grace, so abide in Ohrht, and he shall make you "mort than conqueror."-8. 0 eG 'l'Blll ·lll!JV::.mi;,ATION OF ST, JOHN· THE , DIVINE; EoH, IIf 1"':"""2,;t