Revelation 2:12-17 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things said he which has the sharp sword with two edges;… I. GOOD IN THE WORST PLACES; OR, THE RESTRAINT OF CIRCUMSTANCES. "I know where thou dwellest," says Christ, "even where Satan's seat is." I know, in the sense of making allowances for all thine hindrances, and of understanding thy peculiar needs. 1. We learn from this message how bad some places can be, and are. Satan's throne was at Pergamum, "an expression," says Andreas, "which denotes that there were more idols in Pergamum than in all Asia." There are even districts in so-called Christian England, aye, and some homes, which are simply Satan's thrones. We have, indeed, no right to thrust ourselves into any peril; but if by the call of Providence we are compelled to live where Satan's seat is, we may expect that Goal will do for us what He has done over and over again. 2. We learn also from this message how much some people can bear; that is, without apostasy and collapse. Possibly Antipas was some ordinary Christian who had, to the surprise of his fellow-believers, been selected for the honour of martyrdom. Whoever he was, Christ knew all about him, and dates time by his death. Do they say in heaven, In the days when So-and-so did this, or endured that? Are the martyrdoms of earth, then, so interesting to the saints who are in heaven that they constitute the calendar of the blessed? May we so live and die that we may become conspicuous and known in the great company of the blessed! And how sweetly the Saviour here says of Antipas, "My martyr"! thus appropriating and owning the witness. Antipas belonged to the Church, it is true, but he also belonged to Christ, and his Master is not ashamed to acknowledge him. II. ALLOY OF FAITHFUL SERVICE; OR THE PERILS OF TIMIDITY. It was said of John Knox that he never feared the face of man; the fear of men had kept the Christians in Pergamum silent. Perhaps they feared the consequences of fidelity; certainly it required much courage on their part to rebuke the besetting Bin of their times. What good will it do? one might inquire. Whereas they should have remembered that Christ hated this iniquity, and that therefore His servants should hate and reprove it also. Love is the soul of the gospel, but right is also its conscience and ruler. For after all, in spite of our weakness, purity is affected by testimony. Christ presents Himself to the silent as the terrible witness for the truth. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp two-edged sword, which represents the combative and sin-destroying influence of truth. The promises to the victor who shall overcome his timidity are very remarkable. There are, we are told, special delights for faithful witnesses, both now and hereafter. "What have I gained after fifty years of toil for the friendless?" asked Lord Shaftesbury. And he replied to his own question, thus — "Peace of mind, and nothing else!" But peace of mind is no slight boon; it is worth risking a little ridicule for, if we may but thereby obtain a good conscience and the favour of Christ. (J. J. Ellis.) Parallel Verses KJV: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; |
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