tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will That is, proved, whether ye are rewarded with a "crown of life." It able to endure affliction. The Chris- is an interesting question, what is intians were referred to the prophets as tended by the "crown of life?" The examples of patience in the midst of expression occurs twice only in the affliction; James v. 10. The church Scriptures, viz., in James i. 12, and in Smyrna was, by God's permission, in the passage before us. By careto suffer much affliction. God al- fully consulting the Scriptures, it will lowed this to try them, as gold is be seen that the figure of the crown tried by being melted in the furnace. is used to signify dignity, honor, Job said, "When he hath tried me, I glory. When Job was stripped of shall come forth as gold;" xxiii. 10. his glory, he said, "He hath taken See also Dan. xii. 10; Zech. xiii. 9. the crown from my head;" Job xix. "The fire shall try every man's work, 9. Solomon says, Wisdom shall " give of what sort it is;" 1 Cor. iii. 13. to thy head an ornament of grace; a Peter speaks of this rial, in his epis- crown of glory shall she deliver to tle to the strangers scattered through thee; Prov. iv. 9. Here the crown the provinces of Asia Minor. "That was the glory which Wisdom conferred. the trial of your faith, being much So a virtuous woman is a crown to more precious than of gold that per- her husband,” (Prov. xii. 4,) i. e., she isheth, though it be tried with fire, confers dignity and honor upon him. might be found unto praise, and hon- See also xiv. 18, "The prudent are or, and glory, at the appearing of crowned with knowledge," and xvi. Jesus Christ;" 1 Epis. i. 7; iv. 12. 31, "The hoary head is a crown of See also Rev. iii. 10. Ten days. glory, if it be found in the way of That exactly ten days are here righteousness." No one will think meant, we should not suppose would of looking exclusively to the immorbe contended for by any one. The tal state to find the crown mentioned word days is used indefinitely in the in these instances. In the Grecian Scriptures, and numbers are certainly games, from which Paul drew his so used in the Apocalypse. We un- figure of the crown, (see 1 Cor. ix. derstand by this phrase, "You shall 25,) the victor was crowned with have a brief season of tribulation." | flowers or foliage. This was a corTen seems to be put for a small ruptible crown, i. e., it would fade number. "And her brother and her away; but the Christian's crown is mother said, Let the damsel abide with incorruptible, and fadeth not away. us a few days, at the least ten; after Now, what is the Christian's crown? that she shall go;" Gen. xxiv. 55. It is his Christian virtues and graces; The evident import of the phrase is, a for it is these surely which are his short time. See Daniel i. 12-15. honor, dignity and glory; and such ¶ Unto death. —But notwithstanding things can never fade. And where the time was short, it might result in does the Christian have this crown? death. The early Christians were frequently called on to suffer death for the cause of Christ; but neither life nor death could separate them from the love of God; Rom. viii. 38, 39. Paul says, the apostles, as it were, were appointed to death; 1 Cor. iv. 9. T Crown of life.- To encourage the members of the church at Smyrna to be "faithful unto death," the revelator promises them that they shall be Answer: Wherever he is found faithful. His faithfulness is a crown of glory to him. Paul had his crown in this life, as every other good man has. He said to the Philippians, ye are "my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved;" iv. 1. He asked the Thessalonians, on one occasion, what his crown was; and let us look well to the answer: "For what is our hope, or joy, or give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye rest of the apostles, Stephen, and four crown] in the presence of our many others, wear this crown of life Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" now. We see it on their heads; it is He then answers, "Ye ARE our glory radiant with glory, like a crown of and joy." See 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20. stars; it can never fade away. Paul The converts made to Christ through tells us explicitly when he expected Paul's instrumentality were an honor to have this crown. "Henceforth and glory and joy to him - they were there is laid up for me a crown of HIS CROWN. When he drew towards righteousness, which the Lord, the the end of life, he reflected more righteous Judge, shall give me deeply upon this crown. Christ, he (when?) at that day; and not to me thought, would confirm it to him; only, but unto all them also that love and sanction his claim to honor in his appearing." Here are two cir the church. "I have fought a good cumstances which assist us to a right fight, I have finished my course, I understanding of the subject, viz., the have kept the faith: Henceforth, phrase that day, and the appearing of there is laid up for me a crown of Christ. He says, in another place, righteousness, which the Lord, the that God shall judge the quick and righteous Judge, shall give me at the dead (i. e., those who were dead that day, and not to me only, but in sins and those who had been unto all them also that love his ap-quickened out of their sins; see Eph. pearing;" 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. His crown was his faithfulness and the success of his labors in the church these were glory and honor to him. He could not be deprived of that crown. True, it was not then so generally acknowledged an honor to be a faithful Christian as it was afterwards, when Christ came to exalt his church, and cast down his foes; -and hence it is said, the Lord would give it to him at that day. Peter said to the elders, "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." This was certainly on the earth, where the chief Shepherd appeared; and when he came, the merits of his followers were made manifest. The term "crown of life" is to be explained on the principles here laid down it was the dignity, glory, honor of the Christian life; which would be made to appear to be truly glorious and honorable at the coming of the Lord, when every man should be rewarded according to his works. And if any man died before the coming of Christ, he would not lose the crown, provided he remained faithful unto death. Paul, Peter, and the : ii. 1) "at his appearing and his kingdom;" 2 Tim. iv. 1. Does not this language evidently apply to Christ's appearing in power to set up his kingdom at the end of the law? It was then that Christ was to judge men; see Matt. xvi. 27; Mark viii. 38; ix. 1. And that event certainly was to take place during the lifetime of some who were on the earth when the Saviour spake; Matt. xvi. 28. His appearing then took place. "Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven;" Matt. xxiv. 30. And in order to impress on those who listened, the solemn fact that the appearing would take place in that generation, Jesus adds, ver. 34, "Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Peter connects the crown with Christ's appearing, in the same manner with Paul. "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away;" 1 Peter v. 4. We have now put these facts into a form in which they will, we think, be understood. The crown was certainly to be conferred at the appearing of Christ; and the appearing of Christ was at him hear what the Spirit saith the full establishment of his kingdom, at the end of the Mosaic law. unto the churches; He that thinking multitude; they would not discern its import; it was for those It is not supposed that all the who had ears to hear, i. e., ears Christians were then personally pres- that were open to hear. Such were ent before the Son of God. He was called upon particularly to take notice not personally present himself on earth of what was said. Dr. Campbell at that time. It was not an outward, says "that Jesus Christ never emvisible, tangible crown which the ploys the words, 'He that hath ears faithful Christians were to receive; to hear,' &c., in the introduction or but it was then to be made manifest conclusion of any plain moral instructo the world, by the establishment of tions, but always after some parable, the gospel and the overthrow of the or prophetic declarations figuratively Jewish nation and religion, that the expressed.". Dis. II., part iii., sec. 5. Christians were right; that they had ¶ What the Spirit saith. - John spoke labored in a just cause; that they had by the spirit. The spirit of the risen fought a GOOD fight; that their stead- Son of God was with him to guide fastness was not in vain. This was him into all truth; Rev. i. 10. This a crown, full of brilliant gems. They spirit was "the spirit of truth,' had been cast down and trodden "whom the world cannot receive, under foot. Their enemies had tri- because it seeth him not, neither umphed over them. They desired no knoweth him ;” John xiv. 17. ¶Overother crown than to be fully vindi- cometh.-The style here, as we have cated before the world, — their course had occasion to show before, is pecuapproved, their doctrine establish- liarly that of the apostle John; 1 ed, the faith they had kept made tri- Epis. v. 4, 5. ¶ Second death. — This umphant. That was a crown indeed! phrase occurs nowhere except in the What a bright halo of glory has book of Revelation; see ii. 11; xx. encircled the head of Paul (to make 6, 14; xxi. 8; and these are all the him the representative of many others) instances of its occurrence. And ever since the appearing and king- what is the "second death?" We dom of the Lord Jesus. He has shall give a direct answer, in the lanbeen honored, and forever will be guage of Scripture. Rev. xx. 14: honored, by the church of God. His" And death and hell were cast into name has been written on her ban- the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND ners in letters of light. Although so DEATH." And again, in Rev. xxi. 8: great a persecutor before his conver- "But the fearful and unbelieving, sion, although born out of due time, &c., . shall have their part in yet he has been associated with Jesus the lake which burneth with fire and the apostles in the affections of and brimstone, WHICH IS THE SECOND the church universal. His crown was DEATH." Here we feel confident, that not personal aggrandizement, for that to be cast into the lake of fire and his soul did not desire; but it was the brimstone was the second death. The high satisfaction of standing vindi- revelator, at the time he mentioned cated before the world as having kept the "second death," in the case the true faith, as having defended a before us, had been speaking of the righteous cause, as having fought a rebellious and persecuting Jews, "the good fight, as having labored for the synagogue of Satan." That the advantage of the world. Jews as a nation were cast into the 11. He that hath an ear. This lake of fire when their city was shows that what the revelator had destroyed the second time, will be uttered was worthy of deep con- evident to every one who will read sideration. It was not for the un-Ezek. xxii. 18-22. See also Isa. overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death. 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; xxxi. 9: "The Lord's fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem." They suffered the second death, then, - an utter, total death, - at the time of the entire overthrow and extinction of their nation. "He that overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death;" i. e., he that is faithful through all tribulations, shall not be involved in the general calamity which is about to fall on the Jews, and on all the enemies of Christ. Let the reader examine the following passages, and he will see that the terms "fire and brimstone" are terms frequently em'ployed by the sacred writers to describe the judgments of God in the present life; Gen. xix. 24; Deut. xxix. 23; Job xviii. 15; Psa. xi. 6; Isa. xxx. 33; xxxiv. 9, 10; Ezek. Xxxviii. 22; Luke xvii. 29. For further remarks on the second death, see our comments on Rev. xx. 6, 14; and xxi. 8. EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS. 12. Angel. See the notes on ii. 1 and 8. ¶ Pergamos. — This place is mentioned but twice in the Scriptures; Rev. i. 11; ii. 12. It was a celebrated city of antiquity, the most important place in Mysia, and the most northerly of the places that contained the seven apocalyptical churches. It probably existed eight or ten centuries before Christ. It was famed for its library, which yielded only to that of Alexandria in extent and value, and it is said to have contained upwards of two hundred thousand volumes. It was the birth-place of the celebrated Galen, and in its vicinity there was a famous temple of Esculapius. The modern town 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain retains the name of Bergamo, Berga mah, or Bergma. ¶ He which hath the sword with two edges. This is a reference to the Son of man; see i. 16; and to the notes on that text we refer the reader. 13. I know thy works. This was said to the whole seven of the churches. ¶ Where thou dwellest. · The place is specially referred to, as if for some reason it was worthy of particular observation. The peculiarity is brought out in the next words. Where Satan's seat is.. That is, his location, his place of influence and power. There had been a great opposition to Christianity there. It was a place of great heathen strength. The immense library was there, which perhaps brought together the heathen and Jewish scholars from all parts of Asia, Greece, and the more western parts of the world. This would tend to give character and strength to the opposition to Christianity. The word Satan has much the same general use in the Scriptures as diabolos, or devil. In the case before us it is used for the adversaries collectively at Pergamos. Peter was the Satan when he opposed. his master; Matt. xvi. 23; Mark viii. 33. In one case Satan seems to signify a disease; Luke xiii. 16. But when Paul says, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly," Rom. xvi. 20, he refers undoubtedly to the human adversaries of Christianity. The word seems also to bear the same sense in 1 Thess. ii. 18: "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul once and again; but Satan hindered us." We do not suppose Paul meant among you, where Satan dwell-eat things sacrificed unto idols, eth. and to commit fornication. 14 But I have a few things 15 So hast thou also them against thee, because thou hast that hold the doctrine of the there them that hold the doc- Nicolaitanes, which thing I trine of Balaam, who taught hate. Balak to cast a stumbling-block 16 Repent; or else I will before the children of Israel, to come unto thee quickly, and that some invisible, intangible, malicious agent had power enough over him to succeed for a length of time in hindering him against his will from doing his duty. We shall define Satan's seat then to be the place of a powerful and wicked opposition to Christianity. And yet the church as a body stood fast. ¶ Hast not denied my faith. They did not abandon the name of Christ, and they held fast his faith, even in those terrible days when Antipas was slain. Dr. Hammond tells us that Antipas was cotemporary with the apostles; that he was bishop of the church of Pergamos, and that in his very old age he fed and ruled the flock in all godliness. He was a faithful martyr, and was slain where Satan dwelt. It is certain from the text that he was a Christian, that he was faithful even unto death, and that he was slain at Pergamos as a witness of Jesus. The character bestowed upon this church was, in general, very honorable to them. things faithful. He led the children of Israel somewhat into idolatry and uncleanness. There were men like him in the church at Pergamos, who were willing to compromise with their heathen neighbors, for the gratification of their lusts. Persons of this description are mentioned by Peter, 2 Epis. ii. 10-15, and Jude 4. 15. Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. This church differed from the church at Ephesus. The latter hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, but the church at Pergamos had those among them who held the doctrines of that sect. Who these were, and what were their faults, will be seen by the notes on ver. 6. 16. Repent. This is a word of wide import. It signifies not only to change the mind, not only to have sorrow for past misdeeds or neglects, but to reform the life. Thus the church at Ephesus was called on to "1 'repent, and do the first works," ver. 5; i. e., reform their lives, and get 14. But I have a few things back again to duty and faithfulness. against thee.-Notwithstanding the Come unto thee quickly. — See what praise which had been bestowed is said on this topic in the notes on upon them, there were some things i. 1, 3. It is remarkable how particamong them that were wrong. They had not divorced themselves from those who held the error of Balaam. And what was that? Balaam taught Balak, king of the Moabites, "to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel." See Numb. xxxi. 16: "Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord, in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord." Balaam was not in all ular the Son of man was to show The author of the epistle to |