...cannot with certainty explain. Besides the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, already mentioned, we read of the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but of the synagogue of Satan \ of them who held the doctrine of Balaam, and of the woman Jezebel,...

...spirit of Christ, which is God ? Surely no. Secondly, John writeth to the church of Smirna, These thuigs saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive. Is not Jesus Christ the First and the Last ? Was not he dead and rose again, and so is alive ? Surely...

...of his life, so does it open the way to what we are next to consider, viz. his death and passion, " Unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, write : these...Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer ; behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison,...

...shall have tribulation ten days : be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive" to the church of Smyrna, Rev. ii. 8, 10. In the mean while ye have great reason to rejoice, that ye...

...behold, I am alive for evermore ; Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death.' Again Rev. ii. 8. ' These things saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive,' &c. Jesus Christ is therefore only ' the first and the last,' in such a sense as is compatible to a...

...cannot with certainty explain. Besides the doctrine ot the Nicolaitans, already mentioned, we read ot the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but of the synagogue ot Satan*, of them who held the doctrine ot Balaam and of the woman Jezebel, who...

...his righteousness ? He palms them all upon Satan; nor will he allow them tocall themselves Jews : " I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan," Rev. ii. 9. But that which appears more shocking is, that there are whole churches, so called, even...

...Israel." This name is now put upon the Gentile church. And so the name Jew is not now allowed to them; "I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; I will make them of the synagogue of Satan." The latter name blots out, makes void, and...

...and how hard I felt it to see them suffer. To which he sent me this sweet, soul-satisfying answer, " I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty; but thou art rich," Rev. ii. 9. Finding great liberty with my God in prayer, I wept for joy, and further asked him wherefore...

...that the second death d.oes not mean a state of endless punishment. — See Rev. ii. 8 — 11. " And unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna write ; these...Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer]: behold, the devil shalt cast some of you into prison,...