Revelation 2

The epistle to the Church of Ephesus, commending their labor and patience, Revelation 2:1-3 . And, reprehending their having left their first love, exhorting them to repent, with the promise of the tree of life, Revelation 2:4-7 . The epistle to the Church of Smyrna, commending their piety, and promising them support in their tribulation, Revelation 2:8-11 . The epistle to the Church of Pergamos, commending their steadfastness in the heavenly doctrine, Revelation 2:12 , Revelation 2:13 . And reprehending their laxity in ecclesiastical discipline, in tolerating heretical teachers in the Church, Revelation 2:14 , Revelation 2:15 . The apostle exhorts them to repent, with the promise of the white stone and a new name, Revelation 2:16 , Revelation 2:17 . The epistle to the Church of Thyatira, with a commendation of their charity, faith, and patience, Revelation 2:18 , Revelation 2:19 . Reprehending their toleration of Jezebel, the false prophetess, who is threatened with grievous punishment, Revelation 2:20-23 . Particular exhortations and promises to this Church, Revelation 2:24-29 .

I must here advertise my readers,

1. That I do not perceive any metaphorical or allegorical meaning in the epistles to these Churches.

I consider the Churches as real; and that their spiritual state is here really and literally pointed out; and that they have no reference to the state of the Church of Christ in all ages of the world, as has been imagined; and that the notion of what has been termed the Ephesian state, the Smyrnian state, the Pergamenian state, the Thyatirian state, etc., etc., is unfounded, absurd, and dangerous; and such expositions should not be entertained by any who wish to arrive at a sober and rational knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

I consider the angel of the Church as signifying the messenger, the pastor, sent by Christ and his apostles to teach and edify that Church.

I consider what is spoken to this angel as spoken to the whole Church; and that it is not his particular state that is described, but the states of the people in general under his care.

The Epistle to the Church at Ephesus