What John was commanded to write in commendation or reproof to the angels of the churches of Ephesus, 1-7, Smyrna, 8-11, Pergamos, 12-17, Thyatira, 18-29.
Some things are to be observed of all the epistles, before we come to the particular epistles. 1. God’s writing in this form, (as a man to his friend,) speaks Christ’s love to the church, his spouse. 2. There were not seven books written, but one book in which these seven epistles were, out of which each church, or the church in its several periods, might learn what concerned it. 3. These epistles concerning matters of faith and manners, are written plainly, not in mysterious expressions. 4. The scope of them all is to instruct, reprove, commend, and comfort. 5. They are all directed to the ministers of the churches, as their heads, but the matter concerns the whole church. 6. It is also observed, that Christ, in the beginning of every epistle, notifieth himself by some one of those things mentioned in the vision in the former chapter. Revelation 2:1, These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars, Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:8, The first and the last, which was dead and is alive, Revelation 1:17, 18; Revelation 2:12, These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges, Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:18, The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass, Revelation 1:14, 15; Revelation 3:1, He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, Revelation 1:4, 16; Revelation 3:7, He that hath the key of David, that is holy and true, that openeth, etc., Revelation 1:5, 18; Revelation 3:14, The faithful and true witness, Revelation 1:5.