Revelation 2:18-29 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things said the Son of God, who has his eyes like to a flame of fire… "Hold fast." Here, as constantly, a material image is used to set forth a spiritual act, or rather a life-long series of spiritual acts, indicated by the continuous act "hold fast." It implies, too, that there is something to lay hold of, and what that is is referred to beforehand, "that which ye have already." By this we should probably understand all that is included in "the faith once delivered to the saints"; "the sum total," as it has been expressed, "of Christian doctrine, and hopes, and privileges." How much that is! The laws of Christ, they are to be held fast, not one forgotten or neglected; the promises of Christ, they are to be held fast, not one forgotten or neglected; the helps of Christ, they are all of them to be held fast, and used in the varied and continued necessities of this mortal life of temptation. To hold all these fast may be summed up as holding Him fast, as our Divine Lawgiver and Redeemer, our great Priest and Sacrifice, our in-dwelling Spirit and life. We do not need to ask for a Christ of higher endowments and larger resources; it is enough for us to hold fact the Christ we have already, "who of God is made unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." "Hold fast till I come." The thoughts suggested by the words "hold fast" are very different from those suggested by "I come." "Hold fast" tells of the struggles of earth; "I come" tells of the serene and abiding peace which reigns where Jesus is. "Hold fast till I come." The earthly effort till the heavenly reward. The strenuous life-effort, weary, protracted, often seeming doubtful in result, is to continue till Christ comes, up to the hour of that supreme disclosure, but not beyond it. Then the weary hands may relax their painful effort, the weary eyes their outlook for danger, the weary heart its patience of hope, for the security and rest of victory will have come. (T. M. Herbert, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; |
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