Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Revelation 3:14
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, etc.] Of the city of Laodicea, (see Gill on “<660111>Revelation 1:11”); there was a church here in the times of the Apostle Paul; by whom it was founded is not known; mention is made of it in (<510201>Colossians 2:1,2 4:13,15,16), who was now the angel, or pastor of it, whether Epaphras, who is there named, or another, is not certain. According to the Apostolical Constitutions f115, Archippus was ordained bishop of it by the apostles; (see <510416>Colossians 4:16,17). There was a church here in the second century, for Sagaris, bishop of it, suffered martyrdom in the times of Antoninus Verus f116; and in the “fourth” century, this church was famous for two eminent bishops, Theodorus and Gregory; and in the “fifth” century, it was the metropolitan church of Phrygia, as it was in the “seventh” century, in which age Tyberius, bishop of this place, was in the sixth synod at Constantinople f117; but now it is even without inhabitants f118. This church represents the state of the church, from the end of the spiritual reign of Christ, till the time of his personal appearing and kingdom, to judge the quick and dead; for after the spiritual reign is over, professors of religion will sink into a formality, and into a lukewarm frame of spirit, and into great spiritual sloth and security, (<660315>Revelation 3:15,16), which will make those times like the times of Noah and of Lot; and such will be the days of the coming of the son of man to judge the world. Its name signifies either “the righteousness of the people”; and so may point at that popular and external righteousness, which the majority of the professors of religion in this period of time will be boasting of, and trusting in; being self-sufficient, and self-dependent, when at the same time they will be naked, as well as poor and blind, (<660317>Revelation 3:17,18); or it signifies “the judging of the people”; for this church state, at the end of it, will bring on the general judgment; the Judge will now be at the door indeed, standing and knocking; and they that are ready to meet the bridegroom, when he comes, will be admitted into the nuptial chamber, and sit down with him in his throne, in the thousand years' kingdom, at the close of which will be the second resurrection, when all the people, small and great, shall be judged, (<660319>Revelation 3:19-21). These things saith the Amen; (see <236516>Isaiah 65:16); The word “Amen” is the name of a divine Person with the Jews, and it seems the second Person; for so on those words in (<200830>Proverbs 8:30); “then was I by him as one brought up with him”, they observe f119, do not read “Amon”, the word there used, but “Amen”; and, a little after, “Amen”, they say, is the “notaricon”, or sign of ˆman Ælm la, “God the faithful King”; they make f120 “Amen” to be one of the names of the second “Sephira”, or number in the Cabalistic tree, by whom the second Person in the Godhead seems to be designed: and they say f121, that the word “Amen”, by gematry (or numerically) answers to the two names “Jehovah, Adonai”. Christ may be so called, because he is the God of truth, and truth itself; and it may be expressive of his faithfulness, both to God his Father, and to his people, in whom all the promises he either made, or received, are yea and amen; and also of the firmness, constancy, and immutability of Christ, in his nature, person, and offices, in his love, fulness of grace, power, blood, and…
This public page shows a contextual excerpt from the locally available source text.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
