Turning to the church at Smyrna we enter into an atmosphere of tribulation; this is the

note that is struck in the opening of the Smyrna section. There we find those who came

out of great tribulation arrayed in white robes. Death is on every hand, the sea becomes

blood, and a third part of its creatures die; many men die of the waters also, that were

tunred to wormwood. Not only death, but strange beings who have power to "hurt"

(chapter 9:) are spoken of. A limitation is set to their power to hurt, namely, "only those

men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." This lends emphasis and point to

the promise to the overcomer at Smyrna--he shall not be "hurt" of the second death.

Men may "kill the body," even as they do the faithful believers of chapter 11:, hence the

exhortation and example, "Be thou faithful unto death" like those two witnesses.

The Church at Pergamos is said to hold fast the Saviour's name, and in the Pergamos

section rewards are spoken of for those that "fear Thy name." Satan's throne is at

Pergamos, but the church there must remember that soon the true King will reign,

according as we read in the corresponding section that the seventh angel sounds,

announcing the advent of heaven's King. The promise of the hidden manna takes the

mind back to the pot of manna that was laid up in the holiest of all in the Tabernacle, it is

appropriate therefore to read in chapter 11: of the temple being opened and the Ark seen;

the reference to the doctrine of Balaam is parallel to the reference to those who destroy

(or corrupt, see margin) the earth.

The Thyatira Church emphasizes the corrupt state introduced by "that woman

Jezebel," and the promise is made to those who have not known the depths of Satan.

Those "depths" are seen in the Thyatira section, when the dragon stands upon the sand of

the sea, and calls up the beast and the false prophet. "The woman clothed with the sun"

is in strong contrast with "that woman Jezebel."  Jezebel was a false prophetess,

reflecting in the church the presence of the false prophet outside. There is the parallel

between those who "keep the works," and those who "keep the commandments." Among

other qualities that are commended by the Lord are "faith and patience," and in the

corresponding section of the book the "patience and faith" of the saints is a subject to

which the reader's attention is particularly drawn. Here again a close parallel is observed

between the promise made to the overcomer, and the man child of chapter 12: Both are

to "rule the nations with a rod of iron," and so to the end of the series. The diligent

student will compare the passages, and see how perfectly the whole fits together.

In the Sardis Church and section the great parallel is that between those who have not

defiled their garments, and the 144,000 undefiled ones of chapter 14:

Philadelphia has many parallels which are obvious in the list already given; the

reference to worshipping before them and before the Lord, the two contrasted cities, the

emphasis in both sections on "the hour" are important.

Laodicea is the only Church that speaks of "supping," and its corresponding section is

the one that contains all the other references to "supper" in the Revelation (19:). The

counsel to buy "white raiment" is evidently in view of the "fine linen" wherewith the