The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

of, or truths only due to be understood at special epochs, it would, however, be utterly
erroneous, it would be carrying the matter too far, to say that the truths they thus brought
forth were to be the ones, and only ones to be proclaimed, and the only ones necessary for
the Church to know during these special times. It would be savoring of Nicolaitanism or
popery to claim that those truths that each specially chosen one gave out were to be
sufficient for the Church until another was called.
To illustrate: It cannot be doubted that Martin Luther was a specially prepared and called
servant to emphasize certain neglected or hidden truths necessary for the Church to know;
it would, however, be unreasonable and even dangerous to think that during the long
period intervening between his call and that of John Wesley or any of the later reformers,
no other truths were to be understood or made known. This has always led, when
believed and carried to its logical conclusion, to the most egregious kind of sectarianism,
and clericalism, and is by the Savior in this epistle denominated Nicolaitanism. It has had
the effect of inculcating the doctrine of Nicolaitanism, which thing Christ has plainly set
His seal against. If it would be Scriptural and proper to apply the seven messengers of the
seven Churches to seven special men, called in these different epochs, it would be
consistent to do so only by recognizing that these men would cease their work at death;
and that their messages would not cover all features of truth, but only certain special
truths needed. To do otherwise than this would, as we have stated, lead to very serious
and egregious error. The unwholesome effects have been to cause certain Christian leaders
to be looked upon as inspired. It has caused some to believe and teach that it is wrong to
expect any further light than that proclaimed by the one supposed to be the messenger of
each epoch; and some have been misled into trying to settle all matters of doctrine by the
special so-called "star" or teacher, instead of by the Scriptures, which are ever the sole rule
by which all matters must be finally determined and settled.
Chapter 5: Rev. 2:8-11
Christ's Message to Smyrna
"And unto the angel of the Church of Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the
last, which was dead, and is alive."--Rev. 2:8.
The name Smyrna signifies myrrh, and is so translated in Matt. 2:11; Mark 15:23; John
19:39. It is the name of an aromatic sap from a thorny tree, having a somewhat pleasant
though bitter taste. It furnished one of the ingredients of the holy ointment, and was used
by the ancients in embalming the dead. The use of myrrh, therefore, for sacred purposes,
being associated with death and resurrection, seems to mark it as expressive and
symbolical of something that is desirable and pleasing to God. As has been said:
"It well describes a church persecuted unto death, and lying embalmed in the precious
spices of its sufferings, such as the Church of Smyrna was. It was the Church of myrrh or
bitterness, and yet agreeable and precious unto the Lord, holy in the midst of its
tribulations."