The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

they only looked is come, and come [from this false standpoint] but to put His seal upon it
all; come, and gone back, and declared little more, at any rate, than was said before, and
only definitely shut out hope of any further revelation."
It will thus be seen that it was in this period of Church history that the second step was
taken in the direction of apostasy; certain set forms and ceremonies being introduced
gradually took the place of the simple worship that was common in the little assemblies of
the Apostle's day. This gradually led on to what may properly be termed a religion of
ceremonies, penances, fasts, masses, formal prayers, vigils, abnegations, bodily
macerations, by the observance of which the eternal salvation of its devotees was secured.
This developed very rapidly in the next, the Pergamos period, and reached its fullest
development in Thyatira, as we shall endeavor to show when we consider the message to
that Church.
The Savior concludes the message to Smyrna with the usual searching exhortation, "He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches," showing that its
application was not only to that period but to all times. The very last words are: "He that
overcometh shall not be hurt of the Second Death." The Diaglott renders this passage: "The
Conqueror shall not be injured by the Second Death," and Rotherham translates it: "He
that conquers, in no wise shall be injured in consequence of the Second Death." The
meaning seems to be that those who are of the overcoming class of this Age, having
successfully passed their trial for life at the end of their course here, will then be free from
all liability to failure, and therefore free from all liability to the Second Death penalty. They
will be immortal beings and beyond the power of death. They will therefore not be hurt or
injured by the Second Death.
In Rev. 20:6, we read concerning those who share in the First Resurrection, "on such the
Second Death hath no power." Here again the reference seems to be to the Second Death
penalty--that the "blessed and holy," having passed their trial, and having experienced
complete deliverance, the Second Death can have no power over them.
Thus, in this Smyrna message, we see depicted the era of martyrdom under Pagan Rome,
during which was manifested by Christ's true followers that faithfulness unto death which
is a sweet savor unto God. It was, however, marked with further developments of
defection on the part of some--a defection which resulted in the perversion of the faith,
and in consequent departures from the holy and primitive simplicity of church order
instituted by our Lord and the Apostles. Thus was gradually revealed in this second
period of the Church's history a marked phase of Nicolaitanism, more commonly
designated today, Clericalism.
Precious Promises
Hear what God the Lord hath spoken:
O My people, faint and few,