h to the congregations: To him, who
overcometh, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in
the paradise of God."--Rev. 2:1-7.

The seven churches are not, themselves, seen in vision; they were
symbolized by seven golden candlesticks. Consequently, these are seven
literal churches that are addressed, and not allegorical, as some teach.
The symbolic portions of the Apocalypse, are the descriptions of what John
saw, and the attendant utterances. What was addressed to the ear by way of
explanation and instruction, does not come under the laws of
symbolization.

As churches, in all ages, are often in the several conditions ascribed to
the seven churches, the warnings, admonitions, and consolations addressed
to them, may serve for instruction to all Christians, as implied in the
declaration: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to
the churches," 2:29.

"By {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}, angel [or messenger], we are to understand the _messenger_,
or person sent by God to preside over the church; and to him the epistle
is directed, not as pointing out his state, but the state of the church
under his care. The Angel of the Church, here answers exactly to that
officer of the synagogue among the Jews, called the _messenger_ of the
church, whose business it was to _read_, _pray_, and _teach_ in the
synagogue."--DR. CLARKE. Timothy is supposed to have had the care of the
Ephesian church till A. D. 97, when he was martyred.

Ephesus was a large, idolatrous city, "a worshipper of the great goddess
Diana, and of the image which," as they claimed, "fell down from Jupiter,"
Acts 19:35. The gospel was first preached there by Paul, and with such
success, that "Many of them also which used curious arts, brought their
books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price
of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver: So mightily grew
the word of God, and prevailed," _Ib._ 19, 20. They continued a fine and
prosperous church, but had fallen away from their first love. Therefore He
who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and holdeth in
his hand the messengers of the churches, admonished them that, unless they
repented he would remove their candlestick, _i.e._, their church, of which