Apokalypsis apokalypseos, or, The revelation revealed being a practical exposition on the revelation of St. John : whereunto is annexed a small essay, entituled Quinto-Monarchiæ, cum Quarto Omologia, or, A friendly complyance between Christ's monarchy, and the magistrates / by William Hicks ...

Vers. 18. And unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass.

Here it is evident who ••t is all along that gives these premoniti∣ons to each church, it is Christ the Son of God, who in the for∣mer verses is called the Spirit, for his spiritual appearance in the likness of the Son of man. In the first cap. from vers. 13. to 16. this Son of God that appeared unto John in the likness of the Son of Man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, gives a general discovery of himself unto John in all his attributes, as God and Man, as King, Priest and Prophet, as the Saviour and Preserver of his church, also as a just Judge and avenger of his e∣nemies. But now when Christ appears with the particular charges against each church, he takes as it were his attributes asunder, and cloaths himself with that attribute which is most suitable for the present condition of the church that he is to deal with. To the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna, which were the most sound and sincere, he appears under the attributes of a merciful Father who was dead and is alive, ver, 8. and of a gracious preserver of his church, ver. 1▪ who holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand. But now unto the churches of Thyatira and Pergamus, which were more debauched and unsound, Christ manifests himself in a far different resemblance and posture, having a Sword with two edges proceeding out of his mouth in his appearance towards the church of Pergamus, and here unto Thyatira, like one that hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine (or burning) brass. This is a posture of indignation and wrath; for eyes sparkling like fire, betokneth wrath; and feet like fine brass, readiness of exe∣cution:

Here Christ from head to feet is presented in a fiery co∣lour: This is Christ's posture when he goes out in judgments a∣gainst a church or Nation, when he goes out to war against his e∣nemies, he puts on this fiery posture, Rev. 19.11, 12, 13. See more hereon cap. 1. ver. 14, 15.

Observ. That when Christ goes out in judgment against a people, his appearance is very dreadful.

The Prophet Malachi speaking of the coming of Christ, when he comes who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like the Refiner's fire, and shall sit as a Refiner and purifier of silver cap. 3. 2, 3. A Refiners fire is the hottest, it melts, purges, consumes, and is terrible; such a fire is Christ in his judgments: When he comes to destroy Antichrist and his Kingdom, Paul says, 2 Thess. 1.8. He shall come in flames of fire. Have not most of our western Nations, as Germany, France, England, Scotland, &c. seen this terrible appearance of Christ of late in his judgments among us, who hath laid many Kingdoms and Nations almost in the dust, destroy'd many anci∣ent Families, Houses, Cities, Townes and Countries by the Sword, and yet who layes it to heart? And yet Christ will be more terrible, for the great day of his wrath is at hand, and who will be able to stand? Rev. 6.17. The great ones of the earth that are found fighting against him, shall that day call for the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the face of him that sits upon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. This is the terrible and unknown name of Christ, which no man knoweth but Christ himself, which one day he will ma∣nifest, when all his enemies are made his footstool, and takes the Kingdom unto himself. O let this thy Kingdom come; and blessed is he that shall sit down with Christ in his King∣dome.

Observ. 2. Christ is very zealous and intense on the punishment of delinquent Churches.

Christ comes all in a fiery posture against Thyatira, and with∣all tels her, ver. 22 23. that for suffering Jezabel within her; Behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great Tribulation, except they repent of their deeds: And I will kill her children with death, &c. Christ when he whipped out of the Temple the buyers and sellers, Jo: 2. did it so zealously that for that very act it was formerly prophesied of him, The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up. How zealous was Christ in his car∣riage, and ready to punish all those delinquent Asian churches? He tels Ephesus in the first place, Except she repent and recover her first love, and do her first works, he will come quickly and remove her candlestick out of its place. To Pergamus he saith, Repent or I come quickly against thee with the sword of my mouth. How zeal∣ous was Christ against the zeal-fallen church of Laodicea cap. 3. 15, 16.

I know thou art neither hot nor cold, I would thou wert cold or hot; so then because thou art lukewarm, I will spew thee out of my mouth. You see Christ will not spare his delinquent churches, but come quick∣ly against them except they repent: And this proceeding of Christ with his Churches, answers to this apparition of his to Iohn, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and feet like burning brass, cap. 1. 14, 15.