But though fallen from his first estate, the Star-Angel had one redeeming characteristic; namely, that he “hated the works of the Nikolaitanes, which,” says the Spirit, “I also hate.” The word, Nikolaitanes, is used in no other book of the scriptures than this symbolical one of the Apocalypse; and in this, it only occurs twice,—that is, in ch.
But not long after he had written to the Household of the Deity in Ephesus, the things of which he forewarned them began to display themselves. This appears from his second letter to Timothy, in which he says, “This thou knowest, that all they which be in Asia are turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Thus was the One Body created in Ephesus. It became a light- stand, and the Holy Spirit bestowed through the laying on of Paul’s hands, a light shining from it’s Eldership, the members in particular, for the illumination of the surrounding darkness. We need not here repeat what has been already said about the lightstands and “Stars” on page 161.
CHAPTER 2.
Epistles to the Four Angel-Stars of the Ecclesias in
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira.
TO THE ANGEL OF THE EPHESIAN ECCLESIA.
The Apocalypse is contained in Malachi as well as in all the rest of the prophets; that is, the same development of the divine purpose is exhibited in Malachi’s predictions as in the Patmian revelation. Malachi informs us that “from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same Jehovah’s name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to his name, and a pure offering: for his name shall be great among the nations, saith Jehovah of hosts.”
Zechariah saw the four cherubic chariots going forth from between Two Mountains of Brass.
Having beheld the Harlot of the Ephah keeping house in the land of Shinar, the prophet again informs us, in chap. 6:1, that he “turned”— “I turned,” says he, “and lifted up mine eyes, and looked.” This indicates that his attention was directed to new objects, which he describes in the following words:
In Zech. 5 : 1; the prophet tells us that he “turned.” In doing this, he occupied an altered position, which caused him to face new objects.
Now being awake, he saw a Seven-Branched Lampstand of gold, standing between Two Olive-Trees, a branch from each tree connected with the lampstand by a golden pipe, making Two Branches and Two Golden Pipes, through which pipes the golden oil was transmitted from the Branches to the bowl of the Lampstand for the supply of the Seven Lamps.
But there was yet another incident beheld by Zechariah. He saw Joshua and his associate priests, whom he styles “men of sign,” as were