, and Bithynia; which also were in Asia Minor, 1 Pet.
1:1, and Acts 2:9. Of the province of Asia, Ephesus was the capital, and
was the principal place of John's residence. The seven cities which
contained those churches, were situated in a kind of amphitheatre,
surrounded by mountains. Smyrna was 46 miles north of Ephesus, and
Pergamos 64 miles; Thyatira was 48 miles to the east, and Sardis 33 miles;
Philadelphia 27 miles to the south, and Laodicea 42 miles. These churches
had all been under the general supervision of John's ministry; and for
this reason, doubtless, they are especially designated, instead of those
with which he had not been so intimately connected.

John writes to the seven churches, in obedience to the command,--"What thou
seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in
Asia," 1:11. He seems to have written what he saw, at the time of its
exhibition, and not at the close of the entire presentation; for when he
was about to write the discordant utterances of "the seven thunders," he
was told to "write them not," 10:4.

John observes the oriental custom of placing his name at the commencement,
instead of the close of his communication. Few persons now deny that this
was John the Evangelist. Irenaeus, who was born only about 30 years after
the death of John, speaks of the writer of the Apocalypse, as "the
disciple of Christ,--that same John that leaned on his breast at the last
supper."

Most beautiful reference is here made to the attributes of DEITY: "Him who
is, and who was, and who is to be," can be no other than the great
Preexistent, who said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM," Ex. 13:14.

The seven Spirits, would seem to be irrelevantly placed between the Father
and the Son,--the place always occupied by the Holy Spirit, when spoken of
in connection with them,--if they were merely seven angels. Grace would
also seem to be irreverently invoked from such,--its presence being implied
where it is invoked,--unless they are expressive of the Holy Spirit, in
which grace is inherent, and from whom it may be communicated; as it may
not be from angels. Seven is a full and perfect number, and it may be here
used because in another place "seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne" are symbolic of "the seven Spirits of God," (4:5); which, if
angels, would be expressly named, as in other inspired explanations,--as
they are in that of the stars, 1:20. A burning _flame_ is often used as a
s