place of His presence—His Epistle—he takes His place and title in the throne, whence all things are governed—“the same yesterday, to day, and for ever;” “Him who was, and is, and is to come;” “the First and the Last,” comprehending and ruling all things. The things that are, then, are the seven candlesticks and the seven stars—mystic perfection and actual imperfection; the Church never losing its mystic perfection in the mind of God, but when it has to be addressed on earth—to be addressed as so many separate bodies, and often with reproofs and threatenings.
The things that are, then, involve both these points.
The things that shall be hereafter, or after these things, begin when Jesus begins to act in providence, not in recognised Church relationship—when the world (creation) is brought into view. It does not follow from this, that there may be no Saints or Christians, or that they may not be faithful and give a testimony, but that the Lord does not stand towards them in this particular character of relationship.
The things which are, and the addresses to the seven Churches, have, connected with this, to my mind, a double character, i.e. accordingly as we
