Revelation

Chapter 2

Christ's Letters to Ephesus-Smyrna-Pergamum-Thyatira

Message to the Church in Ephesus

• 1.↓ UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
  
  • Greek
    • Τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς Ἐφέσίνης ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἑπτὰ λυχνιῶν τῶν χρυσῶν·
  • Notes
    • ° Here we have the title of Jesus in the letter... "he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;"
      ° Remember the seven golden lampstands in Revelation 1 are on the earth and in Revelation 4 and Revelation 5 are in heaven after the rapture
      ° God tells you in Revelation 1 that they represent the seven churches as well _MF-NCC
      
      
• 2.↓ I know the works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδα τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ τὸν κόπον σου καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου, καὶ ὅτι οὐ δύνῃ βαστάσαι κακούς καὶ ἐπειράσω τοὺς φάσκοντας εἶναι ἀποστόλους καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν καὶ εὗρες αὐτοὺς ψευδεῖς
  • Notes
    • ° Here is the commendation listed in verse 2 and 3
      I Know:
      1. thy works
      2. thy labour
      3. thy patience
      4. how thou canst not bear them which are evil
      5. thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars
      6. hast borne, and hast patience
      7. for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted
      ° God has the same statement about each of us..."I Know thy works..."
      ° Throughout the New Testament God has some pleas about these issues: _MF-NCC
      
      See →Acts 20:25-31
      
      II Corinthians 11:14 — And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
      II Corinthians 11:15 — Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
      
      I Thessalonians 5:20 — Despise not prophesyings.
      I Thessalonians 5:21 — Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
      
      See →I John 4:1-3
      
      II John 1:9 — Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
      II John 1:10 — If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
      
      See →Acts 20:29-32
      
      Isaiah 40:31 — But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
      
      
• 3.↓ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ ἐβάστασας καὶ ὑπομονὴν ἔχεις καὶ διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου κεκοπίακας καὶ οὐ κέκμηκας
  • Notes
    • Return to →Inheritance & Rewards
• 4.↓ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
  
  • Greek
    • ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκας
  • Notes
    • ° prōtos - first in rank, influence, honor or foremost of importance
      ° Throughout the bible God uses the marriage to symbolize our relationship with Him:
      ° The first named fruit of the Spirit is love;
      
      See Galatians 5:22 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
      
      II Corinthians 11:2 — For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present >you as a chaste virgin in Christ.
      
      
• 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlesticke out of his place, except thou repent.
  
  • Greek
    • μνημόνευε οὖν πόθεν ἐκπέπτωκας, καὶ μετανόησον καὶ τὰ πρῶτα ἔργα ποίησον· εἰ δὲ μή ἔρχομαί σοι τάχει καὶ κινήσω τὴν λυχνίαν σου ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῆς ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσῃς
• 6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
  
  • Greek
    • ἀλλὰ τοῦτο ἔχεις ὅτι μισεῖς τὰ ἔργα τῶν Νικολαϊτῶν ἃ κἀγὼ μισῶ
• 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστιν ἐν μέσῶ τοῦ παραδείσου τοῦ θεοῦ

Message to the Church in Smyrna

• 8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐκκλησίας Σμυρναίων γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος ὃς ἐγένετο νεκρὸς καὶ ἔζησεν·
• 9. I know thy works, and tribulations, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν πλούσιος δὲ εἶ καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ
• 10.↓ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
  
  • Greek
    • μηδὲν φοβοῦ ἃ μέλλεις πάσχειν ἰδού, μέλλει βάλειν ἐξ ὑμῶν ὁ διάβολος εἰς φυλακὴν ἵνα πειρασθῆτε καὶ ἕξετε θλῖψιν ἡμερῶν δέκα γίνου πιστὸς ἄχρι θανάτου καὶ δώσω σοι τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς
  • Notes
    • ° These believers were told they would suffer all the way to the death
      ° This is the same implication as Myrhh (that was brought to Jesus) _MF-NCC
      
      
• 11.↓ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ὁ νικῶν οὐ μὴ ἀδικηθῇ ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ δευτέρου
  • Notes
    • Return to →Inheritance & Rewards-The Crowns: Crown of Glory

Message to the Church in Pergamos

• 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Περγάμῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὴν ῥομφαίαν τὴν δίστομον τὴν ὀξεῖαν·
• 13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδα τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ ποῦ κατοικεῖς ὅπου ὁ θρόνος τοῦ Σατανᾶ καὶ κρατεῖς τὸ ὄνομά μου καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὴν πίστιν μου καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐν αἷς Ἀντιπᾶς ὁ μάρτυς μου ὁ πιστός ὃς ἀπεκτάνθη παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ὅπου κατοικεῖ ὁ Σατανᾶς
• 14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
  
  • Greek
    • ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὀλίγα ὅτι ἔχεις ἐκεῖ κρατοῦντας τὴν διδαχὴν Βαλαάμ ὃς ἐδίδασκεν ἕν τῷ Βαλὰκ βαλεῖν σκάνδαλον ἐνώπιον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ φαγεῖν εἰδωλόθυτα καὶ πορνεῦσαι
• 15. So hath thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
  
  • Greek
    • οὕτως ἔχεις καὶ σὺ κρατοῦντας τὴν διδαχὴν τῶν Νικολαϊτῶν ὅ μισῶ
• 16. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
  
  • Greek
    • μετανόησον εἰ δὲ μή ἔρχομαί σοι ταχύ καὶ πολεμήσω μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματός μου
• 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ μάννα τοῦ κεκρυμμένου καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ ψῆφον λευκὴν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ψῆφον ὄνομα καινὸν γεγραμμένον ὃ οὐδεὶς ἔγνω εἰ μὴ ὁ λαμβάνων

Message to the Church in Thyatira

• 18.↓ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Θυατείροις ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ ἔχων τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ὡς φλόγα πυρός καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ·
  • Notes
    • ° Jesus uses the title Son of God here which is interesting because of the link ot Tammuz the false "sun god"
      ° Jesus is saying I AM the true Son of God
      ° The name Son of God in reference to Jesus only shows up once in the entire Old Testament
      
      Daniel 3:25 — He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
      
      ° How did Nebuchadnezzar know what the Son of God looks like?
      ° Notice the two characteristics are "like" something
      ° Eyes like unto a flame of fire; when you walk with Jesus He knows what you are about, He sees what you are doing, He knows thy works
      ° Those eyes of refining fire should be burning away any sin in your life
      ° Feet like fine brass; Jesus is the only one who could take the judgement of God and walk away, brass was always the metal that could withstand fire in the Bible
      See → comment about brass serpents Inheritance & Rewards: 8. Hidden Mana/White Stone
      
      
• 19.↓ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν διακονίαν καὶ τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου καὶ τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ τὰ ἔσχατα πλείονα τῶν πρώτων
  • Notes
    • ° Jesus knows their patience locally, but prophetically this church represented the medieval church, which was a long period of immense persecution
      ° Especially during the inquisition
      ° Jesus says the last to be more than the first, and it is the only letter where He says I know your works twice
      ° This church endured many centuries of horrible oppression durin the medieval inquisition
      ° After the church married the world, it allowed this Jezebel spirit to rise up
      ° That ultimately led to the reformation, which is discussed here Inheritance & Rewards - 10. White Raiment
      
      
• 20. Not withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
  
  • Greek
    • ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὀλίγα ὅτι ἐᾷς τὴν γυναῖκα Ἰεζάβηλ, τὴν λέγουσαν ἑαυτὴν προφῆτιν διδάσκειν καὶ πλανᾶσθαι ἐμοὺς δούλους πορνεῦσαι καὶ εἰδωλόθυτα φαγεῖν
• 21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not.
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῇ χρόνον ἵνα μετανοήσῃ ἐκ τῆς πορνείας αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μετενόησεν
• 22.↓ Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
  
  • Greek
    • ἰδού, ἐγὼ βάλλω αὐτὴν εἰς κλίνην καὶ τοὺς μοιχεύοντας μετ᾽ αὐτῆς εἰς θλῖψιν μεγάλην ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσωσιν ἐκ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν
  • Notes
    • ° Who was Jezebel and why would those actions be suffered amongst this church?
      ° She was the daughter of Eth-Baal, king of Sidon, priest of Astarte, who murdered the predecessor (Pheles) to seize the throne
      ° She married king Ahab to make trade alliance between Israel and Phoenicia
      ° She wnated to kill all the true prophets of God
      
      I Kings 18:4 — For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
      
      
• 23. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς ἀποκτενῶ ἐν θανάτῳ καὶ γνώσονται πᾶσαι αἱ ἐκκλησίαι ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐρευνῶν νεφροὺς καὶ καρδίας καὶ δώσω ὑμῖν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα ὑμῶν
• 24. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as the speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
  
  • Greek
    • ὑμῖν δὲ λέγω καὶ λοιποῖς τοῖς ἐν Θυατείροις ὅσοι οὐκ ἔχουσιν τὴν διδαχὴν ταύτην καὶ οἵτινες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὰ βάθη τοῦ Σατανᾶ ὡς λέγουσιν· οὐ βάλω ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἄλλο βάρος
• 25. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
  
  • Greek
    • πλὴν ὃ ἔχετε κρατήσατε ἄχρις οὗ ἂν ἥξω
• 26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ ὁ νικῶν καὶ ὁ τηρῶν ἄχρι τέλους τὰ ἔργα μου δώσω αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν
• 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ὡς τὰ σκεύη τὰ κεραμικὰ συντρίβεται ὡς κἀγώ εἴληφα παρά τοῦ πατρός μου
• 28. And I will give him the morning star.
  
  • Greek
    • καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ τὸν ἀστέρα τὸν πρωϊνόν
  • Notes
    • Return to →Inheritance & Rewards
      
      
• 29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις