He, &c. A formula used by the Lord alone. See App-142 .
Spirit App-101 .
saith = is saying.
overcometh. See John 16:33 . The verb nikao, to conquer or overcome, occurs seventeen times in Rev.
the tree, &c . the tree of the life. Promise fulfilled Revelation 22:14 , where also the articles differentiate from Ezekiel 47:12 .
tree. Literally wood. Greek. xulon, as used frequently in Septuagint, e.g. Exodus 7:25 .
life. App-170 .
Paradise of God. See reference in App-173 . Paradise is always used in Scripture for a definite place; is described in Genesis 2:0 ; lost in Genesis 3:0 ; its restoration spoken of by the Lord in Luke 23:43 ; seen in vision by Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:4 ; promised here, Revelation 2:7 ; restored,Revelation 22:1-5 , Revelation 22:14-17 .
Pergamos. A city of Mysia famous for the worship of Aesculapius, to whom the title of soter (saviour) was given and whose emblem was the serpent. Identified with Apollo; compare Acts 16:16 . Some trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing to Pergamos. there them that 1hold the doctrine
Thyatira. A town lying between Pergamos and Sardis. See Acts 16:14 . Another centre of Apollo and Artemis worship.
Son of God. App-98 .
feet . . . brass. Prepared for treading down in judgment. See Revelation 1:15 . Ma Revelation 1:4 , Revelation 1:3 and fulfillment in Revelation 19:13-15 .
Verse 1
Unto = To.
angel. See Revelation 1:20 .
church. App-186 .
Ephesus. Not for those addressed in Ephesians, on whom all blessing is bestowed by grace. Here blessing is promised to overcomers only.
holdeth. Occurs eight times in Rev. Compare App-172 . See Colossians 2:19 . Hebrews 4:14 ; &c.
seven stars. See Revelation 1:16 , Revelation 1:20 .
candlesticks. See Revelation 1:12 , Revelation 1:13 , and compare Leviticus 26:12 .Deuteronomy 23:14 , &c. 2 Corinthians 6:16 .
Verse 2
works. The Lord deals according to works in "the day of the Lord". See Isaiah 66:18 .
thy. Omit.
labour = toil. The verb in Revelation 2:3 and Matthew 6:28 .
patience. As in Revelation 2:3 with Revelation 1:9 . See Romans 2:7 .
bear. Gr . bastazo. In Rev. here, Revelation 2:3 ; Revelation 17:7 (carrieth).
evil. App-128 .
hast tried = didst try.
say they. The texts read "call themselves".
apostles. App-189 .
hast found = didst find.
liars. Greek. pseudes. Only here; Revelation 21:8 . Acts 6:13 .
Verse 3
hast, &c. The texts read "and hast patient endurance and didst bear (Revelation 2:2 ) for", &c.
for . . . sake. App-104 .Revelation 2:2 .
name's. See Act 6:41 .
fainted = wearied. Greek. kamno. Only here; Hebrews 12:3 .James 5:15 (sick).
Verse 4
hast left = didst leave.
thy, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 7:7-9 . Jeremiah 2:1 , Jeremiah 2:2 .Ezekiel 16:6-10 .
love. App-135 . Only here and Revelation 2:19 in Rev.
Verse 5
from. Omit.
art fallen = hast fallen.
repent. Compare Leviticus 26:40-42 .Deuteronomy 30:1-3 .Daniel 9:3 , Daniel 9:4 .Matthew 4:17 . Acts 2:38 ; &c. Contrast Ephesians 1:3 . App-111 .
else = if ( App-118 ) not ( App-105 ).
will. Omit.
quickly. The texts omit.
remove = move, as Revelation 6:14 .
except. If ( App-118 ) not ( App-105 ).
Verse 6
deeds = works, as Revelation 2:5 .
Nicolaitanes. History has no record of these. Tradition says much. They will appear "in that day". All we do know is that they are hateful to God.
Verse 7
He, &c. A formula used by the Lord alone. See App-142 .
Spirit App-101 .
saith = is saying.
overcometh. See John 16:33 . The verb nikao, to conquer or overcome, occurs seventeen times in Rev.
the tree, &c . the tree of the life. Promise fulfilled Revelation 22:14 , where also the articles differentiate from Ezekiel 47:12 .
tree. Literally wood. Greek. xulon, as used frequently in Septuagint, e.g. Exodus 7:25 .
life. App-170 .
Paradise of God. See reference in App-173 . Paradise is always used in Scripture for a definite place; is described in Genesis 2:0 ; lost in Genesis 3:0 ; its restoration spoken of by the Lord in Luke 23:43 ; seen in vision by Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:4 ; promised here, Revelation 2:7 ; restored, Revelation 22:1-5 , Revelation 22:14-17 .
God. App-98 .
Verse 8
Smyrna. About fifty miles north-west of Ephesus. A great centre now of Levantine trade.
First . . . Last. See Revelation 1:17 .
was = became.
dead. App-139 .
is alive = lived (again). See App-170 .
Verse 9
works, and. The texts omit.
poverty. See App-127 .
Jews. Only here, and Revelation 3:9 in Rev.
the = a.
synagogue. App-120 .
Satan. See App-19 .
Verse 10
none of = not. App-105 .
shalt = art about to.
behold. App-133 .
devil . See Revelation 12:9 .
shall = is about to.
that = in order that. Gr . hina.
tried = tested. Compare Matthew 10:22 ; Matthew 24:9 , Matthew 24:10 ; &c.
days. Not "periods". Compare Genesis 7:4 , Genesis 7:10 . Numbers 14:33 ; &c.
be = become.
faithful. App-150 .
unto = until. Greek. achri.
death. See Revelation 12:11 .
a = the.
crown. Greek. Stephanos. See 1 Peter 5:4 .
Verse 11
hurt See Revelation 22:11 .
second death. See Revelation 20:6 , Revelation 20:14 ; Revelation 21:8 .
Verse 12
Pergamos. A city of Mysia famous for the worship of Aesculapius, to whom the title of soter (saviour) was given and whose emblem was the serpent. Identified with Apollo; compare Acts 16:16 . Some trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing to Pergamos. there them that 1hold the doctrine
He Which hath, &c. See Revelation 1:16 .
Verse 13
thy works, and. The texts omit.
dwellest, dwelleth. Greek. katoikeo, to take up abode. See Acts 2:5 .
seat = throne. Compare Revelation 13:2 , Revelation 16:10 .
holdest fast. Same as hold, Revelation 2:1 .
hast . . . denied = didst . . . deny.
denied. Greek. arneomai. First occurrence Matthew 10:33 .
My faith. See Revelation 14:12 .
faith. See App-150 .
wherein. Most texts omit.
Antipas. A witness in future who will be faithful unto death. Mentioned proleptically.
faithful. App-150 .
martyr = witness. See Revelation 1:5 .
among. Greek. para. App-104 .
Verse 14
Balaam. See Num 22-25.Joshua 13:22 .
cast, &c. See Numbers 25:1 , &c.; Rev 31:16 , &c. 2 Peter 2:15 .Jude 1:11 .
stumblingblock. Greek. skandalon. See Numbers 25:0 (Septuagint)
children. App-108 .
things . . . idols. Greek. eidolothuton.
Verse 15
which . . . hate. The texts omit, and read "in like manner".
Verse 16
will. Omit.
fight = make war. Greek. polemeo. Occ only in Rev. and James. A threat which is not addressed to the Church of this age.
against. Greek. meta. App-104 .
with. Greek. en. App-104 .
Verse 17
to eat of. The texts omit.
hidden. Greek. krupto, as in Colossians 3:3 .
manna. See John 6:58 . Compare Exodus 16:14 , Exodus 16:32-34 .Psalms 78:24 , Psalms 78:25 .
stone. Greek. psephos. See Acts 26:10 . A white stone was known to the ancients as a "victory" stone.
in. Greek. epi . App-104 .
new name. Compare Revelation 3:12 . See Isaiah 62:2 ; Isaiah 65:15 , and compare Acts 10:17 .
new. See Matthew 9:17 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
knoweth. App-132 . as the texts.
Saving. Same as else, Revelation 2:5 .
receiveth. As in John 3:27 .
Verse 18
Thyatira. A town lying between Pergamos and Sardis. See Acts 16:14 . Another centre of Apollo and Artemis worship.
Son of God. App-98 .
feet . . . brass. Prepared for treading down in judgment. See Revelation 1:15 . Ma Revelation 1:4 , Revelation 1:3 and fulfillment in Revelation 19:13-15 .
Verse 19
and. These "ands" form the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .
charity = love, as Revelation 2:4 .
service. App-190 .
faith. App-150 .
Verse 20
a few things. Omit.
that = the.
Jezebel. See 1 Kings 16:30-34 ; 1 Kings 21:25 . This patroness of Baal-worship will have her sinister antitype in the future.
prophetess. Only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna) in NT.
to teach, &c. The texts read "and she teacheth and seduceth".
seduce. App-128 .
servants. App-190 .
Verse 21
space = time. Greek. chronos. See Revelation 6:11 ; Revelation 20:3 , and App-195 .
to repent = in order that (Greek. hina) she might repent. and she, &c. The texts read, "and she is not willing to repent of her fornication".
Verse 22
will = do.
tribulation. Compare Romans 2:8 , Romans 2:9 , Romans 2:16 .
their = her, according to some texts.
Verse 23
children. App-108 .
death. i.e. pestilence, as Revelation 6:8 ; Revelation 18:8 .
know. App-132 .
searcheth, &c. Compare 1 Kings 8:39 . Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 .
every = each.
according to. App-104 .
Verse 24
and. Omit.
rest. App-124 .
depths. Compare 2 Corinthians 2:11 .
I will put . . . none. Read "I lay not" ( App-105 .)
other. See App-124 .
Verse 25
already . Omit.
come = shall have come.
Verse 26
keepeth. See Revelation 1:3 .
end. See Matthew 24:13 . Compare App-125 .
power. App-172 .
over. App-104 .
nations. Greek. ethnos. Genitive translation Gentiles.
Verse 27
rule. Literally "shepherd", as Matthew 2:6 . See Psalms 2:7-9 .
rod = sceptre, as Hebrews 1:8 . Greek. rhabdos.
as the, &c. See Psalms 2:9 .
even as I = as I also.
received = have received.
of. Greek. para. App-104 .
Father. App-98 .
Verse 28
morning star. Fulfilled Revelation 22:16 . See Numbers 24:17 , connecting the "star" with Israel and the day of the Lord's judgment.