Bible Commentaries
Revelation 2

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.