Bible Commentaries
Revelation 2

Verses 1-29

The next movement in the Book consists of the unveiling of the Lord in His relation with the Asian churches, and therefore with His Church. It is impossible in such brief notes as these necessarily are to deal with the details of these letters. They may be treated in two ways. The first is the revelation of differing Church conditions continuing throughout the whole of the Christian era. The second is treating them as covering successive periods in that same era. We may now follow the latter method.

The letter to the Church at Ephesus reveals apostolic conditions. The period was one of toil and patience, characterized by attempts to corrupt the doctrine by impure practice. It was a period in which the Church lost its first love.

The letter to the Church at Smyrna covers the period of pagan persecution. The result of that persecution was the purification of the Church. The letter said that the Lord knew the difficulties of the situation and also that in spiritual power the Church was rich.

The letter to the Church at Pergamum covers the period during which the Church passed under the blighting patronage of an earthly power. Satan, the prince of the world, had his throne at the heart of the Roman Empire, and there the Church dwelt. There were those faithful souls who held fast the Name, but the church received and tolerated evil things.

The letter to the Church in Thyatira covers the central period in the Church's history. It was again a period of persecution. It covered what we speak of as the Dark Ages, in which a shameless harlot had usurped power in the Church of Jesus Christ.