Bible Commentaries
Revelation 2

Verses 1-3

The one who walks among the churches knows each one intimately. He knows their deeds, their hard work and their perseverance (2:1-2). He also knows their failures. Five out of seven of these churches have serious spiritual problems. ^(F1)

His message to them is one of urgent warning and encouragement. It is uniformly a message expressing their great need to overcome and be victorious. The commentator, Walvoord, states, "Many of the evils which exist in the church today are a direct outgrowth of neglect of the solemn instruction given to these seven churches."^(F2)

Verses 4-9

EPHESUS LOSES HER LOVE

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.Revelation 2:4

The church at Ephesus while commendable in some areas has already left her first love. We remember in Ephesians 1:15, how this assembly was earlier praised by Paul for its great love. The plight of Ephesus may be indicative of many churches in the last day. In this regard we remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:12-13, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." This tells us that the loss of our first love will be one of the biggest problems for last-day Christians and churches. We see that this will be a problem for "most" of God's people and not just for a few. In light of this, we need to fan the flame of our personal devotion and ask the Lord to help us love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, as scripture admonishes us.

Now we observe that this important fellowship is also threatened with losing her candlestick or menorah (2:5). We might wonder how many congregations today have already lost their menorah, but who still insist on playing church?

In Revelation 2:7, the Master says to Ephesus, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

Those winners in the coming battle will live in God's paradise once more. What Adam lost, they will regain "in Christ" and through him. ^(F3)Revelation is a complete reversal of the fall.

Verses 10-13

MORE TRIALS FOR SMYRNA

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Revelation 2:10a

The Spirit declares that the faithful, afflicted and poverty stricken church at Smyrna would have increasing trials. Some of its people are about to go to prison for their faith (2:10). They are not to be afraid when this happens. Jesus says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death" (2:10b-11).

Here Jesus speaks of the faithful saints being crowned as kings and avoiding the second death. We will see these themes further developed as Revelation unfolds.

Verses 14-19

HERESY AT PERGAMUM

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Revelation 2:14

For the church at Pergamum, tribulation has set in, and she has already produced her first martyr (2:13). The early Christians always knew that martyrdom was a real possibility and they were ready and sometimes even quite eager to meet this challenge.

Still there is within this body the disgusting doctrine of Balaam (2:14). We read about Balaam in Numbers, chapters 22-24. His doctrine might be summed up as one of ministerial greed for money (2 Peter 2:15), accompanied by sexual immorality and idolatry.

This same doctrine is also destined to become a great problem for the end-day church. In fact, it appears that forms of this heresy are currently ravaging the church. This particular assembly also has within it the heresy of the Nicolaitans (2:15). This was apparently a heresy very similar to that of Balaam.

The Lord sends this message to Pergamum, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it" (2:17).

We do not fully know the mystery of the white stone. We do know that jurors in ancient times used to give a white stone to a person acquitted in trial. ^(F4) Regarding the hidden manna, we can assume that God will feed his flock with spiritual and even natural food, regardless of what transpires.

Now, how are we to understand martyrdom today? Is this something that only applied to the ancient church? Hardly so, for today in many countries, millions of Christians are suffering severe persecution, and are already in deep tribulation. For instance, the Christian community in Sudan is being systematically eliminated by the Moslem government there. Already over two million Sudanese Christians have been murdered, sold into slavery or have simply disappeared.

Christians are also suffering in North Korea, Vietnam, China, Iran and many other places. It has been stated by the World Evangelical Fellowship that more Christians suffered martyrdom in the recent twentieth century than in all previous centuries combined since the time of Christ.

Verses 20-26

JEZEBEL ATTENDS CHURCH AT THYATIRA

…You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet… Revelation 2:20

The church at Thyatira is commended for its love and increasing deeds. Yet, this assembly harbors the seducing spirit of Jezebel (2:20). The story of Jezebel can be found beginning in 1 Kings 16:31. Like the spirit of Balaam, this spirit will also be mightily resurrected in the end-time church, leading many down the road of spiritual seduction, fornication and idolatry.

Jesus says to this group that he will impose no other burden, "except to hold on to what you have until I come. 'To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery' – just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (2:25-29).

Again, the Lord brings up the subject of rule and authority for his people. Now coupled with this, is the idea of doing God's will to the end (2:26). This is otherwise known as perseverance.

Indeed the Lord will give his victorious people the authority to rule over the nations of the world. In Matthew 19:28, Jesus tells his followers that they will someday judge the world. Paul even says that the saints will eventually judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). The victorious Christ will see to it that all the dominion lost in Adam will be regained in himself. Jesus has already given his saints the power and authority to deal with Jezebel and her like.