Editor's Note
We began our study on the book of Revelation on Saturday. If you missed it, you can go back and read the preview and first chapter here!
Read Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right handand walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstandfrom its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 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.
To the Church in Smyrna
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 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.
To the Church in Pergamum
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 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. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 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.
To the Church in Thyatira
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepterand will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Go Deeper
The Revelation of Jesus is more than a revelatory (apocalyptic) mash-up of prophetic letters and visions from Jesus through angel messengers to the first century church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It is a supernatural unveiling of coming events where Jesus promises to intervene in human history, destroy evil, and bring his kingdom. These highly symbolic, repetitive messages were written to encourage faithful perseverance during persecution and instill hope.
Revelation’s second and third chapters follow John’s introductory greeting and initial vision of Jesus among seven specific churches in specific locations and cultural contexts. Most letters include a description of Christ, a commendation and rebuke from Christ, a remedy, consequences, and promises for those who endure. Revelation 2 includes the first four letters to Ephesus (v. 1-7), Smyrna (v. 8-11), Pergamum (v. 12-17), and Thyatira (v. 18-29).
Jesus’ first message to the Church in Ephesus, a wealthy Roman port. He describes himself as holding seven stars (angels) and walking among (visiting) seven lampstands (churches) (Revelation 1:20). He commends their doctrinal vigilance amidst corrupting worldly influences and patient endurance during persecution and marginalization from brutal Roman rulers and Jewish neighbors. He encourages the Ephesian church to repent for assimilating pagan culture and commands them to return to their first love for God and others or lose their church. Jesus promises those who repent and persevere (conquerors) will eat of the tree of (eternal) life with leaves for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Jesus’ second message (v. 8-11) is addressed to the Church in Smyrna, a thriving port with temples dedicated to Greek and Roman deities, including the Ceasar, Zeus, and Athena. Jesus describes himself as the unique first and last God, who died and returned to life. He commends Smyrna’s rich faithfulness in the face of imminent tribulation, imprisonment, and martyrdom. Jesus promises a crown of (eternal) life to conquerors who will transcend the second death of worldly kingdoms.
In the third message (v. 12-17), Jesus has a two-edged sword (words of life) for the church in Pergamum, a governmental center where Satan (Rome) dwells. He commends them for holding fast through martyrdom, but condemns them for idolatry and sexual immorality. He declares war against those who will not repent. He promises those who persevere sacred food and an exclusive invitation with a new name, like Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, etc. who grappled well with God.
John records Jesus’ fourth message to the Church in Thyatira, a smaller commercial city known for manufacturing purple (see Lydia in Acts 16). Jesus is described as the omniscient, omnipotent Son of God with eyes of flame and feet of bronze. He knows of the church’s patient endurance and growth but condemns the failure of some to turn from assimilating pagan practices. Those who hold fast are promised just rewards: a morning star (Jesus himself) and dominion over their oppressors (nations).
Then, as now, the second chapter of Jesus’ Revelation to John repeatedly condemns tolerant adoption of corrupting worldly influences, commends faithful suffering, and promises eternal life for those who repent and faithfully persevere.
Questions
- What messages do you find encouraging? Circle Jesus’ promises and commendations to the seven churches.
- What messages do you find challenging? Underline Jesus’ condemnations of worldly influences in the seven churches.
- What messages from Revelation 2 apply to us today? Highlight Jesus’ promises for faithful perseverance.
By the Way
The ESV Expository Commentary quotes G.K. Chesterton, “Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” Recent scholarship summarizes Revelation in one verse: Exodus 20:3. “You shall have no other gods before me.”
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6 thoughts on “Revelation 2”
Questions we must answer:
•Have I drifted away from loving Jesus supremely?
•Do I fear intense persecution that leads to physical death?
•Do I tolerate immoral practices to blend in with the culture?
•Am I led astray by worldly idols and sexual sin?
May we take inventory of our thoughts, habits and rhythms of life closely examining our hearts. Whatever John’s message is to the churches is pertinent and applicable to us. John repeats a phrase “anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” It all begins with being willing. Open our understanding, Father!
The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins. 2 Peter 3:9 GNB
Most of us, I would venture are comporomising our relationship with God in some way. God is full of grace and love. He is patient, BUT GOD has limits. So daily seek Him, ask Him where you are falling short. He will show you. Are your relationships reflecting the character and love of Jesus? Are you speaking to others the way you should to lead them to Jesus? Our life should be a reflection of who we are in our walk with God. When we stand before the throne all things, completely and uterly all things about us will be revealed. Will you, are you seeking forgiveness to put away those things. I pray that I would.
God reveal to me what I have not turned away from that is not glorifiing to You. Show me how to leave those/that idol behind. God let me be a person that reflects Your character and love. God in these minutes of this day I want to magnify You and Your name. God You are majestic, You have no rival, You reign supreme. YHWH-Yahweh the first breath of air a baby breathes is Your name. The last breath we breath is Your name. Majestic, mighter than all things. WOOHOO!!!! to God be the glory in Jesus name
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!
Suffering for doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord is a hard reality. Especially when at other times God speaks of blessing those who follow Him. In the end we must decide to do what Jesus has called us to do whether it leads to suffering in this life or blessings. Jesus has already blessed us with eternal life and His love. This life can be hard, but Jesus is acquainted with pain and He will never forsake His bride the church. I want to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters suffering for Christ around the world. I love you Jesus and I want to obey you no matter what.
7 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This is repeated four times in this chapter! I have ears, I will hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Amen and Amen!
After re-reading 2:24 today, it jumped off the page at me that Jesus said “I will not impose any other burden on you.” Two things came to mind:
First, that there are some trials that God allowed His people to go through to strengthen their faith and endurance when they persevered.
Second, after looking at that verse in the NLT (2:24b-25) it states Jesus said, “I will ask nothing more of you (25) except that you who hold tightly to what you have until I come.”
What we have is the Holy Spirit! In our sermon on Sunday, John Elmore reminded us that we need to be refilled by remaining in His presence, in fellowship with Him – DAILY!
How many reminders of that do I need so I will remember when I miss a morning of quiet time, things are harder to cope with during the day!?! Martin Luther said something like the busier my day is going to be, the more time I need to spend with God in prayer. (“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer”)