Revelation2
New Living Translation
1“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.
3You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
5Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
6But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
8“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
9“I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.
10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
11“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
12“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:
13“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
14“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
15In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.
16Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
18“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:
19“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
20“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.
21I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.
22“Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.
23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
24“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you
25except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
26To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.
28They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
29“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Epistles to the churches in Asia, with warnings and encouragements, To the church at Ephesus; (1–7). at Smyrna; (8–11). at Pergamos; (12–17). and at Thyatira. (18–29).
vv1-7
These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches, and professors. Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his churches on earth, observing what is wrong in them, and what they want. The church of Ephesus is commended for diligence in duty. Christ keeps an account of every hour's work his servants do for him, and their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. But it is not enough that we are diligent; there must be bearing patience, and there must be waiting patience. And though we must show all meekness to all men, yet we must show just zeal against their sins. The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. Surely this mention in Scripture, of Christians forsaking their first love, reproves those who speak of it with carelessness, and thus try to excuse indifference and sloth in themselves and others; our Saviour considers this indifference as sinful. They must repent: they must be grieved and ashamed for their sinful declining, and humbly confess it in the sight of God. They must endeavour to recover their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as when they first set out in the ways of God. If the presence of Christ's grace and Spirit is slighted, we may expect the presence of his displeasure. Encouraging mention is made of what was good among them. Indifference as to truth and error, good and evil, may be called charity and meekness, but it is not so; and it is displeasing to Christ. The Christian life is a warfare against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh. We must never yield to our spiritual enemies, and then we shall have a glorious triumph and reward. All who persevere, shall derive from Christ, as the Tree of life, perfection and confirmation in holiness and happiness, not in the earthly paradise, but in the heavenly. This is a figurative expression, taken from the account of the garden of Eden, denoting the pure, satisfactory, and eternal joys of heaven; and the looking forward to them in this world, by faith, communion with Christ, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit. Believers, take your wrestling life here, and expect and look for a quiet life hereafter; but not till then: the word of God never promises quietness and complete freedom from conflict here.
vv8-11
Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he was before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who was dead and is alive, is the believer's Brother and Friend, he must be rich in the deepest poverty, honourable amidst the lowest abasement, and happy under the heaviest tribulation, like the church of Smyrna. Many who are rich as to this world, are poor as to the next; and some who are poor outwardly, are inwardly rich; rich in faith, in good works, rich in privileges, rich in gifts, rich in hope. Where there is spiritual plenty, outward poverty may be well borne; and when God's people are made poor as to this life, for the sake of Christ and a good conscience, he makes all up to them in spiritual riches. Christ arms against coming troubles. Fear none of these things; not only forbid slavish fear, but subdue it, furnishing the soul with strength and courage. It should be to try them, not to destroy them. Observe, the sureness of the reward; “I will give thee:” they shall have the reward from Christ's own hand. Also, how suitable it is; “a crown of life:” the life worn out in his service, or laid down in his cause, shall be rewarded with a much better life, which shall be eternal. The second death is unspeakably worse than the first death, both in the agonies of it, and as it is eternal death: it is indeed awful to die, and to be always dying. If a man is kept from the second death and wrath to come, he may patiently endure whatever he meets with in this world.
vv12-17
The word of God is a sword, able to slay both sin and sinners. It turns and cuts every way; but the believer need not fear this sword; yet this confidence cannot be supported without steady obedience. As our Lord notices all the advantages and opportunities we have for duty in the places where we dwell, so he notices our temptations and discouragements from the same causes. In a situation of trials, the church of Pergamos had not denied the faith, either by open apostacy, or by giving way so as to avoid the cross. Christ commends their stedfastness, but reproves their sinful failures. A wrong view of gospel doctrine and Christian liberty, was a root of bitterness from which evil practices grew. Repentance is the duty of churches and bodies of men, as well as of particular persons; those who sin together, should repent together. Here is the promise of favour to those that overcome. The influences and comforts of the Spirit of Christ, come down from heaven into the soul, for its support. This is hidden from the rest of the world. The new name is the name of adoption; when the Holy Spirit shows his own work in the believer's soul, this new name and its real import are understood by him.
Key Words
ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía): a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both)
Ἐφεσῖνος (Ephesînos): Ephesine, or situated at Ephesus
γράφω (gráphō): to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
ὅδε (hóde): the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
λέγω (légō): properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 (ἔπω) and G5346 (φημί) generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 (ῥέω) is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 (λαλέω) means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
κρατέω (kratéō): to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively)
ἑπτά (heptá): seven
ἀστήρ (astḗr): a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Cross References
Revelation 2Directly quoted concerning ruling the nations with a rod of iron and breaking potter's vessels.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the seven stars and seven golden candlesticks in Christ's hands.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats Christ's title as 'the first and the last' from the opening vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats the vision of the sharp two-edged sword proceeding from Christ's mouth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical account of Israel committing fornication and eating sacrifices to idols through Balaam's counsel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical Jezebel who introduced idolatry and led Israel into spiritual adultery.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the trial and exposure of false apostles who are found to be liars.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The final fulfillment of eating from the tree of life in God's paradise.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates those who 'say they are Jews, and are not' by defining true circumcision.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the 'synagogue of Satan' who falsely claim to be Jews.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly defines the 'second death' as having no power over the holy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The exact Old Testament source for searching the reins and the heart to give according to works.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's prophecy to Ephesian elders warning that grievous wolves would enter.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the condemnation of casting off or leaving one's first faith and love.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the warning of removing the candlestick by removing God's kingdom from unfaithful caretakers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament parallel defining the way and error of Balaam.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Apostolic instructions regarding the eating of things offered to idols.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels hating the deeds of the wicked with holy hatred.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast of physical poverty with being rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic parallel of the 'day star' arising in the hearts of believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB