1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Overview of Revelation Chapter 2
Revelation Chapter 2 is a critical section of the Book of Revelation, where the Apostle John addresses seven churches in Asia Minor. Each message is tailored to the specific circumstances and spiritual conditions of the respective churches. This chapter emphasizes themes of faithfulness, repentance, and the consequences of spiritual complacency.
Messages to the Seven Churches
Each church receives a unique message from Christ, often including commendations, criticisms, and exhortations. The churches addressed in this chapter are:
- Ephesus
- Smyrna
- Pergamum
- Thyatira
Church of Ephesus
The message to the church in Ephesus highlights both strengths and weaknesses:
- Commendation: The church is praised for its hard work, perseverance, and rejection of false apostles.
- Criticism: Despite their good deeds, they have abandoned their first love, indicating a loss of passion for Christ.
- Exhortation: They are called to remember their initial zeal, repent, and return to their former devotion.
- Promise: Overcomers will be granted the right to eat from the tree of life in paradise.
Church of Smyrna
The message to Smyrna focuses on suffering and faithfulness:
- Commendation: The church is recognized for its tribulation and poverty, yet it is spiritually rich.
- Criticism: There are no criticisms; the church is encouraged to endure persecution.
- Exhortation: They are advised not to fear the coming suffering but to be faithful even to the point of death.
- Promise: The faithful will receive the crown of life.
Church of Pergamum
The message to Pergamum addresses compromise and faithfulness:
- Commendation: The church is commended for holding fast to Christ’s name and not denying faith even in a city known for idolatry.
- Criticism: Some members hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, promoting immorality and idolatry.
- Exhortation: They are called to repent and turn away from these teachings.
- Promise: Overcomers will receive hidden manna and a white stone with a new name.
Church of Thyatira
The message to Thyatira focuses on love, faith, and the danger of false teachings:
- Commendation: The church is praised for its love, faith, service, and perseverance, with their latter works exceeding the first.
- Criticism: They tolerate a false prophetess, Jezebel, who leads believers into sexual immorality and idolatry.
- Exhortation: They are urged to hold fast to what they have until Christ comes.
- Promise: Overcomers will receive authority over nations and the morning star.
Thematic Analysis
Revelation Chapter 2 presents several key themes:
- Faithfulness in Trials: The messages to Smyrna and Pergamum emphasize the importance of remaining steadfast in the face of persecution and temptation.
- Call to Repentance: Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira all receive calls to repentance, highlighting the need for self-examination and return to true devotion.
- Rewards for Overcomers: Each message concludes with promises for those who overcome, reinforcing the hope and future reward for faithfulness.
Conclusion
Revelation Chapter 2 serves as a profound reminder of the challenges faced by early Christians and the timeless principles of faithfulness, repentance, and the assurance of divine reward. Each message is relevant not only to the original recipients but also to contemporary believers, encouraging vigilance and steadfastness in faith.
