Table Of Contents

REVELATION CHAPTER TWO

Verses 1 - 3 : 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;  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:  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
 
This is Christ’s greeting to the first of the seven churches, Ephesus. He makes use of a different title for Himself each time He addresses of the seven churches. In this verse the Lord identifies Himself as “He that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” (cf. Revelation 1:13, 16, 20) 

“The seven candlesticks … are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).

In Chapter One verse 20 the “stars” are identified as “angels.”  The Greek word for “angel” is also translated “messenger” elsewhere in the New Testament (Mark 1:2, Philippians 2:25, 2 Corinthians 8:23). Here the “stars” mean the pastors of the local churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

God upholds all believers, but pastors and preachers require special protection and power, therefore the Lord says that He “holdeth the seven stars in his right hand.”  He protects and empowers them to preach His Word, because Satan and his crowd are out to steal the Word and to kill God’s man (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; Luke 22:31-32; John 8:44; Matthew 5:10-12, 13:19, 24:9).

Jesus begins his address to each church with these words: “I know thy works” signifying His omniscience.  God knows everything! He knows what service we do for Him, and He knows when we neglect our service to Him!

Ephesus was no doubt suffering under persecution. That is why the Lord said, “I know thy … patience.” Some would have us believe that the word “patience” used here would be translated as “perseverance” as it is in the New International and the New American Standard versions (NIV, NAS).  “What is the difference between PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE? ... "Patience" implies a waiting upon God, hoping in Him, and trusting Him to fulfill His promises in His appointed time. The word ‘perseverance,’ on the other hand, causes us to focus on our own strength, efforts, and ability to overcome difficulties.  In the King James Bible ... the noun form of the Greek word ‘hupomone’ is most often translated as ‘PATIENCE’ ... and [is] never is rendered as ‘perseverance.’  There is a word translated as ‘perseverance’ found in Ephesians 6:18: ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all PERSEVERANCE and supplication for all saints,’ but this is an entirely different Greek word. Prayer is not easy and it does require personal effort; therefore the word ‘perseverance’ is used rather than ‘patience.’ ... The meaning is not at all the same. ... Now, I don't know about you, but I gained eternal life by the substitutionary death and sacrifice of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross; certainly not by my standing firm or by my perseverance.” [1]   Read Luke 21:19, Romans 8:25 and James 5:11 where ‘hupomone’ is correctly rendered PATIENCE.  Then substitute the word PERSEVERANCE for PATIENCE, and see how your spirit reacts to it.

Concerning the Lord’s comment, “thou canst not bear them that are evil,” John Gill says that those evil ones “... were so either in their principles or in their practices, or both; men that lived immoral lives, and held erroneous doctrines, these the primitive ministers and churches could not bear; they had an inward abhorrence and detestation of them in their minds; they could not bear them in communion with them; they admonished them according to the nature of their offence, and cast out such as were obstinate and incorrigible; they withdrew from such as were disorderly, and rejected heretics after the first and second admonition; their zeal for church discipline is here taken notice of to their commendation.” [2]

The Lord knew that the Pastor of the local church at Ephesus could not bear them which are evil. This should be our attitude also.  There were those at this early period that said as false teachers do today,  “[Let’s] continue in sin, that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1).  But the Apostle Paul answered that false notion long ago in these words,  “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2).  We are to love God’s enemies, but hate their evil ways.  The Bible says:

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23)

“Many think it is wrong to judge heresy or wickedness. Not so!  The same Christ who said, ‘Judge not ...’ (Matthew 7:1) also declared: ‘... judge righteous judgement’ (John 7:24).  A believer is never to judge a person as far as character and motives are concerned.  However, he should definitely judge when that individuals doctrine is heretical or his life is filled with wickedness (I John 4:1; I Timothy 5:19-20).” [3]

Our verse says, “... thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars ...”  In the Apostlic Era, as today, there were false apostles usurping special authority that is not rightfully theirs (II Corinthians 11:13-15; Acts 20:29-30).  Today we see the same thing in Catholicism and Pentecostalism (II Peter 2:1-3). Christ’s church (generically speaking) is “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20; cf. Revelation 21:14; I Peter 2:5-9). All twelve apostles were hand picked by the Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 4:18-19, 9:9; Luke 6:13-18; Acts 1:15-26, 9-1-20; Romans 1:1). The Greek word “apostolos” is variously translated as “he that is sent” (John 13:16), “messenger” (Philippians 2:25; II Corinthians 8:23) and “apostle.”  An “apostolos” is a representative who stands with full authority to act on behalf of another. Jesus was the Father’s Apostle (Hebrews 3:1), Missionaries are the apostles or “messengers” of the local church, and Christ’s “Apostles” are those He personally selected to finish the Bible and begin the work of world evangelism. 

In today’s legal terms we would call an apostle a proxy. Christ’s apostles had full authority to act and speak in His behalf.  The Bible says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20) They were the revelatory agents of Christ Jesus. The Word of God further states this of them,  “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Hebrews 2:3-4; cf. I John 1:1; II Peter 1:16; Luke 1:2, 6:13). 

The Apostle Jude, also called Judas, not Iscariot (Luke 6:16; Jude 1), looking forward to the completion of the Canon of Scripture said that Christians “... should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3; cf. I Peter 3:15). The word “once” here comes from the Greek word “hapax” meaning “something of perpetual validity, not requiring repetition.” [4]  The same word is used in reference to the Lord’s finished work on the cross, “... Christ was once [hapax] offered to bear the sins of many ...” (Hebrews 9:28), and  “… Christ also hath once [hapax] suffered for sins ...” (I Peter 3:18).  The use of the word “hapax” in Jude 3 indicates that the Faith, that is “... the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” (II Peter 3:2; cf. Hebrews 2:3), has been delivered once and for all in the form of God’s Inspired Scriptures (II Timothy 3:16).  This is the “One Faith” spoken of by the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 4:5). “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6; cf. Revelation 22:18-19).

By way of reminder, the local church at Ephesus was a symbol of the period of time within the Dispensation of Grace (or Church Age) known as the Apostolic Era.  Biblically the Church Age is called, “the things which are” (Revelation 1:19).  This Ephesian Period was the first of seven eras in the Church Age.  It was in the Ephesian or Apostolic Era that the Scriptures were completed, and with the death of John, the last apostle, the Apostolic Era ended. 

Today faithful Baptist churches (the church of the living God) have in their possession the “One Faith” (Ephesians 4:5) in the form of the 66 books of the Bible which were completed some 2000 years ago.  The task of the apostles ended with the Bible’s completion, and likewise the Apostolic Era.  The revelatory gifts of “prophecy” and “knowledge” as well as the office of an apostle of Jesus Christ have ended (I Corinthians 13:9-12; cf. 12:8, 10; James 1:23-25).  There have been no apostles since their day.  The church has “continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine” (Acts 2:42) since the days of the apostles only by holding fast to the Word that God gave through the apostles.  Now, because “the church of the living God [is] the pillar and ground of the Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15; cf. Ephesians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18) she must continue to “earnestly contend for the Faith” (Jude 3).  We must not be “…tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive ...” (Ephesians 4:14-15). Believers today ought to follow the example of the 1st Century Ephesians who “... tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars” (Revelation 2:2).

In verse 3 of our text the Lord continues to commend the Pastor of the church of Ephesians in these words, “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”  The Pastor in Ephesus was patient, waiting upon God and trusting Him to fulfill His promises in His appointed time.  He was a not a quitter, but rather a hard worker who bore fruit.

The word “borne” here is a past participle of bear.  “Bear” is defined thusly: It means to hold up, support, carry, be accountable, endure, give birth, produce, yield, etc. [5]  The Greek word translated “borne” here is “bastazo.”  It is elsewhere rendered “carry,” “take up,” and most often “bear.”  Here is a sampling of it’s New Testament usage:

“... [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me [Jesus], to BEAR My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

“... Blessed is the womb that BEAR thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.” (Luke 11:27)

“And whosoever doth not BEAR his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  BEAR ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2; cf. Romans 15:1)

In order to have Scriptural “borne,” the Pastor of the church in Ephesus would have had to:  1) Borne Christ’s name to others through preaching the Gospel (Acts 9:15).  2) Won souls, birthing them through the Word of God (Luke 11:27; I Peter 1:23, 25; I Corinthians 4:15; Philemon 10).  3) Borne his own cross daily by mortifying his sinful tendencies in order to not serve sin (Luke 9:23, 14:27; Galatians 2:20, 5:24, 6:14; Colossians 3:5; Romans 6:6).  4) And borne the burdens of his members thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).  These are the burdens that pastors are to bear.


Verse 4 - 5:  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 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.

Our “first love,” Jesus, will never leave, nor forsake us once we are born again (Hebrews 13:5; John 1:12-13).  However, believers do all to often forget the first love.  Do you remember when you were first saved, how you had a deep down desire, and joy in serving our Lord Jesus?  You didn’t know how, but you wanted to please the Lord!  You desired His Word.  You would automatically go to prayer asking His will. You wanted others to come to a saving knowledge of Him too! You loved Jesus!  Have you forgotten that love?

Have you or your church lost the deep down desire and joy in serving our Lord Jesus?  Has your church lost these qualities?  If it has obey the Lord’s admonition to “repent, and do the first works.”

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10; cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Romans 8:28)

The text by using the words “thy” and “thou” in verses 2, 4 and 5 indicate that the Lord Jesus Christ was still speaking directly to “the angel of the church of Ephesus,” the Pastor of that church.  Thee, thou and thy are all singular pronouns while you and ye are use in the plural in the King James Bible. The Lord is clearly speaking directly to that 1st Century Pastor.  Can you imagine the way he must have felt when he read those words from his Saviour.  That believing, patient, hard working, never say die, fruit bearing Pastor had fallen into a rut and was just going through the motions.  He needed to be reminded of his first love.  He needed to do those things with the same love for the Lord that he had at the beginning, not just go through the motions.

Some falsely teach that the removal of the “candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” means the loss of one’s salvation.  They thus endorse a works salvation, which is alien to the Word of God. Eternal life that can be lost or given up is not eternal.  What verse 5 does teach is that a local church can cease to exist because of it’s lovelessness, especially that of it’s leadership. 


Verse 6 :  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Notice that the Pastor of the church of Ephesus and the Lord Jesus both hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, but not the Nicolaitanes themselves.

Who are the Nicolaitans? The word comes from two Greek words “nikao” (meaning “to conquer”) and “laos” (meaning “the people”).  It means “victory over the laity.”  It has to do with a religious hierarchy.  “The problem was exaltation of the clergy over the people - a religious dictatorship that allowed little or no freedom of its members.” [6]  “This probably marked the beginning of the priestly order in the church which continues to this day.” [7] God hates this! (Matthew 23:1-12; I Peter 5:3; III John 9-10)


Verse 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.

Here the call is no longer to the Pastor, but to individuals, saved and lost alike.  The call is to “he that hath an ear.” This call is to you and me.  We are to “overcome.”  And how do we do that? The only way anyone can overcome the same way the Tribulation saints will overcome:

“And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus] and by the word of their testimony ...” (Revelation 12:11 cf. I John 5:5)

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?!  If you are you will get “to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”  Glory to God for His love!


Verse 8 - 9 :  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;   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.

Thus begins the Lord’s address to the second of the seven churches of Asia, Smyrna.  Much said about Ephesus in the New Testament (Acts 19, I Corinthians 15:32, I Timothy 1:3, II Timothy 1:18; 4:12) and Paul addressed an entire letter to that church, but Smyrna is to only twice in the Bible, both times in this book (Revelation 1:11, 2:8).

Smyrna means “myrrh” which must be crushed before it will give its fragrance.  Historically it is symbolic for the period AD 100-313 during which the church suffered greatly under pagan Rome. Christianity was an illegal religion by this time to the Roman government because they would not acknowledge Caeser as God.  “The imperial laws against Christianity were enforced severely in Smyrna. Jews and heathen combined brought much persecution through local authorities. Polycarp, the bosom friend of John the Beloved, was slain in Smyrna in his 90 year [168A.D.] ... The fierce and bloody persecution which raged in Asia minor had its center in Smyrna. The terrible persecution lasted about 250 years” [8] But in spite of the severe persecution of the churches, Christianity survived and grew. The blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church

Five of the Lord’s messages to the seven churches contain reprimands and admonishment to repent.  The two exceptions are Philadelphia and Smyrnan. These two churches should be the models for our churches today.

Verse 8 says, “These things saith the first and the last (cf. Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12).  The Lord Jesus Christ, “which was dead, and is alive” [cf. Revelation 1:18] is clearly making a statement as to His Deity here in verse 8 (John 8:58).  “As ‘the First’ Jesus is before all in time, and above all in power.  As ‘the Last’ He is after all - He closed all things, He is the consummation of all things. The One speaking to the saints at Smyrna is the Eternal One; but even though He is from eternity through eternity, He came into this world to die. Death had no claim on Him, because He had not sinned; nevertheless, He died that we might have life. He conquered death and rose again to die no more” [9] 

As in His message to Ephesus our omniscient Lord likewise says to Smyrna, “I know the works ...”  Christ also knew the “tribulation, and poverty” of the church of Smyrna due to persecution. “The Smyrna period of church history takes us from 100 A.D. to 312 A.D. These people probably suffered the greatest persecution in all Christianity. Their works, faithfully performed in the name of Jesus, brought great tribulation and accompanying poverty materially. However, great riches were laid up for them in heaven.” [10]  In spite of their earthly “poverty” they were “rich” in heavenly rewards for their works of love for Christ.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12; cf. Colossians 3:1-2; Hebrews 10:35; Revelation 11:18, 22:12, 21:7; Philippians 3:20; Psalm 16:11; 1 Corinthians 3:8-15)

The Lord also knows “... the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”  The Lord Jesus Christ is God (Philippians 2:6-8; John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:3), and it is blasphemy to say that He is not.

Similarly to the way the Jews put pressure on Pilate to crucify Jesus (John 19:12, 15) “the synagogue of Satan” put pressure on Rome to enforce their laws concerning Christianity.

The Hebrew people occupy a very special place in God’s heart. They are His chosen earthly people (Deuteronomy 32:9-10, Zechariah 2:7-8), they are the people God chose to reveal Himself through.  All the prophets and apostles were Hebrews. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:8; cf. Genesis 12:1-3)  Jesus Christ Himself was of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 2:16-17, 7:14; Matthew 2:6; Revelation 5:5; John 1:1, 14).  Some Hebrew people received Christ as Lord, most are indifferent, but some are of “the synagogue of Satan.”

God has promised to blessing those that bless the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to curse their enemies (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:16-18, 27:29; Psalm 83:1-18, 105:8-15). Notice that nations like Babylon, Rome, and Germany who enslaved, persecuted and murdered them were later brought to naught. 

But why is it that Israel has been so severely punished. The Bible says, “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48)

God’s desire is that Israel be saved, thus the Gospel is to the Jew first.  The Apostle Paul was “of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew” (Philippians 3:5).  He said,  “… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; TO THE JEW FIRST, and also to the Greek. … But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, OF THE JEW FIRST, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, TO THE JEW FIRST, and also to the Gentile” (Romans 2:8-10).  Many Jews have received the Truth, but, as it is with all other nationalities, most rejected the Lord of glory (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6).

The Hebrew people are truly God’s earthly people, however, Paul gives us insight into who is truly a Jew.  He said, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28-29, cf. II Corinthians 3:2-3).  In other words a true Jew must be born again (John 3:1-10; II Peter 1:4).

Here in Revelation 2:9 those of the Jewish religion, perhaps both Hebrews and Gentile proselytes (Matthew 23:13-15), who were not circumcised of heart, but are “of the synagogue of Satan,” blasphemed God and brought heavy persecution on the Christians.

In our day we have Christ denying cults that claim that they are the “… hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 7:4), and others that teach the Anglo-Saxon people are the ten “lost” tribes of Israel.  These too are included in the people that the Lord referred to when He said, “… I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”


Verse 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.

We are not to fear what men may do to us, but we are rather to fear God (Psalm 56:11, 59:16-17, 69:24-30, 118:6; Matthew 10:28-31)

Our text says, “the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried.”  However, the church of the Smyrna Era was increased in spite of her persecutions just as righteous Job was (Job 42:10-17). This is historical fact.

Jesus told the Church at Smyrna, “... the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days ...”  This has at least three meanings:

1.  It teaches that God limits the trial, temptations, and troubles of believers (Job 1:12, 2:6, 42:12).  God will help us bear up under them and they will pass and!  The Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not permit you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will, with that temptation also make the way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 3:10).

2.  It was a literal 10 day period of persecution, perhaps when Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, was martyred.  It may have occurred during the “Awesome Days” (Yomim Noraim) which is a period of great soul searching and repentance in Judaism. It occurs in the seventh Biblical month of called Thshrei which falls in the October / November time frame. Yomim Noraim is a 10 day period that runs from the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  It was on Yom Kippur that the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to sacrifice for Israel (Leviticus 16:29-30, 23:24-28).

3.  It is symbolic for edicts issued by ten Roman emperors of the Smyrna Era (AD 100-313), namely:  1) Trajan (A.D. 98-117) (Ignatius, Pastor of Antioch, taken to Rome and throne to wild beasts in A.D. 110),  2) Hadrian (A.D. 117-138) (Telephorus, Pastor of Rome, suffered martyrdom),  3) Pius (A.D. 138-161) (Polycarp, Pastor of Smyrna, burned at the stake around A.D. 160),  4) Aurelius (A.D. 161-180) (Thousands beheaded or throne to wild beasts),  5) Severus (A.D. 193-211) (Martyrs were daily burned, crucified or beheaded),  6) Maximin (A.D. 235-238) (Many prominent Christian leaders put to death),  7) Decius (A.D. 249-251) (Multitudes perished by cruel measures throughout the Empire),  8) Valerian (A.D. 253-260) (Intense persecution. Cyprian, Pastor of Carthage, martyred),  9) Aurelian (A.D. 270-275) (Christians Persecuted),  10) Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) (Worst persecution of all.  Extermination of Christianity attempted). [11, 12, 13, 14] 

The “crown of life” is one of the five crowns promised to believers for faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ.  This crown is for those that stand up under severe trials and martyrdom. The other crowns are: 1) “the crown of righteousness” (II Timothy 4:8) for those “that love His appearing”, 2) the incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:24-27) for those that live holy lives, 3) the “crown of rejoicing” (I Thessalonians 2:19) for soul winners, and 4) the “crown of glory” (I Peter 5:4) for faithful pastors. We will examine rewards more in chapter 3.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him” (James 1:12, cf. I Peter 1:5-9; Job 42:12).


Verse 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.

Just as in verse 7 above, in verses 17 and 29 in this chapter, and in Revelation 3:6, 13, 22 and 13:9, likewise here “He that hath an ear” means everyone.

“He that overcometh [by the blood of the Lamb] shall not be hurt of the second death [the lake of fire]” (cf. Revelation 20:14).  Whosoever is born twice will die only once (John 1:12-13, 3:5-7; I Peter 1:23-25), but whosoever is born only once must die twice (Revelation 20:15, 21:8).


Verses 12 - 13 : And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 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.

This is the only reference to “Antipas,” the Lord’s “faithful martyr,” in all the Word of God. God knows each one of us and He remembers our service for Him.  Other members of the Church of Pergamos also held fast to Christ Jesus’ name, the “name which is above every name” (Philipians 2:9), and did not denied the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9; Hebrews 10:23-25; Jude 3; Matthew 13:18-23),  even under threat of loss of life. What heroes for God! 

The Lord was with them.  He is always with His own wherever they may be. He was even with Lot in Sodom (Genesis 18:16-19:16). He knows that we dwell in the midst of an evil world, but He is with us who trust in Jesus Christ.

“These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.”  The “the sharp sword with two edges” is the Word of God.  The Bible says:

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 1:16, 2:16, 19:15, 21)

The most severe persecutions came under Decius, A.D. 249 and Diocletion, A.D. 284. The Devil tried to destroy the church from without, but failed. Next he infiltrated the church to attempt to destroy it from within.

“Pergamos” is a compound that comes from the same Greek root word from which the English words bigamy and polygamy are derived.  That word is “gamos” meaning, “marriage” or “matrimony” (Strong's Greek: #1062).  The first syllable of the word is the Greek word, “per” which means “very much” or “altogether” (Strong's Greek: #4007).  Thus  "thoroughly married" is the meaning of the name “Pergamos.”  This name signifies a marriage of the christendom with worldliness and paganism. “During the first three centuries, congregations all over the East subsisted in separate independent [democratic] bodies, unsupported by government and subsequently without any power over one another.” [15]  However, the Roman Emperor Constantine did not observe this Biblical principal when ascended the throne.  He merged Roman paganism with an outward form Christianity creating a monstrosity foreign to true Christianity. Pergamos is symbolic for this era of apostasy and compromise within the Church Age. The era extends from the reign of the Constantine in AD 313 to the beginning of Pope Gregory’s reign (A.D. 590). Roman Catholicism had it’s embryonic beginnings in the Pergamos Era.

It is of utmost importance to understand that the seven churches were symbolic, not of “the Church,” but for seven eras within the Church Age (i.e. “the things which are,” church history, the Dispensation of Grace). When we say, “the church,” we are referring to local New Testament churches with the landmark doctrines of the same kind of church that Christ Jesus established during His earthly sojourn. Each of the seven churches had distinguishing traits that were evidenced by their names and characteristics in the era it symbolized.

Catholicism began with mainly unregenerate material, that is, unsaved people, who had already apostatized.  “One of the earliest and most hurtful errors was the dogma of baptismal regeneration.” [16] And as we see in verse 15, “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” a religious hierarchy of the clergy over the people, gains a foot hold during the Pergamos Era.  “Here was the beginning of an error which has grown and multiplied into many other seriously hurtful errors. ... Some of the churches vigorously repudiated them.  So much so that in A.D. 251, the loyal churches declared non-fellowship for churches which accepted and practiced these errors.” [17] 

An archheretic by the name of Origenes Adamantius (A.D. 184-254) (Origen for short) influenced Constantine through Eusebius (A.D. 260-340), his religious advisor. “Eusebius worshiped at the altar of Origen’s teachings. He claims to have collected eight hundred of Origen’s letters …” [18] Origen not only believed in baptismal regeneration, but purgatory, reincarnation, universal salvation, pagan philosophy, Gnosticism, etc.  “[He] originated the Christ denying Arian heresy.… Origen did not believe in the Deity of Christ nor the Trinity so he … excised [1 John 5:7] from the Greek text early in Church History.” [19]  Origen also corrupted the Bible in many other places.  This false teacher was Constantine’s religious advisor’s authority.  All three believed in baptismal regeneration and Arianism, which taught that Jesus Christ was a created being.  These doctrines are foreign to the teachings of the Word of God. 

The goddess Diana was the great idol of Ephesus, and Dionysos of Smyrna ... but Pergamos was even worse.  In the ... temple of Aesculapius was the wreathed serpent, and behind this serpent was Satan.” [20]  “Aesculapius” means “man instructing serpent” (cf. Genesis 3:1-5).

“[The Babylonian Pontiff and seat of the Babylonian religious system] after the death of Belshazzar, and the expulsion of the Chaldean priesthood from Babylon by the Medo-Persian kings, was at Pergamos.... (The kings of Pergamos, in whose domain the Chaldean Magi found asylum, … [were] put into the place which Belshazzar and his predecessors had occupied.  They were hailed as representatives of the old Babylonian god. ... Attalus, king of Pergamos, ... [was] recognized ... [as] head of the Magi.)  There, in consequence, for many centuries was ‘Satan’s seat’ ... [T]here was the worship of Aesculapius, under the form of the serpent, celebrated with frantic orgies and excesses ... Pergamos itself became part and parcel of the Roman Empire, when Attalus III, the last of its kings at his death, left by will all his domain to the Roman people, B.C. 133.  For some time after ... no one ... could ... advisedly ... lay claim to ... the old title of the kings of Pergamos...., but when Julius Caesar ... became [the first Roman] Emperor ... all the powers and functions of the true legitimate Babylonian Pontiff were supremely vested in him ... [I]n the exercise of his high pontifical office, he appeared ... in ... Babylonian costume ... in robes of scarlet, with the crosier of Nimrod in his hand, wearing the mitre of Dagon and bearing the keys of Janus and Cybele.” [21] Constantine, as Emperor, inherited the office of Babylonian Pontiff.  Thus the designation of the Roman Church as “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” in Revelation 17:5 and the detailed description of her in the text of that chapter.  Roman Catholicism was the final recipient of the Babylon priesthood and Pontifex via Pergamos.


Verses 14 - 15 :  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. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

God had only one thing against the Church of Ephesus; He had nothing against the great Church of Smyrna; but He has three problems with the Church of Pergamos.  They were tolerating “them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,” and “them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.”  The doctrine of Balaam teaches sexual as well as spiritual immorality (idolatry).  Nicolaitanism teaches a religions hierarchy that lords it over the people.

“Balaam ... loved the wages of unrighteousness” (II Peter 2:15). The king of Moab, Balak, hired Balaam to put a curse on the children of Israel (Numbers 22:1-17, cf. Genesis 12:2 & 3), but when God would not allow this Balaam told the king Balak to have the women of his kingdom to show themselves before God’s people.  This was the “stumblingblock” When the men of Israel saw these beautiful women they “began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods” (Numbers 25:1 & 2).  This fits the very meaning of the word Pergamos?  After the death of Diocletion, Constantine became ruler of Rome. He ordered the persecution of Christians to be stopped immediately, and then he issued an edict in which all Roman citizens were to become Christians. What actually transpired was the transfer of idol worshipers from Roman temples to Christian churches. [22]  Constantine married paganism to Christianity just as Balaam married idolaters to the children of Israel. (Revelation 18:4, II Corinthians 6:14-18)

In the Ephesian Church “the deeds of the Nicolaitans” were hated, but “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans” was tolerate in the Church at Pergamos.  God hates the deeds of the clergy that “dominates the people.”  The Apostle John gave us the example of Diotrephes, a Nicolaitan, in his third epistle where he said,  “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” (III John 9-10; cf. Matthew 10:40-42; Luke 9:48)


Verse 16 : Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

The Lord “will fight against them,” that is “them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” and “them that hold the doctrine of Balaam.”  God hates these two doctrines.  He hates a greedy and dominating clergy that says “look at me” rather than “look at Christ” (cf. Acts 20:28-33, Revelation 22:15, II Peter 2:22, Isaiah 56:11, Matthew 7:15-16 ).

The Lord Jesus said, “I will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” In another place He said, “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath One that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day’’ (John 12:40; cf. II Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 19:15, 20:10-15). The sword of His mouth is “quick, and powerful, ...  piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).


Verse 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.

Again, it is important to understand that “him that overcometh” is one who has trust Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour.  One’s overcoming or victory has nothing to do with self-effort, but has everything to do with faith and Gods grace and power (1 John 4:4, 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 57; Revelation 12:11). 

Overcomers will receive hidden manna from Christ. The Lord Jesus used manna, “that bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:58), symbolically as a type for Himself (John 6:31-33, 48-51).  It is also a type of the Word of God, the Bible (Deuteronomy 8:3). In the Old Testament the ark of the covenant contained a golden jar of manna (Exodus 16:33, 25:16; Hebrews 9:3-4). This is the same manna that God rained down every morning for 40 years (Exodus 16:35) for the children of Israel to eat.  It was said to have tasted “like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31). “Man did eat angels food…” (Psalm 78:25). The ark of the covenant, or at least the prototype of the earthly ark, is in the heavenly Temple with Christ. Jesus may multiply this hidden manna just as He did the loaves and fishes, and give believers angel food to eat.

“Not only will Christ give the hidden manna to the overcomer, but He also promises, ‘I will give to him a white stone, and in it will be written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it’ ... During the time in which John wrote, a white stone was used in social life and judicial customs. ... If a host had a special guest ... [he] was given a white stone with a name or message written on it, directed only to the guest ... In courts, a white stone meant acquittal, ... a black stone meant condemnation.” [23]

Verses 18 - 19 :  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;  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.

Here again we see that the speaker is “the Son of God.” The description of His “eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass” signify judgement which will fall upon His enemies (Revelation 1:14-15).

Thyatira is loaded down with good qualities. Ephesus had left he first love, but here God knows the “charity” (love) of the faithful in Thyatira (John 13:35; Galatians 5:22). “And they had faith. ‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him’ (Hebrews 11:6). And ‘whatsoever is not of faith is sin’ (Romans 14:23). They believed the Bible. They believed God answered prayer. And they trusted God to bring things out well.” [24]

The local church in Thyatira during John’s day increased in good works. Jesus said: “I know thy works…and the last to be more than the first.” In the same way the period of Church History that Thyatira symbolizes had greater works toward the last.

Thyatira means "odor of affliction.”  The name symbolizes the Dark Ages when Roman Catholicism greatly persecuted the churches  It covers the period A.D. 590 to the 1517.

The influence of the Waldensian (Baptist) churches helped Roman Catholic priests like Savonarola (1452-1498) in France and John Huss (1369-1415) in Bohemia to see that salvation is by the blood of Christ and not of baptism and the mass. Likewise, John Wickliffe (1328-1384), a famous leader of the English Lollards was also a follower of  Waldensian doctrine.  The Lollards got their name from Walter Lollard, “… a German Waldensian preacher who went to England in 1315.” [25] These men were greatly persecuted for the faith.  “... [Walter Lollard] was burnt at Cologne about A.D. 1322. [26]  Huss and Savonarola were also burned by the Catholics.  “[Waldensians] so developed in Bohemia that they supplied numbers of preachers for Northern Germany, for in the Acts of the Inquisition in Brandenburg and Pomerania, 1381, four hundred Waldensians are mentioned by name.” [27]  All these influenced  Martin Luther (1483-1546) and John Calvin (1509-1564), and their Reformation, but the reformers rejected the Lord’s New Testament church and established their own imitations after the model of their harlot mother, Rome (Job 14:4; Revelation 17:5).  Dr. J. M. Cramp in his Baptist History calls Chapter 3, which covers A.D. 604 to 1073, “The Obscure Period,” and Chapter 4, covering 1073 to 1517, he calls, “The Revival Period.” [28]  Historically the “works” of the Thyatira Era believers at “the last” (1073 to 1517) truly do seem “to be more than the first” (590 to 1073). 


Verses 20 - 21 :  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. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 

There was a woman in the local church at Thyatira that called herself a prophetess teaching immorality and idolatry. In the same way, historically, Romanism has taught spiritual fornication and idolatry.  This was a ear mark of the Thyatira Era  Two of the ten commandments are: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven ... in the earth ... or that is in the water ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them ... [and] thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:4-5, 14).  No wonder the Lord used symbols of judgement in the title He used in addressing Thyatira (Revelation  2:18).

The true church is called “the bride of Christ” (Ephesians 5:23-25, II Corinthians 11:2-3), in similar fashion the false church is portrayed as a woman, but she is an harlot (Revelation 17:5).  No doubt there are true believers in this false system; that is why God says: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (II Corinthians 6:17, cf. 6:14-18, Revelation 18:4-5).

For background information into this “woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess” refer to the Old Testament accounts of King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel,  who was a forerunner of our Jezebel here in Revelation (I Kings 16:30-33, 21:5-26, II Kings 9:30-37).

The Lord is not ... willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9, cf. I Timothy 2:5-10), but there comes a point in time when God will give up on people that continually reject Him (Romans 2:21-28, II Thessalonians 2:11-12, Genesis 6:3). This goes for nations and churches also.


Verses 22 - 23 :  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  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.

The phrase, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts ” is again speaks of the Lord Jesus’ omniscience.  He knows what we think even before we think it.

“Various elements in [the letter to Thyatira] indicate that the church age represented was between 590 A.D. and 1500 A.D. ... [But this church system] ... has endured in organization and doctrine. ... While Christians of this church will be snatched from the world at the Rapture, it appears that the majority within this congregation will be left to face the Great Tribulation.  Only one Great Tribulation is mentioned in the Bible, and that is the Day of God’s Wrath ...” [29]  (Isaiah 13:9; Ezekiel 7:19; Zephaniah 1:15, 18; Revelation 6:17; Ephesians 5:5-6; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9) The Lord will cast that Jezebel church system into a bed of affliction, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation.  This is speaking of spiritual adultery in a false religion. The harlot and her followers will enter the coming seven year Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:14)

There is a “sin unto death” (1 John 5:16; Romans 6:16) that only saved folks can commit, but this is physical death (1 Corinthians 11:30-32; James 5:14-20: Hebrews 10:26-30), not the second death.  But notice that out text says that the Lord “will kill her children with death.”  That woman Jezebel’s children are not the Lord’s children.  They are lost people in the church.  Therefore the “death” spoken of here is the “second death” in “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14, 21:8).  However, verse 22 ends, “except they repent of their deeds.”  Here “they” means “them that commit adultery with her.”  This is both saved and lost people.  The term "great tribulation" here does not necessarily mean the seven year Tribulation.  God does use tribulations to try and chasten His children (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5), but He punishes His enemies with the "second death." 

Jezebel, a picture of the Roman Catholic system, teaches that salvation comes by church membership, by baptism, by communion, by works. This is an insult to God who sent His Son, Jesus Christ “to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25-26).  Jesus “will kill her children with death” because ”the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, cf. John 3:36). These have attempted to pay their own way to heaven self effort and spiritual adultery.  They spurn the free gift of God’s grace. The result: “the second death” (Revelation 2:11, 20:6).  God has paid the price; don’t try to work for your salvation, it will take forever in hell if you do. Repent turning from your sins and in faith turn to Jesus.

Prophetically speaking “that woman Jezebel” and “her children” will enter the seven-year “Great Tribulation” and suffer both physical death and the “second death.” As stated before “Jezebel” and the “great harlot” of Revelation are one and the same. She is called “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5). This “Mother of harlots” has many children churches that have branched off of her. These are the churches of our Laodicean period (Revelation 3:14-22).  They are apostate and worldly religious systems just like their Mother. Jesus said, “I will kill her children with death.”

Where the Lord said He would cast “… them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation …. [and] kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know” serves as a fearful example to other New Testament churches that consider compromise with “that woman Jezebel.”  By that statement all New Testament churches of this Church Age ought to know God’s will, especially in relation to “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.” 

New Testament churches are ”… the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15; cf John 17:7).  The Lord Jesus said, “all the churches shall KNOW that I am he which SEARCHETH the reins and HEARTS.”  Since the end of the Apostolic Era the only way to know this is through His Word.  “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the HEART. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)  “And he that SEARCHETH the HEARTS knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we KNOW that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:27-28)  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the HEART of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit SEARCHETH all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-13)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  THEY are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth US; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby KNOW we the spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error. … He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 4:4-6, 5:10)  

The “US” in 1 John 4:6 above is “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).  The “THEY” in 1 John 4:5 may not mean individuals as much as Catholic “Jezebel” and Protestant “children.”  However, whoever rejects the fact that Christ Jesus, God in human flesh, died and rose again to provide free and eternal salvation to every repentant believer is included in that word “THEY.”  Of a certainty, there is only one way to be saved, and that is the way that “the pillar and ground of the Truth” has kept and observed for 2000 years (Matthew 28:20; John 8:51-52, 14:23-24, 15:20; 1 John 2:5; Revelation 2:26, 3:8, 10).  To the lost the church says:

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.  Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Proverbs 22:17-21)

Jesus “will give unto everyone of you according to your works.” He will give rewards to Christians according to their works (I Corinthians 3:11-15, cf. II John 8). And He will judge and reward the lost according to their works also (Revelation 20:11-15).


Verses 24 - 25 :  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.  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

“The medieval church of the dark ages was not entirely corrupt. The Albigenses and Waldenses ... stood aloof from Jezebel ... They were sound and true in their faith.  They had a positive testimony, and they give it.” [30]

Remember that Jesus said that He would “cast ... them that commit adultery with her [Jezebel] into great tribulation” (Revelation 2:22), but here the Lord says, “as many as have not this [Jezebel] doctrine ... I will put upon you none other burden.”  The Rapture will take place prior to the Great Tribulation saving believers “... from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; cf. Ephesians 2:2-3, 5:6; Colossians 3:6).  “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, wrath of God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

“This is the third mention of Satan in the Seven Letters. In Smyrna he cast Christians into prison (2:9:10); in Pergamum ... he was persecuting the church and corrupting it with false teachings (2:13 -14). Here in Thyatira, Jezebel’s teachings were known as the “deep things of Satan” (2:24). And in Philadelphia Satan is mentioned as the enemy of the church there.” [31]

“What these dear people had, they were not to surrender. They were to hold fast, regardless of the wickedness and immorality of all others. They were to stand fast, they were to refuse to compromise, resting assured that one day Jesus would deliver them ... ” [32]   We are to “... earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3, cf. Philippians 1:27-28, I Timothy 6:12).


Verses 26 - 28:  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  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.  And I will give him the morning star.

The Lord’s “works” are here contrasted with those of Jezebel (Revelation 2:23). His ultimate work was His death for our sins and His resurrection for our justification (Romans 4:25).

Revelation 20:4 says,  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”  The unsaved of the Church of Jezebel who are alive at the time of the Rapture will go into the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).  There will, however, be some of these who will repent, believe and be saved. These too will keep the Lord’s “works unto the end” as our text states. Revelation 12:11 speaking of how these will overcome Satan says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”  Some of these former Jezebelites will survive the Tribulation.  They are the ones that the Lord spoke of in Mark 13:13 saying,  “... he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” This is speaking of physical salvation of the natural body by enduring the Tribulation to enter the Millennium.  Others, however, will be “beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God” (Revelation 20:4). These Tribulation saints as well as Church Age saints will receive “power over the nations: and ... shall rule them with a rod of iron.”  The Father has given Jesus “... the heathen for [His] inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for [His] possession.” (Psalm 2:8). In turn the Lord will give the saints what He received of His Father, “power over the nations.” (cf. Psalm 2:9-12). Of course we will be rewarded and have power to rule “... according to [the] works” we did for the Lord after our salvation.  This He will do when He comes in judgement at the end of the Tribulation.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy, unto which ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your heart” (II Peter 1:19)

“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings ...” (Malachi 4:2).

“I Jesus ... am the ... bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

Verse 29 :  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


END NOTES :

1.  Kinney Will J., Satan's Religion Of Works And The Modern Versions  Part One, Vienna, MO: The Patriotist,
     2003, http://www.patriotist.com/wkarchive.htm .
2.  Gill, John, An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, London: Mathews and Leigh, 1809 (Online Bible,
     1995), Rev 2:2.
3.  Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p. 30.
4.  Vine, W. E., Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1984, p. 445.
5.  American Heritage Electronic Dictionary, WordStar Intl., 1993 under the word “borne”.
6.  Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p. 31.
7.  Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 66.
8.  Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 71-72.
9.  Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 73
10. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p. 32).
11. Willson, Lloyd V., The Triumph And Glory, Bedford, TX: Bedford Baptist Temple, 1993, p. 41.
12. Walvoord, John F., The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chicago: Moody, 1966, p. 62.
13. Halley, Henry H., Halley’s Bible Handbook, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1927, pp. 758-759, 761-762.
14. Unger, Merrill F., Unger’s Bible Handbook, Chicago, IL: Moody, 1967, pp. 900-901
15. Carroll, J. M., The Trail of Blood, Lexington, KY: Ashland Ave. Baptist Church, 1931, pp. 12-13.
16. Christian, John T., A History of the Baptists, Texarkana, TX: Bogard Press, 1922, p. 28
17. Carroll, J. M., The Trail of Blood, Lexington, KY: Ashland Ave. Baptist Church, 1931, pp. 12-14
18. Fuller, David Otis, Which Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: Institute for Biblical Textual Studies, 1970, p. 192.
19. Henry, John M., Textual Corruptions, Nong Kai, Thailand: Landmark Bible Baptist Network, 1999,
     http://KJV.LandmarkBibleBaptist.net/corruptions.html .
20. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 80.
21. Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1916, pp. 240-241.
22. Webber, David & Hutchings, Noah, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Oklahoma City: Southwest Radio Church,
     1983, pp. 36-37).
23. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 90.
24. Rice, John R, Behold He Cometh, Murfreeboro, TN: Sword Of The Lord Publishers, 1977, p. 76.
25. Mayfield, Scott, Notes on Church History, Bedford, TX: Bedford Baptist Temple, Unpublished, 1992, p. 14.
26. Armitage, Thomas, A History of the Baptists, Watertown, WI: Maranatha Baptist Press, 1886, p. 321.
27. Armitage, Thomas, A History of the Baptists, Watertown, WI: Maranatha Baptist Press, 1886, p. 318.
28. Cramp, J. M., Baptist History, Watertown, WI: Baptist Heritage Publications, 1871, pp. 50, 70.
29. Webber, David & Hutchings, Noah, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Oklahoma City: Southwest Radio Church,
     1983, pp. 28-29.
30. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 102.
31. Rice, John R, Behold He Cometh, Murfreeboro, TN: Sword Of The Lord Publishers, 1977, p. 79.
32. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 103.




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