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;
Unto = To.
angel. See Revelation 1:20 .
church. App-186 .
Ephesus. Not for those addressed in Ephesians, on whom all blessing is bestowed by grace. Here blessing is promised to overcomers only.
holdeth. Occurs eight times in Rev. Compare App-172 . See Colossians 2:19 . Hebrews 4:14 ; &c.
seven stars. See Revelation 1:16 , Revelation 1:20 .
candlesticks. See Revelation 1:12 , Revelation 1:13 , and compare Leviticus 26:12 .Deuteronomy 23:14 , &c. 2 Corinthians 6:16 .
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:
works. The Lord deals according to works in "the day of the Lord". See Isaiah 66:18 .
thy. Omit.
labour = toil. The verb in Revelation 2:3 and Matthew 6:28 .
patience. As in Revelation 2:3 with Revelation 1:9 . See Romans 2:7 .
bear. Gr . bastazo. In Rev. here, Revelation 2:3 ; Revelation 17:7 (carrieth).
evil. App-128 .
hast tried = didst try.
say they. The texts read "call themselves".
apostles. App-189 .
hast found = didst find.
liars. Greek. pseudes. Only here; Revelation 21:8 . Acts 6:13 .
3.
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
hast, &c. The texts read "and hast patient endurance and didst bear (Revelation 2:2 ) for", &c.
for . . . sake. App-104 .Revelation 2:2 .
name's. See Act 6:41 .
fainted = wearied. Greek. kamno. Only here; Hebrews 12:3 .James 5:15 (sick).
4.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
hast left = didst leave.
thy, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 7:7-9 . Jeremiah 2:1 , Jeremiah 2:2 .Ezekiel 16:6-10 .
love. App-135 . Only here and Revelation 2:19 in Rev.
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.
from. Omit.
art fallen = hast fallen.
repent. Compare Leviticus 26:40-42 .Deuteronomy 30:1-3 .Daniel 9:3 , Daniel 9:4 .Matthew 4:17 . Acts 2:38 ; &c. Contrast Ephesians 1:3 . App-111 .
else = if ( App-118 ) not ( App-105 ).
will. Omit.
quickly. The texts omit.
remove = move, as Revelation 6:14 .
except. If ( App-118 ) not ( App-105 ).
6.
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
deeds = works, as Revelation 2:5 .
Nicolaitanes. History has no record of these. Tradition says much. They will appear "in that day". All we do know is that they are hateful to God.
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.
He, &c. A formula used by the Lord alone. See App-142 .
Spirit App-101 .
saith = is saying.
overcometh. See John 16:33 . The verb nikao, to conquer or overcome, occurs seventeen times in Rev.
the tree, &c . the tree of the life. Promise fulfilled Revelation 22:14 , where also the articles differentiate from Ezekiel 47:12 .
tree. Literally wood. Greek. xulon, as used frequently in Septuagint, e.g. Exodus 7:25 .
life. App-170 .
Paradise of God. See reference in App-173 . Paradise is always used in Scripture for a definite place; is described in Genesis 2 ; lost in Genesis 3 ; its restoration spoken of by the Lord in Luke 23:43 ; seen in vision by Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:4 ; promised here, Revelation 2:7 ; restored, Revelation 22:1-5 , Revelation 22:14-17 .
God. App-98 .
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;
Smyrna. About fifty miles north-west of Ephesus. A great centre now of Levantine trade.
First . . . Last. See Revelation 1:17 .
was = became.
dead. App-139 .
is alive = lived (again). See App-170 .
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.
works, and. The texts omit.
poverty. See App-127 .
Jews. Only here, and Revelation 3:9 in Rev.
the = a.
synagogue. App-120 .
Satan. See App-19 .
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.
none of = not. App-105 .
shalt = art about to.
behold. App-133 .
devil . See Revelation 12:9 .
shall = is about to.
that = in order that. Gr . hina.
tried = tested. Compare Matthew 10:22 ; Matthew 24:9 , Matthew 24:10 ; &c.
days. Not "periods". Compare Genesis 7:4 , Genesis 7:10 . Numbers 14:33 ; &c.
be = become.
faithful. App-150 .
unto = until. Greek. achri.
death. See Revelation 12:11 .
a = the.
crown. Greek. Stephanos. See 1 Peter 5:4 .
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.
hurt See Revelation 22:11 .
second death. See Revelation 20:6 , Revelation 20:14 ; Revelation 21:8 .
12.
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Pergamos. A city of Mysia famous for the worship of Aesculapius, to whom the title of soter (saviour) was given and whose emblem was the serpent. Identified with Apollo; compare Acts 16:16 . Some trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing to Pergamos. there them that 1hold the doctrine
He Which hath, &c. See Revelation 1:16 .
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.
thy works, and. The texts omit.
dwellest, dwelleth. Greek. katoikeo, to take up abode. See Acts 2:5 .
seat = throne. Compare Revelation 13:2 , Revelation 16:10 .
holdest fast. Same as hold, Revelation 2:1 .
hast . . . denied = didst . . . deny.
denied. Greek. arneomai. First occurrence Matthew 10:33 .
My faith. See Revelation 14:12 .
faith. See App-150 .
wherein. Most texts omit.
Antipas. A witness in future who will be faithful unto death. Mentioned proleptically.
faithful. App-150 .
martyr = witness. See Revelation 1:5 .
among. Greek. para. App-104 .
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.
Balaam. See Num 22-25.Joshua 13:22 .
cast, &c. See Numbers 25:1 , &c.; Rev 31:16 , &c. 2 Peter 2:15 .Jude 1:11 .
stumblingblock. Greek. skandalon. See Numbers 25 (Septuagint)
children. App-108 .
things . . . idols. Greek. eidolothuton.
15.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
which . . . hate. The texts omit, and read "in like manner".
16.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
will. Omit.
fight = make war. Greek. polemeo. Occ only in Rev. and James. A threat which is not addressed to the Church of this age.
against. Greek. meta. App-104 .
with. Greek. en. App-104 .
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.
to eat of. The texts omit.
hidden. Greek. krupto, as in Colossians 3:3 .
manna. See John 6:58 . Compare Exodus 16:14 , Exodus 16:32-34 .Psalms 78:24 , Psalms 78:25 .
stone. Greek. psephos. See Acts 26:10 . A white stone was known to the ancients as a "victory" stone.
in. Greek. epi . App-104 .
new name. Compare Revelation 3:12 . See Isaiah 62:2 ; Isaiah 65:15 , and compare Acts 10:17 .
new. See Matthew 9:17 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
knoweth. App-132 . as the texts.
Saving. Same as else, Revelation 2:5 .
receiveth. As in John 3:27 .
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;
Thyatira. A town lying between Pergamos and Sardis. See Acts 16:14 . Another centre of Apollo and Artemis worship.
Son of God. App-98 .
feet . . . brass. Prepared for treading down in judgment. See Revelation 1:15 . Ma Revelation 1:4 , Revelation 1:3 and fulfillment in Revelation 19:13-15 .
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.
and. These "ands" form the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .
charity = love, as Revelation 2:4 .
service. App-190 .
faith. App-150 .
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.
a few things. Omit.
that = the.
Jezebel. See 1 Kings 16:30-34 ; 1 Kings 21:25 . This patroness of Baal-worship will have her sinister antitype in the future.
prophetess. Only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna) in NT.
to teach, &c. The texts read "and she teacheth and seduceth".
seduce. App-128 .
servants. App-190 .
21.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
space = time. Greek. chronos. See Revelation 6:11 ; Revelation 20:3 , and App-195 .
to repent = in order that (Greek. hina) she might repent. and she, &c. The texts read, "and she is not willing to repent of her fornication".
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.
will = do.
tribulation. Compare Romans 2:8 , Romans 2:9 , Romans 2:16 .
their = her, according to some texts.
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.
children. App-108 .
death. i.e. pestilence, as Revelation 6:8 ; Revelation 18:8 .
know. App-132 .
searcheth, &c. Compare 1 Kings 8:39 . Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 .
every = each.
according to. App-104 .
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.
and. Omit.
rest. App-124 .
depths. Compare 2 Corinthians 2:11 .
I will put . . . none. Read "I lay not" ( App-105 .)
other. See App-124 .
25.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
already . Omit.
come = shall have come.
26.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
keepeth. See Revelation 1:3 .
end. See Matthew 24:13 . Compare App-125 .
power. App-172 .
over. App-104 .
nations. Greek. ethnos. Genitive translation Gentiles.
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.
rule. Literally "shepherd", as Matthew 2:6 . See Psalms 2:7-9 .
rod = sceptre, as Hebrews 1:8 . Greek. rhabdos.
as the, &c. See Psalms 2:9 .
even as I = as I also.
received = have received.
of. Greek. para. App-104 .
Father. App-98 .
28.
And I will give him the morning star.
morning star. Fulfilled Revelation 22:16 . See Numbers 24:17 , connecting the "star" with Israel and the day of the Lord's judgment.
29.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.