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;
This message is sent from the One who holds those who minister in His protection and control, and who walks among His people, fellowshipping with them. This description of Christ is given to this church to remind them that He is in control and walks with them in order to try to wake them up.
John is recording a message for each of the churches in Asia. He is personally acquainted with them. He likely has visited them all at one time or another. These letters address their current state and are written to the “angel” of the church, or in other words, the “ministering spirit” or head pastor. He starts with Ephesus, a famous church planted by Paul. This is the church that the book of Ephesians is written to. It is believed that John lived here in Ephesus for a while, probably just before his banishment, and maybe afterwards also. Though Timothy was the pastor of this church at some point, it is not believed that he was at this time.
This church was destroyed sometime during the second century.
2 I know thy works, and thy labor, 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 labored, and hast not fainted.
God knows, even if no one else does, how much we work, how patient we are, how evil vexes us. These saints had worked hard and despised evil. They had tested some who had presented themselves as ministers and discovered they were not telling the truth about God.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
New converts are anxious to find out more about Jesus. They love Him with a passionate love and are heartily grateful for His mercy. These Christians had lost this passion.
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.
“Go back and remember how you were before I saved you. Turn around (repent) and start all over.” Christ told them to find that zeal they had lost or else He would take their church away.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
There are two different ideas of who the Nicolaitans were.
One says the Nicolas who is mentioned in Acts as being appointed a deacon was accused of extreme jealousy because of the beauty of his wife. He is reported to have offered to divorce her and allow her to marry someone else in order to prove he was not jealous. Later church members misinterpret what he said as offering for anyone to have sex with his wife, and the teaching evolved that the prohibitions against ritual prostitution were Old Testament Laws and thus didn't apply to Christians. They began wife swapping and having orgies, claiming them as "Christian Love Feasts."
All those who call themselves Christians, are not necessarily so. If you go stand in your garage and say "Vroom vroom" it doesn't make you a truck. We have many today who are teaching horrid blasphemes like both of these in the name of Jesus. We should hate their deeds just like the Ephesians hated the Nicolaitans.
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.
Everyone who overcomes Satan and the temptations of this life will be able to eat of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. They will live forever.
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 is the only city of these still known by its original name. This church no longer exists, however. The entire area is now Muslim.
Polycarp pastored this church at one point.
Christ is the beginning and the end. He was crucified and yet lives. This picture of Him is used to reassure them that He is in control and does know what is going on; that they are in His hand and protection.
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.
God knows how hard they have worked and the persecution they are suffering. He knows they don’t have as much money as those around them (high city taxes due to an earthquake); that they are living in poverty. But He tells them they are rich in Him. Being rich in God is so much more rewarding and satisfying than being rich in worldly goods.
He knows they have had problems with those who are Jews on the outside (biologically) but not on the inside (they haven’t accepted Jesus as their savior). On the inside they belong to the devil. This would include those who were telling Christians they had to keep The Law. This teaching diminishes what Christ did and puts His people right back into the bondage Jesus released them from with His Crucifixion.
"Satan’s church" is any church that focuses more on man’s doctrine than on salvation through Christ. It achieves his purpose of getting our eyes off God and onto anything else. Keeping The Law, saving the environment, righting social justices; these things are the works of man and are blasphemy when they become the focus of the church of Christ.
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.
He tells them not to be afraid; that they are going to suffer great trials. The fact is that we all suffer persecution when we are in God’s will. Here in America, it has been very mild so far. There are today, however, more people being thrown in prison and killed for being Christians all over the world than ever before in history.
God tells them that some- not all- will be thrown into prison for His name. He also comforts them with the knowledge that this tribulation will only be for ten days, a very short time. He says if they hold onto Him and don’t stumble during this, they will be richly rewarded in heaven.
This is one of only two of the churches that He had nothing bad to say about.
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.
The "second death" is the eternal death called Hell- being in the death-throws for all of eternity. Those that stay true to God won’t have to go through this, but will have Eternal Life instead.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
This may have been a city erected on the ruins of old Troy, but we don’t know for sure.
Christ is represented as the one with a sharp sword to remind this church that He will judge. The sword is the word of God which is the standard we will all be judged by. It is sharp enough to deal with the hardest heart and two edged in order to destroy the sinner while cutting the bonds of the saved.
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.
Again, Christ is aware of all they have been through.
Many believe the governor of this city was especially wicked and a harsh persecutor of the church, especially since it was the center of emperor-worship, as well as sun-worship in Asia Minor. They held fast to God even when one of their own was martyred.
Antipas was the pastor of the church in Pergamos, and was roasted to death on the altar of Zeus for casting out demons to the point of harming pagan worship in the city, and then refusing to offer sacrifices to the emperor.
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 stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
The doctrine that caused Israel to sin is introduced again; fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols. Some were teaching that God didn’t really mean it when He told us that sex should only be between a married man and woman, much like today when many Christians think premarital sex is OK. This only degrades the participants and the marital union opening the door to greater perversion (i.e. homosexuality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, etc.) It makes sex nothing but a cheap game instead of the wonderful communion that symbolizes our closeness to God. It displeased God that they had allowed these people to remain in the church. Sinners who saw these people being allowed to remain would assume that they were being approved of, making the church hypocrites and bringing blemishes on God Himself. Had they kicked them out, they would have stopped the spread of sin in the church and preserved her pure image, making her a better witness to the world.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
The second, less popular view, is that the word "nicolatians" is from the Greek words for "rule over the laity." The condemnation in Revelation is a condemnation of priest-rule (leadership taking advantage) of the church, God preferring a more democratic form of church.
All those who call themselves Christians, are not necessarily so. If you go stand in your garage and say "Vroom vroom" it doesn't make you a truck. We have many today who are teaching horrid blasphemes like both of these in the name of Jesus. We should hate their deeds just like the Ephesians hated the Nicolaitans.
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.
Everyone who overcomes Satan and the temptations of this life will be able to eat of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. They will live forever.
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 is the only city of these still known by its original name. This church no longer exists, however. The entire area is now Muslim.
Polycarp pastored this church at one point.
Christ is the beginning and the end. He was crucified and yet lives. This picture of Him is used to reassure them that He is in control and does know what is going on; that they are in His hand and protection.
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.
God knows how hard they have worked and the persecution they are suffering. He knows they don’t have as much money as those around them (high city taxes due to an earthquake); that they are living in poverty. But He tells them they are rich in Him. Being rich in God is so much more rewarding and satisfying than being rich in worldly goods.
He knows they have had problems with those who are Jews on the outside (biologically) but not on the inside (they haven’t accepted Jesus as their savior). On the inside they belong to the devil. This would include those who were telling Christians they had to keep The Law. This teaching diminishes what Christ did and puts His people right back into the bondage Jesus released them from with His Crucifixion.
"Satan’s church" is any church that focuses more on man’s doctrine than on salvation through Christ. It achieves his purpose of getting our eyes off God and onto anything else. Keeping The Law, saving the environment, righting social justices; these things are the works of man and are blasphemy when they become the focus of the church of Christ.
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.
He tells them not to be afraid; that they are going to suffer great trials. The fact is that we all suffer persecution when we are in God’s will. Here in America, it has been very mild so far. There are today, however, more people being thrown in prison and killed for being Christians all over the world than ever before in history.
God tells them that some- not all- will be thrown into prison for His name. He also comforts them with the knowledge that this tribulation will only be for ten days, a very short time. He says if they hold onto Him and don’t stumble during this, they will be richly rewarded in heaven.
This is one of only two of the churches that He had nothing bad to say about.
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.
The "second death" is the eternal death called Hell- being in the death-throws for all of eternity. Those that stay true to God won’t have to go through this, but will have Eternal Life instead.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
This may have been a city erected on the ruins of old Troy, but we don’t know for sure.
Christ is represented as the one with a sharp sword to remind this church that He will judge. The sword is the word of God which is the standard we will all be judged by. It is sharp enough to deal with the hardest heart and two edged in order to destroy the sinner while cutting the bonds of the saved.
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.
Again, Christ is aware of all they have been through.
Many believe the governor of this city was especially wicked and a harsh persecutor of the church, especially since it was the center of emperor-worship, as well as sun-worship in Asia Minor. They held fast to God even when one of their own was martyred.
Antipas was the pastor of the church in Pergamos, and was roasted to death on the altar of Zeus for casting out demons to the point of harming pagan worship in the city, and then refusing to offer sacrifices to the emperor.
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 stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
The doctrine that caused Israel to sin is introduced again; fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols. Some were teaching that God didn’t really mean it when He told us that sex should only be between a married man and woman, much like today when many Christians think premarital sex is OK. This only degrades the participants and the marital union opening the door to greater perversion (i.e. homosexuality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, etc.) It makes sex nothing but a cheap game instead of the wonderful communion that symbolizes our closeness to God. It displeased God that they had allowed these people to remain in the church. Sinners who saw these people being allowed to remain would assume that they were being approved of, making the church hypocrites and bringing blemishes on God Himself. Had they kicked them out, they would have stopped the spread of sin in the church and preserved her pure image, making her a better witness to the world.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
This lends to the idea that "Nicolaitans" means "rule over the laity" because the other interpretation of "Nicolaitan" is almost the same as the interpretation of the doctrine of Balaam.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Repent means turn around.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Repent means turn around.
“Go a different direction and quit doing that. If you don’t, I will fight against you with the Word.”
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.
Those who would overcome this tendency to let sin live in their midst, God will give a white stone (to say he is innocent as opposed to a black stone that says he is guilty. This is how a jury voted in those days, casting the right colored stone for the juror’s opinion,) and a new name (they would be adopted into His family, taking His name and leaving their old name behind. The name of this church had been soiled because of the sinners in their midst. God promises to give them a new one that is pure).
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 is a city of the proconsular of Asia, bordering upon Mysia on the north and Lydia on the south; a town of trade, where Lydia, the seller of purple mentioned in Acts, lived.
Christ is pictured here as having eyes that burn like a fire, powerful and piercing; and feet like brass, solid strong and sure.
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.
This church had done a good job of caring for the poor and serving as Jesus told us to. They had strong faith and patience with others. They were growing and their faith and works were getting better and better. They hadn’t lost their first love.
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.
Their problem was that they had been TOO patient. They had someone in their midst who was calling herself a prophetess (putting herself above the ministry of the church) and teaching the people to sin. God does not condemn her because she is a woman prophet. Not at all! He condemns her for being a FALSE prophet, something men are also condemned for. Women prophets were actually common in the early church.
Jezebel in the Old Testament was the greatest killer of the prophets of God and promoter of Baal worship. This woman in Thyatira was evidently doing a great deal of damage to God’s church, encouraging them to engage in idolatry and adultery. The church should have kicked her out.
(Neither woman was likely ever called “Jezebel” since it is Hebrew for “Daughter of a dung Beetle.” The Old Testament Jezebel was likely actually named “Daughter of Baal” which sounds very similar, and the Hebrew Historians used the derogatory name in their writings to express their opinion of her. This “Jezebel” is being called that to identify what this woman is doing with what the Old Testament Jezebel did.)
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
God had given her the opportunity to turn around and quit sinning, but she wouldn’t.
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.
God says those who sin with this woman will have great tribulation if they don’t repent. (Her sin may not have actually been sexual in nature. God was using the bed and “adultery with her” as a metaphor for disobeying Him, for engaging in Pagan worship).
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.
Her followers- spiritual children- will be destroyed; probably physically as well as spiritually, condemning them to hell. Everyone will know that God knows our very thoughts and will reward us justly.
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.
Those who have not joined this woman, Christ won’t punish.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
“Just hang on until I act.”
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
“I will give great power to those that can hold out in the truth. I will make them rulers.”
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.
Possibly, the leaders of this church became mayors or equivalent rulers of the city, bringing true justice. God will often put his true followers into places of power to bring justice to the world.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
Jesus
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. “Everyone listen up!”
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.
Those who would overcome this tendency to let sin live in their midst, God will give a white stone (to say he is innocent as opposed to a black stone that says he is guilty. This is how a jury voted in those days, casting the right colored stone for the juror’s opinion,) and a new name (they would be adopted into His family, taking His name and leaving their old name behind. The name of this church had been soiled because of the sinners in their midst. God promises to give them a new one that is pure).
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 is a city of the proconsular of Asia, bordering upon Mysia on the north and Lydia on the south; a town of trade, where Lydia, the seller of purple mentioned in Acts, lived.
Christ is pictured here as having eyes that burn like a fire, powerful and piercing; and feet like brass, solid strong and sure.
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.
This church had done a good job of caring for the poor and serving as Jesus told us to. They had strong faith and patience with others. They were growing and their faith and works were getting better and better. They hadn’t lost their first love.
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.
Their problem was that they had been TOO patient. They had someone in their midst who was calling herself a prophetess (putting herself above the ministry of the church) and teaching the people to sin. God does not condemn her because she is a woman prophet. Not at all! He condemns her for being a FALSE prophet, something men are also condemned for. Women prophets were actually common in the early church.
Jezebel in the Old Testament was the greatest killer of the prophets of God and promoter of Baal worship. This woman in Thyatira was evidently doing a great deal of damage to God’s church, encouraging them to engage in idolatry and adultery. The church should have kicked her out.
(Neither woman was likely ever called “Jezebel” since it is Hebrew for “Daughter of a dung Beetle.” The Old Testament Jezebel was likely actually named “Daughter of Baal” which sounds very similar, and the Hebrew Historians used the derogatory name in their writings to express their opinion of her. This “Jezebel” is being called that to identify what this woman is doing with what the Old Testament Jezebel did.)
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
God had given her the opportunity to turn around and quit sinning, but she wouldn’t.
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.
God says those who sin with this woman will have great tribulation if they don’t repent. (Her sin may not have actually been sexual in nature. God was using the bed and “adultery with her” as a metaphor for disobeying Him, for engaging in Pagan worship).
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.
Her followers- spiritual children- will be destroyed; probably physically as well as spiritually, condemning them to hell. Everyone will know that God knows our very thoughts and will reward us justly.
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.
Those who have not joined this woman, Christ won’t punish.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
“Just hang on until I act.”
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
“I will give great power to those that can hold out in the truth. I will make them rulers.”
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.
Possibly, the leaders of this church became mayors or equivalent rulers of the city, bringing true justice. God will often put his true followers into places of power to bring justice to the world.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
Jesus
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. “Everyone listen up!”