CHAPTER 2

As we begin reading the messages that Jesus sent to the seven churches we see that He reveals Himself as the One who is able to meet the individual needs of every human being. We will also see that all seven messages contain seven similar revelations, commendations and admonitions such as the following:

1. A description of Jesus drawn from the overall picture as presented in chapter 1.

2. The positive points about the church receiving the message.

3. A description of each churches failings.

4. Practical advice from Jesus on how they were to correct these failings.

5. A stern warning of the consequences for those who fail to heed His advice.

6. A call for everyone to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

7. A special promise to all who will hear and overcomes.

Interesting note; the number 7 appears in this Book 54 times and throughout the Bible this number signifies completeness. So we can say with some assurance that the 7 churches represent in a sense, the complete church of Jesus Christ. There were many other Christian churches in the region, some even more prominent than the ones mentioned but the ones Jesus spoke to seemed to represent a cycle and thus the whole Book must apply to the Christian church as a whole. The phrase, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches" is repeated 7 times. It is a universal message, an appeal for everyone to listen to what the Spirit through the message is saying to all the churches.

Revelation 2:1

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands;

Exodus 15:6

Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.

The person holding the seven stars (seven angels) in His right hand and who is walking in the midst of the seven lamp stands (seven churches) is the Lord Jesus Christ. The mention of His right hand is significant in that it is comforting as when He laid it on John's shoulder (Rev. 1:17) and it is majestic in power to shatter His enemies.

Ephesus was called the "Queen of Asia" and was famous for the temple of Diana and was considered one of the "seven wonders" of the ancient world. In those days Ephesus was the largest city, very wealthy and beautiful and was noted for its study of the arts and its fascination with magic.

Revelation 2:2,3

2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3 And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for name's sake and have not become weary.

The first thing we notice is that Ephesus is commended for seven things: 1) it's works, 2) It's labor, 3) It's patience, 4) It's stand against evil, 5) For exposing the false prophets of their day, 6) For their patience and long suffering, 7) Their strength and endurance.

Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Jesus commends the church for those seven attributes but, there is always that but, He said, I have something against you, you have left your first love. Even though they upheld God's laws in their way of life, their love for Jesus began to diminish and grow cold.

Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place--unless you repent.

The Lord is admonishing the church to remember their former state and the love they once had for Him and to think of how their relationship with Him has faded. They are told to repent and begin once again to do the right thing as they did in the past. The warning given to them is clear and stern and they are advised to heed it and repent.

Revelation 2:6

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

On the plus side they are given credit for hating the deeds of the Gnostic group called Nicolaitans. They are people who considered themselves an elite group with a secret and superior knowledge of mystical and philosophical doctrines and who emphasized freedom from the need to keep God's moral law. Jesus also hated the deeds of these people, take note, the deeds, not the people.

Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'

We are admonished to listen to what God's Holy Spirit has to say to these churches and to us today, it is repeated 7 times. If we are doers and not just hearers of His Word we will eat of the tree of life one day in His Kingdom, if not we will lose it all. Ephesus was once a great and beautiful city but today it no longer exists.

Revelation 2:8

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

Smyrna is now called Izmir and it is the third largest city in Turkey located in the West on the Aegean Sea. It is noted for its excellent harbor and its many temples and it was considered the center of pagan worship with its temples for the gods Aphrodite, Apollo, Zeus, Cybele, Poseidon, Demeter and others. It was in this pagan atmosphere that the church in Smyrna had to live and function.

Revelation 2:9

I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Once again we are made aware of the Omniscience of the Lord as He tells them that He knows all about the works they have done for Him and the tribulation they had to endure because of it, and of their poverty. This pagan culture oppressed and afflicted them and the religious men who claimed to be Jews (but were not) persecuted them. They could have very easily believed that God had forgotten them. Here He is telling them He hasn't.

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life

- - - - - - -

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

During this period of time the Christians suffered under terrible persecution and many were put to death for their faith. It was during this period of time that the church suffered for ten years its worst time of persecution, between the years 303-313 AD. This was the '10 days' prophesied by Jesus. A day in prophetic terminology often represents a year as we can read in Numbers 14:34 "For forty years-one year for each of the forty days." and in Ezekiel 4:6 "I have appointed you each day for a year." The church is encouraged not to fear any of those things that Satan is going to bring upon them. He assures them that if they are faithful and endure the suffering and tribulations they will have to face, even unto death, they will receive a crown of life from the Lord Himself.

Revelation 2:11

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '

Revelation 20:14

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Revelation 21:8

7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

There is no condemnation just an urging to hear what the Spirit has to say along with a promise for those who overcome the persecution and threats inflicted on them by Satan, a promise that they will not have to fear the second death, which is the lake of fire, hell.

Revelation 2:12

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword

Pergamos was located about 70-80 miles North of the church in Smyrna and was also known as a great religious center and is know today as Bergama, a town of about 48,000 in the Western part of Turkey. Pergamos was also called Pergamum. The church in Pergamos is about to receive a message from the one has the two edged sword. Rev. 1:16

Revelation 2:13

"I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

The Pergamos church was located in a place the Lord says Satan dwelled and where his throne was, what this means and why it is said has various views. One of the strongest is that Pergamos was a pagan religious center and thought to be a stronghold of satanic power and the political center of a government that demanded the people worship their gods, they even claim the god Zeus was born there. Despite all of this pagan worship that surrounded them the church held fast to their faith and did not deny their Lord in the face of adversity and persecution. One of their Brothers in Christ by the name of Antipas was martyred for his faith and he is called by the Lord, "My faithful martyr" what an honor.

Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

They are rebuked because of those among them that allowed pagan, unchristian influence into their midst, accepting the teachings of Balaam, a false prophet who followed after unrighteousness and was a false, corrupt teacher who did what he did for material gain. He delved into idolatry and immorality to please the evil King Balak and tempted the Israelites to sin against their God and he was finally killed by the Israelites.

Revelation 2:15

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

On top of the doctrine of Balaam they also had among them those who held to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, a doctrine mixed with immorality and Gnosticism along with an arrogant, bold, and assuming authority. The condemnation was not only to those who held to these doctrines but also to the church that allows them to continue practicing these things in their midst and God hates these doctrines of men. Because of this the church was steadily advancing down the path of apostasy and the only hope for them was repentance.

Revelation 2:16

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

The word the Lord uses is one we do not hear very often in today's churches, Repent, feel regret for ones actions of the past, changes that come from a contrite, humbled heart. Five of the seven churches are admonished to repent and if they don't He with the two-edged sword, Jesus, would come against them with judgment that begins in the house of God.

Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'

This is spoken not only to the church at Pergamos but to all those that have ears, that is everyone. We are being warned about compromising our faith with the world and all of its false teachings. We are to be over comers and if we are we will receive the true bread from heaven and a white stone with our new heavenly name written on it, this is very intimate.

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Revelation 2:18

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

This church was located in the smallest of the seven cities and for Christians to do any type of business in this city they had to deal with people who were controlled by pagan deities. The greatest danger for this church did not come from outside persecution but from within the church itself.

Revelation 2:19

I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

The church is commended for their works, love, service, faith and patience and that their works at the present time are greater than they were previously. The Lord lets us know that He is always aware of our actions and the condition of our hearts.

Revelation 2:20

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols

The church receives condemnation for allowing this women Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess but in reality is a false teacher to come into the church to teach and to seduce "My servants" Jesus said by committing sexual immorality among the members and also teaching them to eat things that were sacrificed to idols. She was the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon and she was married to one of Israel's wicked Kings named Ahab. She was responsible for the existence of the temples of Baal and for the living sacrifice of children to these false gods and for child prostitutes in the temples. The church of Thyatira was made up of two distinct classes of people, those who committed adultery with Jezebel and those who remained faithful to Jesus.

Revelation 2:21-23

21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Jezebel continued her pagan rituals and sacrifices and the people continued in their sexual and spiritual adultery. God told them to repent but they would not and Jezebel was thrown to her death and the people who sinned with her into great tribulation. All this was done to bring them to a place of repentance and restoration and would bring glory to Himself and all would know that He is the one who can and does search the minds and hearts of all men. Jezebel's punishment is recorded in 1Kings 21:23 & 2Kings 9:33-37 - She was thrown down and dashed to death and dogs ate her corpse.

Revelation 2:24-25

24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

To those in the church who have not committed adultery with Jezebel, the faithful servants, Jesus is saying, "Hold on to what you have and don't stop doing right until I come".

Revelation 2:26-28

26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--

27'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'--as I also have received from My Father;

28 and I will give him the morning star.

To the faithful, those who hold on and overcome the temptations of Satan, to them He will give a place in His coming Kingdom and they shall rule with Him. He will also give of Himself for He is the morning star.

Revelation 22:16

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

- - - - - - - - -

Revelation 2:29

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

God's Holy Spirit through these messages to the churches warns all of us that we need to be on guard so that we do not share in the condemnations He gives to the churches by being guilty of what they were accused of. It is imperative that we not onlyhear what the Spirit is saying to the churchesa, but that we doers of what He says also..