Rev. 2 Rev. 2:1–7 What John was commanded to write in commendation or reproof to the angels of the churches of Ephesus, Rev. 2:8–11 Smyrna, Rev. 2:12–17 Pergamos, Rev. 2:18–29 Thyatira.

Rev. 2:1, These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars, Rev. 1:16, Rev. 2:8, The first and the last, which was dead and is alive, Rev. 1:17–18, Rev. 2:12. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges, Rev. 1:16, Rev.

I know thy works: these words being in the front of all the seven epistles, cannot be interpreted as signifying a knowledge of approbation, as Ps. 1:6, but of a comprehension in the understanding, and as signifying Christ’s omnisciency; though it be true, that the Lord both understood and approved…

And hast borne the contradiction of false teachers, and the persecutions of Jews and pagans; for at this time the second persecution was began by Domitian. And hast patience; grace (with quietness and submission) to bear the will of God in any sort of evils.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee; something to accuse thee of, and blame thee for. Because thou hast left thy first love; of late thou hast not been so warm in the propagation of my gospel, and maintaining my truth.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen; that is, in what degree thy love was formerly, and compare it with what it is now. And repent; repentance in man, signifieth both the change of the heart and of the actions.

But this thou hast; thou hast yet thus much to commend thee. That thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes; thou hatest the deeds of those who teach the lawfulness of a common use of wives, and eat things offered to idols; for these, they say, were the tenets of the Nicolaitanes, so called from…

He that hath an ear, let him hear; to whom God hath given an ability and power to understand what I say. It is a form of speech which Christ often used, when he would quicken up people’s attention, Matt. 11:15, Matt. 13:9, Matt.

Smyrna was a city in Ionia; we read not when, or by whom, the gospel was first planted and a church gathered there; nor can we tell who are meant by the angel of this church: see Rev. 1:20. That it was no single person is probable, for he speaks plurally, Rev.

I know thy works, and tribulation: though the term know doth not necessarily signify approbation, yet, both as to the church of Ephesus and Smyrna, the particular works mentioned assure us, that God approved their patient suffering affliction for his name.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; thou art like to suffer yet sharper things than thou hast suffered, the persecutions are but begun; but pluck up a good courage, fear not your enemies, Matt. 10:28.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh: for the opening of these passages: See Poole on “Rev. 2:7”. Shall not be hurt of the second death; we read of the second death, Rev. 20:6, Rev.

Pergamos was a famous city of Troas; we read of Pergamos no where else in Scripture, but of Troas we read of Paul’s being there, Acts 16:8, Acts 16:11, Acts 20:5–6, and preaching Christ there, 2 Cor. 2:12. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges: see the notes on Rev. 1:16.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest; God knows all his people’s circumstances, where they dwell, as well as what they do, and how they behave themselves in their habitations. Even where Satan’s seat is; where the devil rules by his pagan deputies and antichrist’s officers.

But I have a few things against thee; though I have much to commend thee for, yet I have some things to accuse thee of, and to complain of thee for. Because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam: by the doctrine of Balaam, he means the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, (as he expounds…

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; so, saith he, thou sufferest in thy communion filthy persons, who maintain fornication lawful, and the lawfulness of eating meat offered to idols, which exactly corresponds with Balaam’s doctrine or counsel given to Balak, in order…

Repent; thou that art guilty of conniving at such things, change thy mind and practice, and let those who have entertained these opinions, and run into those filthy practices, change their hearts and practices; or else I will come unto thee quickly; I will quickly come against thee, and punish…

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh: see the annotations on Rev. 2:7. Will I give to eat of the hidden manna; here is a manifest allusion to that bread from heaven, with which God fed his people in the wilderness, called angels’ food,…

Thyatira was a city of Mysia or Lydia, not far from Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia; for Lydia, who traded in purple, and was of this city, went to Philippi to trade, as we read, Acts 16:12, Acts 16:14. Eyes like unto a flame of fire: see Rev.

I know thy works; the works of the ministry of this church were such as Christ knew, not only with a knowledge of comprehension, but approbation also. And charity; such were his charity to Christians that were in distress. And service; his diligence in his ministration.

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee: See Poole on “Rev. 2:4”, See Poole on “Rev. 2:14”. Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel: the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, mentioned Rev. 2:6, Rev. 2:15, is so plainly expressed in the latter part of the verse, viz.

I was not quick with her, but gave her a time of patience, and did not cut her off at first; but she was incorrigible, and went on in her sinful courses.

I will cast her into a bed; another kind of bed than she hath sinned in and by, not a bed of ease and pleasure, but of pain and torment. Nor shall the seduced escape, they shall also be cast into great tribulation, pains and torments of conscience, or afflictions more corporal, either from the more…

And I will kill her children, those who are seduced by her, with death; I will destroy them; unless some special death, such as the plague, be here threatened.

But unto you I say; you that are the ministers, for they are distinguished from the rest in Thyatira. The word again is plural, which lets us know these epistles were directed to no single persons.

But that which ye have already; than you already groan under. Or, no other precepts than what you have had from the apostles: the precepts of God are called burdens, Matt. 11:30, Acts 15:28. Hold fast till I come; hold fast your profession, your faith and holiness, till I come to judgment.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end: See Poole on “Rev. 2:7”, See Poole on “Rev. 2:11”, See Poole on “Rev. 2:17”. Overcoming is here expounded by keeping Christ’s works; that is, either the works by him commanded, or walking as he walked, and persevering therein to the end of…

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: an iron rod either signifies a right rod, that will not be easily bent and made crooked; or a severe rod, which is most probably the sense: see Ps. 2:9, Ps. 12:5. The words by the psalmist are applied to Christ, and to the church, Rev.

Either the light of glory, the blessed vision of God, or a certain hope of eternal life; or the Holy Spirit, called so, 2 Pet. 1:19; or rather, of myself. Christ himself is not called the Sun of righteousness, Mal. 4:2, but the Morning star, Rev.

Here the same conclusion of this epistle as of all the rest, Rev. 2:7, Rev. 2:11, Rev. 2:17; See Poole on “Rev. 2:7”. Those who make this epistle typical and prophetical, make it a type of all the churches of Christ, from about the year 1260, or the end of the persecution of the Waldenses, until…