The Bible — World English Bible
Revelation 2
In brief
Revelation 2 contains four of the seven letters of the risen Christ to the churches of Asia Minor. In Ephesus, a rigorous church has lost its first love. In Smyrna, a poor and persecuted church is called to stay faithful. In Pergamum, a firm church nevertheless tolerates teachings of compromise. In Thyatira, the works are growing but Jezebel is seducing believers. Each letter ends with a promise to the one who overcomes.
The chapter in 4 parts
1“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:
2“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.
3You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.
4But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
5Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.
6But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
8“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
9“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.
12“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
16Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
18“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
19“I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.
20But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
23I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
24But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan,’ to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
25Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
26He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
27He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:
28and I will give him the morning star.
29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Key verses
But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.
Christ's reproach to a church that seems blameless: it has left its first love. He gives the way back: remember where you have fallen, repent and do the first works again.
Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Christ does not promise Smyrna that it will escape suffering, but he asks it not to be afraid and to stay faithful. As he says, “Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Pergamum lives in a city where pagan worship dominated, and Christ knows it. He acknowledges that the church did not deny his faith, even when a faithful witness was put to death.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
The hidden manna, the white stone, the new name: personal promises made to the one who overcomes. These images allude to the manna of the Exodus and to intimacy with God.
Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
In Thyatira, Christ does not ask the faithful to carry an extra burden: they are to “hold that which you have firmly until I come.” Perseverance is part of the answer.
Bible verses to meditate on
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Revelation 2
What does it mean to leave your first love in Revelation 2:4?
Christ reproaches the church in Ephesus for losing the love of the early days, even though it worked, persevered and defended sound doctrine. The text shows that one can stay active and rigorous while letting the relationship with God cool. The remedy offered is to remember, repent and do the first works again.
What are the seven churches of Revelation?
They are seven real communities of Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey, to which Christ addresses a letter. Chapter 2 presents four of them: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira. Christians see in them messages for the churches of that time, and also an invitation to examine every church and every believer today. Some also read in them a picture of the ages of church history, a reading that not all traditions share.
What do the hidden manna and the white stone mean in verse 17?
The manna recalls the food God gave Israel in the desert, and the white stone carrying a new name suggests a personal mark of favor. These images promise the one who overcomes an intimate relationship with God and an identity received from him. Commentators offer several explanations for the detail of the stone, and the text does not settle them.
Why does Jesus speak of Satan's throne in Pergamum?
Pergamum was a major religious center of Asia Minor, with temples dedicated to several deities. Many see in the expression of verse 13 an allusion to this climate of pagan worship and pressure on Christians. Christ is not unaware of this context: he says he knows where the church lives and acknowledges its faithfulness.
Articles quoting Revelation 2
World English Bible translation — public domain.