Revelation 2

1. Ephesus. See Acts xviii. 19; xix. 1, and the Epistle to the Ephesians.

He that holdeth, etc. The Greek verb means holdeth fast—preserving them.

who walketh in the midst, etc. Constantly observing the condition of the churches, and watching over their welfare.

2 thy labour. In the service of God and truth.

canst not bear . . . and hast borne. The same verb. “There are things which thou canst not bear, and things which thou canst bear” (Trench). The false claim to apostleship was but the culmination of the spirit against which Paul had warned the Ephesian elders (Acts xx. 30) fulfilled in the teachings of Hymnæus, Philetus, and Alexander (1 Tim. i. 20; 2 Tim. ii. 17: cp. also 2 Cor. xi. 12-15).

4. I have [somewhat] against thee, etc. Better, “I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love.” Zeal for orthodoxy and moral correctness (2, 6); activity and constancy (2, 3) were there; but the early glow of love to God and man was lacking.

5 will remove thy candlestick, etc. Coldness and formality will result in darkness and decay. The Lord’s gracious call to repentance seems to have been little heeded by the Ephesian church; and before very long the threatening was fulfilled. There has been no church of Ephesus for ages, and the site of the city is now a melancholy ruin. See Modern Discoveries on the Site of Ancient Ephesus, by J. T. Wood; Murray’s Handbook to Asia Minor; and Sir William Ramsay’s St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

6 the Nicolaitans. Nothing is now known certainly respecting the Nicolaitans except that their “deeds” and “doctrine” were most mischievous. But several of the fathers state that they were a sect of Gnostics, who taught that Christians were not under the obligations of morality—the “Antinomians” of the early Church. Nicolas, or Nicolaus, their alleged founder, is sometimes, but doubtfully, identified with the one of “the Seven” who bore that name (Acts vi. 5). See note, ver. 14.

7. To him that overcometh, etc. There is marked connexion between these promises and the blessings described in later portions of this book as belonging to the saints in the New Jerusalem: cp. 7 with xxii. 2, 14; 11 with xx. 6; iii. 4 with vii. 9; xix. 8; xx. 12-15; and iii. 21 with xx. 4; xxii. 5.

paradise. See notes on Gen. ii. 8; Luke xxiii. 43. As man, overcome by Satan, lost Paradise by his first fall; so the promise by which the “fallen” (5) are encouraged to repent and to overcome is the admission to eternal life in the heavenly Paradise.

8. Smyrna. Smyrna (now Ismir) is still a flourishing city; with a population of over 250,000. Its Christian inhabitants, Armenian and other, have at various times, and even in recent years, suffered severely at the hands of the Turks.

9 and poverty. They were poor in earthly goods, having perhaps been stripped by persecution; but they were rich in heavenly substance (Jas. ii. 5).

the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews. These unbelieving Jews, who were not true Israelites (John i. 47; Rom. ix. 6-8; Cal. iii. 7), but rather “a synagogue of Satan” (John viii. 44), railed against the Christians, and their Lord.

10 ten days. Meaning a short and definite period, in accord with the numerical symbolism of the Book.

a (the) crown of life. Life, as a crown. The allusion is to “the garland” of victory and honour. Cp. 1 Cor. ix. 5; 1 Pet. v. 4.

11. He that overcometh, etc. See xx. 14; xxi. 8.

12. Pergamos.** Pergamos (generally Pergamum), 50 miles N.E. of Smyrna, was a large city, and, as Sir William Ramsay (Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible) has shown, for more than two centuries down to about 50 B.C., the capital of the Roman province of Asia (Asia Minor). It had many temples of the pagan gods. It is now called Bergama.

13. Satan’s seat.** Rather, “Satan’s throne.” Pergamum was noted for the worship of Æsculapius under the form of a serpent. This false god was entitled Theos Soter (God the Saviour).

14 doctrine. Or, “teaching”; i.e., that of persons who, like Balaam, in confederacy with Balak, attempt to corrupt the people of God by idolatry and licentiousness. Many expositors regard the Nicolaitans and the followers of Balaam as identical. See Numb. xxii. 5, 8; xxv. 1; xxxi. 16; 1 Cor. vi. 13, 18; 2 Pet. ii. 15.

15 thou also. Thou, as well as the Ephesian church: see on ver. 6.

16 the sword of my mouth. See 12; i. 16. Christ’s word of truth and justice.

17 the hidden manna. The manna laid up in the sanctuary (see Exod. xvi. 32-34); symbolising the bread which came down from heaven (John vi. 30).

a white stone. Possibly, the “white stone” of acquittal, representing the believer’s justification; or perhaps an allusion to the bright stones in the high priest’s breastplate, or the two onyx stones on his shoulders; bearing the names of the chosen tribes engraved on them: see Exod. xxviii. 9-12, 17-21, 29. The “new name” is probably the symbol of a new and transfigured character (Plumptre; so also Dr. C. A. Scott). Archdeacon Charles thinks it is the name of Christ or God, but the words “which no man knoweth” hardly bear this out.

18. Thyatira.** Now Akhissar (“White Castle”). See note on Acts xvi. 14. It was devoted to the worship of Apollo, and was also famous for its trade-guilds, which were one of the great obstacles to Christianity (see Sir W. Ramsay in Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible).

eyes like unto a flame of fire, etc. Having the piercing eye of Omniscience, and the tread of pure and righteous power.

19 the last [to be] more than the first. i.e., “thy last works are more excellent than the first” (Speaker’s Commentary). There had been a growth in the Christian life.

20. Jezebel.** The name of Ahab’s idolatrous wife (I Kings xvi. 31) is used here, perhaps to mark the character of some woman who exerted a most disastrous influence in the church.

21 space to repent. This is the purpose of Divine delay in inflicting deserved punishment: see 2 Pet. iii. 9.

23 her children. Her disciples.

He which searcheth the reins and hearts. To “try the reins and hearts,” and to “reward men according to their work,” are the acts of God (see Jer. xvii. 10; Psa. lxii. 12), whose prerogative our Lord here claims as His own.

24 the depths of Satan, as they speak. The Gnostic teachers claimed an acquaintance with the deep things of God. The phrase was current among them, and is here quoted; only, instead of being depths of God they are declared to be depths “of

Satan.” The high spiritual claim is referred to the spirit of evil.

none other burden. No other severe duty or trial than firmly to oppose this spiritual wickedness.

27 he shall rule them with a rod of iron. Expressing the Messiah’s strong and retributive government over rebellious men; and the moral power exercised by the Church in His name.

28. I will give him the morning star.** Christ Himself is “the bright and Morning Star” (see xxii. 16, and note); “the sum of every spiritual blessing” (Trench).