Revelation 2 Commentary

Jesus, the authority over the seven churches and the angel of each church, greets the Ephesian church.

Jesus commends the Ephesians for standing up for the truth, for testing men who claim to be apostles and rejecting them for their false teachings.

Jesus warns the Ephesians that they are not acting out of love. Their priority is no longer to love God first, and to act accordingly. They act rightly, and stand up for truth, but they do not do it from love. If they do not repent, Christ will take away their effectiveness as witnesses to the world. However, He commends them for opposing a heretical group, the Nicolaitans. He urges the Ephesians to follow the Spirit and to overcome the world, so that they will be rewarded greatly in His kingdom.

Jesus, conqueror of death, addresses the church in Smyrna. He tells them He knows their sufferings and their worldly poverty, but reminds them they are rich in spiritual wealth. They are being persecuted by Jewish enemies.

Jesus encourages the Smyrna believers to be courageous in the face of their coming trial. They will be imprisoned, and it will test their faith, but the test will ultimately end. If they are faithful even to the point of dying, Jesus will reward them greatly in Heaven.

Jesus calls for the believers to pay close attention to what He is saying. If they are faithful witnesses, even to the point of death, if they overcome the world and live in obedience to God, they will not suffer loss at the judgement seat of Christ.

Jesus, the one who has God’s word, greets the church in Pergamum and commends them on standing firm in their faith even as they live in Satan’s dwelling place where other believers are killed.

Jesus warns the believers in Pergamum against the false teachers in their midst who are like Balaam, a prophet from the book of Numbers, who led the Israelites into sin for personal material gain to himself.

Jesus calls the church in Pergamum to repentance and urges them to hear the truth so that they might receive the blessing of intimacy with Him.

Jesus, the one who will slay the wicked, greets the church in Thyatira and commends them for their continuance in faith and good works.

Jesus corrects the church in Thyatira for how they have allowed "the woman Jezebel" to lead believers into sinful acts that lead away from trust in God and deeds of faith.

Jesus explains that He gave the woman whom He calls Jezebel the chance to repent, but since she refused, He will deal with her accordingly, as He will with all of us when we are judged for our actions.

The faithful believers in Thyatira are instructed to persevere and are promised favor with God and a position of authority.