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Introduction to Chapter 2

This chapter contains four letters, or epistles, to the Pastors of four of the seven churches of Asia. These churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.

It is important to know that the seven churches could not be seven church ages. The reasoning for this is that this would place the Laodicean church as being the last church age in history, this seems to fit considering the wealth of many modern churches in America. Many base their belief of this because of the wealth and careless living of many churches in America, this would certainly apply to many in America. It would certainly seem logical to assume this if Americans were all the Christians in the whole world. But, the Church in Africa, Asia, China, Sudan, Indonesia, Mexico and many other nations is under severe persecution. They are poor, they are not complacent as the Church of Laodicea. It would be impossible to say that these seven churches represent seven church ages from this view. The other point would be to consider how long these ages would have to last since it has been an approximate two thousands years since this was written. The seven stars are symbols of seven pastors, simply because God holds them accountable for the state or condition of each church. Angels are not held accountable for the sins of men. Since each letter is given to the seven pastors who are responsible for allowing these conditions in their churches it leaves us with this question. Who were the seven Pastors over the past approx. two thousand years that is being held responsible for the condition of each one of these churches. It is simply impossible that we could be looking at church ages.

The seven churches could not be the whole Church through symbolism. Many believe because the number seven is one of God’s numbers being holy and meaning a totality, or all that this is the world wide church. Again this cannot mean all the churches of the world. The reason once again is that these letters are given to seven different Pastors. Question? Who could possibly be the Pastors that are over the seven churches of the world?

The messages given in these letters express a certainty. That if God was to judge them over these issues, then God will certainly judge us in the same manner seeing that he is without respect of person. Since he requires repentance from such things as described in these letters then it is certain that he requires repentance from every Christian who were to become involved in such things.

1: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
It is uncertain who the angel or Pastor of the church at Ephesus was. Paul founded the church and ordained Timothy to Pastor there. John in the later days of his used it as a center from which he superintended the province. It is not certain who was the Pastor that this letter was given to at this time. Ephesus is famous for its temple of Diana, there was much idolatry there.

Jesus speaks to this church because it is he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand. The seven stars are pastors because God does not hold angels responsible, only men, for the condition of a church. Pastors are accountable. But notice he has them in his right hand which is the blessing hand. He alone can keep them from falling and according to the words of Jesus that no man could pluck them or us out of his hand.

Christ is walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Walking, shows his unwearied activity in the Church, guarding her from internal and external evils, as the high priest did moving from place to place in the sanctuary. Although this message is to these seven churches and he is walking in the midst of them it shows us how much he cares for the Church all over the world since he is without respect to person.

2: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Here Christ speaks to the Pastor of the church of Ephesus, not to the entire church, when Christ does speak to certain groups of people he will say so. Jesus speaks to the Pastor because he holds him responsible and wants him to correct the problem. Jesus tells him that he knows his works. This reveals that Jesus is omniscient and knows everything about all of us. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. He went on to say that he knew not only his works but his labor and patience, which is referring to his persevering labor as the Pastor of this church.

He knew that this Pastor could not bear with evil people who would corrupt the church. He is not speaking of evil in the sense of evil doers in the world but as within the church congregation. This is also not referring to bearing with a weak brother of sister but those false Christians whose teachings pervert the congregation. This goes on to clarity as we see he had tested those men who claimed to be Apostles and realized that they were liars. These are all good things, and the Lord is expressing approval.

3: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Jesus returned to the labor of this Pastor saying that he knew that had exercised persevering endurance in his labor for the Lord and had not weakened because of the opposition.

4: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
But with all of the good things that God sees, he also sees the things that this Pastor needs to improve. The Lord is disappointed because the Pastor has left or walked away from his first love. Without love being the motivator and strength of any Christians walk it becomes a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, our testimony is nothing more than noise. Paul said in 1^st Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

5: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Remember the height that you have fallen from. Remember the works that flowed from the love that you had. Exercise faith that worketh by love. Jesus tells him to go back to faith that works by love or he will pay him a visitation in the Spirit very quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place. Remember the Pastor is the one that God is warning in each of these warnings. Here he says that he will remove the candlestick from its place, which is under his authority. God is warning that he will give this church a new Pastor if this Pastor does not repent and return to his first love. This means that the candlestick, which is the church of Ephesus under the Pastor’s authority, would be moved from its place and taken somewhere else. This does not mean that the church would be removed from Ephesus, "its place" is referring to being under this Pastors authority where God had placed it. Jesus will do this unless the Pastor repents.

Although these warnings go to the Pastor for the most part, all of these principles are to any and all of us and to the church of Ephesus have any members who have these same issues. This is clear to us because God is without respect to persons.

6: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Christ once again in order to lift up and encourage this Pastor commends him because of his hatred of the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Sharing with him that he hates their deeds as well.

Writtings by such men in those days such as Irenaus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius and Michaelis wrote about the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. This doctrine supposedly originated by the son of a man identified as Nicolas. Nicolas was the name of the father of a man who had committed fornication with his own mother, Nicolas’ wife.

After the church had removed this man from their congregation for a season, he was allowed to return to prevent destroying his hope. It was believed by the church at that time that he had repented from this sort of conduct. The sad thing is that he had not repented or if he had repented he was soon overtaken by sin again. This time he created a doctrine that Grace without repentance from dead works was approved of God. Turning the message of Paul into one of lasciviousness. One that taught it was ok to sin and the more you did sin, it was to produce glory for God in his ability to forgive sins. Those that held to this doctrine shared their wives and husbands, what we would call wife swapping today, as a community of sharing. Many believed in multiple wives in marriage. It is sad that it was called the doctrine of Nicolas because Nicolas himself was innocent. It was his son that started all of this horrible heresy. They were also given to Idol worship and ate things offered to idols with any fear of God or respect.

7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Jesus then said, "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Unless we have a physical problem all men do have ears. The meaning to this is those who have a spiritual ear, an ear that has been awakened by the Spirit of God. It means for all the church, the Pastors and congregation to learn from these words that come from God.

God goes on to encourage those that have a spiritual ear to see the rewards of those who will persevere and overcome this world through faith. To this one and to all who hear he will grant that they eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22: 1: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

8: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
It is believed that Polycarp was the angel or pastor of this church. He was appointed to this by position by the Apostle John. Polycarp was martyred, killed for his faith in Christ in 108 AD. Smyrna was in Ionia, a little to the north of Ephesus.

Because of the coming persecution to this particular church Jesus reminds them of the resurrection. First he says that he was the first and the last. Then that he was dead and that now he is alive. This is meant for encouragement to face the coming storm.

9: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Because of the omniscience of Christ we know that he knows all things. He begins with saying that he knows the works of this Pastor and they are good. He has suffered tribulation and was poor because of his continually giving to others who had nothing. But, God says that he is rich.

Jesus says that he knows about the blasphemy of a group of people who claim to be Jews, but are not because they belong to the synagogue of Satan. Jewish persecution against the church increased as the Jews more and more openly opposed Christianity. The more it was opposed the more root that it obtained in the Gentile communities. The Jews feared that it was a means of destroying Judaism and fought it violently by persecuting those that believed the Gospel. The Jews, who might have been "the Church of God," had now, by their own opposition and unbelief, become the Synagogue of Satan.

10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Now Jesus begins to warn not only Polycarp but the whole congregation. He tells them not to be afraid because of the coming persecution. He then warns that the devil would cast some of them into prison. This would come through the persecution of those Jewish leaders that Jesus said was of the Synagogue of Satan. This would be a test not from God but by Satan. He told them that their persecution would last ten days. God often warns us of coming dangers to prepare our hearts for these, Jesus tells them to be faithful unto death and that if they did they would receive from him a crown of life.

Polycarp was martyred, burned alive by those evil people who hated him. But, he was faithful unto death and most assuredly received the crown of life.

The crown is the garland, the mark of the conqueror at a feast. Polycarp and those who were martyred with him were more than conquerors and will be known for this in Heaven

11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
As in the same manner as he spoke to Ephesus he says, "he that hath an ear." Which is in regard to a spiritual ear and the person taking seriously what Christ is saying to the churches. Here Christ says that the over-comer would not have to worry about the second death. What is the second death? It is found in Revelation 20:
12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

12: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Then Jesus speaks to the Pastor of the church of Pergamos. Pergamos was the capital city of Attalus the second’s kingdom. It was given Attalus by the Romans and was famous for it’s magnificent temple built to the Idol AEsculapius, the healing God.

Jesus again is identified by having a sharp sword with two edges. This sword has the power to convict or convert, it is the Word of god and spoken from the mouth of Jesus. He came to declare his Fathers will, not his own, so we see that it is in his humility and subjection to the Father that he bears this sword. This is what we all should do. This sword is also seen in Revelation 1:16, 2:16, 19:21 and many more places through out Revelation. But the sword is mentioned here to remind the Pastor and the church at Pergamos of the strengths of the Word of God.

13: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Once again Jesus displays his omniscience by telling them that he knows their works. These works could well be described as their labor of love. Jesus then tells them that he knows where they live, or dwell, this meaning the horrible condition of the city that they lived in , Pergamos. The secular occupants of Pergamos were idol worshippers and worshipped the false god called AEsculapius. He was a god that looked like a serpent. The people who worshipped this god were very fanatical. It is believed that it was these worshippers whose accusations brought about the death of Antipas. Jesus called him "my faithful martyr." This happened when they brought Antipas before the magistrate in Pergamos.

Jesus was saying that Satan had a seat in Pergamos and that this was a place where he lived. Which shows that Satan had great influence over the people of Pergamos. His evil spirit was stronger there than most other cities. Christ mentioned this to show his concern for the Christians that lived there and that they would have confidence knowing that he understood the great opposition that they were against in that city.

14: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Jesus says that he has a few things against thee, that is to the say the Pastor, because he has allowed those who followed these evil doctrines to remain in the church and cause others to fall.

Numbers 31:16: Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

This meaning that Balaam taught the moabites to create a situation that would cause Israel to sin against the Lord. When Israel trespassed against God because of this situation it cause them to be punished by the Lord in which he sent a plague among the congregation.

Apparently there were those among the people of this congregation that were creating temptation that caused others in the congregation to sin.

15: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Jesus was telling them that it was those who believed in the doctrine of the Nicolaitans who were as the doctrine of Balaam and that it was them who were casting a stumbling stone before the congregation causing them to sin. This doctrine taught that it was ok to eat food offered to Idols and to commit fornication or any other sin. That God was glorified by being able to remove so great a sin. This caused others to sin and to place them in a dangerous place to be with God. God would have to chasten them because they were his own. Jesus then tells them that he hates this doctrine.

16: Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
God is speaking to the Pastor, those in the congregation and those who were doing the deceiving. He said that he would come quickly. This is not talking about the Rapture or the second Advent, but is talking about a visitation in the Spirit. He would be coming to make war against them and it would be soon. Then he would fight against them with the sword of his mouth.

17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
The white stone, with a new name engraven upon it is a mystery. A white stone was given to Olympic athletes for their victories in competition and could be a sign that God would give us a white stone with a new name as a trophy for living an overcoming life and winning the race. However a white stone was also used as an absolution from the guilt of sin, alluding to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption: adopted persons took the name of the family into which they were adopted. None can read the evidence of a man’s adoption but himself; he cannot always read it, but if he perseveres he shall have both the evidence of sonship and the inheritance. I believe the meanings of these stones to be both reward and proof that we are not guilty because Christ as taken that upon himself and died in our place for our sins. We have been justified by his act of grace.

18: And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
This letter was to the Pastor of Thyatira. The city of Thyatira was south of Pergamos in a Macedonian colony. Lydia the seller of purple was from this city and was converted to Jesus at Phillipi. Many believe that she was probably the instrument that God used to bring the Gospel to her home town of Thyatira.

This letter is from Jesus and he is described as having eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet are like fine brass.His eyes being like a flame of fire describes his ability to penetrate the heart. It also describes his passion for the Church and his fire judgments on his enemies.
His feet are like fine brass, they are powerful enough to tread upon his enemies, yet it is here at his feet that mercy and grace are found.

19: I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Once again we see the omniscience of Christ, that he knows everything about all of us. He expressed that he knew the Pastors works of love being described by his charity and service. Jesus knew that he had faith toward God and that he was willing to endure hardship and persecution for his namesake. He said that the works that he was doing now were much greater than the works they did at the beginning of the church, in other words his last works were greater than his first.

20: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Even with all the good things that the Pastor of this Church was doing the Lord had a few things against him. One of these things was that he was permitting a woman who claimed to be a prophetess to teach and deceive God’s people into committing fornication and eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

"That woman" in the oldest manuscripts read "thy wife." The fact that she was the Pastor’s wife is supported by the fact that Jesus referred to her as Jezebel. Her being called Jezebel was a type and shadow of the real Jezebel who was married to King Ahab. Her being married to Ahab was a description of this woman in the church of Thyatira. Jezebel perverted the land of Israel with her idolatry and filth. She opposed the man of God that wanted to save Israel, and created a priesthood of her own to worship the false god called Baal.

This woman who was the wife of the Pastor was pretending to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit and would speak things to the congregation that were supposedly utterances from God. In doing this she would prophecy that the sinful man, carnal nature of man was not the true man and could not be held accountable for sin. That only the spiritual man was the true man, this meant that the sins committed by the flesh were not counted as sin by the Lord.

Those members who were deceived by her became more and more like uncivilized heathens as they practiced this doctrine of lust and idolatry.

21: And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
There are two ways that this woman is committing fornication. One is in her adulterous conduct the other was a spiritual fornication which was idolatry. Jesus gave her a certain amount of time to repent but she refused to repent which leaves him with no alternative.

22: Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Then Jesus says, "behold" which is to say look at what I am about to do. He said that he was going to cast her into a bed, only instead of a bed of pleasure this will be a bed of torment and punishment. This could possibly be talking about the bed of the grave and of hell and its torments.

He also warns those who have been following her teachings and prophecies that except they repent of their deeds that they will go through great tribulation. This is not talking about the seven years of tribulation but is corresponding with the scripture that says.

Rom:2:9: Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

1Pt:4:17: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
If repentance is ignored then he will be forced to kill her children with death. This is not speaking of natural children but those people who follow her in her sinful ways. To kill them with death is to take their lives while they are in the state of death and to make it complete they will find themselves heirs of the second death, which is the lake of fire. These who follow her through blindness follow her because they have never known him but are tares among the wheat that Satan has sown and are not born again. A born again person may be taken through error and temptation but would never say that sin is right. A born again heart cannot do this, Christ is blowing away the chaff to prevent more destruction. The same as Christ will not allow a born again person to be deceived by the Antichrist and take the mark of the Beast.

Rv:13:8: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus reminds them that he searches the heart and those things that seem to guide it. He does this with the intent to save rather than destroy. But then he also reminds them and all who read this that he will judge all according to the things that they do, whether they are in Christ or whether they are not.

24: But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
"But unto you" this is spoken directly to the Pastor and then unto the rest, those that he has not had to warn for their wickedness. Since were innocent He would place no other burden upon them. They had been kept because they were his own.

25: But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Jesus tells them to hold unto what they have, which is their faith and love that has sustained them and will continue to sustain them until he comes to take them home.

26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Then Jesus promises are to all that if they will be an over-comer and keep his words unto the end, which means until the end of their life or until he comes which ever comes first. He promises that they will be given power over the nations. This of course is a shared power that only Christ can give and in direct union with his plan and purpose through out the last millenium.

27: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
That the over-comer would rule with an unbendable authority. All of this of course is done in love. God’s word does not bend nor yield to the carnal nature of men of men so it is like a rod of iron. These rulers will reign and rule with Christ because they are faithful. Jesus said that if we were faithful in little that we would be rulers over much. Although they will be gentle shepherds the word of God will break all who sit under its authority so that they can be changed into the image of Christ.

28: And I will give him the morning star.

Revelation 22:16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
This is to say that Christ will be ours to claim forever, in that we will forever belong to him and him to us.

29: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
Once again if you have a spiritual ear, this means an ear toward and listening to God, pay attention to what the Spirit is teaching us through the examples that are laid out before us in these epistles or letters to the seven churches.

God Bless You
Tommie Spurgeon

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