REVELATION 2

Letters to God’s People

 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD

2:1 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;”
Ephesus is the first and it was the church of John‟s time. Its time was
from Jesus‟ resurrection to around the death of the last of the
apostles. This early church was pure and eager to spread the truth
about Jesus to the entire world. They watched carefully, so that those
who were false and meant to sneak in and do the church harm, were
sent away and the true believers were carefully taught.
 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD

2:2,3 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: And hast
borne, and hast patience, and for my name‟s sake hast laboured, and
hast not fainted.
The early apostolic church carried the Gospel to all the then know
world before the last of the Apostles died! They suffered persecution,
many died for their faith and their eagerness to obey Jesus' command
to 'teach all nations' carried them to the ends of the earth.
 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD
2:4,5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. 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.
But already there was a problem in this church; Jesus said „they had
left their first love‟. By John‟s day there had come into the church
those who wanted to rule and tell all others what to do. Paul said 'the
mystery of iniquity was already at work'. They were already looking to
men, and not as much to Jesus, as they had been at first. Jesus warns
them to go back to their first love or he would „remove their
candlestick‟; they would cease to be His people.
 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.
The Nicolaitans were followers of a teacher called Nicholas, who
began, among other things, to teach that the death of Christ on
Calvary had done away with the 10 Commandment Law and it was now
not longer necessary to keep the Law of God.
 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD

This doctrine is now also taught; that the gospel of Christ has made
the law of God of no effect; that by "believing" we are released from
the necessity of being doers of the Word. This is the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned Some also say that
the teachings of this group also brought in the idea that the 'clergy'
were separate from the 'laity' and should rule over them. Of course
that idea was as old as paganism because it always taught the same
thing. Jesus says we all are brethren!
 1 - EPHESUS 31 - 100 AD

THE PROMISE: 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.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

Revelation 2:8,9 “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna

write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead,
and is alive; 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.”
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

Smyrna means a sweet smell, like a perfume. This was the time when
God‟s people went through a terrible persecution by the emperor
Diocletian. They would "have tribulation ten days." In Prophecy a 'day'
represents a literal year. This refers to the ten years of persecution
from A. D. 303-313, where thousands were slain.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

Their faithfulness and they stood for His truth, was like a sweet
perfume to God. Though some of the people in the first „church‟ had not
gone back to their „first love‟, most had, and now in this church they
stood bravely for the truth. This is one church that Jesus has nothing
bad to say about.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

2:10 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.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD
Persecution has a way of making the church very pure, because selfish
people are afraid to join it, and those who do, are ready to die for it.
There were many martyrs during those ten years and if we are
faithful, we will meet them when Jesus comes and raises them to take
them home with all of His people.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

There were some in the beginning of the time of this church, who were
pretending to be Christians, but were not, and were just there to harm
the church. Because this is a prophecy, „Jews‟ here means Christian
believers, because after the death of Jesus, the real Jews were no
longer God‟s special people. The 10 DAY persecution no doubt got rid of
many of the false ones as they would quickly leave.
The promise to this „church‟ was that if faithful, they would not be „hurt
by the second death‟. This means they would be raised to have Eternal
Life.
 2 - SMYRNA 100 - 313 AD

How kind Jesus was to point

out to these dear people going
through this terrible time, that
He had also been dead and rose
again, so they, if faithful, would
also.
THE PROMISE: 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.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

Revelation 2:12,13 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;

These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 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.”
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

Pergamos means „lifted up‟. This was when Constantine pretended to be

a Christian and it began to be popular to be a Christian. This church
covers the period of 323- 538. During this time we see the rise of the
Papacy, the idea that the Bishop of Rome should rule the entire world as
a „god on earth‟. This letter is addressed to those who were clinging to
the truth and not going along with the wrong that was coming in to the
„Christian church‟.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD
In all these letters we notice that Jesus does not see as people see.
He does not recognize the ones who have rejected His truth and are
bringing in their own ideas as His „church‟. One of the things Jesus was
telling these people that they were doing wrong, was they were
allowing the people who had the wrong ideas to stay and teach among
them.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

We see here the worship of idols coming in, and the „faithful martyr
„Antipas‟ dying for his faith. Who was this? It wasn‟t just one person,
but meant those who refused to go along with the idea of the Bishop of
Rome being the „papa‟ or pope over the church. Many were killed or had
to flee for their lives.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

2:14,15 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. So hast thou also
them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans

was the idea that the death of
Jesus on the cross meant God‟s
law no longer had to be kept. This
doctrine always becomes popular
when Satan is busy bringing in
false doctrines and practices that
don‟t belong in the true worship of
God! It gets people saying or
thinking, “Well, it doesn‟t really
matter that much what I do, it
doesn't really matter so much
what I believe– I only have to
believe in Jesus and I am sure to
go to heaven.” It was popular when
the early church was being
corrupted into the Papacy,-- and it
is very popular now!!
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

Balaam was the one who led Israel into joining with pagan idol worshippers
to celebrate their holidays. 'Committing fornication', meant that the
church was starting to seek power from the government to enforce her
decrees. The true church is to seek only the power that comes from Jesus.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
This Sword of His mouth is the Word of God, the Bible, which is what
is to be used to expose wrong practices in the church.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

THE PROMISE: 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.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

Jesus promises those who remained

faithful that they would eat of the
„hidden manna‟ and have a white stone
with a new name. The „hidden manna‟
meant several things; the first one was
the assurance that God would feed and
care for them even if they had to flee
into the wilderness like ancient Israel
was fed as the wandered in the
wilderness. It also meant that even
though their leaders and ministers were
proving false and they were not being
given spiritual food in the falling church,
Jesus Himself would give them spiritual
food and be their teacher!! That is the
same for us today!
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Behold, I am against the shepherds;
and I will require my flock at their
hand, and cause them to cease from
feeding the flock; neither shall the
shepherds feed themselves any
more; for I will deliver my flock
from their mouth, that they may not
be meat for them. 11 For thus saith
the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will
both search my sheep, and seek
them out. …
14 I will feed them in a good
pasture, and upon the high mountains
of Israel shall their fold be: there
shall they lie in a good fold, and in a
fat pasture shall they feed upon the
mountains of Israel.
 3 - PERGAMOS 313- 538 AD

The white stone with the new name meant they would be members of
the heavenly church, even though they were being thrown out of the
wicked church that was claiming to be God‟s true church, and they were
having to flee for their lives into the wilderness. „White‟ means that
Jesus would see them as pure, even though the leaders of the now
corrupt church declared them to be black with sin because they would
not be slaves to false doctrines or give up obeying what was right and
obey these apostate leaders.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD
Revelation 2:18,19 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; 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.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

Now in Thyatira, which means „sacrifice and humility‟, we see Jesus is no

longer talking to that great „church‟ that had set itself up as the „ruler of
the world‟ but rather to His true „church‟ hiding in the wilderness. The
apostate church had not repented, but had kept on doing wickedness and
bringing in pagan practices, Jesus had removed their candlestick and they
were no longer any church of His. The faithful who refused to go along
with the majority had fled into wilderness areas and now Jesus sees them
as His true church on earth. This is the church of the 1260 years of papal
persecution, from 538-1517 or the start of the reformation.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

Jesus is pleased with their works as they humbly do their best to serve
Him and still share His truths with the world, though often it cost their
lives. Their „works‟ were so wonderful that Jesus mentions them twice.
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.”
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

But there is a problem; they were

allowing Jezebel to come among
them. Who was this? Well, in the
Bible Jezebel was the wicked wife
of Ahab that led Israel into idol
worship. So here it is meant that
they were compromising at times
by allowing teachers from Rome
to come in and teach among them.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

This message talks about „adultery‟; in the Bible God says when His
people join with earthly rulers and also with pagan idol worshippers
that they commit adultery, just like a wife who runs away with
another man, not her husband. Jesus calls His true church His „Bride‟.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

As long as these churches of the wilderness remained pure and

stayed completely true to the Bible Truth, they had great protection
from God. Sometimes even armies sent out to destroy them were
smitten with terror and fled away without ever coming near to the
people of God. Other times God sent fog or storms to help his people
and hide them from their enemies.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

But when they made deals with the Romans, and began to give in, on
even „small‟ points of truth, God could not protect them so well and
terrible slaughters occurred. When Satan can‟t get us to go all wrong,
he tries to get us to decide it is OK to just give in „just a little bit‟, to
make others happy. But once we do this, Jesus cannot keep us fully
safe and soon Satan gets us all the way into his ranks. Never give in to
wrong, even a „little bit‟!
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

22,23 "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their
deeds. 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."
Here is a clear prophecy made by Jesus, that the course the church
was following to seek worldly power and control nations and kings,
would lead to great suffering and strife. The 'great tribulation'
referred to here is the 1260 years of papal persecution.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

24,25 "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 that which ye have
already hold fast till I come."
Here Jesus is encouraging those who have not gotten mixed up in this
power-seeking and compromise with the world, although they may not
know as much as they ought to, He accepts them as they are doing their
honest best to serve Him.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

THE PROMISE: 2:26-29 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works

unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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. And I will give him the morning
star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.“
The church in those days was busy seeking power to rule the nations of
earth; the faithful were sorely harassed and hounded by church and state
powers but Jesus was telling the faithful ones that if they were true to
Him, the day would come when they would have the real power through
Him.
 4 - THYATIRA 538 - 1517 AD

Jesus here promises them the „Morning Star‟. This is a wonderful

promise with several meanings. Jesus is the „Bright and Morning Star‟,
so these people would have Jesus with them in their trials. The
Morning Star appeared close to dawn, so this means that even though
the terrible darkness of the „Dark Ages‟ was with them, the dawn would
come again. The work of Wycliffe, who was the first of the reformers
to start trying to return the Word of God to the common people, was
known as the „Morning Star of the Reformation‟! Yes, the dawn would
come! The darkness would be made to flee!
CONTINUED IN REVELATION 3