CHAPTER TWO

Verse 1: The word 'angel' is the Greek word angelos. In this case, it pertains not to nature, but to the Office of the human messenger. It symbolized the Bishop, or presiding Elder, of a particular Church. Per Strong's Concordance, by implication, it was a Pastor. Therefore, John was not to write to heavenly angels, he was to write to the Pastors, the presiding Elders of each of the Seven Churches.

In chapters two and three, Jesus dealt with issues applying to each Church, but He did not limit His letter to each Church. He concluded each letter by saying: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches (plural)". "These things says He that holds the Seven Stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks."

We know that Apostle John was a resident of the City of Ephesus. If John was the presiding Elder, we might ask, "Why didn't Jesus just tell him, in lieu of writing him a letter?" First, let's look at 2 Peter 1:17-19: "For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellentglory, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy."

The Holy Spirit indexed Peter's vision and hearing the Voice from the excellent glory to the Written Word of Prophecy. Some Christians might count it a high privilege to hear the Lord speak to them audibly. Do you think so? No doubt Peter appreciated hearing the Voice, because he mentioned it, but he focused no something more sure than simply his personal experience.

We need to have a very high esteem for Biblical prophecy. We know that some people go around 'prophesying'; sometimes they are accurate; some times they aren't. But God's prophets in the Bible didn't err. Their utterances from God were what we call infallible. That's the kind of prophecy that Peter referred to in 2 Peter 1:19. We could read that Scripture as: "...we have the more sure, the infallible, word of prophecy." Well, God the Father, by His Own choice, put this Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the same category. Revelation 1:1: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass, and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John."

The angel in this case, is a supernatural angel of God. We should be able to make such distinctions, according to the details of the Revelation. Jesus Himself said in Revelation 22:16: "I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify these things in the Churches." God wants the things in the Book of Revelation to be testified in the Churches. In chapter 1:1 God gave it to Jesus to show it; according to chapter 22:16, Jesus sent His angel to testify these things in the Churches.

God went to great lengths to authenticate to us, to impress upon man's mind, the tremendous importance of what's in this Book. Yet, it is amazing that between 100 A.D., and 300 A.D., the Book was not unanimously accepted. It came to be, in time. One would think that with John's sanction, the Book would have had universal esteem among believers.

In chapters 2 and 3, Jesus repeated "He that has an ear, let him hear." We also must have ears to hear what the Spirit of God says. We must develop the ability by God's grace, to hear Him. If we do, we are privileged to gain understanding from God.

When one talks about Divine things, the 'natural' man is quickly at a loss about them. For instance, in the Gospels, sometimes Jesus said things which the Apostles didn't understand, and they were on occasion afraid to ask Him about them. In their natural minds they missed His meaning.

We all began our new life in Christ with untrained spiritual faculties. Therefore, we must develop our spiritual acuity. For instance, my knowledge about God was very limited before I was born again, though I had some ideas about Him. After I was saved the Holy Spirit began to lead me into God's Word.

Often I wished to ask a preacher about things, but it seemed that God restrained me. I had to learn God's Word and not to rely on human opinion. I'm not opposed to asking people, and at other times, I have asked, and I have learned much from other ministries. But the deepest inner teaching comes from the anointing, as noted in 1 John 2:27. God wants us to focus on the anointing which He gives us, so that we can gain what He desires for us.

That doesn't mean that we don't need Ministries that God has given. I think He wants us to focus on hearing what the Spirit says. Most people with physical ears could hear the words if you read this Book to them. Still, many people struggle with it. The reason we struggle is because we aren't developed enough, spiritually. God graciously gave easier things in other parts of the New testament for us to practice on. If we do, it will be easier for us to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches in this Book.

Unbelievers cannot hear what the Spirit says to the Churches because of the enmity of their carnal mind, according to Romans 8:7-8. Therefore, when people tell me they can't understand the Bible, I'm sure they can't. But thank God for what born again believers do understand.

We know that John resided at Ephesus. If he was the presiding Elder at Ephesus, per Revelation 2:1, he would also have been one of the stars in the Lord's right hand. But surely John hadn't left his first love! Would you think so? Whoever it was, Jesus took issue with him, and said later: " I have a few things against you because you have left your first love." Jesus intended that minister to proclaim that message to that Church, so that those who had strayed would rectify their errors.

The Lord intends people to be persuaded by His Word to repent of their sins. Sometimes people think that they are too bad of a sinner for God to save them. But they aren't. Jesus said that whosoever will may come; He came to save sinners. Other people say they can't quit this or give up that, but Jesus said they can. He will deliver all who come to Him, praise God. By His Word we can know exactly how He will respond.

Therefore, I affirm to you that Jesus Christ is coming again. His Word is going to happen exactly like God said that it shall. His coming is a wonderful hope, and I'm looking forward to it. Hold the promise of His coming dear to your heart, and don't abandon it.

In verse 1b Jesus said: "I walk among the Seven Golden Candlesticks." He said the candlesticks are the Churches, and He walks in the midst of them. Therefore, why didn't He tell each messenger Himself? I think it's because He wished it to be in the eternal record (the written Word of God) for all His Churches to read. He walks among the Churches, and could have spoken to individuals, and perhaps He did. If so, they must not have been listening. It's still true that God talks to people, and they don't always listen. Have you ever thought: "Man, the Lord was trying to tell me that, and I missed it". It is not unusual for us to miss the Lord's dealings with us, but we ought not to miss them.

Every Church and every believer is going to give account to the Lord. He still knows what goes on. He still sends His Word to Churches, though He isn't writing new Scripture. He still tells people to quit being luke warm. He still tells them not to listen to false doctrine.

Verse 2: "I know thy works... and how you cannot bear them which are evil. You have tried them which say they are apostles, and have found them liars. And have born, and have had patience, and for My Name's sake have labored and not fainted." Doesn't that sound great? One might think that the Church at Ephesus had things right. But the Lord looks upon the human heart, and He knew they had strayed from their first love.

The works that Jesus listed are not works to get saved by, because our salvation is the result of God's grace, not by works of righteousness that we do. But after one is saved, Jesus expects us to work BECAUSE we are saved. There should be some results. Each of us should concern ourselves with carrying on the works of the Lord. There's various ways to produce results, or fruit.

Winning souls to Christ is primary, but there's also other ways of bearing fruit. For instance, there are the fruits of righteousness, Philippians 1:9-11. We are also to labor to enter into the rest that comes from believing on Jesus Christ, Hebrews 4:11. There are also various works of service for the Lord that are open to us, but to enter into some of them we have to grow a little bit.

We have to have the working of God's grace in us. The flesh doesn't profit anything, it is the Spirit that quickens. The Holy Spirit is given to help us carry on those things that pleases God. Therefore, the Church at Ephesus must have grown a little, but they left their first love.

Jesus noted their patience. That means to endure grievous things. The word long-suffering means to put up with people, but patience means to endure things, or conditions. Jesus commended the patience of the believers in Ephesus. "How you cannot bear them which are evil." Evil has always tried to exist in the Church. There is a tremendous effort in our times, to make the Church accept that which is evil: to compromise.

Chapter 2:3: "and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name's sake have labored, and hast not fainted.(14.)" . Even so, in verse 4 He said: "I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love." I have numbered this the fourteenth thing which we are to keep, according to chapter 1:3. If we leave our first love, then Jesus has something against us. He wanted Ephesus to know that, and He wants ALL His Churches to know that, because He ended by saying: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches." Therefore, this letter was not intended only for the Church at Ephesus.

Verse 5: "Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent and do thy first works." Therefore, we should see that works are associated with our love towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Note the Gospel of John, 14:21: "He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me." One might think that someone working for the Lord, as Jesus said they had, loved the Lord. But Jesus knew where they had erred. He talked about the condition of their heart; their devotion to Him. He said: "Repent, and do the first works, or else..." Jesus directed this letter to that minister, intending for him to correct their error. That was a serious threat: if he didn't repent the man would lose his Church!

When studying the Book of the Revelation, it's easy to skip over important details and focus on the thunder, lightening and earthquakes. Many people can talk about them. Also, people talk about the deeds of the anti-christ in the Book of the Revelation, but the word 'anti-christ' doesn't appear once in the Book. Not once.

The things that Jesus talked to the Churches about were going on at that time. It seems that they had been going on  previously, and would have continued to do so, if He hadn't corrected them about it. Dare we think there are no Churches with such things in them today? Surely, they happen now like they happened then. There are still people who are false ministers. There is false doctrine. There's people who used to be zealous for God, but now one can hardly get them to attend Church. They don't read the Bible, and they don't pray. They have no concern about winning souls, they just do their own thing."Remember where you have fallen from." Something caused them to stumble. It seems that Ephesus quit walking in love, and became legalistic, dominated by ritual. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 states that without love, excellent works profit nothing.

Verse 6: "This you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate." It's important for you and I to hate the things that God hates. Notice He said, the deeds, not the Nicolaitans. Some people say: "We are to love the sinner, but hate his sins." Isn't that what Jesus talked about here? But sin is still sin, and Jesus hates that which corrupts His followers.

It is amazing that today some professing 'christians' live together out of wed lock. That is a slur on the Name of Christ, and it is a sin against God and against their own bodies. Other people get involved in pornography. Don't get involved in that stuff, it will defile you. Believers ought to stay far from it.

Verse 7: "...he that hath an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches." Jesus doesn't want any of His saints to fall from Him or to follow anything else. Notice: "To him that overcomes."15. Jesus emphasized that by saying it seven times in chapters two and three. He promised to overcomers the right to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Verse 8: "...to the angel of the Church in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last., which was alive and which was dead and is alive." It may be that Smyrna had kind of relaxed a little on this fact. This is also one of the facts that WE are to hold to.

Verse 9: Jesus knew their works and their tribulation and poverty, yet He told them that they were rich. Smyrna was right. They were one of the two Churches that Jesus commended, and didn't reprimand. Outwardly, they appeared to be in poverty. But Jesus said: "...you are rich." Let me ask you: "Are you rich towards the Lord? If you know the Lord in salvation, you are rich. I.e., you are incomparably rich compared to those who don't know Him. If you know how to go to the Lord in prayer and get answers to your prayers, you are rich. Many people pray and don't seem to get any answers. If You understand the Scripture, you are rich compared to multitudes of people, because they don't understand it.

Contrast His commendation to Smyrna with what He said to Laodacea. He said to them: "You say that you are rich." But He said that they were poor. Next, Jesus dealt with a condition of Smyrna's concern. I.e., those who claimed to be Jews, but weren't. Jesus said that they were of the synagogue of satan. What would make someone claim to be a Jew if they aren't? Lots of people despise the Jews, but those Gentiles were claiming to be Jews, and it evidently troubled the believers there.

Verse 10: "Fear none of those things which you shall suffer."(16.) . Don't be afraid of tomorrow. Some times, believers do suffer. Jesus talked to Smyrna about direct, physical persecution. "Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried. " He knew that they would be cast into jail; why didn't He stop it? Jesus said it was that they might be tried. Also, understand that Jesus gave His authority on the earth over the devil to the Church, according to Mark 16:17-18. But if they didn't know it and use that power, they would suffer.

Per Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus delegated His power on earth to the Church. Not all believers know that; and we can't believe what we don't know. Neither could they. The Church at Smyrna was doing right, but apparently they hadn't entered into some things of God's power yet. For instance, they were in poverty. Jesus did not commend them for their poverty, as some might suppose. It is not His will for His people to be in poverty. Note 3 John 3; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; John 10:10.

Jesus foretold them of coming persecution, but that does not mean that He wanted them to suffer. Jesus had previously said to "...pray that ye may escape all these things that shall come to pass." His Words to Smyrna was to encourage them lest they faint in their coming ordeal.

According to Church history, many believers got caught up in the hope and the glory of being martyrs. Instead of praying to escape, they prayed to God to become good martyrs! It's true that the Lord Jesus told the Church at Smyrna they were rich, but, without criticizing them (I dare not criticize those whom Jesus commended!) it appears to me that they may not have understood some things of God's purpose and provision as yet. That is still true in many Churches today.

A question has been raised as to whether these Seven Churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 have anything to do with present day denominations? he answer is no. Neither are they identified with so called dispensations. Yet I have heard it taught that they represent seven different dispensations of the Church Age. A well known Bible scholar taught that Epehesus, the first of the Seven, was comparable to the Apostolic Age. Of course the letter applied to those times, but it wasn't limited to those times. It doesn't mean that the so called 'last days" Church will be an especially luke warm Church just because Laodacea was. I have heard it preached that we are living in the times of the Laodacean Church. Well, so was John! In fact, Jesus showed that the problems in the Seven Churches of Asia were current at the time that He spoke.

Understand: The Laodaceans were luke warm then. The Ephesians had problems with people leaving their first love. We are no different than those believers were. We are flesh and blood like them, but we can avoid their errors by keeping the things which are written in this Book. It is a privilege to hear, read, and keep what is written in it. Today there are people who are fervent, 'hot', on fire for God. There are those also who are just kind of lax and laid back: "Well, you now He hasn't come yet.' Hold this fact in mind; just because Jesus hasn't come yet, doesn't change anything He promised. he IS COMING AGAIN!!

One well known minister of today felt discouragement because none of his predictions about Divine judgment have happened. In fact, things seem to be going exactly the OPPOSITE to what he said was going to happen. We must not base our confidence on what appears in society, one way or another, but in what the Lord of Glory said. The chronology that men suppose, is not always accurate enough to merit our confidence. Therefore, let us not loose heart when such predictions fail.

The Book of The Revelation shows what's going to happen when Jesus is revealed to the world at the end of the age. At that time He is going to destroy His enemies and all sinful, worldly authority. The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. In the interim, between A.D. 96 and the first part of the Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus said that the Churches are golden candlesticks. I.e., the light of the world. Seven is the number of Divine completeness. In those Seven Churches, God has offered to the world the complete light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! They derive their light from the Lord Jesus, Who shines forth to the world in and through them.

Jesus said He sent His angel to testify the things in this Book in the Churches. Therefore, He wants the Churches to know that they are golden lampstands; that they are the light of the world. The Seven Churches of Revelation 1:20, are precious to the Lord, being represented as gold. Therefore, people ought to hold the Church, (the Body of Christ) in esteem. His ministers are due proper esteem also, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

Revelation 2:12-14. There was grievous doctrinal errors and practices in Pergamos. The Lord Jesus said He hated the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. The only way they could avoid a fight with the Sword of His mouth was to repent of their errors. He ended His letter to Pergamos with a promise to those that have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. The overcomer will be permitted to eat of the hidden manna, and shall receive a white stone, inscribed with his unique name.

Per verse 16, Jesus warned the messenger at Pergamos to either g et rid of the errors, or get rid of the people who held them, if they failed to repent. This reminds of the occasion when Apostle Paul turned a person over to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus still walks among the Churches, and there is a Divine order that He expects the Churches to observe. He is ready to correct any deviation from His order. Note verse 16: "or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them." Observe: not against the messenger, but against those who hold the doctrines for which He reproved them. Jesus exercises His authority as the Head of the Church: God wants us to know that. For instance, Jesus made an astonishing statement in verse 23: "I will kill her children (Jezebel's children) with death." That's our Lord Jesus Christ saying that! And He has the sharp sword going out of His mouth to do it with. In His mercy, God wants the Church to know that Jesus is not only the sweet, loving, gentle, gracious Jesus Christ, He wants us to see Him revealed in His authority. This should cause reverential awe and respect for the Lord Jesus.

This Book reveals the Lord Jesus in the Churches. He isn't there just for a friendly visit, and He's not there just to hear them praise Him; He's there on Divine business. According to Hebrews 12:14, God is going to have a holy people. "...holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Reverting back to Revelation 2:13: "...where satan's seat is." Historically, Babylon is the fountain head of false religion. But the conquest of Babylon during the Inter-Testamental times forced those cultic priests to move. They went from Babylon to Pergamon. It became satan's seat of authority in the Roman Empire. His seat was transferred from Babylon to Pergamon. We learn from Mark 5:1-10 that satan's hosts of darkness do inhabit certain regions, carrying out their activities. For our study, we note that the Babylonish occult moved from Babylon to Pergamon. Afterward, it was bequeathed to the Emperors of  Rome. They then became the human authority figures in the devil's cultic scheme. Later that spirit tried to enter the Church of Jesus Christ.

Even though the believers in Pergamon were thus surrounded by demonic darkness, Jesus wouldn't tolerate any aberration from the faith. No matter how dark the world gets, believers must never become infected with it's evils. The Lord Jesus is not going to tolerate idolatry, and He's not going to tolerate fornication in His Church.

Today's Churches need that message! We live in a society of idolaters, adulterers, fornicators, and all manner of unclean things. But we can avoid being contaminated if we hold those things which are written in this Book. Blessed be God forever! We can escape the snare. We can maintain purity.

Continuing chapter 2:16 Jesus said: "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly."(17 ). They needed to change their minds about fornication, idolatry and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. Some of them seemed to think those things were o.k. But Jesus commanded them to change their mind. Also today, if we catch ourselves mistaken about something, we are on 'high ground' to change our minds about it.

Verse 17: "He that hath an ear...". The overcomer will be given hidden manna. Some things of God are available only to overcomers. If we overcome adversity, we shall have access to hidden manna. Some think that the Urim and the Thumim of the Old Testament, were two stones. One white, meaning yes, and the other black, meaning no. If that's the case, it may be that the white stone that Jesus promised overcomers is a "Yes" stone. Note 2 Corinthians 1:20. "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him, Amen." Also, the stone that Jesus promised overcomers shall have a new name written on it. No man but the overcomer who receives that stone shall know what that name is. Thus, it is obvious that there are different degrees of rewards among believers.

Verse 18: Jesus bade the Church at Thyatira to note His eyes are like a flame of fire, and that His feet as of brass. In the Scripture, brass is often an type of judgment. This seems to mean that the believers at Thyatira had provoked the Lord Jesus. Yet, the list of Jesus' commendation sounds good, doesn't it? With such a list of good things, you wouldn't think He'd mind some 'little things' would you? The problem was that those 'little things' weren't little to Him.

Jesus was provoked because they were permitting a woman whom He called Jezebel to carry on her corruption of the believers. In each of those Seven Churches of Asia, there was one main, or presiding Elder, and there were other pastors under him. Not all the people and ministers at Thyatira had the doctrines that provoked the Lord. Notice that Jesus said: "...you have there them" that do such and such.

Verse 21: "...I gave her space to repent and she repented not  It seems she was doing what she taught the people to do. If so, she was committing fornication, and idolatry, and eating things which were sacrificed to idols. God judged Israel for idolatry, and He will judge New Testament Saints for committing idolatry.

Verse 22: Jesus said He would cast Jezebel into a bed, and them that commit idolatry with her into great tribulation. There would be trouble! God is long-suffering, but the time comes when He will judge if people don't repent of their sins.

(17.) We are to hold and not forsake the activity of repentance.

Verse 23: NOTICE! Jesus said: "And I will KILL HER CHILDREN WITH DEATH!" That statement ought to advise us of how much Jesus loathes idolatry and fornication. Isn't that a solemn statement to come from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ? It's not possible for anyone to be so 'buddy, buddy' with Jesus that He will permit us to do sinful things, without judging us. Sometimes people talk about eternal security, such that no matter what you do after you have been saved, you can't lose your salvation. Well, Jezebel 'couldn't get away' with her sins, and neither will anyone else.

Verse 24: "But unto you and to as many as have not this doctrine." Jesus dealt sternly with the one who had the main responsibility. In effect, He said: "If you don't do it, I'm gong to do it." Really, we will be better off to have a minister 'get on our case' than to have the Lord to deal with us. Jesus said He would put no other burden on the ones that didn't have bad doctrine and hadn't known the depths of satan, as they speak. The depths of satan has to do with idolatry. Jesus called idolatry the abomination that works desolation. Today, in countries where idolatry is predominant, there is great desolation. The very atmosphere of such countries is one of darkness.

"But that which you have already, hold fast till I come." (18.)    He commended them for THEIR works, but said:    "And he that overcomes and keeps MY works to the end to him will I give power over the Nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron." Our status of overcoming will affect our future reward. Overcoming has to do with whether we eat of the hidden manna or not. Overcoming has to do with whether we eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Clearly the Churches ought to have a committment to keeping the works of the Lord Jesus. The Churches ought never to have 'lost' the working of the Holy Spirit as they generally did. Churches today that do not have such works of Jesus ought to seek them through the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, per Acts 24.

Note that in verse 27, Jesus said the overcomer shall rule the nations with a ROD OF IRON. The overcomer is going to have authority to crush, to break in pieces, to shatter them like a vessel of pottery. Jesus has that same power. The world hasn't seen Him demonstrate it yet, but it's coming. Then he promised the overcomer the Morning Star. In Revelation chapter 22, Jesus said He is the Morning Star. If you overcome, you will be given a special relationship with the Lord Jesus as a reward! "He that hath an ear..."

Do you understand what the Lord Jesus said in the letters to the Seven Churches of Asia? If you can, you are one of those who have ears to hear.
 
(14.) We must not let anything move us from our first love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(15.) We must keep the victory of overcomers; we must NOT compromise with the world around us,  for any reason
(16.) We must not be unsettled or fearful of suffering for the Lord's sake.
(17.) We are to hold and not forsake the activity of repentance.
(18.) We must hold fast that which we have received from Jesus.

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Details of the Book Of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ by Leon O. Poole - Copyright © 2001