‏ Revelation of John 2

Summary for Rev 2:1-3:22: 2:1–3:22  ^a The seven messages to the seven churches reflect the state of Christ’s church when Revelation was written, and it is similar today. God still calls Christians to faithfulness and integrity. Those who heed Christ’s message will reap God’s promised rewards; those who fail to do so will be judged.
Summary for Rev 2:1-7: 2:1-7  ^b The letter to the church in Ephesus addresses tradition-bound Christians who are faithful but have lost their early, zealous love for Christ and for each other (see 2:5  ^c). 2:1  ^d Write ... to the angel: This repeated command that introduces each of the seven letters suggests the importance of the message.

• Ephesus had become the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It contained the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23-35  ^e) and became the richest banking center in that part of the world. The people of Ephesus were very independent; they declined help from Alexander in rebuilding their temple after it was destroyed (300s BC), arguing adroitly that one god should not stoop to build a temple to another god (see Strabo, Geography 14.1.22). The Ephesians’ protective pride also led to the uproar against Paul (Acts 19:23-41  ^f).
Summary for Rev 2:2-3: 2:2-3  ^g I know: This repeated refrain (2:9  ^h, 13  ⁱ, 19  ^j; 3:1  ^k, 8  ^l, 15  ^m) shows Christ’s total knowledge of his people, their activities, and their circumstances.

• The Ephesian Christians had a correct theology marked by perseverance and faithfulness. They had examined various claims, exercised discipline on evil people, could tell what is true and what is false, and had patiently suffered for their faith in Christ.
2:4  ⁿ You don’t love me or each other as you did at first: When the church was first established, their love for Christ and for each other had been strong. Struggles with false teachers and persecution had caused that original love to grow cold. Correct theology, action, and even suffering (2:2-3  ^o) are just an empty shell of Christian life if dynamic love is absent (1 Cor 13  ^p).
2:5  ^q Christ calls even those who keep the faith to turn back to him and repent of cold-heartedness. The warning, I will come and remove your lampstand, means that they would lose their status as a church; God would treat them as he did the apostates within Israel (see Rom 11  ^r).
2:6  ^s Not much is known of the Nicolaitans, but their teaching (2:15  ^t) seems to link them with those who ate food sacrificed to idols and who were involved in sexual immorality, behavior prohibited by the council in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:20  ^u, 29  ^v). Irenaeus argued (about AD 180) that the Nicolaitans were dependent on Nicolas (Acts 6:3-5  ^w) and that John’s writings were directed against the heresies of the Nicolaitans who followed Cerinthus (see 1 John Book Introduction, “Setting”).
2:7  ^x The reward for obedience is fruit from the tree of life—that is, eternal life (22:2  ^y; Gen 3:22  ^z).
Summary for Rev 2:8-11: 2:8-11  ^aa The letter to the church in Smyrna pictures suffering Christians under intense pressures who need a message of assurance. Smyrna typifies a small church that remains faithful to God despite difficult circumstances. 2:8  ^ab The seaport village of Smyrna had been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Like Christ, the city had been dead but was now alive. It is the only city of the seven that has survived to this day (Izmir, Turkey).
2:9  ^ac Jesus connected material poverty with the blessing of being rich in God’s Kingdom (Matt 5:3  ^ad, 10-12  ^ae; Luke 6:20  ^af).

• Jews who had no faith are condemned for aligning themselves with Satan in hostile opposition to the Christian faith (Rev 3:9  ^ag; see John 8:44  ^ah; Acts 14:2-5  ^ai; 17:13  ^aj; 18:6  ^ak; 20:3  ^al; Gal 5:11  ^am; 1 Thes 2:14-16  ^an). At the Jewish council of Jamnia, the Jews excluded Christians as unholy heretics. John was not anti-Semitic; he was a Jew describing the actions of fellow Jews against Jewish and Gentile Christians.
2:10  ^ao John saw the devil as the source of human hostility against Christians.

• The period of their suffering would be ten days, symbolizing a limited time of persecution (see 1 Pet 1:6  ^ap). If they would remain faithful, their reward would be the crown of eternal life.

• when facing death: John’s pupil Polycarp was a martyr in Smyrna in the mid-100s AD.
2:11  ^aq Faithfulness until death is described as being victorious; overcoming the second death means receiving eternal life (see 20:5-6  ^ar, 14  ^as; 21:8  ^at).
Summary for Rev 2:12-17: 2:12-17  ^au The letter to the church in Pergamum portrays Christians who are tempted to compromise their morality and their loyalty to God. The city of Pergamum was the earliest capital of the Roman province of Asia. It contained a famous library, and its citizens developed the use of animal skins as writing materials. 2:12  ^av Christ’s sharp two-edged sword indicates that these Christians would receive the Lord’s most severe judgment (see 2:16  ^aw; see study note on 1:16). The two-edged sword was the Roman symbol of authority, which typified Pergamum as capital of the province. If the church failed, the true governor of the city (Christ) would turn his authority against them.
2:13  ^ax The throne of Satan might refer to the altar of Zeus on the mountain above the city or to emperor worship at the temple of Augustus. For many years, the Roman proconsul had his throne there, and the great temple of Athena and other shrines were also located in Pergamum. Its description as Satan’s city might also refer to the temple of Asclepius, whose symbol was coiled snakes. The city was dedicated to the Roman pantheon and emperor worship.

• Antipas is otherwise unknown.
Summary for Rev 2:14-15: 2:14-15  ^ay Some in Pergamum were syncretists, combining Christianity with paganism and engaging in immoral activities. John compares them to Balaam, who lured Israel into sin (see Num 25:1-3  ^az; 2 Pet 2:15  ^ba; Jude 1:11  ^bb).

• Nicolaitans: see study note on Rev 2:6.
2:17  ^bc Those who remain faithful to Christ will receive manna, nourishment from heaven (see Exod 16:11-36  ^bd).

• hidden away in heaven: During the Exodus, a jar of manna was placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Exod 16:33-36  ^be). Jewish tradition said that at the coming of the Messiah, the Ark would reappear and manna would be eaten at the messianic banquet. Jesus is the bread from heaven and the bread of life (John 6:32-35  ^bf; cp. Exod 16:4-21  ^bg).

• A white stone was often given to victors in athletic competitions, and it was common for special banquets or festivities to use a white stone for admission. It therefore suggests acceptance and victory.

• The new name probably refers to the recipient’s transformed nature in Christ (see Gen 17:5  ^bh; 32:28  ^bi; John 1:42  ^bj).
Summary for Rev 2:18-29: 2:18-29  ^bk The letter to the church in Thyatira confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle. 2:18  ^bl Thyatira was an outpost city known for its many trade guilds, including weavers and dyers (Acts 16:14  ^bm).

• The flaming eyes of the Son of God indicate penetrating perception; the solid feet portray Christ’s stability, in vivid contrast to the famous Colossus of Rhodes, an enormous statue which had once been thought to be firmly planted until an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BC.
2:19  ^bn Christ emphasizes knowing and seeing all things as he praises the Thyatirans.
Summary for Rev 2:20-21: 2:20-21  ^bo The mention of Jezebel, who led Israel into pagan idolatry and immorality (1 Kgs 16:31-33  ^bp; 21:5-26  ^bq), indicates a serious problem. Like the Old Testament queen who led the pagan cult of Baal (see 1 Kgs 16:31  ^br; 18:4  ^bs; 19:1-3  ^bt), this unknown Jezebel called herself a prophet but was leading God’s people into various forms of immorality, including sexual misconduct and straying from God into idolatrous alliances and actions (Exod 34:15-16  ^bu; Ps 106:39  ^bv; Isa 57:7-8  ^bw).
2:21  ^bx Through messengers such as John, Christ had given this false prophet opportunity to repent of her sinful teachings and actions, but like many, she had refused (cp. 9:20-21  ^by).
Summary for Rev 2:22-23: 2:22-23  ^bz Christ’s judgment on this “Jezebel” and her followers comes in three stages: (1) Jezebel is on a bed of suffering; (2) her followers will suffer greatly; and (3) her children will die (cp. Acts 5:5  ^ca, 10  ^cb; 1 Cor 11:30  ^cc). This judgment echoes the plagues on Egypt that ended with the deaths of Egypt’s firstborn sons (see Exod 12:29-30  ^cd).

• God sees thoughts and intentions (see Jer 17:10  ^ce; Acts 1:24  ^cf; Heb 4:12-13  ^cg), and he gives whatever sentence people deserve (see Rev 22:12  ^ch; Jer 17:10  ^ci; Matt 16:27  ^cj).
2:24  ^ck The depths of Satan might be a striking reference to the Gnostic god named “Depth” (Bythos), who with his partner “Silence” (Sigē) formed a philosophic godhead. Gnosticism placed great emphasis on secret knowledge.
Summary for Rev 2:26-28: 2:26-28  ^cl Christ promises that those who are obedient will share authority with him, as symbolized by the iron rod that will smash the opposition like clay pots (quoting Ps 2:8-9  ^cm; cp. Rev 12:5  ^cn; 19:15  ^co).

• The morning star is the planet Venus, which signals the coming of a new day. Here it refers to the promise of resurrection at Christ’s return (22:16  ^cp; 2 Pet 1:19  ^cq).

‏ Revelation of John 3

Summary for Rev 3:1-6: 3:1-6  ^cr The letter to the church in Sardis warns Christians who are reputed to be spiritually alive (when actually dead) that without genuine transformation they face God’s judgment. 3:1  ^cs Sardis, nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Smyrna on the southeast highway from Pergamum and Thyatira, was home to a large colony of prosperous Jews, called “Sephardic” after the city’s ancient name. Its fortified acropolis gave its inhabitants an overconfident sense of security.

• a reputation for being alive—but you are dead: Other churches may have believed that the Sardian Christians comprised a dynamic church, but their secularism revealed their lack of spiritual life.
Summary for Rev 3:2-3: 3:2-3  ^ct The church of Sardis needed to wake up or it would suddenly fall. The city of Sardis had fallen when the forces of Cyrus (549/546 BC) and of Antiochus III (189 BC) made unexpected attacks through a secret tunnel and caught the watchmen off guard. The same would be true of the Christians there if they did not meet the requirements of . . . God (see 20:12  ^cu; Eph 2:10  ^cv; Jas 2:20  ^cw).

• as a thief: Like the invaders in the city’s history, Christ would come suddenly (see Rev 16:15  ^cx; Matt 24:43  ^cy; 1 Thes 5:2  ^cz; 2 Pet 3:10  ^da).
3:4  ^db Soiled ... clothes represent an impure life (Zech 3:4  ^dc), while white clothes depict purity (see Rev 6:11  ^dd; 7:13-14  ^de; 22:14  ^df).

• Walk expresses how a person lives (see Gen 17:1  ^dg; Pss 81:13  ^dh; 82:5  ^di; Rom 8:4  ^dj; Gal 5:16  ^dk).
3:5  ^dl Having one’s name recorded in the Book of Life (see 20:12-15  ^dm; Dan 7:10  ^dn) symbolizes having assurance of God’s acceptance and eternal life (see Rev 17:8  ^do; 20:12  ^dp; Phil 4:3  ^dq; see also Luke 10:20  ^dr). For God to erase a name implies condemnation and eternal death (see Exod 32:32-33  ^ds; Ps 69:28  ^dt).
Summary for Rev 3:7-13: 3:7-13  ^du The letter to the church in Philadelphia encourages Christians who seem to be weak and powerless to realize that their true strength is in Christ. This comforting message includes no words of disapproval. The Kingdom of God does not depend on human strength or wisdom but on God’s power and authority. 3:7  ^dv Philadelphia was situated in the foothills of the Timolus Mountains, open to fertile plains in the east. The city repeatedly experienced severe earthquakes that left it weak and impoverished.

• This verse quotes phrases from Isa 22:22  ^dw.

• key of David: Jesus the Messiah is successor to David’s royal line. As the gatekeeper of heaven, Jesus has authority to open and close the way to heaven (cp. Matt 16:19  ^dx).
3:8  ^dy I know: See study note on 2:2-3.

• little strength: Like the city of Philadelphia itself (see study note on 3:7), the Christians there were not prosperous, and they lacked status and power. But Christ had opened a door for them (see 3:7  ^dz) to claim his status and authority. In spite of their weakness, the Philadelphia church obeyed Christ’s word and did not deny him under pressure.
3:9  ^ea those who belong to Satan’s synagogue: The Christians in Philadelphia had suffered maltreatment by anti-Christian Jews (see study note on 2:9).

• bow down at your feet: In the ancient world, captives were often forced to prostrate themselves before their conquerors (see Isa 49:23  ^eb; 60:14  ^ec). The church’s human enemies will ultimately acknowledge that Christians are the ones God loves.
3:10  ^ed Jesus will protect Christians who persevere through trials (cp. Isa 43:2-4  ^ee; John 10:27-28  ^ef; 1 Cor 10:13  ^eg; Heb 6:18-19  ^eh).

• The great time of testing refers to the end times, when the world experiences tribulation.
3:11  ^ei Christians must hold on; they must persevere in difficulty so they will not lose their crown, their expected reward.
3:12  ^ej Victorious Christians are secure in God’s household since, like pillars, ... they will never have to leave it.

• The name of ... God that is inscribed on them portrays God’s ownership and the security Christians thus enjoy (see 7:4  ^ek; 14:1  ^el).

• The new Jerusalem is not a realm constructed by humans, but is God’s gift from heaven (21:2-10  ^em).

• A new name was a sign of God’s blessing (see also 2:17  ^en); Abram, Jacob, Simon, and others were given new names (Gen 17:5  ^eo; 32:28  ^ep; John 1:42  ^eq).
Summary for Rev 3:14-22: 3:14-22  ^er The letter to the church in Laodicea castigates lukewarm Christians whose inconsistent lives stand for nothing but themselves. They sicken Christ to the point of his spitting them from his mouth. 3:14  ^es Laodicea, situated 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, was the economic and judicial center of a metropolitan region that included Colosse and Hierapolis. The citizens of Laodicea were very proud of their self-sufficiency. After a severe earthquake (AD 60), Laodicea refused aid from Rome and rebuilt their city themselves (Tacitus, Annals 14.27), making it very beautiful.

• the Amen: Used as an oath, “Amen” is a promise of truth (Isa 65:16  ^et). Jesus is the truth (John 8:32  ^eu; 14:6  ^ev), and his message is authenticated by the truthfulness and reliability of his word.

• The description of Christ as the faithful and true witness declares that he knew them as they really were: Though wealthy and proud of their status and accomplishments, they were not measuring up to God’s expectations.
Summary for Rev 3:15-16: 3:15-16  ^ew neither hot nor cold: The hot springs in Hierapolis were famous for their healing qualities. Colosse was equally famous for its cold, refreshing springs. In contrast, the water available in Laodicea was smelly and lukewarm. Such water is distasteful; Jesus was saying that the church’s indecisive commitment to him was revolting.
3:17  ^ex Although Christians in Laodicea felt prosperous and self-sufficient (see study note on 3:14), Jesus accurately saw their wretched and miserable and poor spiritual condition.
3:18  ^ey Jesus’ prescription for Laodicea required a complete change of attitude from self-reliance to dependence on God.

• buy gold from me: Materially, they could buy whatever they wanted, but they needed to acquire the treasures of heaven so they would have spiritual riches through faith in Christ.

• purified by fire: While material wealth will not withstand God’s purging by fire (cp. 1 Cor 3:12-15  ^ez), spiritual wealth has eternal value.

• White garments represent spiritual purity. Black wool cloth and garments were prized exports of the city of Laodicea. This famous black wool cloth was a source of Laodicea’s material wealth; it probably represents the Laodiceans’ proud and unredeemed spiritual condition.

• Laodicea’s material prosperity was also due to their well-known Phrygian eye ointment, which may have been used there in the eye clinic associated with the famed physician Demosthenes Philalethes. The Laodiceans needed to buy ointment from Christ through faith. Only his eye salve would enable them to see their sin and repent.
3:19  ^fa Christ will correct and discipline those whom he loves (Prov 3:11-12  ^fb; Heb 12:5-6  ^fc), rather than rejecting them. His faithfulness extends even to the unfaithful (2 Tim 2:13  ^fd).
3:20  ^fe A person or a church must hear Jesus knocking and open the door to him. Christ provides a pattern of revival for a church that has grown spiritually weak and fallen out of fellowship with him. Simply opening the door can renew their former bond.

• we will share a meal: A shared meal symbolizes acceptance, deep friendship, and a covenant relationship (19:9  ^ff; see Gen 18:1-5  ^fg, 16-19  ^fh; Exod 12:1-31  ^fi; 18:12  ^fj; Matt 26:26-30  ^fk).
3:21  ^fl The reward for victorious and obedient faith is to sit with Christ on his throne. Christians do not become divine, but they share in Christ’s victorious reign (20:4  ^fm, 6  ^fn; 22:5  ^fo; Col 3:1-4  ^fp; 2 Tim 2:12  ^fq).