The beginning of the Lord's letters to the seven churches in Asia. In chapter two the Lord addresses the first 4 churches. One was faithful to the Lord even though they were persecuted and poor. They were told to be faithful unto death. One was commended for a number of things they had done, but were criticized for leaving their first love. One had been somewhat faithful even though they lived where Satan's seat was. However, there were those among them who held the doctrine of Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans. The last one was commended because their love, faith and patience had increased. Unfortunately, they had allowed a false prophetess to teach immorality and idolatry. These three were all told to repent by the Lord.

1. 1
REVELATION CHAPTER 2
John writes Christ's words to the first four churches.
I. THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS (2:1-7)
A. Jesus (2:1): Jesus holds the seven stars and walks among
the seven lampstands.
A reminder of Jesus authority over the messengers and
the assemblies
B. The commendation (2:2-3, 6)
1. Through hard work and patience, the church has
performed many acceptable works/deeds (2:2a).
2. They do not tolerate those who are evil, exposing false
apostles who were liars (2:2b).
Jesus knows what they have done.
AD 54 Acts 19:1-7 Initial 12 members of assembly
AD 59 1 Cor 16:8-9 tarry at Ephesus many adversaries
AD 60 Acts 20:29-31 warnings to the elders
AD 64 Letter written to Eph 2:10 good works
Eph 5:11 no fellowship.. unfruitful works.. reprove
Eph 4:14 sleight of men, cunning …they lie in wait
AD 65 1 Tim 1:3 Paul left Timothy there to prevent
AD 33 Christ’s original warning in Matt 24:29
3. They were faithful workers for the Lord, patient,
bearing their labor, working hard for the Lord (2:2c).
Eph 4:28 let him labor same word as in verse 3
5. They also hated the practices of the Nicolaitans (2:6).
Word comes from #3532 victorious over the people
C. The chastening (2:4): They have, however, left their first
love.
Matt 24:12 love of many wax cold
Acts 19:4-5 believe on Christ Jesus
Paul uses the word love 15 times in Ephesians more that
any other epistle to a local church various subjects.
D. The message (2:5)
1. The procedure involved (2:5a-5c)
a. They are to remember how they had fallen (2:5a).
b. They are to repent (2:5b).
Do the first works. What are they?

2. 2
Matt 28:18-20 preach the gospel
1 Thess 1:3, 8 work of faith, labor of love
c. They are to return to their first love (2:5c).
Obeying the Lord by preaching the gospel
everywhere
2. The penalty (2:5d): If this does not happen, their
lampstand will be removed.
What does that mean?
E. The challenge (2:7): Jesus promises all overcomers would
receive fruit from the tree of life in paradise.
Rev 22:2 tree of life
Rev 22:14 obey His commandments right to the tree
Paradise – Park, garden, orchard
Lk 23:43 today thou shalt be with me
2 Cor 12:4 caught up into
II. THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA (2:8-11)
A. Jesus (2:8): Jesus says he is the First and Last, who was
dead and is alive forevermore.
Simply a reminder of who He is. Repeated from
Rev 1:8,11, 17-18
B. The commendation (2:9)
1. They are persecuted and poor, yet they are rich (2:9a).
2. They have been blasphemed/slandered/evil spoken of
by those of Satan’s assembly/congregation (2:9b).
Say they are Jews – Rom 2:28-29
Jewish Christians implying they are first Christians
Gal 2:4 false brethren, not spiritual Jews
See Rev 3:9 same wording about Satan’s synagogue
Satan’s synagogues consisted of the false
religions/temples to the false gods existing in every
city in the Roman Empire
C. The chastening: None given.
D. The message (2:10): They are to remain faithful unto death
and will receive a crown of life.
Ten days not literal
See James 1:12 and Rev 3:11
E. The challenge (2:11): They will not be hurt by the second
death.

3. 3
Rev 20:6 first resurrection..second death hath no
power
Rev 20:14 this is the second death
Rev 21:8 this is the second death
III. THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS (2:12-17)
A. Jesus (2:12): Jesus still carries his two-edged sword.
See Is 11:1 & 4 smite with the rod of His mouth
Also Heb 4:12, Rev 1:16, 2:16, 19:15 & 21
B. The commendation (2:13)
1. They remain faithful even though living where Satan's
seat/throne is (2:13a).
Pergamos had 6 temples to six Roman gods
One of them, Aesculapius, god of medicine used a
serpent as its emblem
2. One of their members, Antipas, Jesus’ faithful witness,
was killed near them (2:13b).
C. The chastening (2:14-15)
1. There were those there that held the doctrine of
Balaam (2:14a).
As is explained, held the teaching of Balac who cast a
stumbling block before the children of Israel and
taught to eat what was offered to the idols and to
commit fornication. See Numbers 24:25 – 25:1-3 and
31:16
2 Teaching to eat things sacrificed to idols & commit
fornication. (2:14b)
There were some among the brethren there that
followed that teaching. They had not completely given
up their former religion of idol worship.
See Acts 19:19 for what many of the Ephesians did
upon obeying the gospel. Evidently not all did this.
The original letter to the Gentiles at Acts 15:19-20&29
3. There were also those there that held the teachings of
the Nicolaitans (2:15).
Again, we don’t know what they taught, except it was
similar to what Baalam taught Israel. It evidently was
widespread and accepted by some among the
churches.
D. The message (2:16): Repent or be punished.

4. 4
The punishment was a fight with the Lord who would
use the sword of His mouth. See again Is 11:4; Is 49:2;
Eph 6:17 and 2 Thess 2:8
E. The challenge (2:17)
1. Again, to the churches and to him that overcomes to
partake of the hidden manna (2:17a)
See John 6:47-51 and 63.
2. And to be given a white stone with a new name (2:17b)
Only the one receiving it would know it.
IV. THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA (2:18-29)
A. Jesus (2:18): Jesus' eyes are as blazing fire, and his feet are
like polished bronze.
Repeats what was said in Rev 1:14-15
Dan 10:6 eyes and feet similar description
B. The commendation (2:19): Jesus knows that their works,
love, faith, and patience have greatly increased.
Jesus knows and commends them first and lists the
positives.
He doesn’t give specific examples just generic terms
Note Acts 16:14-15 Lydia from Thyatira but in Philippa
for business selling purple material
C. The chastening (2:20-23)
1. The wickedness (2:20): They are allowing a false
prophetess named Jezebel to teach immorality and
idolatry.
This is most likely not her real name. Hearkens us
back to Ahab’s wife Jezebel of 1 Kings 16:31 taught
Baal worship.
Jesus had warned of false prophets in Matt 24:11 &
24; Mk 13:22
Apostles also at: 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 4:1;
Jude 4
Again, the original letter to the Gentiles was in Acts
15:20 & 29 against fornication and idolatry

5. 5
2. The warning (2:21-23): Unless they repent, Jesus
presents a picture of great immorality, and both she and
her followers will suffer death.
She and her followers were given time to repent
The bed is not literal. The punishment as tribulation
or pressure is literal. Their pleasure is turned into
retribution from the Lord using His sword per Rev
2:16. What He says will come to pass. We are not told
the specifics. But all are told to repent or perish Lk
13:3
Her children are not literal children. Her children are
what her false doctrine would produce. By destroying
what she taught with His sword, the Lord prevents
further deception of others.
1 Cor 4:15 I have begotten thee..thru the gospel
3. The churches will know who Jesus is and what He does
They will know after reading these letters and what
the Lord said to these 7 churches.
D. The counsel (2:24-25):
1. Jesus tells the faithful there to hold on to what they
have. He includes others not of Thyatira also. No other
burden will be put upon them. Hold fast till I come
The faithful ones there and in other places who did not
have that doctrine were not given any additional
commands by the Lord. They were to hold fast their
faithfulness. The word “hold fast” appears several
times in: 2 Thess 2:15; Heb 4:14; Heb 6:18; Rev 3:11
“till I come” refers to the Lord’s punishment of the
false teachers mentioned there. The punishment is the
identification of them and the defeat of their doctrine
by His sword.
E. The challenge (2:26-29)
1. He that overcomes and keeps the Lord’s works will be
given powers over the nations. He will rule over the
nations (2:26-27).
This does not refer to some future millennial kingdom.
This refers to the gospel which is expressed by the
Lord’s sword. See Rom 1:16.

6. 6
The Lord’s works are what He did. He provided His
words, His sword, His power in the gospel, the truth.
The word “keep” appears in: Matt 28:20; John 14:15,
21, 23, etc.
The power and rule is through His words prophesied in
Ps 2:9 and referred to in verse 27. See Ps 110:2 also.
His rod corrects per 1 Cor 4:21.
The gospel, the rod of His mouth, Is 11:4, overcame the
pagan world by revealing the false gods, doctrine, etc.
2. They will be given the morning star (2:28-29).
John 8:12 I am the light of the world
John 12:46 I come a light
2 Pet 1:19 day star arise in their hearts – a sure word
Rev 22:16 Jesus the bright and morning star
Same ending to listen to what the Spirit says to the
churches.