Revelation Chapter Two Breakdown

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Those in Ephesus struggle to lift up those who are evil. They test men who claim to be apostles but are not and have labeled them liars. They have been persecuted for the name of Yeshua, but still fight strong for Him.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Even with all that, they still have a case against them. They have done what He calls “left their first love”.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

They have forgotten where they have fallen and must repent. They are commanded to go back to the “first works”. What are the first works? We are commanded to do works that are suitable for repentance. We must consider, what is repentance? Repentance is having great remorse for sin. What is sin? Sin is breaking the law of God. Therefore, we can conclude, the first works in which Ephesus is commanded to return to is the works of Torah.

Acts 26:20

but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Now, even though Ephesus needed to repent of their sin and turn back to Torah, they still hated the works of the Nicolaitans. These works are up for debate, although I do lean toward the idea these deeds were pagan holiday celebrations.

Amos 5:21

"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Now, to all those in Ephesus who has an ear to hear, he who overcomes can eat from the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Now, Yeshua moves on to the church of Smyrna. This church is going through tribulations and poverty. Yeshua knows the deeds they are committing as well. The people are facing these things, but are called rich. It is in this city were men claim to be Jews, but are not Jews and are from the temple of Satan. It is interesting to see this verse here. Many self-proclaimed preachers or prophets say this phrase refers to the Jews who live in Jerusalem today, as in they are the false Jews.

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Smyrna is about to suffer many things and are commanded to not fear them. Some men will be thrown into prison on account of Satan. They will be tested in prison for ten days. Then Smyrna is told to be faithful until they die in order to receive the crown of life.

11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

To all those is Smyrna with ear to hear, he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. The second death comes after the millennial reign of Christ. If you are to overcome, you will live with YHWH forever.

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Yeshua moves on to Pergamos. Yeshua knows the deeds of these men and they live in the city where the throne of Satan sits. Even so, this church holds close the name of Yeshua and doesn’t deny the faith. Satan lives here, in Pergamos.

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Even so, they are still held accountable. Some in the city of Pergamos keep the doctrine of Balaam. King of Pergamos is Balak and Balaam taught him to cause the children of God to sin by eating things sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. Basically, within this church, sexual immorality was an issue as well as unclean food.

15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

On top of that, men also held to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, something Yeshua hates. So, not only did this city continue in sexual immorality, they also did not follow biblical dietary laws, and they did keep pagan holidays.

16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

They are commanded to repent or face the ultimatum of facing Yeshua and His sword.

17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

To Smyrna, he who has an ear must overcome and they will receive the hidden manna. They will also receive a white stone with a new name.

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

Next is the church of Thyatira. This church has the works of love, service, faith, and patience in the faith.

20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

This church also has sin. They too commit sexual immorality and eat unclean food. They have a Jezebel prophetess in their congregations which teaches them in these sinful ways.

21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

This prophetess had been given time to repent but refused to do so.

22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

This harlot will be thrown into a bed and all those who commit adultery with her will go through the great tribulation, unless they repent of their sinful works. This is interesting to me because it sounds similar to the whore of Babylon.

23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

The children of this Jezebel will die. All the churches will know that Yeshua is He who searches the hearts and minds of men. Every man will receive according to their works. This is interesting as well considering every church I have ever attended says works mean nothing in terms of our afterlife.

24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

To the churches in Thyatira as well as those who do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, they will have no more burdens. This shows that some people may not have the knowledge of the Bible, but still refrained from the works of Satan.

25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

They are commanded to keep what they do have until Christ returns.

26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;  and I will give him the morning star.

He who overcomes, and keeps the Torah until the end will gain power over nations.

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Those in Thyatira with an ear to hear, listen to what the Spirit has to say.