Revelation 2

King James Version

Full text for Revelation Chapter 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;›

2‹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:›

3‹And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.›

4‹Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.›

5‹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.›

6‹But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.›

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.›

8¶ ‹And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;›

9‹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.›

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.›

11‹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.›

12¶ ‹And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;›

13‹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.›

14‹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.›

15‹So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.›

16‹Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.›

17‹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].›

18¶ ‹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;›

19‹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.›

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.›

21‹And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.›

22‹Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.›

23‹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.›

24‹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.›

25‹But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.›

26‹And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:›

27‹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.›

28‹And I will give him the morning star.›

29‹He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Revelation chapter two contains Christ's messages to four of the seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. Each message includes commendations for their works and endurance, but also specific rebukes for spiritual decline or doctrinal compromise. The churches are exhorted to repent and overcome, with promises of eternal blessings for those who remain faithful. These messages highlight the importance of steadfast love, endurance through tribulation, and purity from false teachings.

Medium Summary

Revelation chapter two presents Christ's individualized messages to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. To Ephesus, He commends their labor and discernment against false apostles, yet rebukes them for having left their first love, urging repentance to avoid the removal of their candlestick. Smyrna is praised for enduring tribulation and poverty, being truly rich, and is encouraged to be faithful unto death despite impending persecution, with the promise of a crown of life. Pergamos is acknowledged for holding fast to His name where Satan dwells, even through martyrdom, but is chastised for tolerating the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, necessitating repentance. Finally, Thyatira is commended for increasing works, charity, and patience, but sharply rebuked for suffering the prophetess Jezebel to lead believers into fornication and idolatry, with severe judgment promised for the unrepentant, while overcomers are promised power and the morning star.

Long Summary

Revelation chapter two records the specific messages dictated by Christ to the angels of four of the seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. To the church in Ephesus, Christ, who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden candlesticks, commends their diligent works, labor, patience, and their intolerance for evil, specifically their testing and rejection of false apostles. However, He rebukes them for having forsaken their 'first love,' urging them to remember their former state, repent, and return to their initial works, lest their candlestick be removed. He also notes their hatred for the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Next, to the church in Smyrna, Christ, identified as the first and the last, who was dead and is alive, acknowledges their works, tribulation, and poverty, declaring them spiritually rich despite their material lack. He recognizes the blasphemy of those who falsely claim to be Jews, calling them the 'synagogue of Satan.' He encourages them not to fear impending suffering, including imprisonment for a short period, and exhorts them to be faithful unto death, promising a 'crown of life' and immunity from the 'second death.' The message to Pergamos, from Him who has the sharp two-edged sword, praises their steadfastness in holding His name and not denying His faith, even in the city where 'Satan's seat' is located and where Antipas, His faithful martyr, was slain. Yet, He holds a few things against them for tolerating those who adhere to the 'doctrine of Balaam,' which led Israel to idolatry and fornication, and also those who hold the 'doctrine of the Nicolaitans.' He commands them to repent, or else He will fight against them with the sword of His mouth, promising overcomers hidden manna, a white stone, and a new, secret name. Finally, to the church in Thyatira, the Son of God with eyes like fire and feet like fine brass, commends their increasing works, charity, service, faith, and patience, noting their latter works are greater than their first. Nevertheless, He strongly rebukes them for allowing 'that woman Jezebel,' who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce His servants into fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols. He reveals that He gave her time to repent, but she did not. Therefore, He promises to cast her and her adulterous followers into great tribulation and to kill her children, so that all churches may know He searches hearts and reins, and will judge according to works. He assures the faithful in Thyatira who have not embraced this doctrine that no other burden will be laid upon them, urging them to hold fast until His coming, with promises of power over nations and the 'morning star' for those who overcome.

Core Concepts

  • First LoveThe church of Ephesus is rebuked for having abandoned their initial fervent devotion and spiritual passion, despite their diligent works and doctrinal purity. They are called to remember, repent, and return to their former state of love.
  • Tribulation and RichesThe church in Smyrna experiences significant tribulation and material poverty, yet Christ declares them spiritually rich. They are encouraged to endure suffering, even unto death, with the promise of eternal reward.
  • Satan's SeatPergamos is identified as a place where 'Satan's seat' is, indicating a center of pagan worship or demonic influence. Despite this hostile environment, the believers are commended for holding fast to Christ's name and faith.
  • False Doctrine (Balaam & Nicolaitans)Pergamos is condemned for tolerating the 'doctrine of Balaam,' which led to idolatry and fornication, and the 'doctrine of the Nicolaitans,' whose deeds are also hated by Christ. These represent teachings that compromise spiritual purity and moral conduct.
  • Jezebel's SeductionThe church in Thyatira is rebuked for allowing a woman named Jezebel, who claims to be a prophetess, to mislead Christ's servants into spiritual and physical fornication and idolatry. This highlights the danger of false teaching within the church.
  • Repentance and JudgmentThroughout the messages, Christ calls the erring churches to repent of their specific failings. Failure to repent is met with warnings of swift divine judgment, such as the removal of a candlestick or severe tribulation.
  • Overcoming and RewardsTo those who 'overcome' the challenges, temptations, and false doctrines, Christ promises various eternal blessings, including eating from the tree of life, a crown of life, hidden manna, a new name, power over nations, and the morning star.