Verse 1

Unto = To.

angel. See Revelation 1:20.

church. App-186.

Ephesus. Not for those addressed in Ephesians, on whom all blessing is bestowed by grace. Here blessing is promised to overcomers only.

holdeth. Occurs eight times in Rev. Compare App-172. See Colossians 2:19. Hebrews 4:14; &c.

seven stars. See Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:20.

candlesticks. See Revelation 1:12, Revelation 1:13, and compare Leviticus 26:12. Deuteronomy 23:14, &c. 2 Corinthians 6:16.

Verse 2

works. The Lord deals according to works in "the day of the Lord". See Isaiah 66:18.

thy. Omit.

labour = toil. The verb in Revelation 2:3 and Matthew 6:28.

patience. As in Revelation 2:3 with Revelation 1:9. See Romans 2:7.

bear. Gr. bastazo. In Rev. here, Revelation 2:3; Revelation 17:7 (carrieth).

evil. App-128.

hast tried = didst try.

say they. The texts read "call themselves".

apostles. App-189.

hast found = didst find.

liars. Greek. pseudes. Only here; Revelation 21:8. Acts 6:13.

Verse 3

hast, &c. The texts read "and hast patient endurance and didst bear (Revelation 2:2) for", &c.

for . . . sake. App-104. Revelation 2:2.

name"s. See Acts 6:41.

fainted = wearied. Greek. kamno. Only here; Hebrews 12:3. James 5:15 (sick).

Verse 4

hast left = didst leave.

thy, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 7:7-9. Jeremiah 2:1, Jeremiah 2:2. Ezekiel 16:6-10.

love. App-135. Only here and Revelation 2:19 in Rev.

Verse 5

from. Omit.

art fallen = hast fallen.

repent. Compare Leviticus 26:40-42. Deuteronomy 30:1-3. Daniel 9:3, Daniel 9:4. Matthew 4:17. Acts 2:38; &c. Contrast Ephesians 1:3. App-111.

else = if (App-118) not (App-105).

will. Omit.

quickly. The texts omit.

remove = move, as Revelation 6:14.

except. If (App-118) not (App-105).

Verse 6

deeds = works, as Revelation 2:5.

Nicolaitanes. History has no record of these. Tradition says much. They will appear "in that day". All we do know is that they are hateful to God.

Verse 7

He, &c. A formula used by the Lord alone. See App-142.

Spirit App-101.

saith = is saying.

overcometh. See John 16:33. The verb nikao, to conquer or overcome, occurs seventeen times in Rev.

the tree, &c. the tree of the life. Promise fulfilled Revelation 22:14, where also the articles differentiate from Ezekiel 47:12.

tree. Literally wood. Greek. xulon, as used frequently in Septuagint, e.g. Exodus 7:25.

life. App-170.

Paradise of God. See reference in App-173. Paradise is always used in Scripture for a definite place; is described in Gen 2; lost in Gen 3; its restoration spoken of by the Lord in Luke 23:43; seen in vision by Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:2, 2 Corinthians 12:4; promised here, Revelation 2:7; restored, Revelation 22:1-5, Revelation 22:14-17.

God. App-98.

Verse 8

Smyrna. About fifty miles north-west of Ephesus. A great centre now of Levantine trade.

First . . . Last. See Revelation 1:17.

was = became.

dead. App-139.

is alive = lived (again). See App-170.

Verse 9

works, and. The texts omit.

poverty. See App-127.

Jews. Only here, and Revelation 3:9 in Rev.

the = a.

synagogue. App-120.

Satan. See App-19.

Verse 10

none of = not. App-105.

shalt = art about to.

behold. App-133.

devil. See Revelation 12:9.

shall = is about to.

that = in order that. Gr. hina.

tried = tested. Compare Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:9, Matthew 24:10; &c.

days. Not "periods". Compare Genesis 7:4, Genesis 7:10. Numbers 14:33; &c.

be = become.

faithful. App-150.

unto = until. Greek. achri.

death. See Revelation 12:11.

a = the.

crown. Greek. Stephanos. See 1 Peter 5:4.

Verse 11

hurt See Revelation 22:11.

second death. See Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:8.

Verse 12

Pergamos. A city of Mysia famous for the worship of Aesculapius, to whom the title of soter (saviour) was given and whose emblem was the serpent. Identified with Apollo; compare Acts 16:16. Some trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing to Pergamos. there them that 1hold the doctrine

He Which hath, &c. See Revelation 1:16.

Verse 13

thy works, and. The texts omit.

dwellest, dwelleth. Greek. katoikeo, to take up abode. See Acts 2:5.

seat = throne. Compare Revelation 13:2, Revelation 16:10.

holdest fast. Same as hold, Revelation 2:1.

hast . . . denied = didst . . . deny.

denied. Greek. arneomai. First occurrence Matthew 10:33.

My faith. See Revelation 14:12.

faith. See App-150.

wherein. Most texts omit.

Antipas. A witness in future who will be faithful unto death. Mentioned proleptically.

faithful. App-150.

martyr = witness. See Revelation 1:5.

among. Greek. para. App-104.

Verse 14

Balaam. See Num 22-25. Joshua 13:22.

cast, &c. See Numbers 25:1, &c.; Revelation 31:16, &c. 2 Peter 2:15. Jude 1:11.

stumblingblock. Greek. skandalon. See Numbers 25 (Septuagint)

children. App-108.

things . . . idols. Greek. eidolothuton.

Verse 15

which . . . hate. The texts omit, and read "in like manner".

Verse 16

will. Omit.

fight = make war. Greek. polemeo. Occ only in Rev. and James. A threat which is not addressed to the Church of this age.

against. Greek. meta. App-104.

with. Greek. en. App-104.

Verse 17

to eat of. The texts omit.

hidden. Greek. krupto, as in Colossians 3:3.

manna. See John 6:58. Compare Exodus 16:14, Exodus 16:32-34. Psalms 78:24, Psalms 78:25.

stone. Greek. psephos. See Acts 26:10. A white stone was known to the ancients as a "victory" stone.

in. Greek. epi. App-104.

new name. Compare Revelation 3:12. See Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah 65:15, and compare Acts 10:17.

new. See Matthew 9:17.

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

knoweth. App-132. as the texts.

Saving. Same as else, Revelation 2:5.

receiveth. As in John 3:27.

Verse 18

Thyatira. A town lying between Pergamos and Sardis. See Acts 16:14. Another centre of Apollo and Artemis worship.

Son of God. App-98.

feet . . . brass. Prepared for treading down in judgment. See Revelation 1:15. Ma Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:3 and fulfillment in Revelation 19:13-15.

Verse 19

and. These "ands" form the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.

charity = love, as Revelation 2:4.

service. App-190.

faith. App-150.

Verse 20

a few things. Omit.

that = the.

Jezebel. See 1 Kings 16:30-34; 1 Kings 21:25. This patroness of Baal-worship will have her sinister antitype in the future.

prophetess. Only here and Luke 2:36 (Anna) in NT.

to teach, &c. The texts read "and she teacheth and seduceth".

seduce. App-128.

servants. App-190.

Verse 21

space = time. Greek. chronos. See Revelation 6:11; Revelation 20:3, and App-195.

to repent = in order that (Greek. hina) she might repent. and she, &c. The texts read, "and she is not willing to repent of her fornication".

Verse 22

will = do.

tribulation. Compare Romans 2:8, Romans 2:9, Romans 2:16.

their = her, according to some texts.

Verse 23

children. App-108.

death. i.e. pestilence, as Revelation 6:8; Revelation 18:8.

know. App-132.

searcheth, &c. Compare 1 Kings 8:39. Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12.

every = each.

according to. App-104.

Verse 24

and. Omit.

rest. App-124.

depths. Compare 2 Corinthians 2:11.

I will put . . . none. Read "I lay not" (App-105.)

other. See App-124.

Verse 25

already. Omit.

come = shall have come.

Verse 26

keepeth. See Revelation 1:3.

end. See Matthew 24:13. Compare App-125.

power. App-172.

over. App-104.

nations. Greek. ethnos. Genitive translation Gentiles.

Verse 27

rule. Literally "shepherd", as Matthew 2:6. See Psalms 2:7-9.

rod = sceptre, as Hebrews 1:8. Greek. rhabdos.

as the, &c. See Psalms 2:9.

even as I = as I also.

received = have received.

of. Greek. para. App-104.

Father. App-98.

Verse 28

morning star. Fulfilled Revelation 22:16. See Numbers 24:17, connecting the "star" with Israel and the day of the Lord"s judgment.