Revelation 2

Revelation 2:1

ANgel] See notes on chap. 1. 20.

Ephesus] Look chap. 1. 7.

that holdeth, &c.] See chap. 1. 16.

who walketh, &c.] Look the notes on chap. 1. 12, 13.

Revelation 2:2

I know thy works] I take notice of them, and approve them, Psalms 1:6. and Psalms 101:4. Matthew 7:23. Though all power to do good cometh from God, and the works of the best men have some imperfections; yet such is Gods mercy, that he accepteth of them.

works] Course of life and practise, 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:12. Titus 2:7.

thy labour] In preaching the Gospel, 1 Thessalonians 5:12. 1 Timothy 5:17.

patience] In bearing persecutions that followed his preaching and practice, 2 Tim. 3. 10. 11, 12.

canst not bear] Endure them, or forbear reproving them. An argument of zeal, John 2:15; John 2:17. 2 Peter 2:8.

them that are evil] Such as are wicked in thy flock.

apostles] Such as feigned themselves to be sent immediately from Christ, but were not, 2 Corinthians 11:13.

Revelation 2:3

hast born] Hast born much from these, whom thou couldest not bear with, v. 2.

hast patience] Continuest constant in thy sufferings, Heb. 10. 34, 36. and 12. 1.

not fainted] Art not weary of thy work, Galatians 6:9. 2 Thessalonians 3:13. 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Revelation 2:4

hast left] Hast abated somewhat of thy former fervour and forwardnesse.

first love] Or, former love; 1 Timothy 5:12. shewed in diligent teaching and ordering of his people, John 21:16-17. He was not, it may be, so carefull in feeding and tending his flock, as when John was there to oversee him. Not onely idolatry and false doctrine, but negligence, in a minister, is blame-worthy.

Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore] Three things required of a penitent sinner: A serious consideration of the haynousnesse of his sin; heart yremorse for it, and a renewed course of life.

remove] Take it from that place, and settle it in some other, where it shall finde better acceptance, Matthew 21:43.

thy candlestick] My Church from out of Ephesus, chap. 1. 20. and leave it in darknesse. It seemeth, by the pastours negligence, the people were grown remisse also: for a great judgement is threatned to them.

except thou repent] God repeateth it, to shew how well pleased he would be with their returning, Ezek. 18. 31, 32. and 33. 11.

Revelation 2:6

But] I will not yet remove the candlestick, for the reasons following.

this thou hast] This goodnesse left in thee.

hatest] Doest not onely forbear, but inwardly hate and abhor, Psalms 94:10. Amos 5:15. Romans 12:9.

the deeds] Not the persons, Psalms 101:3.

Nicolaitans] Who held wives to be common, as ecclesiasticall histories affirm. Some think, they are so called from Nicolas the deacon, mentioned, Acts 6. others, from some other of that name.

I hate] Psalms 11:5. Proverbs 6:16. and Proverbs 18:13.

Revelation 2:7

He that hath an ear] Let not the pastour onely, but every one of the Church of Ephesus, lay this to heart. Or, let them hearken whose ears God hath opened, Psalms 40:6. Isaiah 50:5. Or, that have a spirituall ear, as well as a naturall, to hear what God saith, Deuteronomy 29:4. Psalms 85:8. Proverbs 20:12. See Matth, 13. 9.

overcometh] His spirituall enemies, the devil, the world and the flesh, Romans 8:37. and Romans 12:21. and Romans 16:20. 1 Cor. 9, 27. 1 John 4:4. and 5. 4, 5. Chap. 12. 11. and 15. 2.

of the tree of life] Perpetuall happinesse, figured by the tree of life, Genesis 2:9. Revelation 22:2.

in the midst] Alluding to the situtation of the tree of life in paradise.

paradise] Heaven, Luke 23:43. 2 Corinthians 12:4.

Revelation 2:8

Smyrna] See notes on chap. 1. 11.

first] Chap. 1. 8, 17.

was dead] See chap. 1. 18.

Revelation 2:9

I know] See v. 2.

and tribulation] Troubles, losse of goods, and reproaches, which thou sufferest for the truth, Hebrews 10:34. and 11. 36, 38.

but thou art rich] Towards God, Luke 12:21. spiritually, Luke 16:11. 2 Corinthians 8:9. 1 Timothy 6:6; 1 Timothy 6:18. James 2:5.

say they are Jews] Brag of the truth of their religion, when they want both the inward power, and outward evidences of it, Matthew 3:9. John 8:33; John 8:39. Romans 2:28-29. 2 Timothy 3:5.

synagogue of Satan] Not of God, as once they were, and pretend still to be, Philippians 3:2-3.

Revelation 2:10

Fear none] So as out of fear to do any thing unbeseeming a Christian, Matthew 10:28. Luke 4. 4.

thou shalt suffer] The storm is not yet past; imprisonment and straits will follow.

devil] By wicked men his instruments, Ephesians 2:2.

be tried] The devil would destroy, but God will suffer you onely to be tried, chap. 3. 10. James 1:12.

ten days] A short time: or, as others interpret it, ten yeers; either in Dioclesians time, as some think, or in Trajans, as others.

faithfull unto death] Constant in thy Christian course and profession to the last, Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14. Or, unto the shedding of thy blood by death, for the testimony of my truth, Hebrews 12:6. Chap. 12. 11. and 20. 4. Die, rather then deny thy religion.

crown of life] Either an everliving, everlasting, neverfading crown or garland, 1 Pet. 1. 4. and 5. 4. or, celestiall glory, life eternall, as a crown, or for a crown, James 1:12. as the signe of circumcision, that is, circumcision as or for a signe, Romans 4:11. An allusion to them that run or wrestle for a garland, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25. 2 Tim. 2. 5. and 4. 7, 8.

Revelation 2:11

He that hath an ear] See notes on v. 7.

of the second death] Consisting in the separation of soul and body from God, and sequestration of them both to eternall torments, Matth. 25 41, 46. 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Chap. 20. 14. and 21. 8. So called, in relation to the naturall death foregoing it, whereby soul and body are onely severed either from other. Though he may suffer this, yet shall he escape that. It shall not be able to seize upon him, chap. 20. 6.

Revelation 2:12

Pergamus] See notes on chap. 1. 11.

the sharp sword] Look on chap. 1. 16.

Revelation 2:13

I know] Vers. 2.

where] In how perillous a place, and among what manner of people thine abode is; Psalms 57:4. and 120. 5, 6. Ezekiel 2:6. Philippians 2:15.

seat] Or, throne. Where the Romane governour liveth, who is Satans chief instrument in persecuting the saints, v. 10.

holdest fast my Name, &c.] Doest still maintain thy Christian profession, Hebrews 10:23. So chap. 3. 3, 8, 10, 11.

even in those days] As in a dangerous place, so in the times of greatest triall, chap. 12. 12. and 13. 10. and 14. 12.

Antipas] A name contracted of Antipater, as Artemas of Artemidorus, Titus 3:12. Epaphras of Epaphroditus, Colossians 4:12. Philippians 4:18. Demas of Demetrius, 2 Timothy 4:12. Silas of Silvanus, Acts 15:40. 1 Thessalonians 1:1. The name of some godly minister of Christ, in likelihood, who had suffered martyrdom there for the truth.

martyr] Who gave his life for the testimony of the truth concerning me; as Acts 22:20.

Revelation 2:14

hast there] Doest not put them out of the Church, that they may not hurt others, 1 Cor. 5. 2, 6.

of Balaam] Who taught Balak to set fair women on work to tempt the Israelites to eat of the meat they had sacrificed to their idols, and to commit folly with them, Numb. 24 and 25 chapters, and 31. 16.

Revelation 2:15

Nicolaitans] See notes on v. 6.

Revelation 2:16

Repent] Look on v. 5.

sword] See chap. 1. 16.

Revelation 2:17

hidden manna] He shall both spiritually taste of me here, and feast also with me, and of me, enjoying me fully hereafter in heaven. He alludeth to Psalms 105:40. Joh. 6. 27, 32, 49, 50. Luke 22. 30. and withall, to the golden pot of manna placed in the holiest of all, Heb. 9. 3, 4. Exod. 16. 33, 34.

a white stone] Assurance of the full discharge of all his sins, 1 John 1:7. Or, perfect absolution at the day of judgement, John 5:24. For the heathen absolved men by white stones, and condemned them by black ones. Or, a privie mark, whereby he may be known, and admitted to the heavenly banquet of the hidden manna, as a bidden guest thereunto, chap. 19. 9. alluding, as some think, to those shells, stones, or tokens, that were wont to be given as tickets, with their names on them, to such as were to be admitted to the solemn feasts held in honour of those that were victorious in their sacred games.

a new name] Adde to his absolution such glory, as none can understand, but such as have it, 1 Corinthians 2:9. An inward assurance of his right and interest in these honours. He alludeth to Isaiah 65:15. All these things follow the victory.

Revelation 2:18

Thyatira] See notes on chap. 1. 11.

his eyes] See on chap. 1. 14, 15.

Revelation 2:19

I know] See v. 2.

and thy charity] Or, even thy charity; as v. 13. for here he reckoneth up the works in particular.

and service, &c.] Thy ministring to the saints; as Romans 16:1. Hebrews 6:10. and faithfulnesse in thy calling, and patient bearing of troubles ensuing it; as chap. 2. 2.

and thy works] The fruits of these particular graces. Or, and thy works, that the last are more then the first. So this conjunction is used, Luke 3. 20. and 5. 1.

Revelation 2:20

a few things] See notes on v. 14, 15.

Jezebel] 1 Kings 16:31. Some wicked woman like her, or of the same name with her, or both.

Revelation 2:21

of her fornication] She was not onely naught her self, but taught others also to be naught like her self, v. 22. False doctrine and bad life, idolatry and adultery, go oft together, v. 14. 15. Numbers 25:1,2. Hos. 4. 11, 12, 13, 14.

and she repented not] Or, but she repented not; as Matthew 11:19. She added impenitency to her incontinency and other sins, Romans 2:4-5.

Revelation 2:22

into a bed] As there is a bed of ease and pleasure, Amos 6:4. so of languishing and disease, Psalms 41:4. The later is here intended, but with allusion to the former. Her punishment shall be like her sin. Adulterers often lie long sick of foul diseases, Job 20:11. Proverbs 5:11.

Revelation 2:23

And I will kill her children] Her bastards; as 2 Samuel 12:14. Others understand it of spirituall adultery; and then her adulterers are her fellow-false teachers, and her children they whom she had seduced.

I am he which searcheth] Psalms 7:9. Jeremiah 11:20. and Jeremiah 17:10. They shall know that I am the true God, by my punishing them for their secret sins, Psalms 90:8. 2 Samuel 12:12. Ezekiel 8:12.

Revelation 2:24

unto you, &c.] Both ministers and people. Or, unto you, even the rest; as v. 13.

not known, &c.] Are ignorant of those things they call the depths of God; as 1 Corinthians 2:10. but are indeed the depths of Satan. Or, not allowed; as Psalms 101:4. Matthew 25:12.

none other burden] Denounce no further troubles against you, then what you suffer already. So prophecies of evils to come are called burdens, Isaiah 13:1. and Isaiah 23:1. Or, I will lay no other laws on you to live by, then what you have already received of the apostles, v. 25. Acts 15:28.

Revelation 2:25

Hold fast] Chap. 3 11.

till I come] To the last, v. 10. or, to the end, Matthew 24:13. till my second coming, generall or speciall, 1 Corinthians 11:26.

Revelation 2:26

overcometh] See notes on v. 7.

my works] Enjoyned to him by me. Or, such as I require, not as Jezebel teacheth.

power over the nations] To joyn with me in judging them at the last day, Psal. 149. 5, &c. 1 Corinthians 6:2. Jude v. 14, 15.

Revelation 2:27

And he shall rule them] Psalms 2:9. Gr. feed them; as Psal. 78. 71, 72. Mic. 5. 4. Matthew 2:6. That is, rule them with a rod of iron, with a might and power irresistible, Psalms 110:2. subduing and maulling to pieces all refractary and rebellious ones.

as the vessels] Or, that as the vessels; as Psalms 2:9.

be broken to shivers] That is, utterly destroyed, without recovery, as earthen vessels broken are, Isaiah 30:14. Jeremiah 19:11.

Revelation 2:28

morning-star] The full fruition of my self, chap. 22. 10. 2 Peter 1:19. Or, the next degree of glory to me, as the morning-star is next the sun, Isaiah 14:12.

Revelation 2:29

See notes on v. 7.