Revelation 2:1-29

As we read the following seven prophetic writings to/for the angels and their different churches, we ought to remember that John is primarily writing to benefit people with the Judean / Israeli / circumcision background. These readers/listeners will therefore be able to identify and link much of what is revealed here regarding the past, present, and the future to the previous prophecies and occurrences recorded in the old covenant writings.

Even though many of the details may relate to a past event, or a present event - these will also relate to a future event. As we progress in this writing (book) of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, we will learn the relationship of the past, present, and the future - this allows us to understand the methods, characteristics, attitudes, manners of actions, etc, of those who will be participating in the future events.

Several of the events prophesied have already occurred, and the judgments prophesied to/for the angels and their churches by the Lord Jesus Christ have been implemented - but the final judgment and implementation is still future to us today, as recorded in Revelation chapters 19-21.

Revelation 2:1-7:

"^2:1To the angel of the church in Ephesus you must write:

'The (one) strongly-holding the seven stars in his right (hand) says the-things-here, the (one) walking in (the) midst of the seven lamp-stands, the golden (lamp-stands) -

^.2I knew² your works and labor and your patient-endurance, and that you are not able to lift-up bad-people, and you made-trial-of the (people) saying themselves (to be) apostles and they are not, and you found them (to be) liars; ^.3and you have patient-endurance and you lifted-up because-of my name and you did not labor². ^.4But I have against you that you left your love¹, the first (love). ^.5Therefore you must remember from-where you fell² and you must repent and you must do the first works - but if not - I come to you, and I will move your lamp-stand out-from its place except you may repent. ^.6But this you have that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans which I also hate.

^.7The (person) having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches.

To the (person) being-victorious I will give to him to eat out-from the tree of the life which is in the Paradise of God.'

John continues writing the words from the Lord Jesus Christ: "You (John) must write the following...

to the angel
- (literally referring to the spirit-being whose office and character is one of a messenger in official service via words and/or actions - the guardian or messenger assigned-to and representative-of this church of holy-people;
- but figuratively referring in a prophetic sense to the human guardian or messenger of/from the Judean/Israeli assembly of people offering up prayers to God during old covenant times, and also during the next age which will be between the gathering-together of all holy-people away from the earth and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ back on earth)
of the church
- (literally referring to the church of holy-people during John's time and also relevant to/for the churches of holy-people today;
- but figuratively referring in a prophetic sense to the Judean/Israeli assembly of people during old covenant times and during the next age which will be between the gathering-together of all holy-people away from the earth and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ back on earth)
in Ephesus (refer to Revelation 1:11):

'The one who is strongly-holding (the Lord Jesus Christ is exerting his forceful-strength holding) the seven stars in his right hand (referring to the 7 angels in Revelation 1:16 and 20)...

says the-things-here (emphatically these things which I am telling you),

...the one (the Lord Jesus Christ) who is walking in the middle of the seven lamp-stands, emphatically and specifically the golden lamp-stands (referring to the 7 churches in Revelation 1:12, 13 and 20) -

I knew and continue to know (perceive, see, whereby what is known is known because it has come within my sphere of perception or circle of vision, I see to the end of perceiving and knowing with my mind – I know)
- your works (your deeds, things wrought, the end-products issuing from you, the effects produced with/by your actions expending your energy)
- and labor (the word "labor" literally means "a beating" but in the context here it means "exerting wearisome effort"; you exerted a lot of effort, as if beating yourself out physically by what you were doing, your toil)
- and your patient-endurance (bearing-up, holding, enduring and remaining upright relative to God and the things of God under any obstacles),
and that you are not able to lift-up bad-people (you cannot, you do not have the able-power or ability, you are not capable of bearing, supporting, carrying the people who are bad, who behave in a manner that is contrary to God’s intention),
and you made-trial-of (you tried, in the good sense of putting them to the test in order to ascertain the truth about)
- the people saying that they themselves are apostles (they are claiming that they are holy-people who are sent forth or away from God or from the Lord Jesus Christ on a specific mission or assignment to a person or people; this word places emphasis on being sent)
- and they are not apostles,
  - and you found them to be liars (people who lie, who speak false statements; they are false apostles, they have NOT been sent forth/away on a specific mission or assignment by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ, their whole appearance is a façade, it's a lie);
and the reason that you have (hold) patient-endurance and you lifted-up (you bore, supported, carried many things and people according to God's Word) is
- on account of my name
  - (the name of the Lord Jesus Christ includes all that the name of "Lord" and the name of "Jesus" and the name of "Christ" represent and stand for - all the authoritative-power, ability, workings, etc, that God gave to Jesus when He raised him up out-from the dead-people, and gave him the name that is above every other name, designating the resurrected Jesus being Lord and Christ; also refer to Acts 2:21 and 38; 3:6 and 16; 4:7-12, and 30; Romans 1:3 and 4; Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:9 and 10; II Thessalonians 3:6; Hebrews 1:1-4)
- and you did not labor and continue not to labor because of my name (in the sense that my name did not grow wearisome or become laborious to/for you).
But contrary to what is stated above -
- I have against you (I hold something which I can justly put forward as a case against you to be judged)
- that you left (you sent-away, dismissed, discharged, let-go from your concern)
- your love¹,
  - emphatically and specifically the first love (God loved first with His kind of love, and therefore the prime or foremost responsibility of all of God's created beings, including angels and humans, is to love God - this is the love that is first in order and importance, and then we can love ourselves and one-another; the word "love¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love - reference Revelation 1:5 and the article Love in I Corinthians 13).
Following-on logically, you must actively call to your mind and have in memory - from what manner of action (how, from what source or place) you fell and continue in that fallen state (down from where you should be in your relationship to/with God)
- and you must repent (change your mind after rethinking, having afterthought regarding the truth of God’s words spoken to/for you)
  - and you must do (perform)
  - the first works (the deeds associated with your prime responsibility, the original works assigned to/for you to perform within the cause and sphere of action of Godly-love - for the holy-people during this age it is to walk/behave within the sphere of action of the good works that God prepared for us as stated in Ephesians 2:10; but for the Judeans/Israelites during the old covenant and during the next age - it is to believe what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to walk/behave accordingly)
- but if not -
- I am coming to you (I am definitely in the process of going to you),
  - and I will move (set in motion)
  - your lamp-stand (the church in Ephesus)
  - out-from its place (from its present location)
  - except/unless you may repent (if it should happen that you would not change your mind and consequently do the first works by the time that I arrive to implement necessary judgment).
But contrary to what is stated above -
- you presently have (hold) this-thing which is that
  - you hate the works of the Nicolatians (you have active ill-will towards the deeds, the effects produced with/by the actions performed by the people of Nicolaus, which is a name indicating either a victorious, conquering people or a people being conquered; a sect doing the works which are described in verses 14 and 15 below; this word could be translated as Nikolaitans)
  - which works emphatically I also hate.

The person having an ear must hear (people normally have ears, but here Jesus is referring to anyone who is willing to use an ear paying attention to hear what is spoken to be heard; refer to Revelation 1:3; – he who has an ear must hear, listen attentively becoming informed and learned to the end of understanding what he hears, which is)...

what the spirit says to the churches (the information originally from God via Jesus Christ concerning the past, present and/or future that John received to speak-forth to, before, or in front of another person or people, and which he wrote down in this writing to/for the assemblies of holy-people; refer to Revelation 19:10).

To the person being-victorious (actively gaining the victory, conquering)...

I will give to him to eat
- out-from the tree of the life (from what is produced from/by this tree, the living wood - referring to access to God's life thereby preserving that person's life allowing him to continue living with/for God and behaving himself in a manner that is pleasing to God)
- which is in the Paradise of God (at the time of the future new earth when it will be the Paradise/Garden of God; Paradise is not in existence for mankind during the present time but it will come as recorded in Revelation 21:1 and following - when the new earth will be Paradise where God's people live and the new city of Jerusalem will be the dwelling place of God and the Lord Jesus Christ on earth as the Holy of Holies, the center/middle of Paradise; refer also to Hebrews 8:2, 9:11 and 12, 13:14; Revelation 21:2 and 3, 22:14 and 19).'

All holy-people (Christians) have already been saved to God and we are victorious and we will eat out-from the tree of the life which will be in the Paradise of God.

All the Judeans/Israelites, who will live during the next age (which will be between the gathering-together of all holy-people away from the earth and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ back on earth), will be judged according to their works as to whether they are victorious or not. This kind of judgment will also be applied to people who lived during the old covenant times (prior to the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2).

[Reference: Genesis 2:7-9 and 15, 3:22-24; Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 7:7-10, 23:14; Matthew 4:17; John 16:33; Acts 2:36-40, 3:18-21, chapter 19, 20:17-31; Romans 1:3, 8:2, 9 and 37, 12:21; I Corinthians 15:32, 57; II Corinthians 11:13-15, 12:4; Ephesians 1:4-6 and 21, 2:10, 4:11, 12 and 28, 5:1, 2, 11 and 20; Philippians 1:19; Colossians 1:27; I Thessalonians 1:3; I Timothy 1:3-7; Hebrews 1:14, 9:14; II Peter 3:13; I John 2:13 and 14, 4:1-10 and 19, 5:4-6; Revelation 1:1-3, 5 and 19, 19:10, 21:1, 22:14 and 19. Also refer to the Appendix to Romans, the fall of Adam.]

Verses 8-11:

^.8And to the angel of the church in Smyrna you must write:

'The first and the last says the-things-here, who became dead and lived -

^.9I knew² your pressure and poverty, but you are wealthy, and the blasphemy out-from the (people) saying themselves to be Judeans and they are not but the synagogue of satan. ^.10You must fear nothing (regarding) which-things you are about to suffer - look!, the devil is about to throw (some) from you into prison in order that you may be tempted and you will have pressure ten days - you must become believing continuously-until death and I will give to you the crown of the life.

^.11The (person) having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches.

The (person) being-victorious may never be treated-unrighteously from the death, the second (death).'

John continues writing the words from the Lord Jesus Christ...

And to the angel (as verse 1 above)
- of the church in Smyrna (located about 40 miles north-west of Ephesus; refer to Revelation 1:11)
you (John) must write:

'The first (the first one, the point of origin) and the last (the last one, the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme point - relative to the events recorded in this prophecy; refer to Revelation 1:17 where the Lord Jesus Christ explains that he is referring to himself)...

says the-things-here (emphatically these things which I am telling you),

...who became dead (who came to pass to be without life, I died at one time) and lived (who became alive - eternally with a new spiritual body; refer to Romans 1:4, Ephesians 1:20-23, and Revelation 1:18) -

I knew and continue to know (as verse 2 above)
- your pressure (compression or stress which afflicts, whatever may squeeze you whether it be physical or mental or spiritual)
- and poverty (poorness, extreme poverty as crouching in the begging position in need of many things),
  - but contrary to pressure and poverty in relation to the physical realm - you are wealthy (at the present time you are rich in relation to God's holy spirit realm),
and the blasphemy (calumniation, evil speech, the action of treating you with lack of Godly reverential-respect)
- out-from the people who are saying themselves to be Judeans
  - (claiming to be of the Judean/Israeli background - specifically descendants of Judah, one of the twelve brothers who fathered twelve tribes of Israel/Jacob; the record in I Kings chapter 12 details the division of the nation of Israel into the 10 northern tribes (then referred to as Israel) and the 2 southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin (then referred to as Judah) -
  - and/or claiming that they are God's chosen or covenanted people as adherents of the old covenant laws of Moses but they are rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ)
- and they are not Judeans
- but contrary to being true Judeans, they are the synagogue of satan (the location where satan and his followers gather together, satan's assembly - the word translated "satan" emphasizes the devil’s opposing and adversarial attributes; the people who assemble are being adversarial towards Jesus and in total opposition to the only true God, which is why the devil is called “satan” to describe his attributes and activities in certain situations).
You must fear nothing (continue not being fearful, don't be afraid of anything, not one thing) regarding the things which you are on the point of suffering (experiencing, being affected by things which do not originate from the only true God) -
- look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
- the devil
  - [The word translated "devil" comes from the words: "through" and "throw" or "cast." The devil throws/casts things through people, like stabbing a person from outside through the person and out the other side with an accusation, slander, etc. The devil is the chief of the devil-spirits (demons), which are the other evil-spirits in subordination to the devil. These spirits are evil because they willingly, actively, and malignantly went against and continue to go against what the only true God says and does. God has judged them and the complete fulfillment of His judgment will come to pass at a future time. Refer to Genesis 3:14 and 15, Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19, I Peter 3:19 and 20, and Revelation chapters 12, 19 and 20, which are some of the prophecies that include information about the devil’s past, present, and future.]
- is on the point of throwing (casting) some from/of you (plural) into prison (imprisonment, a place where you will be watched and guarded)
  - for the purpose and result that you would be tempted (made trial-of or tried in the bad sense of being put to the test with evil, put on trial, examined with ill-intent, being enticed to do wrong, to cause you to go against the only true God, to fall-aside from the truth of what God says, to disbelieve God's Word to you; the devil is the one who tempts with/by evil)
- and you (plural) will have pressure (compression or stress which will afflict or squeeze you whether it will be physical or mental or spiritual)
  - ten days (a full, complete cycle or series of pressure) -
you must become believing (you, singular, individual, must continue coming to pass to be believing, presently causing yourself to become faithful, having active belief/faith, trusting what God says during this time of pressure)
- continuously until death (for the whole duration of time up to the point of you dying, being killed)
and I will give to you (I - the Lord Jesus Christ - will present to you)
- the crown of the life (similar to the victory wreath or garland prize put on the head of the victor/winner of a contest or race - but this crown pertains-to and consists-of the life, referring to the definite hope of future life with God and Lord Jesus Christ - eternal life).

The person having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches (as verse 7 above).

The person being-victorious (actively gaining the victory, conquering)...

would never be treated unrighteously from the death (there is a double negative here to emphasize the truth that this person would not ever be unjustly acted towards by death, he would not at any time be wronged from death),
- emphatically and specifically the second death (the second end of life - here referring to the final death which will be the point of dying permanently for those who reject God and the Lord Jesus Christ; refer to Revelation 1:18, 20:6 and 14, 21:8).'

The Lord Jesus Christ did not say that he had anything against the belief or the behavior of the angel of the church in Smyrna - only encouragement to continue believing and not being afraid.

We (holy-people, Christians) may endure many pressures as we await Christ’s coming to gather us together with him and the full, complete establishment of the kingdom of God. However, we should also recognize that even though today we live through many pressures, trials, tribulations, etc – these are NOT the wrath of the only true God because the day of wrath has not begun yet and cannot begin until Christ will gather all Christians together with him away from the earth (refer to I Corinthians 15:23-28 and 51-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-3).

[Reference: Numbers 14:22; I Samuel 1:8; Job 19:3; Daniel 1:12; Matthew 4:1-11, 19:24-26, 24:9 and 21; John 8:44; Acts 10:38, 13:10 and 45, 14:22; Romans 1:32, 2:17, 28 and 29, 5:3, 8:35-39, 14:9; I Corinthians 9:25; II Corinthians 6:10, 8:2 and 9, 11:13-15; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 1:20-23, 4:27, 6:10-18; Philippians 3:3; I Thessalonians 1:10; I Timothy 6:17; I Timothy 3:6 and 7; II Timothy 1:10, 2:26; Hebrews 2:14, 12:1-3; James 1:12, 2:5; I Peter 5:4 and 8; I John 3:8 and 14; Revelation 1:5, 17 and 18, 3:9, 20:6 and 14, 21:8, 22:13.]

Verses 12-17:

^.12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos you must write:

'The (one) having the sword, the two-edged (sword), the sharp (sword), says the-things-here -

^.13I knew² where you dwell-down, where the throne of satan (is), and you strongly-hold my name, and you did not deny my belief even in the days (of) Antipas, my witness, my believer, who was killed with you where satan dwells-down.^.14But I have little-things against you because you have there (people) strongly-holding the teaching of Balaam who used-to-teach Balak to throw an offense before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices and to fornicate; ^.15thus likewise also you have (people) strongly-holding the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ^.16Therefore you must repent - but if not - I come to you quickly, and I will war with them in the sword of my mouth.

^.17The (person) having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches.

To the (person) being-victorious I will give to him of the manna, the (manna) having been hidden², and I will give to him a white stone and on the stone a new name having been written² which not-one-person knew² except the (person) receiving (it).'

John continues writing the words from the Lord Jesus Christ...

And to the angel (as verses 1 and 8 above)
- of the church in Pergamos (or it could be translated as Pergamum or Pergamus - located about 50 miles north-east of Smyrna; refer to Revelation 1:11)
you (John) must write:

'The one (the Lord Jesus Christ) having the sword...

emphatically and specifically
- the two-edged sword,
- and/even the sharp sword
  - ("two-edged" literally means "two mouths" as of a river branching in two directions, but here referring to a large sword, long and broad having two edges - and this sword is keen and quick in motion through obstacles in every direction - and in the figurative sense referring to the effects of his words as he speaks),

...says the-things-here (emphatically these things which I am telling you)...

I knew and continue to know (as verses 2 and 9 above)
- where you dwell-down (the location where you permanently dwell, are settled-down, where your house is, where you inhabit),
- which is the place where satan's throne is (a "throne" is the high seat designated for a king and so it would include all the regal authority associated with that position - however in this case it is referring to the location belonging to satan and from where he pours out his directives),
  - [During the time when John was alive, this city was a center for worshipping false-gods/devils, including a snake/serpent representing healing (however the devil's form of healing with its effects are described in Genesis 3:1-5, 7, 10, 12-19, and 22-24) and worship of the Roman emperor, as in verse 9 above, the word translated "satan" emphasizes the devil’s opposing and adversarial attributes; the Roman emperor and the people in this city were being adversarial towards Jesus and in total opposition to the only true God.]
and you strongly-hold my name (you are exerting your forceful-strength holding my name, as verse 3 above),
and you did not deny (disown, negate, reject)
- my belief (the belief that I have, the faith regarding me; this belief is the information regarding God's son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that God makes known to us to have confidence-in, to believe, to have faith-in, to trust with assured certainty and surety)
  - even during the days (the length of time) associated with Antipas,
  - my witness (a witness of/from me, he had information or knowledge pertaining-to and proceeding-from me, which he attested to, bringing to light or confirming it as being authentic),
  - my believer (the one who was faithful, who believed what I say which is what God says, the one who had faith-in, had confidence-in, who trusted the information that God and I make known),
  - who was killed when he was with/beside you at the place where satan dwells-down.
But contrary to that behavior, I have (hold) a small amount of things against you
- because you have there in your area some people who are exerting their forceful-strength holding the teaching (the authoritative instruction, the doctrine)
- issuing from Balaam
  - (Balaam was not a member of God's people and he was hired by Balak to curse the children/sons of Israel; Balaam was supposed to speak forth God’s words being revealed to him concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of the people at that time – however, as recorded in Numbers chapters 22-24 he was thinking of speaking something else instead of God’s words; - but from this time onwards Balaam not only thought about it but he also rejected what God told him - he had no excuse as he was fully aware of God’s displeasure at that kind of wrong behavior)
- who was teaching Balak (Balak or Balac was king of the Moabites; Balaam spent time teaching him and repeated it on several occasions - but the contents of what he taught Balak was)
- in this manner similarly also you have some people who are exerting their forceful-strength holding the teaching (the authoritative instruction, the doctrine)
  - issuing from the Nicolaitans (as verse 6 above).
Following-on logically, you must repent (change your mind after rethinking, having afterthought regarding the truth of God’s words spoken to/for you)
- but if not -
- I am coming to you quickly (I am definitely in the process of going to you with speed, swiftly - my coming occurs quickly),
  - and I will war with them (if you don't deal appropriately with the situation - I will battle against them)
  - within the cause and sphere of action of the sword of my mouth (as verse 12 above).

The person having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches (as verses 7 and 11 above).

To the person being-victorious (actively gaining the victory, conquering)...

I will give to him of the manna,
- emphatically and specifically of the manna that has been hidden and continues hidden (the true bread from God that remains concealed and protected),
and I will give to him a white stone (a small, flat stone/pebble that is light-in-color/white, as oppose to being dark-in-color/black; usually this kind of stone was used to indicate a person's opinion in response to a proposed decision or election - a white stone for approval, acceptance, or acquittal demonstrating victory - but a black stone for disapproval, rejection, or condemnation demonstrating defeat; in this verse it reads - I will give to him a white stone)
- and down on the stone there will be a new name written and it will remain written (a name that is newly-made and different compared to the old name previously in existence, new in comparison to what existed previously, a new name replacing the former name; this new name will be a word or phrase given to the person to be called and known-by, in order to designate and describe the distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc, of that person - the stone with the new name written on it will be as the admittance token to being in the presence and sharing the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ)
  - a name which nobody knew and continues not to know (perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with his/her mind - because it will not have come within any other person's sphere of perception or circle of vision - no-one will know it)
  - except the person who will be receiving it (taking the name that will be given from me to him to use from that time onwards).'

[Reference: Exodus 16:14, 15 and 32-35; Numbers chapters 22-24, 25:1, 31:8 and 16; Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Joshua 13:22, 24:9 and 10; Nehemiah 13:2; Psalm 78:24; Isaiah 62:2, 65:15; Micah 6:4-8; John 6:26-64; Acts 15:17, 20 and 29, 16:16-24, 21:25, 22:15, 26:10; Romans 10:9 and 10; I Corinthians 6:18, chapters 5 and 6, 7:2, chapter 8, 10:8 and 16-22; II Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 3:14-16, 5:3-5; Colossians 3:3-5; I Thessalonians 4:3; II Thessalonians 2:8-12; I Timothy 1:10, 5:8; Hebrews 4:12, 9:4 and 11-15, 12:2 and 16, 13:4; II Peter 2:15 and 16; I John 5:4 and 5; Jude 1:11; Revelation 1:16, 13:2.]

Verses 18-29:

^.18And to the angel of the church in Thyatira you must write:

'The son of God, the (son) having his eyes as a flame of fire and his feet like shining-copper, says the-things-here -

^.19I knew² your works and the love¹ and the belief and the ministry and your patient-endurance - even your works, the last (works are) more-than the first (works). ^.20But I have against you that you leave the woman Jezabel, the (woman) saying herself (to be) a prophetess, and she teaches and she causes my slaves to-wander, to fornicate, and to eat idol-sacrifices - ^.21and I gave to her time in order that she may repent and she does not intend to repent out-from her fornication. ^.22Look!, I throw her into bed and the (people) committing-adultery with her into great pressure except they may repent out-from her works, ^.23and I will kill her children in death. And all the churches will know that I am the (one) searching kidneys and hearts and I will give to you each according to your works.

^.24But I say to you, the remaining-people, the (people) in Thyatira - as-many-as do not have this teaching, the-people-who did not know the deep-things of satan as they say - I do not throw on you another pressured-weight ^.25besides that-which you have you must strongly-hold continuously-until where ever I may have-come.

^.26And the (person) being-victorious and the (person) keeping my works continuously-until (the) completion, I will give to him authority on the nations - ^.27and he will shepherd them in an iron rod as the vessels, the pottery (vessels) are crushed - ^.28as also I received² from my Father; and I will give to him the star, the early (star).

^.29The (person) having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches.' "

John continues writing the words from the Lord Jesus Christ...

And to the angel (as verses 1, 8, and 12 above)
- of the church in Thyatira (located about 40 miles south-east of Pergamos; refer to Revelation 1:11)
you (John) must write:

'The son of God (notice that Jesus calls himself "the son of God" - God's son - he does not say that he is God but that he is the son of God)...

emphatically and specifically the son who has
- his eyes
  - as a flame of fire (bright and burning fire, blazing, flaming fire, indicating God's purification and righteous judgment in action, being implemented and carried-out; refer to Revelation 1:14)
- and his feet
  - similar to shining-copper (burnished bronze, fine brass or other refined metal shining yellow or gold - his feet will not be hurt by what he steps on top of; refer to Revelation 1:15),

...says the-things-here (emphatically these things which I am telling you)...

I knew and continue to know (perceive, see, whereby what is known is known because it has come within my sphere of perception or circle of vision, I see to the end of perceiving and knowing with my mind – I know)
- your works (as verse 2 above)
- and the love¹ (as verse 4 above)
- and the belief (as verse 13 above)
- and the ministry (the day-to-day ministerial duties or functions of serving others to benefit them, not 'being subject' to them but doing work to bring them profit from God’s viewpoint)
- and your patient-endurance (as verse 2 above) -
  - even the fact regarding your works - that
  - the last works (the latest works, the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme performance of works) are
  - more-than the first works (comparatively a bigger quantity and quality than the works you performed at the start, your initial, former works).
But contrary to what is stated above, I have against you that
- you leave the woman Jezabel (during the old covenant times Jezabel/Jezebel became wife to Ahab the king of Israel; you leave her - in the sense that you let it go from your concern as to what she does, you dismiss her and thereby permit her to do what she wants to do),
- the woman saying that she herself is a prophetess (a female prophet - she is claiming that she is a holy-person who speaks-forth God's words being revealed to her concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people; this word places emphasis on speaking to others),
- and she teaches (instructs others with her doctrine) and she causes my slaves (my bond-servants in the service category who are emphatically mine)
  - to wander (she causes them to err, not to stay in their rightful place, leading them astray from their correct location in the service category and consequently in their walk/behavior, like a planet is constantly moving around when viewed from the earth unlike the stars which retain their position relative-to each other),
  - to fornicate (as verse 14 above),
  - and to eat idol-sacrifices (as verse 14 above) -
and I gave to her chronological time for the purpose and result that she would repent (change her mind after rethinking, having afterthought regarding the truth of God’s words spoken to/for her)
- and she does not intend (does not will, she has no volition and desire) to repent out-from her fornication.
Look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
- I throw (cast) her
  - into bed (into a lying-down position unable to get up and move around - this is not referring to a bed so as to commit fornication or adultery but to a bed of receiving judgment from which she will not be able to escape)
- and the people committing adultery with her (which is the voluntary action of debasing themselves with/by her and she is contaminating or defiling from God's viewpoint)
  - into great pressure (a large amount of compression or stress which afflicts, whatever may squeeze them whether it be physical or mental or spiritual)
  - except they may repent (if it should happen that they would not change their minds)
  - out-from her works (from working the deeds that she instructed them to perform),
- and I will kill her children (I will actively put an end to their lives, cause their lives to be away-from them - the word “children” literally would refer to those who were born to/from/by her, to whom she gave birth; but it is used figuratively as a term for the people to whom she taught her doctrine and they performed what she instructed)
  - in death (within death, the state of being dead - the second death as verse 11 above; refer also to Revelation 1:18 and 20:14).
And all the churches will know (every one of the assemblies of people will personally know, with a truly active and relative knowing)
- that emphatically I am (in Greek there is a definite word for “I” plus the verb meaning “I am” giving emphasis – I myself am)
- the one who is searching (presently and actively tracking or tracing)
  - kidneys (figuratively referring to the seat of the inner purposes, desires, and passions of people which influence or guide their actions)
  - and hearts (figuratively referring to the center or core of people's beings, the seat of their whole personal selves and living)
and I will give to you each (individually, particularly, singly, distinctly)
- according to (in accordance with, in conformity and proportion to/with)
  - your works.

But I say to you, the rest of the people in Thyatira - emphatically and specifically...

as many people as do not have this teaching (referred to in verse 20 above),
the people who did not know (who have not personally known with a truly active and relative knowing)
- the deep-things of satan (extending far into the intricacies of satan's workings, the devil's opposing and adversarial dealings against the only true God and the Lord Jesus Christ)
  - as they say (those described in verses 20-23 speak about) -

...I do not throw (cast) down on you another pressured-weight (another weight of the same kind/sort which is pressurized, the emphasis being on the pressure and not on a physical heaviness of a load or burden to be carried)...

besides (moreover, more/other than) what you presently have
- you must exert your forceful-strength holding it
  - continuously until where ever I may have-come (for the whole duration of time up to the point whenever I would be in the state of having arrived, when I will definitely be here, present on earth).
And the person being-victorious (actively gaining the victory, conquering)
and the person keeping (as keeping an eye on, who has in safekeeping, and therefore not neglecting or violating but watching-over, taking-care-of, maintaining, and being observant of)
- my works (works that issue from me, my deeds, the effects that I produce with/by my actions expending my energy, the end-products issuing from me)
  - continuously until the completion (for the whole duration of time up to the complete-thing, the ending-issue, the fulfillment of what I will do bringing everything to its complete, perfect state),
I will give to him authority (authoritative-power, permitted-right)
- upon the nations (pertaining to the groups of people without reference to their background; this word usually refers to people of the Gentile background, ethnic groups other-than Israel/Judah) -
and he will shepherd them (he will take-care of and protect, exercise the whole office of a shepherd which involves not only feeding the flock with food but also leading and guiding and guarding, etc)
- within the sphere of action of an iron rod (a staff for training and a scepter of authority and office - this rod will be made of iron - figuratively referring to the fact that it will be strong and will not be damaged or bribed or twisted from performing its correct function)
  - as the vessels (implements, utensils),
  - emphatically and specifically the pottery vessels (ceramic, made of clay)
  - are crushed (rubbed together and shattered - figuratively referring to the fact that those who do not believe what God says will be destroyed) -
- as also emphatically I received and continue to receive from my Father (I take the authority which God My Father gives to/for me to use; God is the source from Whom the authority proceeds);
and I will give to him (to the one who is victorious and who keeps my works)
- the star,
  - emphatically and specifically the early star (figuratively referring to myself - the Lord Jesus Christ - Revelation 22:16; this person will have all that I am and all that I have available to/for him).

The person having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches (as verses 7, 11, and 17 above).' "

In verse 18 above - regarding the Lord Jesus Christ being the son of God - God marked Jesus Christ out as the son of God by raising him up from among the dead-people giving him his spiritual body. God gave him the name that is above every other name, designating the resurrected Jesus being Lord and Christ, and his name includes the name – SON – God’s son; he inherits everything that the firstborn son should inherit from his Father, the only true God. The word ‘son’ emphasizes origin, quality, and essence. The spirit of holiness is the spiritual essence of the resurrected Christ Jesus. Refer to Matthew 3:17, 17:5; John 17:1; Acts 2:21 and 38, 3:6 and 16, 4:7-12 and 30, 9:20, 13:33, 26:23; Romans 1:3, 4 and 9, 5:10, 8:3, 29 and 32; I Corinthians 1:9, chapter 15; II Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:20, 4:4 and 6; Ephesians 1:19-23, 4:13; Philippians 2:9 and 10; Colossians 1:13 and 18; I Thessalonians 1:10; II Thessalonians 3:6; Hebrews 1:1-8, 3:6, 4:14, 5:5-10, 6:6, 7:3, 21 and 28, 10:29; II Peter 1:17; I John 1:3 and 7, 2:22-24, 3:8 and 23, 4:9, 10, 14 and 15, 5:5, 9-13 and 20; II John 1:3 and 9; Revelation 2:18.

[Reference: Genesis 2:17, 3:15; Exodus 34:15; Numbers 24:17; I Kings 16:29-33, chapter 18, 21:11 and 23-25; II Kings 9:22 and all of chapter 9; Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 14:25, 63:6; Jeremiah chapters 3-5; Matthew 10:1, 23:37, 25:31-46; John 5:22, 10:1-16; Acts 2:33, 7:30, 15:28, 16:14, 20:28 and 29; Romans 2:4-16, 9:21-26, 11:26 and 33, 16:20; I Corinthians 2:10, 6:1-3 and 13-20, 12:5, 15:24, 16:15; II Corinthians 4:7, 5:18, 6:3, 9:13; Ephesians 4:11 and 12, 5:11-14; Colossians 4:17; II Thessalonians 1:8; I Timothy 1:12; II Timothy 2:12, 20 and 21, 4:5; Hebrews 1:7, 8 and 14, 2:14, 3:13 and 14, 6:11, 10:37, 13:20; I Peter 2:25, 5:1-4; II Peter 1:19, 3:9; Revelation 1:14, 15 and 18, 6:8, 12:5, 18:2-8, 19:12-15, 20:14, 22:16. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

Revelation Chapter 3