Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations–[27] ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like a potter’s vessels’--
The overcoming promise does appear to have a secondary requirement attached apart from merely being an overcomer. The Lord wanted to stress that keeping His works until the end was vital to achieve this particular blessing.
Revelation 2:25 “But hold fast what you have till I come.
To properly exegete this verse, we must move a little further ahead, quoting Revelation 3:11. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Further context helps us understand what is being said by our Lord when He warns the church of Thyatira to hold fast.
Revelation 2:24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not hold this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
The doctrine in question that our Lord refers to is Jezebel’s doctrine. Whether she was a disciple of Balaam, or a follower of the Nicolaitans, she successfully seduced believers and cultivated a sect of adherents to her perverted doctrine of idolatry and sexual deviance as a form of worship.
Revelation 2:23 “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 ESV renders this verse’s beginning as, “and I will strike her children dead.” The RSV translates the verse identically to the ESV. The NIV, with the exception of the article, “and,” renders it likewise.
Revelation 2:21 “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. [22] Indeed I will cast her into a sick-bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
Three times we encounter the term, “repent,” in this passage. Twice Jesus uses it toward Jezebel. He first gave her time to repent of her sins, but she refused. Peter wrote, “and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation,” 2 Peter 3:15.
Revelation 2:20 “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.
There is a distinct similarity here in what Thyatira is experiencing and what Pergamos likewise experienced, Revelation 2:14. In Pergamos this was referred to as the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam, a false prophet (perhaps formerly a true prophet?) taught Balak and Moab to seduce Israel by sexual immorality and idolatry.
Revelation 2:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
As always, our Lord begins by commending Thyatira for the things they are doing correctly. We are also developing a pattern. Jesus our Lord begins with each church–for good or for bead–by telling them that He knows their works.
Revelation 2:18 “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:
Our Lord moves on to the fourth of the seven churches: Thyatira. There was Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and now Thyatira. To keep something of a tally, Ephesus was addressed in 11 verses, Smyrna in a fleet 4, Pergamos in 6, and Thyatira–who is discussed for the remainder of the chapter–will occupy 12 verses.
Revelation 2:17 “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 mana 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.”’
We come now to the third time our Lord says that he who has an ear (whoever is actually listening) let him hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to His churches. Yes, Christ is speaking, but as we read in chapter one, John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. The Holy Spirit provides the inspiration for men to pen Scripture, 2 Peter 1:21.
Revelation 2:16 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
As we have addressed before, the term “repent,” does not mean to do penance; it means to change your mind. It is most famously found in Acts chapter 2, when Peter speaks to the Jewish audience about what they had done to Jesus. He addresses them several times, “Men of Judea,” Acts 2:14. “Men of Israel,” Acts 2:22. “Men and brethren (referring to his fellow Jews),” Acts 2:29. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know…” Acts 2:36.
Revelation 2:15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
The church of Pergamos errs twice; the first error was tolerating the doctrine of Balaam in their own church. Ephesus tested apostles and found them to be false, by implication rejecting them for their heretical teachings.
Revelation 2:14 “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.
In this verse we learn that Pergamos is not without its own faults. They have persevered and kept the name of Christ and His faith in the place where Satan’s throne resided; they even continued their works after the martyrdom of Antipas. But they had permitted other things to happen, as well.
Revelation 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast 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.
Pergamos appears to have been a residence for the throne of Satan. That is, his power base had been consolidated at Pergamos at the time. If this sounds strange, consider our Lord’s words to the seven Asiatic churches.
