Revelation 2:3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
The Lord continues to praise the Ephesian church for their fidelity. He says of them, that they persevere. Oxford defines persevere to, “continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or lack of success.” Verse 2 fills in details as to what the Lord means by this.
Revelation 2:2d and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
The Greek term for bear is, “bastazo,” and it means, “to lift, endure, sustain, declare, receive. It signifies to support as a burden.” The Lord relates that the Ephesian church cannot lift up or support evil doing. They do not endure or receive evil.
Revelation 2:2c I know…your patience,
Jesus our Lord informs and reminds us that works and labor require patience. Strong’s Concordance defines patience as cheerful or hopeful endurance or constancy. Jesus, when addressing the apostles about the Tribulation or the Day of the Lord, said, “By your patience possess your souls,” Luke 21:19. The generation that would endure the events Jesus was describing in Luke chapter 21 (which corresponds to our current study in Revelation) have to do with the final days prior to His millennial reign, see Luke 21:28.
Revelation 2:2b I know…your labor,
The Greek term for “labor,” is, “kopos.” It means, “toil (as reducing the strength), pains, or a striking beating, toil resulting in weariness.” Jesus knew the labor of the Ephesians. Paul knew a little something about labor, too.
