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Revelation 2

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

And I will give him the morning star.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What does Revelation 2:7 mean?

Explanation

Revelation 2:7 contains a promise from Jesus to the believers within the early Christian church at Ephesus.

It is part of a larger section where Jesus, through John's vision, addresses seven churches in the province of Asia. This particular verse summarizes the encouragement and reward for those who "overcometh" or persevere in their faith.

The phrase "He that hath an ear, let him hear" is an invitation to listen intently and comprehend the spiritual truth being communicated. Jesus speaks of spiritual victory and resilience against temptation and false doctrine.

The reward mentioned is the right "to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." This is a direct reference to the tree of life first mentioned in the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis and symbolizes eternal life and communion with God.

The reference to the "paradise of God" evokes an image of a restored Eden, a place of perfect harmony and fellowship with the Divine, promised to those who remain faithful.

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Historical Context

Revelation was written by the apostle John around 95 AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian.

The early Christians faced intense persecution, and John himself was exiled to the island of Patmos at the time he received this vision.

Ephesus, one of the prominent cities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), was a significant center of trade and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

With paganism prevalent and the pressure to participate in emperor worship, Revelation's messages bolstered the faith of believers, encouraging them to resist assimilation and to stand firm in their beliefs.

Theological Insights

Christian theologians often interpret "he that overcometh" as referring to remaining faithful to Jesus amidst tribulations and false teachings.

The statement about the Spirit speaking to the churches indicates that this message is inspired by the Holy Spirit, with universal application to all churches across time.

The "tree of life" signifies not just the promise of eternal life, but also the fullness of life that comes from intimate communion with God.

Many theologians from different traditions agree that this text symbolizes the future hope for believers and the return to a perfect state, prefigured by Eden.

Some pre-millennialists would see this Paradise as part of a literal thousand-year reign of Christ, whereas others might interpret it more symbolically or spiritually.

Practical Applications

The message to the Ephesian church can be applied to modern believers as a call to persevere in their faith, despite societal pressures or internal church conflicts.

It encourages individuals to hold onto the teachings of Jesus and to resist the temptation to compromise spiritual truths for convenience or social acceptance.

The promise of eternal fellowship with God serves as a motivation for living a life of integrity and spiritual steadfastness.

Cross-References

Genesis 2:9 - "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden..."
Revelation 22:2 - "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life..."
Revelation 22:14 - "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life..."
Revelation 2:11 - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the phrase "He that hath an ear, let him hear" (ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω) emphasizes the individual responsibility to discern and heed the message being relayed.

"Overcometh" (νικῶν) here is related to the word nike, which means victory. It implies a struggle or contest that is won through endurance.

The term "paradise" (παράδεισος) in Greek carries the sense of a garden or park and is derived from ancient Persian.

It was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint) to refer to the Garden of Eden, which is consistent with the imagery used here.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The imagery of the tree of life can be found in various ancient myths and cultures, often symbolizing immortality or divine wisdom. In Mesopotamian mythology, there's mention of a sacred tree, and in Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is the World Tree that sustains life.

While these myths share some superficial similarities with the biblical tree of life, the context and significance are profoundly different in the biblical narrative, with a strong moral and spiritual component tied to humanity's relationship with God.

Scientific Perspectives

While the description of the "tree of life" and "paradise of God" in Revelation is symbolic and theological, modern scientific perspectives on these concepts tend to focus more on understanding them as poetic expressions rather than literal truths.

However, science recognizes the universal human yearning for transcending mortality and seeking deeper meaning, which is an underlying theme in this verse.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer varied insights into Revelation 2:7.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the importance of listening to divine truths and the blessedness of those who faithfully endure trials.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary suggests that the promise to the overcomer also includes the Church's final triumph over evil.

Craig S.

Keener, in the NIV Application Commentary, sees this promise as part of the future hope and inheritance for believers.

As for the notion of paradise, the 'Word Biblical Commentary' aligns with the idea that John is providing an 'eschatological reversal' where the fall from Eden is undone for faithful believers.

Revelation 2

Revelation 2

What does Revelation 2:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Revelation 2:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?