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启示录 1-3
Chinese New Version (Simplified)

耶稣基督的启示

1 耶稣基督的启示，就是　神赐给他，叫他把快要发生的事指示他的众仆人。他就差派天使显示给他的仆人约翰。 2 约翰把　神的道，和耶稣基督的见证，凡是自己所看见的，都见证出来了。 3 读这书上预言的人，和那些听见这预言并且遵守书中记载的人，都是有福的！因为时候近了。

问候七教会

4 约翰写信给在亚西亚的七个教会。愿恩惠平安，从那位今在、昔在、以后要来的　神，从他宝座前的七灵， 5 又从那信实的见证人、死人中首先复生的、地上众君王的统治者耶稣基督临到你们。

他爱我们，用自己的血把我们从我们的罪中释放出来， 6 又使我们成为国度，作他父　神的祭司。愿荣耀权能都归给他，直到永永远远。阿们。

7 看哪，他驾着云降临，

每一个人都要看见他，

连那些刺过他的人也要看见他，

地上的万族都要因他哀号。

这是必定的，阿们。

8 主　神说：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以后要来，全能的　神。”

基督向约翰显现

9 我约翰，就是你们的弟兄，在耶稣里跟你们一同分享患难、国度和忍耐的，为了　神的道和耶稣的见证，曾经在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。 10 有一个主日，我在灵里，听见在我后边有一个大声音，好象号筒的响声， 11 说：“你所看见的，要写在书上，也要寄给以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推拉、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉七个教会。”

12 我转过身来要看看那跟我说话的声音是谁发的；一转过来，就看见七个金灯台。 13 灯台中间有一位好象人子的，身上穿著直垂到脚的长衣，胸间束着金带。 14 他的头和头发像白羊毛、像雪一样洁白，他的眼睛好象火焰， 15 他的两脚好象在炉中精炼过的发光的铜，他的声音好象众水的声音。 16 他的右手拿着七星，有一把两刃的利剑从他口中吐出来；他的脸发光好象正午的烈日。

17 我看见了他，就仆倒在他脚前，像死了一样。他用右手按着我，说：“不要怕！我是首先的，我是末后的， 18 又是永活的；我曾经死过，看哪，现在又活着，直活到永永远远，并且拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。 19 所以，你要把所看见的，现在的，和今后将要发生的事都写下来。 20 你所看见在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘就是这样：七星是七个教会的使者，七灯台是七个教会。”

给以弗所教会的信

2 “你要写信给在以弗所教会的使者，说：

　‘那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的，这样说： 2 我知道你的行为、你的劳苦、你的忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾经试验那些自称是使徒，而其实不是使徒的人，看出他们是假的。 3 你有忍耐，曾为我的名的缘故忍受一切，并不困倦。 4 然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你已经离弃了你起初的爱。 5 所以，你应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并且要悔改，作起初所作的事。你若不悔改，我就要来到你那里，把你的灯台从原处移去。 6 不过你有这一个优点，就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为，那也是我所恨恶的。 7 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，我必定把　神乐园里生命树的果子赐给他吃。’

给士每拿教会的信

8 “你要写信给在士每拿教会的使者，说：

‘那首先的、末后的、曾经死去而又活过来的，这样说： 9 我知道你的患难和贫穷，但你却是富足的。我也知道那些自称是犹太人所说毁谤的话，其实他们不是犹太人，而是撒但的党徒。 10 你不要怕你将要受的苦。看哪！魔鬼将要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫你们受试炼，你们要受患难十天。你要忠心至死，我就把那生命的冠冕赐给你。 11 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，决不会受第二次死的害。’

给别迦摩教会的信

12 “你要写信给在别迦摩教会的使者，说：

‘那有一把两刃利剑的，这样说： 13 我知道你居住的地方，就是撒但王座所在的地方。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们那里，就是在撒但居住的地方被杀的那些日子，你还持守我的名，没有否认对我的信仰。 14 然而有几件事我要责备你，因为在你那里有些人持守巴兰的教训。这巴兰曾经教导巴勒把绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭过偶像的食物，并且行淫乱。 15 同样，你也有些人持守尼哥拉党的教训。 16 所以，你应当悔改；如果不悔改，我就很快地来到你们那里，用我口中的剑跟他们作战。 17 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，我必定把那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并且赐他一块白石，石上写着新的名字，这名字除了那领受的人以外，是没有人能知道的。’

给推雅推拉教会的信

18 “你要写信给在推雅推拉教会的使者，说：

‘　神的儿子，那眼睛像火焰、两脚像光铜的，这样说： 19 我知道你的行为，你的爱心、信心、服侍和忍耐，也知道你后来所作的比先前的还要多。 20 然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你容让那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别，教导和引诱我的众仆人行淫乱，吃祭过偶像的食物。 21 我曾给她时间，让她悔改，她却不肯为她的淫行悔改。 22 看哪，我要把她拋在大患难的床上；那些跟她行淫乱的人，如果不为她的行为悔改，我也要把他们拋在大患难中。 23 我必以死亡击杀她的儿女；众教会就都知道我是察验人肺腑心肠的，我要照着你们的行为报应你们各人。 24 至于你们其余在推雅推拉的人，就是不跟从那教训，不认识所谓撒但深奥的事的人，我告诉你们，我不会把别的重担放在你们身上。 25 不过，你们要持守已经得着的，直到我来。 26 得胜的，又遵守我的旨意到底的，

我必把统治列国的权柄赐给他，

27 他必用铁杖治理他们，

好象打碎陶器一样粉碎他们，（“我必把……粉碎他们”引自诗2:8~9）

好象我从父领受了权柄一样； 28 我还要把晨星赐给他。 29 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’”

给撒狄教会的信

3 “你要写信给在撒狄教会的使者，说：

　‘那有　神七灵和七星的这样说：我知道你的行为，你有名声，说你是活着的，其实你是死的。 2 你要警醒，把那些剩下来将要死的坚强起来；因为我见你的行为在我　神面前是不完全的。 3 所以，你应当回想你是怎样领受、怎样听见的；应该遵守，也应该悔改。你若不警醒，我就要像贼来到一样。我甚么时候来到你那里，你决不能知道。 4 然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾玷污自己衣服的，他们要身穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得上的。 5 得胜的，也必这样身穿白衣，我决不从生命册上涂抹他的名，我还要在我父和他的众天使面前，承认他的名。 6 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’

给非拉铁非教会的信

7 “你要写信给在非拉铁非教会的使者，说：

‘那圣洁的、真实的，

拿着大卫的钥匙，

开了就没有人能关，

关了就没有人能开的（“拿着大卫的钥匙……没有人能开的”引自赛22:22），这样说：

8 我知道你的行为，看哪！我已经在你面前给你一道开着的门，是没有人能关的；因为你有一点点力量，也遵守我的道，没有否认我的名。 9 看哪！从撒但的一党，就是自称是犹太人，其实不是犹太人，而是说谎的人中，我要使他们一些人来在你脚前下拜，并且知道我已经爱了你。 10 你既然遵守了我忍耐的道，我也必定保守你脱离那试炼的时候；这就是那将要临到普天下，来试炼住在地上的人的时候。 11 我必快来！你要持守你所有的，不要让人拿走你的冠冕。 12 得胜的，我要叫他在我　神的圣所里作柱子，他决不再出去，我也要把我　神的名，和我　神的城的名，就是那从天上、从我　神那里降下来的新耶路撒冷，以及我的新名，都写在他身上。 13 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’

给老底嘉教会的信

14 “你要写信给在老底嘉教会的使者，说：

‘那位阿们的，忠信真实的见证人，　神创造万有的根源，这样说： 15 我知道你的行为，你不冷也不热；我巴不得你或冷或热。 16 因为你好象温水，不热也不冷，所以我要把你从我口中吐出去。 17 你说：我是富足的，已经发了财，毫无缺乏。却不知你是困苦的、可怜的、贫穷的、瞎眼的、赤身的。 18 我劝你向我买精炼的金子，使你富足；又买白衣穿上，使你赤身的羞耻不会显露出来；也买眼药膏抹你的眼睛，使你可以看见。 19 凡是我所爱的，我就责备管教；所以你要热心，也要悔改。 20 看哪！我站在门外敲门；如果有人听见我的声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我要跟他在一起，他也要跟我在一起吃饭。 21 得胜的，我必定赐他和我一同坐在我的宝座上，正像我得了胜和我父一同坐在他的宝座上一样。 22 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’”

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Revelation 1-3
Amplified Bible

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1 This is the [a]revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries], which God [the Father] gave to Him to show to His bond-servants (believers) the things which must soon take place [in their entirety]; and He sent and communicated it by His angel (divine messenger) to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions]. 3 [b]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near.

Message to the Seven Churches

4 [c]John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] [d]Asia: [e]Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, and from [f]the seven Spirits that are before His throne,(A) 5 and from Jesus Christ, the [g]faithful and trustworthy Witness, the [h]Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] [i]freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—(B) 6 and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], [j]priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.(C) 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath]. [k]So it is to be. Amen.(D)

8 “I am the [l]Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”(E)

The Patmos Vision

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the [m]tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, [exiled there] because of [my preaching of] the word of God [regarding eternal salvation] and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the [n]Spirit [in special communication with the Holy Spirit and empowered to receive and record the revelation from Jesus Christ] on the [o]Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see [in this revelation], and send it to the [p]seven churches—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone [q]like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest.(F) 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being].(G) 15 His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters.(H) 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the [r]Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].(I)

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God],(J) 18 and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead). 19 So write the things [s]which you have seen [in the vision], and the things [t]which are [now happening], and the things [u]which will take place after these things. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels ([v]divine messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Message to Ephesus

2 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [w]Ephesus write:

“These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches):

2 ‘I know [x]your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors; 3 and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. 4 But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. 5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet you have this [to your credit], that you hate the works and corrupt teachings of the [y]Nicolaitans [that mislead and delude the people], which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who [z]overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant [the privilege] to eat [the fruit] from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’(K)

Message to Smyrna

8 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [aa]Smyrna write:

“These are the words of the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God] who died and came to life [again]:(L)

9 ‘I know your suffering and your poverty (but you are rich), and how you are blasphemed and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan [they are Jews only by blood, and do not believe and truly honor the God whom they claim to worship]. 10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. Be aware that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested [in your faith], and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown [consisting] of life.(M) 11 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will not be hurt by the second death ([ab]the lake of fire).’(N)

Message to Pergamum

12 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [ac]Pergamum write:

“These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:

13 ‘I know where you dwell, [a place] where Satan sits enthroned. Yet you are holding fast to My name, and you did not deny [ad]My faith even in the days of [ae]Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some [among you] who are holding to the [corrupt] teaching of Balaam, who taught [af]Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [enticing them] to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols and to commit [acts of sexual] [ag]immorality.(O) 15 You also have some who in the same way are holding to the teaching of the [ah]Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment]. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], to him I will give [the privilege of eating] some of the [ai]hidden manna, and I will give him a [aj]white stone with a new name engraved on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’(P)

Message to Thyatira

18 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [ak]Thyatira write:

“These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes [that flash] like a flame of fire [in righteous judgment], and whose feet are like burnished [white-hot] bronze:(Q)

19 ‘I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your last deeds are more numerous and greater than the first. 20 But I have this [charge] against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.(R) 21 I gave her time to repent [to change her inner self and her sinful way of thinking], but she has no desire to repent of her immorality and refuses to do so. 22 [al]Listen carefully, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her [I will bring] into great anguish, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children (followers) with [am]pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], and all the churches will know [without any doubt] that I am He who searches the [an]minds and hearts [the innermost thoughts, purposes]; and I will give to each one of you [a reward or punishment] according to your deeds.(S) 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the [ao]depths of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you, 25 except to hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 And he who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] and he who keeps My deeds [doing things that please Me] until the [very] end, to him I will give authority and power over the nations;(T) 27 and he shall shepherd and rule them with a rod of iron, as the earthen pots are broken in pieces, as I also have received authority [and power to rule them] from My Father;(U) 28 and I will give him the [ap]Morning Star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Sardis

3 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [aq]Sardis write:

“These are the words of Him who has [ar]the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds; you have a name (reputation) that you are alive, but [in reality] you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. 3 So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 But you [still] have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes [that is, contaminated their character and personal integrity with sin]; and they will walk with Me [dressed] in white, because they are worthy (righteous). 5 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].(V) 6 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Philadelphia

7 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [as]Philadelphia write:

“These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens:(W)

8 ‘I know your deeds. See, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, for you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not renounced or denied My name.(X) 9 Take note, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet and make them know [without any doubt] that I have loved you.(Y) 10 Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.(Z) 11 I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith]. 12 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will make him a [at]pillar in the temple of My God; he will most certainly never be put out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My [own] new name.(AA) 13 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Laodicea

14 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [au]Laodicea write:

“These are the words of the Amen, the trusted and faithful and true Witness, the [av]Beginning and Origin of God’s creation:

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are [aw]neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were [ax]cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],(AB) 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will].(AC) 20 Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.(AD) 22 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:1 The God-given disclosures contained in this book relate to both Christ and future events.
  2. Revelation 1:3 This is the first of the seven promised blessings (beatitudes) of the Revelation. See also 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.
  3. Revelation 1:4 John and his brother James were among the first apostles chosen by Jesus, and were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. In addition to the Revelation, John wrote the Gospel and the three letters that bear his name.
  4. Revelation 1:4 The Roman province of Asia (now western Turkey) was formed in 129 b.c.
  5. Revelation 1:4 Like Paul, the apostle John takes the standard Jewish greeting of “Peace [Heb shalom] to you” and modifies it by adding grace, without which no one could obtain peace with God.
  6. Revelation 1:4 A literal translation, perhaps referring to the perfect fullness of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
  7. Revelation 1:5 Lit the witness, the faithful.
  8. Revelation 1:5 Jesus was not the first person to be brought back to life, since He raised others from the dead (the most notable being Lazarus, John 11), but they had to experience death again. Jesus is the first to be restored to life with a glorified (immortal, everlasting) body, never again to die. The word Firstborn may point not only to Jesus’ own resurrection but also to His divine power to resurrect others. The Firstborn (preeminent) is given power over all things.
  9. Revelation 1:5 Some manuscripts use “freed” (lusanti) while others use “washed” (lousanti). Either reading conveys a similar theological conclusion: Jesus has taken away our sins by His blood.
  10. Revelation 1:6 All Christians become priests to God in order to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5) and proclaim His praises (1 Pet 2:9), and they will reign with Christ in the Millennium (20:6).
  11. Revelation 1:7 Lit Yes, amen.
  12. Revelation 1:8 An expression of God’s absolute supremacy over all things.
  13. Revelation 1:9 I.e. persecution because of one’s faith.
  14. Revelation 1:10 Or spirit. The Greek wording is not decisive, so John could be referring either to being in special communion with the Holy Spirit, or to being in a trance-like state in his own spirit like that experienced by Peter at Joppa (cf Acts 10:10, 11).
  15. Revelation 1:10 The early church used this term to refer to Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection. The term Kyriake is also the regular word for Sunday in modern Greek.
  16. Revelation 1:11 These were actual churches in Asia Minor (now western Turkey), and in John’s time there would have been only one church body in each of the cities. They are mentioned in the order in which they would be visited by a messenger traveling northward on the imperial road from Ephesus to Laodicea.
  17. Revelation 1:13 Or like a son of man. The phrase is a translation of a Hebrew idiom which refers to a man, and John could simply be describing his first impression. But since this proves to be a vision of Christ (v 18), John probably is referring to Him by the title that Jesus so often applied to Himself, a title originating in the Messianic prophecy of Daniel.
  18. Revelation 1:16 The visible, divine Presence.
  19. Revelation 1:19 I.e. the vision of ch 1.
  20. Revelation 1:19 I.e. the events of the present moment (chs 2; 3).
  21. Revelation 1:19 I.e. the events to come in chs 4-22, after the messages to the churches in chs 2; 3.
  22. Revelation 1:20 The Greek word for “messenger” is aggelos. When the word is referring to a heavenly being, it is usually not translated, but rather transliterated as “angel”; that is, the Greek letters are converted to their English equivalents, based on the sound of the Greek word. When the word is referring to a human, it is instead translated as “messenger” or the equivalent. So whether “angel” or “messenger” is used depends on the context.
  23. Revelation 2:1 Ephesus, the largest city in Roman-controlled Asia Minor, developed into a major trade center because of its access to the Aegean Sea. It was the primary center for the worship of the goddess Artemis (Diana). The Temple of Artemis, the largest building in ancient times, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The open-air theatre in Ephesus could accommodate 25,000 spectators and was used for both drama and gladiatorial combat.
  24. Revelation 2:2 Here through 3:18, “your” and “you” are in the singular, referring to the angel of each church. Much of what is said is rebuke and admonishment, so if the angels are heavenly beings, they may serve in some way as representatives of the sinful people in their churches. Jewish tradition maintained that every nation and individual has a guardian angel, and that when God is about to punish a nation, He first punishes its angel. There is even a story of Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, being rebuked by God for the sins committed in the time of Ezekiel. So the original readers of Revelation might have assumed that the angels here are the guardian angels of the individual churches, sharing responsibility for the actions of the members.
  25. Revelation 2:6 There is scant information about the cult of the Nicolaitans, but it appears they adopted a syncretistic worship, combining Christianity and idolatry. They may have held heretical views similar to those mentioned in vv 14 and 20.
  26. Revelation 2:7 The definition of one who overcomes is recorded in 1 John 5:5.
  27. Revelation 2:8 In ancient times Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey) was a beautiful, cosmopolitan city. Located on the Aegean coast, it vied with Ephesus and Pergamum in importance in Asia Minor. It was closely identified with Rome and the cult of emperor worship. Smyrna was later the home of Polycarp, the great Christian church leader who, at the age of eighty-six, was burned at the stake for his refusal to worship the Roman emperor.
  28. Revelation 2:11 The Valley of Hinnom located south of Jerusalem was the place where garbage burned continuously. Often regarded in ancient times as symbolic of hell (the lake of fire), reserved for the wicked. Paradise or Abraham’s bosom (cf Luke 16:22) was the place reserved for the good in anticipation of heaven. Mentioned in Matt 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6.
  29. Revelation 2:12 Pergamum (modern Bergama, Turkey) was built on a promontory about sixteen miles from the Aegean Sea. It was famous as a worship center for many pagan gods including Zeus (Jupiter, king of gods), Dionysus (Bacchus, god of wine and intoxication), and Asklepios (god of healing). The enormous altar dedicated to Zeus is on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Pergamum also had an important temple dedicated to the worship of Caesar. Refusal to take part in the imperial cult was considered treason. A culturally sophisticated city as well as a center for pagan worship, Pergamum’s library, believed to contain over 200,000 volumes, was second only to the Library of Alexandria.
  30. Revelation 2:13 I.e. your faith in Me.
  31. Revelation 2:13 Antipas was a pastor or leader of the church at Pergamum.
  32. Revelation 2:14 The king of Moab in the time of the exodus, who hired Balaam to curse Israel.
  33. Revelation 2:14 Pagan worship often included the use of temple prostitutes who served as “priestesses.”
  34. Revelation 2:15 See note v 6.
  35. Revelation 2:17 This probably refers to the pot of manna placed in the Ark of the Covenant by Moses (Ex 16:33; Heb 9:4). Manna was a food supernaturally provided to Israel by God during their wanderings in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.
  36. Revelation 2:17 White stones were sometimes used as tickets of admission to public assemblies. Here the white stone may symbolize admission to the Messiah’s banquet.
  37. Revelation 2:18 Thyatira (modern Akhisar, Turkey) was famous for its dyeing and indigo trade. It was the home of Lydia, the seller of purple fabrics, who was converted under the ministry of Paul (Acts 16:14). Located in a valley, midway between Pergamum and Sardis, it was originally established as a military base by one of the generals in the army of Alexander the Great.
  38. Revelation 2:22 Lit Behold.
  39. Revelation 2:23 Lit death.
  40. Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys, i.e. inner man. In Jewish thought, the kidneys were considered a source of wisdom (cf Ps 16:7).
  41. Revelation 2:24 I.e. participated in and experienced evil.
  42. Revelation 2:28 In 22:16 this expression designates Christ as the true Messiah, the root and the descendant of David. Here, the gift probably is the privilege of knowing Christ at a much higher level (see Phil 3:8).
  43. Revelation 3:1 Sardis (modern Sart, Turkey), in Roman times, was a wealthy city known for the manufacture and dyeing of woolen fabric and carpets. Originally, it was the capital of the ancient Lydian Empire and was the first city to mint coinage (600 b.c.). A stream that flowed through its market place carried gold dust from a nearby mountain. King Croesus of Lydia (560-546 b.c.) financed the building of the great Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (550 b.c.). The city was conquered twice, under Cyrus the Great and under Antiochus, due to lack of adequate watchfulness.
  44. Revelation 3:1 See note 1:4.
  45. Revelation 3:7 Philadelphia (modern Alashehir, Turkey) was a commercial center located on elevated ground overlooking the fertile plain of the Hermus (Gediz) River. In 189 b.c. the king of Pergamum established Philadelphia and named the city to honor his brother.
  46. Revelation 3:12 Like the common phrase “pillar of the community,” this is a metaphor of great honor, but far more so. The statement that the one who overcomes will never leave the temple is assurance that he will never lose the privilege of being in the presence of God and serving Him.
  47. Revelation 3:14 Laodicea, located beside the Lycus River, was a prosperous city about forty miles south of Philadelphia. It had a well-respected financial center, thriving textile production industry (specializing in black wool), and a leading medical school that produced a famous eye salve. Two other cities were in this general area: Colossae, known for its mountain spring of cold, fresh water; and Hierapolis, a site famous for its hot, therapeutic mineral springs.
  48. Revelation 3:14 I.e. Origin of Source.
  49. Revelation 3:15 This phrase and the word lukewarm in v 16 form a metaphor that is probably based on the quality of the water supply of Laodicea, which was delivered by aqueduct from the hot mineral springs about five miles away. During its journey, the water cooled to a warm or lukewarm temperature.
  50. Revelation 3:15 I.e. alive, productive—beneficial in one way or the other.
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