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Revelation 2:13
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11 a“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by bthe second death.” ’  

The Compromising Church

12 “And to the1 angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says aHe who has the sharp two-edged sword:  
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to 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.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of aBalaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, bto eat things sacrificed to idols, cand to commit sexual immorality.  
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and awill fight against them with the sword of My mouth.  
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 amanna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone ba new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’  

The Corrupt Church

18 “And to the1 angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, awho has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:  
19 a“I know your works, love,1 service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.  
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow2 that woman aJezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,3 to teach and seduce My servants bto commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.  
21 And I gave her time ato repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of1 their deeds.  
23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who asearches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  
24 “Now to you I say,1 and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the adepths of Satan, as they say, bI will put on you no other burden.  
25 But hold fast awhat you have till I come.  
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps aMy works until the end, bto him I will give power over the nations— 
27 ‘Hea shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;  
28 and I will give him athe morning star.  
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
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Revelation 2:13

Where (pou—opou). Pou is interrogative adverb used here in an indirect question as in John 1:39. opou is relative adverb referring to pou. Satan's throne (o qronov tou Satana). Satan not simply resided in Pergamum, but his "throne" or seat of power of king or judge (Matthew 19:28; Luke 1:32, Luke 1:52). The symbol of Asklepios was the serpent as it is of Satan (Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2). There was, besides, a great throne altar to Zeus cut on the Acropolis rock, symbol of "rampant paganism" (Swete) and the new Caesar-worship with the recent martyrdom of Antipas made Pergamum indeed a very throne of Satan.

Holdest fast my name (krateiv to onoma sou). Present active indicative of kratew, "dost keep on holding," as in Revelation 2:25, Revelation 3:11. This church refused to say Kuriov Kaisar (Martyrd. Polyc. 8f.) and continued to say Kuriov Ihsouv (I Corinthians 12:3). They stood true against the emperor-worship.

Didst not deny (ouk hrnhsw). First aorist middle second person singular of arneomai. Reference to a specific incident not known to us.

My faith (thn pistin mou). Objective genitive, "thy faith in me."

Of Antipas (Antipav). Indeclinable in this form. It is possible that Antipa (genitive) was really written, though unimportant as the nominative follows in apposition. Nothing is really known of this early martyr in Pergamum before the writing of the Apocalypse. One legend is that he was burnt to death in a brazen bull. Other martyrs followed him at Pergamum (Agathonice, Attalus, Carpus, Polybus).

My witness (o martuv mou). Nominative in apposition with a genitive as in Revelation 1:5 (with ablative), common solecism in the Apocalypse. "Witness" as Jesus had said they should be (Acts 1:8) and Stephen was (Acts 22:20) and others were (Revelation 17:6). The word later (by third century) took on the modern meaning of martyr.

My faithful one (o pistov mou). Nominative also, with mou also. Jesus gives Antipas his own title (Swete) as in Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:14. Faithful unto death.

Was killed (apektanqh). First aorist passive indicative of apokteinw, this passive form common in the Apocalypse (Revelation 2:13; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 13:10, Revelation 13:15; Revelation 19:21).

Among you (par umin). By your side. Proof of the throne of Satan, "where Satan dwells" (opou o Satanav katoikei), repeated for emphasis.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 2:13:

Acts 22:20
1 Timothy 5:8
Revelation 1:5
Revelation 2:2
Revelation 2:9
Revelation 2:12
Revelation 2:13
Revelation 2:20
Revelation 11:3
Revelation 14:12
Revelation 16:10
Revelation 17:6
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 21:8

 

<< Revelation 2:12   Revelation 2:14 >>

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