Revelation 2:7

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

I.       He who has an ear, let him hear

In bible this phrase was used in 4 books (Mathew, Mark, Luke and Revelation), 9 chapters and 16 verses. In book of Revelation 8 times repeating out or 8, 7 times, these words were used in chapter 2 and 3. This expression is frequently used by Christ. It is a proverbial expression, implying that the highest attention should be given to what was spoken. That means, this is speaking of that inner ear of the heart that receives the truth. The hearing here is the hearing in faith, for if faith is not mixed with the word that we hear it will not profit us.

Hebrews 4:2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

II.    …what the Spirit says

In verse 1, we saw that it is Christ giving the message to the Church. Here it is the Spirit giving the message. Bible says Spirit of God will bear witness to Christ. In John 15:26 says "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about me.

III. …to the churches

          Here Spirit of God was mentioned “churches”, it is purl word. Here Jesus talked about Ephesus church only, but when Spirit finished in the purl. Why because this message was not only for the Ephesus church this applicable to who having the ear to here and all of God’s Church can benefit from hearing each of the messages

IV.  … To the one who conquers (overcomes)

     Here the Spirit of God starting with “One who conquer”, What the Spirit of God expecting here is, to overcome the satanic deeds. What are those deeds?  St. Paul gave a big list in 1 Cor. 6: 9, 10 …neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers “ these people will not inherit  the kingdom of God.

An interesting point on the original language here is that the form of the verb implies that the person “continues in overcoming” or “keeps on winning.” Thus it is not a one off victory over satanic deeds, but a continual walking by faith constantly overcoming in all things by the power of the indwelling Christ. Jesus mentioned in Mathew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” We can see this in St. Paul’s life, he said in 2 Timothy 4: 7, 8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. “

V.     … I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

           Fruit from tree of life, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory these are the descriptions of what gifts God going to give to His people. The gifts are

1.      All the time living with God, Christ and Holy Spirit.

2.      Worship our God along with angles, elders and creatures mention in Ezekiel and Revelation.

3.      Living without sorrow.

4.      Living without sin and satanic deeds.

5.      Living without sick, without politics, without jealous etc.

6.      Enjoying the glory of God

These are the fruits what God going to give to us when we finish the faithful life successfully.

What we lost in Eden Garden, God keeping the same fruit in His hand and waiting to give to the overcomer.

Revelation 2:6

Revelation 2:6

Revelation 2:6 yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

In revelation 2:3,4, Jesus complaining  about Ephesus church. Before look into that complains, we will see one of good character Jesus told about Ephesus church. What is that?

Here Jesus says to Ephesus people, you hate the deeds and doctrine of Nicolaitans.  First we have to understand, who is this Nicolaitans? What is his work? That means, what are his deeds and doctrines? Then only we can understand, why Jesus told that, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

There were many bible scholars researchers explained about this Nicolaitans deeds and his doctrines. I can’t discuss everything over here. But I can share the nutshell of their views.

This word “Nicolaitans” used in bible in two places

1.   first one was rev.2:6 “why Jesus telling that, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” and

2.   Another place was, when Jesus talking about the Pergamum church he used this name, it is in rev.2:15 “So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans”.

If you read carefully we can understand the different between the two verses. The Ephesus church was rejected the deeds and doctrines of Nicolaitans but Pergamum church was accepted the deeds and doctrines of Nicolaitans.

Meaning of the word Nicolaitans

           First we understand the meaning of this name. This name origin was Greek. This name contains two parts

Nico + laitans = Nico means conqueror and laitans means laity (Lay People). If we add these two words meanings we will get “conquerors of the lay people” or “victorious over people”.

Who is this Nicolaitans?

           In ancient church, there was a complaint against apostles. All apostles were belongs to Jews community, so the Greek people had a complaint against the apostles, that, Greek community people were not treated in good manner by Jews.

Because of this complaint Apostle Peter gathered all apostles and Greeks, arranged meeting between for them to solve this problem.

What solution they made in that gathering is written in the book of Acts 6:1-5.

Acts 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers,^[1] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

From the above verses what we can understand, were the apostles only devoted to ministry. They can’t take care of this Grecian’s. So they conclude to appoint 7 deacons to take care of Grecian’s. Who are they seven deacons? This we can see in

Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Here the one of the seven deacons was Nicolaus, so the Nicolaitans were mentioned in the book of revelation in verse 2:6 and 2:15 were the followers of this same Nicolaus. (This was, bible theologian’s belief. But there is no 100% evidence for this Nicolaitans was the follower of the same Nicolaus.).

This Nicolaus only, in later days, start preaching his own doctrine, which was against the gospel. Some of his followers were start believed his doctrine and followed his deeds. But these Nicolaitans were very minority sectors in that time.  So the Ephesians where rejects their doctrines.

What doctrines he preached?

1.      Honoring the saints.

2.      Eat things offered to idols.

3.      Believed that Nicholas supported either polygamy(oxford - the custom of having more than one wife at the same time) or the holding of wives in common

These are the doctrines or deeds of Nicolaitans. Now you can understand why Lord our God hates the deeds of Nicolaitans. The same doctrines were rejected by the Ephesians also.

1 Th. 21 Put everything to the test and hold fast to what is good.

1 Th. 22 Avoid evil, wherever it may be.

From the above verse what instruction God given to us is don’t believe everything blindly put test to everything and take the good things and avoid the evil what it may be good to you. Here the Nicolaitans deed are giving the worldly plusher even though we should avoid it. Because of that only Jesus told “you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”