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. SHALL NOT BE HURT - `shall not by any means be hurt.' THE SECOND DEATH - `the lake of fire.' 'The death in life of the lost, contrasted with the life in death of the saved' (Trench). "The second death" is unique to the Apocalypse. What matter about the first, which sooner or, later must come, if we escape the second death. 'They who die that death shall be hurt by it. If it were annihilation, so a conclusion of their torments, it would be no way hurtful, but highly beneficial to them. But the living torments are the second death' (Dr. Pearson). Smyrna (myrrh) yielded its sweet perfume in being bruised to death. Myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies (): was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil...

8-11 Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he was before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who was dead and is alive, is the believer's Brother and Friend, he must be rich in the deepest poverty, honourable amidst the lowest abasement, and happy under the heaviest tribulation, like the church of Smyrna. Many who are rich as to this world, are poor as to the next; and some who are poor outwardly, are inwardly rich; rich in faith, in good works, rich in privileges, rich in gifts, rich in hope. Where there is spiritual plenty, outward poverty may be well borne; and when God's people are made poor as to this life, for the sake of Christ and a good conscience, he makes all up to them in spiritual riches. Christ arms against coming troubles. Fear none of these things; not only forbid slavi...

Verse Revelation 2:11. _HE THAT OVERCOMETH_] The _conqueror_ who has stood firm in every trial, and vanquished all his adversaries. _SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH._] That is, an eternal separation from God and the glory of his power; as what we commonly mean by _final perdition_. This is another rabbinical mode of speech in very frequent use, and by it they understand the punishment of hell in a future life....

HE THAT HATH AN EAR ... - See the notes on Revelation 2:7. HE THAT OVERCOMETH - See the notes on Revelation 2:7. The particular promise here is made to him that should “overcome”; that is, that would gain the victory in the persecutions which were to come upon them. The reference is to him who would show the sustaining power of religion in times of persecution; who would not yield his principles when opposed and persecuted; who would be triumphant when so many efforts were made to induce him to apostatize and abandon the cause. SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH - By a second death. That is, he will have nothing to fear in the future world. The punishment of hell is often called death

EXPOSITION REVELATION 3:1 _The epistles to the seven Churches. _Once more we have to consider rival interpretations. Of these we may safely set aside all those which make the seven letters to be pictures of _successive periods _in the history of the Church. On the other hand, we may safely deny that the letters are _purely typical, _and relate to nothing definite in history. Rather they are _both historical and typical. _They refer primarily to the actual condition of the several Churches in St. John's own day, and then are intended for the instruction, encouragement, and warning of the Church and the Churches throughout all time. The Catholic Church, or any one of its branches, will at any period find itself reflected in one or other of the seven Churches. For two Churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, there is nothing but

HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR,.... Revelation 2:7; HE THAT OVERCOMETH; and is not intimidated by poverty, confiscation of goods, tribulation, persecution, and death itself, but through Christ is a conqueror, and more than a conqueror over all these things: SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH; by which is meant eternal death, in distinction from a corporeal and temporal one; and lies in a destruction of both body and soul in hell, and in an everlasting separation from God, and a continual sense of divine wrath; but of this the saints shall never be hurt, they are ordained to eternal life; this is secured for them in Christ, and he has it in his hands for them, and will give it to them. The phrase is Jewish, and is opposed to the first death, or the death of the body; which is the effect of sin, and is appointed of God, and which the

II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE, THE SEVEN CHURCH MESSAGES, AND THEIR PROPHETIC MEANING CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Ephesus: The post-apostolic period (Revelation 2:1)_ 2. Smyrna: The period of persecution (Revelation 2:8) 3. Pergamos: The corruption period (Revelation 2:12) 4. Thyatira: The Romish corruption (Revelation 2:18) The two Chapter s which follow the introductory chapter contain seven messages to seven local churches which were in existence in the province of Asia in the days when the Apostle John was prisoner in the isle of Patmos. The view held by the late Dr. Bullinge

REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. These letters are addressed to individual churches, but their messages are intended for the Church as a whole. In every letter there occurs the phrase, He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches....

_SMYRNA_ APPEARS FIRST IN SACRED WRIT IN THIS CONNECTION, AND WE KNOW NOTHING OF THE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. THE LETTER TO IT SPEAKS ONLY WORDS OF PRAISE. THE CITY OF SMYRNA STILL EXISTS AS THE MOST FLOURISHING PORT OF TURKEY IN ASIA, AND HAS. NUMEROUS CHRISTIAN POPULATION. ON ACCOUNT OF THE LARGE PROPORTION OF CHRISTIANS IN ITS POPULATION IT IS REGARDED BY STRICT MOSLEMS AS UNCLEAN, AND IS CALLED "INFIDEL SMYRNA." IT IS AT THIS DATE THE CHIEF CENTER OF MISSIONARY OPERATIONS IN THE EAST. THE SEVEN CHURCHES.--At the time when John wrote there were hundreds of churches in existence. On the Asiatic Continent many had been founded in Judea, Syria, and elsewhere, and in the district of which Ephesus was the commercial metropolis, and which was especially designated as _Asia,_ we know that in the last quarter of the first century there were not only the seven churches named, but Coloss...

THE LETTER TO EPHESUS (Revelation 2:1-7)...