The 4 Servants - Revelation 2

2:1-7 - The seven “candlesticks” described in chapter 1 are the seven churches that John is writing the first part of this letter to, and I think that the seven stars that Jesus is holding are the seven individual leaders of each of those branches. Chapter 2 goes through the individual counsel given to each leader starting with “the angel of the church of Ephesus.” The JST changes “angel” to “servant” which makes a lot more sense. Another aspect to note here is that each section follows the same pattern, which the IM notes saying, “each letter first addresses the leader of the church in the area and uses symbolic terms to identify Jesus Christ. It next conveys the Lord’s words of praise and commendation and His words of correction and warning. Then, promises are given to those who overcome through faith in Jesus Christ. These promises are related to exaltation and eternal life, and they contain rich temple symbolism.” The first area addressed is Ephesus, the Lord says, “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience.” This really struck a chord with me because recently, I’ve been trying really hard to help people, but perhaps in ways that are actually detrimental, and I’ve felt so stupid and really questioned what my whole purpose was in doing certain things that I did. It was painful, not because I was being mistreated but because I felt stupid and like my efforts were hurting people. Anyway, when I read this, I felt like Jesus was saying this directly to me, “I know what you’re doing, I know where your heart is, I know you’re trying your best because you care,” and that really helped me feel like my efforts were acceptable, even though I felt like they were not. The praise given to the leader of the church in Ephesus is that he “canst not bear them which are evil.” He apparently confronted the false “apostles… and hast found them liars.” This guy hasn’t been a passive observer in his congregation, he’s guarded his people and their influences very carefully. It’s now all sunshine and roses though because the Lord follows up with, “nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” I’m not exactly sure what his “first love” is here, at first I thought that maybe it was referencing a wife that he had divorced or something, but the word “love” is cross-referenced with D&C 4:1-7 which is where the Lord says, “A marvelous work is about to come forth,” and “if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work,” etc. So maybe it’s referencing his prior passion for missionary work that might have diminished. I don’t know, either way, if he repents and to all those who “overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” We all know the “tree of life” from Lehi’s vision of the iron rod, but the IM references Genesis when noting, “The tree of life was planted in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. After the Fall they were separated from the tree of life. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the effects of the Fall will be overcome. All people will be resurrected, thereby overcoming death, and the faithful will inherit eternal life.” 2:8-11 - The next leader addressed is the one in charge of Smyrna. Jesus says he recognizes this man’s works also, the “tribulation, and poverty” that he has to endure presumably because of his commitment to the gospel. He also notes “the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” It sounds like there are people who might have initially been part of the church but have begun corrupting it from the inside out. It would seem that these defectors have some societal influence because the encouragement Jesus gives the people indicates that some serious problems are coming their way. He says, “fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison… be thou faithful unto death.” That is pretty loaded statement. The IM says, “The Lord told the Saints in Smyrna that some of them would be imprisoned and would have temptations and trials, but they should not fear.” It continues with an example of Polycarp, “a bishop of the church in Smyrna, who lived from A.D. 69 to 155… Because he would not renounce his faith, he was burned at the stake as a martyr.” Polycarp could have gotten out of his execution if he had simply denounced Christ and worshipped the Roman emperor, but instead he said, “For eighty and six years have I been (Christ’s) servant, and he has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King that saved me?” First off, I couldn’t imagine burning an 86 year old man to death, like that is nuts. Second, I wonder the difference if he had been a young man, meaning that at 86 he has one foot in the grave, not a ton to miss out on at that point. But if he was younger, he’d be giving up an entire lifetime, ultimately it doesn’t matter because none of us know when our time will come, we only have assurance of the next life. But Polycarp is summarized by the IM says, “Later Christians remembered Polycarp for the courage and faith he showed in the face of great adversity.” The Lord also decrees that “he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” This is that reassurance the next life is the one we need to prepare for, not to spend too much effort in the luxuries of this one. 2:12-17 - The third area leader addressed is the one in Pergamos. The Lord describes this place as “Satan’s seat.” The IM quotes Bruce R. McConkie as explaining, “Pergamos was the center of the state religion of Rome, a religion in which the emperor was worshipped, and to which Christians must adhere or suffer death. It was a religion imposed upon them by the sword.” Those are some pretty high stakes that this leader has to work against. Jesus praises him for “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.” The IM notes that sometimes it was possible for the Christians sentenced to prison of death to be able to renounce the name of Christ and worship the emperor and be saved. So when Jesus says here that this guy has been faithful to His name, he means that literally. And just think about how terrifying it would be to be in the position of leadership trying to convince your congregation that Jesus is more powerful than the Roman emperor, but He’s not choosing to save them miraculously at this point but is requiring them to die for him, but that’s a good thing. And considering that Antipas apparently had already been martyred, this is a pretty big deal. But even though this leader is seemingly holding a firehose on a gospel ablaze, he still has some room for improvement. The first time I read this, I thought Jesus was saying that the leader himself was the one who embraced evil, but it seems that it’s not him, but that he has in his congregation “them that hold the doctrine of Balaam.” This is explained in the IM saying that Balaam was an Old Testament prophet who initially was “true to the Lord and His people, repeatedly refusing Balak’s request to curse Israel. Nevertheless, Balaam eventually succumbed to Balak’s offer of riches and taught Balak how to cause the army of Israel to weaken themselves through sexual sin and idolatry. The plan included having Moabite women seduce the men of Israel and persuade them to offer sacrifices to heathen gods, thus destroying them spiritually.” I doubt that the members of this leader’s congregation were literally teaching gentiles to seduce Jewish soldiers, but in this environment I could definitely see how there would have been members trying to persuade others to turn away from the faith and save themselves when faced with death or jail. I can’t say I blame them, everyone deals with those kinds of threats differently. I’d like to say that I’d stay faithful, but that’s easy for me to do here in my peaceful place on earth right now, so there’s no judgment from me. The other problem is that in this leader’s congregation there are “also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” This is the second time the Lord has mentioned the Nicolaitans, which the IM explains were “permissive Christians who claimed that the grace of God freed them from having to obey commandments… Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that the Nicolaitans referred to in the book of Revelation were ‘members of the Church who were trying to maintain their church standing while continuing to live after the manner of the world.’” So it seems that this leader’s problem wasn’t being evil or corrupt himself, but for allowing those who were evil and corrupt to keep a foothold in his congregation. I totally understand how he could have thought “I’m trying to keep people from running away from Christ screaming at the prospect of being brutally tortured and murdered, cut us some slack here.” But apparently according to the Savior, it was still important to maintain the integrity of the teachings and doctrines and behaviors of the members. For who repent and “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 his that reiceveth it.” As far as what this “hidden manna” and “white stone” are referring to, The IM says that the “hidden manna” is a reference to the bread that God provided to “the children of Israel to eat during their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness.” Like this life saving physical bread, “Jesus Christ is the ‘bread of life’ that sustains spiritual life. The ‘hidden manna’ mentioned in Revelation 2:17 refers to Jesus Christ. Jesus is ‘hidden’ from the wicked. But, as He taught in John 6, those who symbolically partake of His flesh will receive everlasting life.” Concerning the “white stone” the only commentary from the IM is a reference to D&C 130:8-11 which is long but says “the place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim… Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.” So there’s a lot going into that there and not a whole lot that I want to say, but it’s an interesting concept to think about. 2:18-29 - Next we have counsel for the leader of the church in Thyatira. This man’s recognized by the Lord for his works, charity, service, faith, patience, and works. Apparently the problem that this man is facing has to do with a woman named Jezebel that he is not forceful enough with. I don’t know if her name is actually Jezebel or if that’s just the name the Lord gave to mean a wicked woman like the one in the Old Testament. This woman claims herself to be “a prophetess” but teaches the people “to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols,” which if I remember correctly isn’t so much about the actual food as it is about taking part in the sacrificial ceremonies of the idols. The Lord says that he gave her a chance “to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” He vows to “cast her into hell” along with those who sin with her. The JST is important here because the word “hell” is replaced with “bed” in the KJV which makes it sound like Jesus is in on the sin with her, which we know he absolutely is not. He threatens to kill her children, which sounds a little harsh, but maybe he doesn’t mean young biological children, but maybe her “children” meaning those that follow her. The members who are acting wickedly following after this lady will be dealt with, but the Lord assures the rest “that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” The phrase “Searcheth the reins and hearts” can be translated differently in Hebrew and Greek, but basically boils down to this phrase “is an idiom, meaning that the Lord knows all things about the inner man. It is because of this perfect understand that the Lord is able to ‘give unto every one of your according to your works.” Those who remain faithful to the gospel and the Savior “will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron… And I will give him the morning star.” It’s an interesting concept that the faithful will rule nations “with a rod of iron.” I’m not sure if he means that literally, like during the millennium, the righteous will play a key part if the political leadership, or if he means figuratively like “no earthly political kingdom will take away your Godly reward.” As far as the “morning star” goes, I’m not very sure what this means. The IM says, “The Morning Star’ is a symbol of Jesus Christ.” It continues that this might be a reference to the second comforter, which I don’t know anything about. So even though it doesn’t say that these things are related for sure, the IM continues with a quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith which says, “When any man obtains this (Second) Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face.” This is a really interesting concept to think about. It makes sense that Joseph Smith would have had this second comforter, I wonder about this and who it applies to and for what purpose.