Oecumenius — Commentary on Scripture | TrulyRandomVerse

On Revelation

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Revelation 2:8
First, meaning that the Lord calls Himself by the essence of the Godhead [τῆς θεότητος]; Last, indeed, meaning, by the incarnation and the economy with the flesh. He who is said to have died and came to life again; he who is said to have come to the experience of death, and by death has destroyed death (2 Tim. 1:10).

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:9
And the slander of the illegitimate Jews is interpreted as the confession of Judas. Therefore, the true Jews, and the spiritual Israel, would be those who confess Christ, and Israel are those who see God in spirit. "For the one who is a Jew outwardly is not a Jew, nor is circumcision that is outward in the flesh" pleasing to God, as Paul says, "but the one who is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart," not of the flesh. (Rom. 2:28) Therefore, the Jews who have remained in unbelief form a blasphemous synagogue, led by Satan.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty, yet you are rich, yet do not say anything like the disobedient Jews said who rejected the faith, "that we have fasted and you did not notice, we have humbled our souls and you did not pay attention." (Isa. 58:3) But he says you are rich because you have Christ as your wealthy protector, even though he became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9) by taking the form of a servant (Philip. 2:7).

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:10
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. This is true: for it has been said, "He who endures to the end will be saved," (Matt. 10:22) but not the one who throws their shield [ῥίψασπις] and, having grown weak, turns away from the struggles.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear anything, he says, of what you are about to suffer. behold, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested; and you will have a trial for ten days. For indeed by the power of the Devil, men do evil to the godly. But God consents, testing them more thoroughly through trials. But take heart, he says, your suffering is brief and short-lived.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be harmed by the second death. What has been said is very precise; for in the first death, which is the separation of the soul from the body, all alike, both the righteous and the sinners, become prisoners, so that the divine decree may reach its end: "you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Gen. 3:19) But in the second death, which the Lord calls sin, saying, "Let the dead bury their own dead," (Matt. 8:22) the victors over temptations would not be wronged.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:12
And to the church in Pergamum write: I am the one who has the sword coming out of my mouth, so that I may avenge those who violate my commandments; for the danger of those who do not obey the divine commands is signified by the sword in the mouth.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:13
He says where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. For all of Asia is indeed full of idols, especially Pergamum. But he also says that dwelling in such a place, you have kept my faith unshaken, not deviating at all toward the evil counsel of the many, but even opposing it during the days and festivals of the idols, as my faithful witness who has spoken boldly in my name says, you came as far as you could against those plotting, guarding the truth until death. And since he also touches on the most holy covenant, and we all sin greatly according to what is written to you (James 3:2), and yet being such, he says, "I have the right to accuse."

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:14-15
For you have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in the same way. Balak, therefore, taught him in the manner of a teacher who became guide to Balaam. According to both Balaam and Balak, the story is clearly established in the book of Numbers, which is the book of Numbers written by the wisest Moses. Josephus records that by the counsel of Balaam, the Midianites were sent against Israel into fornication, calling them to apostasy from God. He says that those who come from Nicolaus do such things and you do not drive them away from yourself.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:16
Then he says, Repent therefore; if not, I will come to you soon and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. O depth of the riches and wisdom, and goodness of God. (Rom. 11:33) For he did not say, "I am coming to fight against you," but rather, "I will fight against them," clearly referring to the Nicolaitans. For he spared among those in Pergamum who were faithful and devout.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna of the mystery. He said, in an indirect way, that he would grant him to be filled with the intelligible and future goods.

and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it. For it has been said, "what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:18
The declaration of the proper title [προσηγορίας] is made clearer by the one who communicates with the evangelist.

He says, These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, symbolizing the awe-inspiring and threatening judgment against sinners.

And His feet are like gleaming bronze, symbolizing the firmness of faith in him and unwavering steadfastness, or the spiritual fragrance of the evangelical doctrines as described above.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:19
He said, I know your works, your love and faith and service, just as he said, I praise all your efforts. For he puts "I know," instead of, "I praise," like, "I know you to be spoken of among all men" to Moses, (Ex. 33:12) and "the Lord knows the way of the righteous." (Ps. 1:6) And he says that service is assistance to those in need.

And he says that your latter works exceed the first; it shows that as they went on, they themselves became greater in fulfilling the commandments.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:20
But I have this against you; this is to show that only God is completely blameless.

What do I have against you? That you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, that you do not persecute [διώκεις] her. From Jezebel, who dwelt with Ahab, she who is continually a demonstration of wickedness. She says that she herself is a prophetess; she teaches and leads many astray into fornication and eating food sacrificed to idols.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:21-23
She who calls herself a prophetess; she teaches and leads many astray to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. This means either sensual fornication or the apostasy from God, according to what has been said: "and they committed fornication in their practices" (Ps. 106:39); and again "they committed adultery with the trees." (Jer. 3:9) But the Lord, not wishing the death of the sinner, but rather repentance and life, says that He has given her an opportunity for repentance. But if she refuses to repent, then I will do these things to her and those who commit adultery with her, so that all may know that I am God.

For God who searches mind and heart. For it is said, "For God searches the minds and hearts," (Jer. 17:10)

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:24-25
They have nothing in common with the adulterous woman; being simpler and not knowing the schemes of the wicked, for this reason, they say: I will not impose any further burden on you; simplicity is sufficient for you. But you must continue in the teaching what you have received until my second coming.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:26-27
And to the one who overcomes the evil one, I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. This is what is spoken of in the Gospels by those who have well managed the trusts and the talents entrusted to them. "Be in charge of ten cities"; and there will "be another in charge of five cities." (see Luke 19:17,19) And to Daniel, "and the kingdom shall be given to the saints of God." (Dan. 7:22) For it indicates a certain beginning and authority given to the saints over those who are inferior and in need of guidance. Therefore, he says that he shepherds them with strict authority, but the disobedient he will crush like earthenware vessels.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 2:28
And I will give him the morning star, says the prophet concerning the Assyrian or Satan, "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!" (Isa. 14:12) He is still called the morning star; therefore, he says, I will give Satan into the hand of my servants. Similar to what is said by the apostle: "God will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Rom. 16:20) And, "on an asp and a basilisk you will tread, and you will trample a lion and a dragon." (Ps. 90:13)

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 3:1
Concerning the seven stars, which are now also called the spirits of God, it has been said in the preceding passages; but now you must listen to what he says about those in Sardis.

He says, I know your works, that you have a name like you are alive, and you have the life according to God, the virtuous life, but you are dead because of your sins. For to be called dead in sins is the custom according to the divine Scripture, as is shown by what is written concerning those who have turned from unbelief to the faith in Christ by the most wise Paul: "And you, being dead in your trespasses, He made alive together with Christ." (Eph. 2:5) And the Shepherd says that some have descended into the water of the pool [baptism], obviously dead, and have risen alive.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 3:2
But he says, Awaken from the sleep of sin and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. Moreover, he says, short tasks and incomplete practices remain for you, having not fully died. Therefore, guard these things while alive, flowing already toward death. For to strengthen means to stabilize and support what is slack and prone to collapse. For none of your efforts is complete, but some have died, and others are about to die. Therefore, how you have received the faith and heard the word concerning it, and some of your works still live in your life. But repent concerning those that have died.

Commentary on Revelation