Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 2:1
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things saith He who holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands (Rev. 2:1).
Unto the angel of the church of Smyrna write, These things saith the First and the Last (Rev. 2:8).
To the angel of the church of Pergamos write, These things saith He which hath the sharp two-edged sword (Rev. 2:12).
Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass (Rev. 2:18).
Unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars (Rev. 3:1).
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David (Rev. 3:7).
And unto the angel of the church in Laodicea write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14).
These are taken from the first chapter, in which the Lord alone is treated of, and He Himself is there described by all these things.
. That the Lord alone will give the happy things of eternal life to those who are and will be of His church, is evident from these passages:--The Lord said to the church of Ephesus, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
Unto the church in Smyrna, I will give thee a crown of life. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:10, 11).
Unto the church in Pergamos, To him that 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 but he that receiveth it (Rev. 2:17).
Unto the church in Thyatira, To him will I give power over the nations, and I will give him the morning star (Rev. 2:26, 28).
Unto the church in Philadelphia, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God; and I will write upon him the name of My God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and My new name (Rev. 3:12).
Unto the church in Laodicea, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne (Rev. 3:21).
From these passages it is also evident, that the Lord alone is acknowledged in the New Church. Hence it is that this church is called The Lamb’s Wife (Apoc. 19:7, 9; 21:9, 10).
. That the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, is formed of those who repent of evil works, is also manifest from the Lord‘s words to the churches:--To Ephesus; I know thy works; I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity. Repent, and do the former works; or else I will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent (Rev. 2:2, 4, 5).
To the church in Pergamos; I know thy works, repent (Rev. 2:13, 16).
To the church in Thyatira; I will deliver her into affliction, except they repent of their works, I will give unto everyone of you according to his works (Rev. 2:19, 22, 23).
To the church in Sardis; I have not found thy works perfect before God, repent (Rev. 3:1-3).
To the church in Laodicea; I know thy works, be zealous, and repent (Rev. 3:15, 19).
Now follows the explanation itself.
. Verse 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, signifies, to those and concerning those, who primarily regard the truths of doctrine and not the goods of life. It was shown in (n. 66), that by "the seven churches" are not meant seven churches, but the church in the whole complex, which in itself is one, but various according to reception; and that those varieties may be compared with the various members and organs in a perfect body, which yet make one. They may also be compared with the various diadems in a king’s crown; and hence it is that the whole New Church, with its varieties, is described, in what now follows, by "the seven churches." That by the church of Ephesus, are meant those in the church who primarily regard the truths of doctrine and not the goods of life, is clear from the things written to that church, when understood in the spiritual sense. It is written to "the angel" of that church, because by an angel is meant an angelic society which corresponds to a church consisting of such, as in (n. 65). . These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, signifies the Lord, from whom through the Word are all truths. That "He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand," is the Lord, and that "the seven stars in His right hand" are all the knowledges of good and truth in the Word, which are thence from the Lord, with the angels of heaven and the men of the church, may be seen in (n. 51). The knowledges of good and truth from the Word are truths. . Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, signifies, from whom all those who are of His church have enlightenment. That "the seven lampstands, in the midst of which was the Son of man," signify the church, which is in enlightenment from the Lord, may be seen in (n. 43, 66). He is here said "to be walking," because "to walk" signifies to live (n. 167), and "in the midst," signifies in the inmost and thence in all (n. 44, 383). REVELATION 2:1 - next - text - summary - Revelation - Full Page
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |