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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

The form of each epistle is very much the same; and in this, as the rest, we have to consider the inscription, contents, and conclusion. I. The inscription, telling us, 1. To whom it is directed: To the angel of the church of Thyatira, a city of the proconsular Asia, bordering upon Mysia on the north and Lydia on the south, a town of trade, whence came the woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who, being at Philippi in Macedonia, probably about the business of her calling, heard Paul preach... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 2:18-29

2:18-29 And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write: These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like beaten brass. I know your works--I mean your love and your loyalty and your service and your steadfast endurance; and I know that your last works are more than your first. But I hold it against you that you make no effort to deal with the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and whose misleading teaching causes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:21

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication ,.... Of idolatry. This may have respect to the time of the witnesses, the Waldenses, and others, who bore a testimony against the Romish idolatry, and reproved for it, and denounced the judgment of God in case of impenitence; and as these things were repeated time after time, this may be called a space given to repent in; just as Jezebel had a space given her to repent in, from the time that Elijah declared the word of the Lord, that the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:21

I gave her space to repent - " This alludes to the history of Jezebel. God first sent Elijah to Ahab to pronounce a severe judgment upon him; upon which Ahab showed tokens of repentance, and so God put off his punishment. By these means the like punishment pronounced against Jezebel was also put off. Thus God gave her time to repent, which she did not, but instead of that seduced her sons to the same sins. See 1 Kings 21:1-29. According to the Mosaical law, the punishment of idolatrous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

The epistle to the Church at Thyatira. The circuit now turns southwards. From Ephesus to Smyrna, and from Smyrna to Pergamum, was movement almost due north. Thyatira is on the Lycus, close to the Roman road between Pergamum and Sardis. It was refounded and named Thyatira by Seleucus Nicator, after the conquest of Persia by Alexander. It was strongly Macedonian in population; and it is worth noting that it is in Philippi, a city of Macedonia, that Lydia of Thyatira is found ( Acts 16:14 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

Thyatira: victors for Christ reigning with him. In some respects this letter is very similar to the last. In one respect it is unique. Its similarity arises from the fact that in Thyatira, as in Pergamos, there was much that was excellent clogged with much that was impure; that the Saviour stood before the Church as a heart-searching Saviour; that unless the evil were put away the Church would be severely judged, as a lesson and warning to the Churches round about; that the evil ones... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

Epistle to the Church at Thyatira. Careful readers of these letters will observe how in this and the foregoing ones St. John seems to be contemplating great historical events recorded in the Old Testament. In the first, the allusion to "the tree of life" and the "Paradise of God" carries us back to the story of the Fall and the expulsion from Eden. In the second, Noah and the Flood are apparently referred to in the promise of life as the reward of fidelity, and the not being "hurt of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

(4) The epistle to the Church in Thyatria: the growing Church exposed to corruption of doctrine. With the highest title, "the Son of God," the Lord of the Church speaks—the Lord who searches as with eyes of flame and with burning, consuming fire, and treads down his enemies beneath his feet. The vision is unusually impressive, as the state of the Church is unusually momentous. The letter is extended, and describes the commendable condition of the Church, the subtle danger that threatens... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:18-29

The words of Christ from eternity to the congregation at Thyatira. "And unto the angel of the Church in Thyatira," etc. Thyatira was situated between Pergamos and Sardis, a little off the main road which connected these two cities. It was a Macedonian colony, founded by Alexander the Great (or whom I should rather designate "Alexander the Contemptible" ) after the overthrow of the Persian empire. The Macedonian colonists appear to have introduced the worship of Apollo, honoured as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:21

Here again the Revised Version must be preferred; the Authorized Version follows a corrupt Greek text. With the construction, "I gave her time that ( ἵνα ) she should repent," comp. Revelation 8:3 ; Revelation 9:5 ; Revelation 12:14 ; Revelation 19:8 ; John 17:4 ; 1 John 3:1 ; 1 John 5:20 . With "willeth not to repent," comp. John 6:21 , John 6:67 ; John 7:17 ; John 8:44 . Jezebel "despised the riches of Christ's forbearance and long suffering, not believing... read more

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