Revelation 2:11

11 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not come under the power of the second death.

Revelation 2:11 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 2:11

He that hath an ear, let him hear
(See Gill on 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 people of God die as well as others; but the second death is peculiar to wicked men. So the Jerusalem Targum on ( Deuteronomy 33:6 ) ; paraphrases those words, "let Reuben live, and not die", thus;

``let Reuben live in this world, and not die (anyynt atwmb) , "by the second death", with which the wicked die in the world to come.''

Of which sense of the text and phrase Epiphanius makes mention ^F17. See the same phrase in the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, in ( Isaiah 22:14 ) ( Isaiah 65:6 Isaiah 65:15 ) ; and in ( Jeremiah 51:39 Jeremiah 51:57 ) ; and in Philo the Jew ^F18.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Contr. Haeres. Haeres. 9.
F18 De Praemiis & Poenis, p. 921.

Revelation 2:11 In-Context

9 I have knowledge of your troubles and how poor you are (but you have true wealth), and the evil words of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a Synagogue of Satan.

10 Have no fear of the things which you will have to undergo: see, the Evil One will send some of you into prison, so that you may be put to the test; and you will have great trouble for ten days. Be true till death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not come under the power of the second death.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos say: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 I have knowledge that your living-place is where Satan has his seat: and you are true to my name, and were not turned away from your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my true witness, who was put to death among you, where Satan has his place.