Revelation 2:22

22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

Revelation 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 2:22

Behold, I will cast her into a bed
Of sickness and languishing; and which denotes the sickly, pining, and languishing state of the church of Rome, as a just retaliation for her bed of luxury and deliciousness, adultery and idolatry, she had indulged herself in; this was threatened, and was yet to come, and began at the time of the Reformation, signified by the next church state; and, ever since, the whore of Rome has been visibly sickening and decaying. The Alexandrian copy reads, "into a prison":

and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation:
the kings of the earth, and their subjects, who have joined in the idolatries and corruptions of the Romish church, ( Revelation 17:2 ) ( 18:3 ) , which may be understood either of that distress and uneasiness the Reformation in some countries gave them; or those outward troubles, wars, and desolations they have been since attended with, particularly the empire of Germany; which has been in great tribulation, formerly by the Turks, and of late by internal broils among themselves, and by the armies of other princes entering into it; or it may regard that eternal vengeance that will be recompensed to all such persons:

except they repent of their deeds;
their spiritual fornication or idolatry, and all the abominations the members of that apostate church are guilty of. There seems to be an allusion in this verse to Ahaziah and Joram, sons of Ahab and Jezebel, who followed their mother's idolatrous practices, and were cast upon a bed of sickness, ( 2 Kings 1:2 ) ( 8:29 ) .

Revelation 2:22 In-Context

20 But I have against thee that thou permittest the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself prophetess, and she teaches and leads astray my servants to commit fornication and eat of idol sacrifices.

21 And I gave her time that she should repent, and she will not repent of her fornication.

22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

23 and her children will I kill with death; and all the assemblies shall know that *I* am he that searches [the] reins and [the] hearts; and I will give to you each according to your works.

24 But to you I say, the rest who [are] in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I do not cast upon you any other burden;