Revelation 2:11

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be hurt by 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 know your oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be hurt by the second death.

12 "To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:

13 "I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.