Revelation 2:11

11 "`Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes shall be in no way 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 Your sufferings I know, and your poverty--but you are rich--and the evil name given you by those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are Satan's synagogue.

10 Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life.

11 "`Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes shall be in no way hurt by the Second Death.'

12 "To the minister of the Church at Pergamum write as follows: "`This is what He who has the sharp, two-edged sword says. I know where you dwell.

13 Satan's throne is there; and yet you are true to Me, and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas My witness and faithful friend, who was put to death among you, in the place where Satan dwells.