Revelation 2:23

23 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who ¹searches the minds and hearts; and ²I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

Revelation 2:23 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 2:23

And I will kill her children with death
Her popes, cardinals, priests, Jesuits, monks, friars, and all that join in the Romish apostasy, they shall be killed with death; there shall be an utter extirpation of them in God's own time; or they shall be killed with the second death: (antwm) , when used alone, or as distinct from any other kind of death, signifies the plague; compare with this ( 2 Kings 9:24 ) ( 2 Kings 10:1 2 Kings 10:7 ) ;

and all the churches:
that shall be in being at the time of Rome's destruction:

shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and heart;
or am the omniscient God; which will be known by inflicting punishment on the followers of antichrist; when their hidden things of darkness will be brought to light, and exposed by him; and they shall receive the righteous reward of their evil practices, which they have coloured over, and glossed with specious pretences of religion and holiness, and a zeal for God and his glory, when they only meant themselves, the gratifying their carnal lusts, and securing their worldly interests, and amassing riches and honours to themselves:

and I will give unto everyone of you according to your works;
who have connived at, and joined with them in their evil deeds; as many as were seduced by the false prophetess to commit spiritual fornication with her: as Christ is omniscient, and does not judge according to the outward appearance of things, but knows the principles and ends of all actions, however covert they may be; so he is righteous in judging and in punishing, which will be according as men's works are; and not one shall escape his righteous judgment, nor the due desert of their sins, though the punishment of some may be greater than that of others.

Revelation 2:23 In-Context

21 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.

22 'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.

23 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

24 'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-I place no other burden on you.

25 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 7:9; Psalms 26:2; Psalms 139:1; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 16:27; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; Romans 8:27
• 2. Psalms 62:12

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "death"
• [b] Lit "kidneys," i.e. inner man