A question came in on what does Revelation chapter 2 verse 2 mean? The question wasn’t direct, so we will answer all parts we understand from Revelation chapter 2:2. Here is what the verse says:

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

This verse is part of a larger frame, which would begin in Revelation 2:1 and continue to Revelation 2:7. The higher context is that this is a message directed to the church in Ephesus. Modern day, when we search Ephesus, we’re talking about modern day Turkey.

Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 2 ?

The context is the Lord Jesus commanding the angel stationed at the church of Ephesus to give this message. The message is one that the Lord God is aware of the works and labor, as well as the patience of the church of Ephesus.

The Lord is also aware of how they cannot bear those who are evil. Once again the Lord God is aware that they tried those who say they are apostles but found them out to be liars. This is what this verse is pointing to in the inner context.

The inner context focuses on the point that there are apostles out there who are not apostles. They are lying about their apostleship. The etymology of the word apostle in the Greek came from the word apostolos or apostellein. These meant to send forth or more simply, a messenger or envoy.

False Apostles and Deceitful Workers

Ideally, this is an ambassador. An ambassador is an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country. With this in mind, we can understand this verse much better. As “Christianity” began to become popularized throughout the “Middle East” and into Europe and Asia (using their modern day names and terminologies), fake apostles arose.

They arose to gain a false ground for themselves and their own personal agendas. Paul wrote about this unfortunate phenomenon to the Corinthians. He wrote that there are false apostles, deceitful workers who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13).

This is not an amazing happenstance, Satan himself has transformed into an angel of light, Paul notes (11:14). So it is not a great thing for his ministers, Satan’s servants, to also metamorphose as ministers of righteousness (11:15). There end will be according to their works.

Find Out Liars by Knowledge of Truth

John wrote also in this context that we are not to believe every spirit, however, we are indeed to try the spirits. We try them to discern whether they are of God or not. This is because there are many false prophets, and apostles, who have gone out into the world.

Those of truth confess Jesus Christ with works to confirm them. The false do not. Therefore, Revelation chapter 2 verse 2, in this letter to Ephesus is the Lord acknowledging their efforts. Their works, labor, and patience, as well as their disdain for evil.

Also, the Lord acknowledged how they have tried those who say they are apostles, but found them out to be liars. The way this is done is by understanding of God’s word, God’s truth, and placing it. Place it next to the “apostle” and see if the are parallel or divergent and contradicting.

Selah

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