Canst Not Bear Them Which are Evil: Seven Verses

Revelation 2:2-8 King James Version (KJV)

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:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

What the seven are saying:

In these seven verses, the angel (Holy Spirit) of the church of Ephesus is speaking and John is recording. This is based on the protocol of communication presented in the first chapter (of Revelation). The Father revealed the Word to the Son (Jesus the Messiah), who revealed it to His angel, who revealed it to John.

John is now writing everything he is permitted to see and hear for our consumption today. The angel says the Almighty is aware of the work and labor of the church of Ephesus; the Almighty is also aware of their patience.

Jesus knows how they cannot stand those who are evil and how they have tried those who claim to be ambassadors of the LORD (although they were found, liars). Yet, in all of this, they have kept their patience for the LORD’s sake. However, Jesus had something against them; they left their first love!

Canst Not Bear Them Which are Evil

He reminded them to remember where they had fallen from and repent and do the first works they have been required to do. If not, the LORD will visit them quickly and remove their candlestick, which is their light! The church of Ephesus hates the works of the Nicolaitanes, which the LORD Jesus also hates.

Nicolaism, according to Wikipedia, was to dominate or have victory over the people. Nico-means “victory” in Greek, and Laos means “people.” Domineering people isn’t something the Eternal Messiah is for or was about!

The church of Ephesus obviously began to fall into this practice, following the ways of the Nicolaitans and moving away from their first love. The angel signs off that whoever has the ear for this, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Whoever overcomes will be given the right to eat from the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of the Everlasting Father! The last verse begins what the angel’s message was to the church of Smyrna from Jesus the Holy Messiah. Seven verses!

Selah

Thank you for joining us today. It’s always a pleasure to have you as we talk about the LORD the King, His Kingdom on the Earth, and His Royal Family.