Revelation 2:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Only hold fast what you have until I come.

NIV: except to hold on to what you have until I come.'

NASB: Nevertheless what you have, hold firmly until I come.

CSB: Only hold on to what you have until I come.

NLT: except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.

KJV: But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

NKJV: But hold fast what you have till I come.

In this verse Jesus instructs the faithful remnant in the church at Thyatira to cling to what they had. What did they have? They had good "works…love and faith and service and patient endurance" (Revelation 2:19). In the midst of a thoroughly evil culture dominated by Satanic thought and practice, it would not be easy to remain loyal to Jesus and the truth. The remnant would need to avail themselves of the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11–17) and pray at all times in the Spirit (verse 18). By taking full advantage of these resources, the remnant would be able "to stand against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).

How long were the faithful believers at Thyatira supposed to hold fast what they had? Jesus instructs them in Revelation 2:25 to hold fast "until I come." Anticipation of Jesus' return is called the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). This hope helps believers resist false teaching and evil, and to endure suffering, knowing that we will be free from every trouble when Jesus comes again and brings His reward with Him (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

Revelation 2:18–29 reveals what Jesus instructed John to write to the church at Thyatira. Although the church exhibited commendable virtues, it allowed an evil woman—here referred to as Jezebel—to lead its members into immorality and idolatry. Jesus predicted strict punishment for her and her followers. The churches would know by Jesus' action that He searches the mind and heart and deals with everyone according to his or her works. Those who did not follow Jezebel's teachings would not be punished, but Jesus encouraged them to stay loyal to Him until His return, when He will rule the nations and permit the faithful to rule with Him.

The contents of Revelation 2 are miniature letters to four churches, dictated by Jesus to John. Ephesus and Smyrna were coastal cities, whereas Pergamum and Thyatira were inland cities. Three more such letters are in Revelation 3. Each of these messages contains a unique description of Jesus, a command, a promise. All but one—the church in Laodicea—receive some commendation. All but two of the seven letters—those to the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia—also contain a critical rebuke. Like churches today, most of the congregations addressed by Jesus had both good characteristics and at least one point which needed correction.

In chapter 1, John introduced his order from Jesus Christ: to write out a message to seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:9–11). Here in this chapter, John writes to the church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum, and the church in Thyatira. Chapter 3 will continue with messages to the other three churches. The rest of Revelation will explain future events connected to the ''end times.''

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''

Accessed 5/3/2024 6:04:10 PM