{"id":1339,"date":"2016-12-01T18:00:50","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T22:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/?p=1339"},"modified":"2016-12-01T18:00:50","modified_gmt":"2016-12-01T22:00:50","slug":"revelation-2-chiastic-structures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/revelation-2-chiastic-structures\/","title":{"rendered":"Revelation 2 Chiastic Structures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally posted at A Little Perspective<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read Revelation 2 at Bible Gateway<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Each individual letter to the seven churches forms its own chiastic structure:<\/p>\n

Rev 2:1-7, The letter to the assembly in Ephesus<\/h4>\n

1a)<\/strong> Rev 2:1, To the<\/strong><\/span> angel of the assembly in Ephesus<\/strong><\/span> write: He<\/strong><\/span> who holds the seven stars in His right hand, He<\/strong><\/span> who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

1b)<\/strong> Rev 2:2-3, Commendation<\/span>:<\/strong> Perseverance + non tolerance of evil men;<\/p>\n

1a) Rev 2:2a, I know your works, and your toil and perseverance;
\n1b) Rev 2:2b, You can\u2019t tolerate evil men\/ have tested those who call themselves apostles;
\ncentral axis) Rev 2:2c, And they are not;<\/em>
\n2b) Rev 2:2d, And found them false;
\n2a) Rev 2:3,\u00a0You have perseverance, have endured for My name\u2019s sake, have\u00a0not grown weary;<\/p>\n

1c)<\/strong> Rev 2:4,\u00a0But I have this against you, that you left your first love<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

central axis) Rev 2:5a, Remember therefore from where you have fallen;<\/strong><\/p>\n

2c)<\/strong> Rev 2:5b-d, Repent and do the first works<\/strong><\/span>, or else I will move your lampstand;<\/p>\n

1a) Rev 2:5b, And repent and do the first works;
\ncentral axis) Rev 2:5c, Or else I am coming to you swiftly\/ will move your lampstand out of its place;<\/em>
\n2a) Rev 2:5d, Unless you repent;<\/p>\n

2b)<\/strong> Rev 2:6,\u00a0Commendation<\/span>:<\/strong> You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate;<\/p>\n

2a)<\/strong> Rev 2:7a,\u00a0He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says<\/strong> to the assemblies<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

conclusion)<\/strong> Rev 2:7b, To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of My God.<\/p>\n

Some of the letters also form single structures when combined:<\/p>\n

Rev 2:12-29, The letters to the assemblies in Pergamum + Thyatira<\/h4>\n

1a)<\/strong> Rev 2:12, To the<\/strong><\/span> angel of the assembly in Pergamum<\/strong><\/span> write: He<\/strong><\/span> who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

1b.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:13a, I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan\u2019s throne<\/strong><\/span> is;<\/p>\n

1b.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:13b, You hold firmly<\/strong><\/span> to My name<\/strong><\/span>, and didn\u2019t deny My faith<\/strong><\/span> in the days of Antipas My witness, My faithful one;<\/p>\n

1c)<\/strong> Rev 2:13c, Who was killed<\/strong><\/span> among you, where Satan dwells;<\/p>\n

1d.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:14-15, But I have a few things against you<\/strong><\/span>, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols<\/strong><\/span>, and to commit sexual immorality<\/strong><\/span>. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise;<\/p>\n

1d.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:16, Repent therefore<\/strong><\/span>, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth;<\/p>\n

1e.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:17a, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

1e.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:17b, To him who overcomes<\/strong><\/span>,<\/p>\n

central axis) Rev 2:17c, To him I will give of the hidden manna + white stone with a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it;<\/strong><\/p>\n

2e.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:18, To<\/strong><\/span> the angel of the<\/strong> assembly in Thyatira<\/strong><\/span> write: The Son of God<\/strong><\/span>, who has His eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished brass, says these things<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

2e.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:19, I know your works<\/strong><\/span>, your love, faith, service, patient endurance<\/strong><\/span>, and that your last works are more than the first;<\/p>\n

2d.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:20, But I have this against you<\/strong><\/span>, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches + seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality<\/strong><\/span> + eat things sacrificed to idols<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

2d.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:21-22, I gave her time to repent<\/strong><\/span>, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her into a bed\/ those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent<\/strong><\/span> of her works;<\/p>\n

2c)<\/strong> Rev 2:23, I will kill<\/strong> her children<\/strong><\/span> with Death\/ all the assemblies will know that I am He who searches the minds + hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds;<\/p>\n

2b.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:24, But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don\u2019t have this teaching, who don\u2019t know what some call \u2018the deep things of Satan<\/strong><\/span>,\u2019 to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you;<\/p>\n

2b.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:25-28, Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly<\/strong><\/span> until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star;<\/p>\n

2a)<\/strong> Rev 2:29, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Then there are multiple overlapping structures crossing over multiple letters, of which this is just one example:<\/p>\n

Rev 2:1-25 chiastic structure<\/h4>\n

1a)<\/strong> Rev 2:1-4, To you I say<\/strong><\/span>: I know your good works<\/strong><\/span>, but<\/strong><\/span> you have left your first love<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

1a) Rev 2:1-2a, To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, He who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things: I know your works;
\n1b) Rev 2:2b, And your toil and perseverance;
\ncentral axis) Rev 2:2c, And that you can\u2019t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false;<\/em>
\n2b) Rev 2:3,\u00a0You have perseverance and have endured for My name\u2019s sake, and have\u00a0not grown weary;
\n2a) Rev 2:4,\u00a0But I have this against you, that you left your first love;<\/p>\n

1b.1.a)<\/strong> Rev 2:5, Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent<\/strong><\/span> and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly<\/strong><\/span>, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent;<\/p>\n

1b.1.b)<\/strong> Rev 2:6,\u00a0But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans<\/strong><\/span>, which I also hate;<\/p>\n

1b.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:7,\u00a0He who has an ear<\/span>, let him hear<\/span><\/strong> what the Spirit says to the assemblies\/ To him who overcomes<\/strong><\/span> I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of My God;<\/p>\n

1c.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:8,\u00a0To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write<\/strong><\/span>: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

1c.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:9,\u00a0I know your works<\/strong><\/span>, oppression, poverty (but you are rich)\/ the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

central axis) Rev 2:10-11, Don\u2019t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.\u00a0He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won\u2019t be harmed by the second death;<\/strong><\/p>\n

2c.1)<\/strong> Rev 2:12,\u00a0To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write<\/strong><\/span>: He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things<\/strong><\/span>;<\/p>\n

2c.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:13-14, I know your works<\/strong><\/span>\/ where you dwell, where Satan\u2019s throne<\/strong><\/span> is;<\/p>\n

1a) Rev 2:13a,\u00a0I know your works;
\n1b) Rev 2:13b, And where you dwell, where Satan\u2019s throne is;
\ncentral axis) Rev 2:13c, You hold firmly to My name, and didn\u2019t deny My faith in the days of Antipas My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you;<\/em>
\n2b) Rev 2:13d, Where Satan dwells;
\n2a) Rev 2:14,\u00a0But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality;<\/p>\n

2b.1.b)<\/strong> Rev 2:15,\u00a0So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>likewise;<\/p>\n

2b.1.a)<\/strong> Rev 2:16,\u00a0Repent<\/strong><\/span> therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly<\/strong><\/span>, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth;<\/p>\n

2b.2)<\/strong> Rev 2:17,\u00a0He who has an ear<\/span>, let him hea<\/span>r<\/strong> what the Spirit says to the assemblies\/ To him who overcomes<\/strong><\/span> I will give of the hidden manna + white stone with a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it;<\/p>\n

2a)<\/strong> Rev 2:18-25, To you I say<\/strong><\/span>, I know your love<\/strong><\/span> + your last works<\/strong><\/span> that are more than the first<\/strong><\/span>, but<\/strong><\/span> you tolerate a false prophetess, Jezebel;<\/p>\n

1a) Rev 2:18-19,\u00a0To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has His eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished brass, says these things: I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first;
\n1b) Rev 2:20,\u00a0But I have this against you, that you tolerate your\u00a0woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches + seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality + to eat things sacrificed to idols;
\n1c) Rev 2:21,\u00a0I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality;
\ncentral axis) Rev 2:22a,\u00a0Behold, I will throw her into a bed\/ those who commit adultery with her into great oppression;<\/em>
\n2c) Rev 2:22b, Unless they repent of her works;
\n2b) Rev 2:23,\u00a0I will kill her children with Death\/ all the assemblies will know that I am He who searches minds + hearts\/ I will give to each one of you according to your deeds;
\n2a) Rev 2:24-25,\u00a0But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don\u2019t have this teaching, who don\u2019t know what some call \u2018the deep things of Satan,\u2019 to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.\u00a0Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.<\/p>\n

This structure, crossing the letters to multiple churches, has an interesting central axis. It is a prophecy of coming tribulation, lasting for ten \u201cdays,\u201d with the exhortation to remain faithful to death \u2013 the death of the body, for the one who overcomes the testing will not be subject to the second death \u2013 the death of the soul \u2013 but will receive the crown of life. These letters were delivered to the churches in ~96 AD, and it just so happens that the primitive Church established by the apostles suffered a great tribulation, where believers were hunted and put to death by the Roman State, until 313 AD, in ten waves of persecutions. Could each of the ten \u201cdays\u201d of the prophecy indicate each of the deadly persecutions? I think so.<\/p>\n

Other multiple letter structures have different matching elements which highlight a different message. Two such elements are what the churches of Ephesus and Thyatira will not or will tolerate:<\/p>\n

Rev 2:2,\u00a0I know your works<\/strong>, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can\u2019t tolerate evil men<\/strong>, and have tested those who call themselves apostles<\/strong>, and they are not, and found them false;<\/p>\n

Rev 2:19-20, I know your works<\/strong>, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate<\/strong> your\u00a0woman, Jezebel<\/strong>, who calls herself a prophetess<\/strong>. \u00a0(The implication being that she is a false prophetess, but Thyatira doesn\u2019t know it yet.)<\/p>\n

My Introduction to the Letters to the Seven Churches study notes<\/a>
\nRevelation index of studies<\/a>
\nRevelation Scripture Pictures<\/a> (terms of use<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Rev<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally posted at A Little Perspective. Read Revelation 2 at Bible Gateway. Each individual letter to the seven churches forms its own chiastic structure: Rev 2:1-7, The letter to the assembly in Ephesus 1a) Rev 2:1, To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-revelation-2-3","8":"category-the-things-which-are","9":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1339"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1341,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339\/revisions\/1341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationrevealed.online\/extras\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}