Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. New Living Translation Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. English Standard Version Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Berean Standard Bible Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Berean Literal Bible Therefore repent! But if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war against them with the sword of My mouth. King James Bible Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. New King James Version Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. New American Standard Bible Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. NASB 1995 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. NASB 1977 ‘Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Legacy Standard Bible Therefore repent. But if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Amplified Bible Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment]. Berean Annotated Bible Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Christian Standard Bible So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Holman Christian Standard Bible Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth. American Standard Version Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Contemporary English Version Turn back! If you don't, I will come quickly and fight against these people. And my words will cut like a sword. English Revised Version Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. GOD'S WORD® Translation So return to me and change the way you think and act, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword from my mouth. Good News Translation Now turn from your sins! If you don't, I will come to you soon and fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth. International Standard Version So repent. If you don't, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. NET Bible Therefore, repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth. New Heart English Bible Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Webster's Bible Translation Repent; or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Weymouth New Testament Repent, at once; or else I will come to you quickly, and will make war upon them with the sword which is in My mouth. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTherefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. World English Bible Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionConvert! And if not, I come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Berean Literal Bible Therefore repent! But if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war against them with the sword of My mouth. Young's Literal Translation 'Reform! and if not, I come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Smith's Literal Translation Repent; and if not, I come to thee swiftly, and will wage war with them with the sword of my mouth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIn like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Catholic Public Domain Version So do penance to the same extent. If you do less, I will come to you quickly and I will fight against these ones with the sword of my mouth. New American Bible Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. New Revised Standard Version Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleRepent; or else I will come to you very soon, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Repent therefore, or else I shall come upon you at once, and I shall make war with them with the sword of my mouth.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentRepent, therefore; if not, I will come to you quickly, and I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament Repent! but if not, I am coming to thee quickly, and will war against them with the sword of my mouth. Mace New Testament repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Weymouth New Testament Repent, at once; or else I will come to you quickly, and will make war upon them with the sword which is in My mouth. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context To the Church in Pergamum…15In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.… Cross References Therefore repent! Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, Ezekiel 18:30-32 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live! Luke 13:3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Otherwise I will come to you shortly Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. Matthew 24:44 For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. and wage war against them Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. Jeremiah 21:5 And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. … with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 19:15 And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Revelation 1:16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. Isaiah 49:2 He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. Treasury of Scripture Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Repent. Revelation 2:5,21,22 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… Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. else. Revelation 2:5 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. will fight. Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Revelation 19:15,21 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God… Jump to Previous Change Fight Mouth Once Otherwise Quickly Reform Repent Soon Sword WarJump to Next Change Fight Mouth Once Otherwise Quickly Reform Repent Soon Sword WarRevelation 2 1. What is commanded to be written to the angels, that is, the ministers of the churches of Ephesus,8. Smyrna, 12. Pergamos, 18. Thyatira, and what is commended and lacking in them. Therefore repent! The call to repentance is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing a change of mind and heart leading to a transformation of life. In the context of Revelation, this call is directed to the church in Pergamum, which was struggling with false teachings and moral compromise. Repentance is a necessary response to sin, aligning with the messages of the prophets in the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 55:7) and the teachings of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 4:17). The urgency of the command underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action. Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker in this verse, addressing the church in Pergamum. He is depicted as the one who holds the "sharp, double-edged sword" (Revelation 2:12), symbolizing His authority and judgment. 2. Church in Pergamum The recipients of this message. Pergamum was a city known for its cultural and religious diversity, including pagan worship, which posed challenges to the Christian community there. 3. Repentance The action called for by Jesus. It involves a change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and towards God. 4. Sword of My Mouth A metaphor for the Word of God, which is powerful and discerning, able to judge thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12). 5. War Against Them Refers to the judgment that will come upon those who do not repent, emphasizing the seriousness of the call to repentance. Teaching Points The Urgency of RepentanceRepentance is not optional but a necessary response to sin. Jesus' call to "repent" is urgent and immediate, indicating the seriousness of sin and the need for a prompt response. The Power of God's Word The "sword of My mouth" signifies the authority and power of God's Word. Believers are reminded of the importance of Scripture in discerning truth and guiding their lives. The Reality of Divine Judgment Jesus warns of coming judgment for those who do not repent. This serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment and the need to live in accordance with God's will. Spiritual Warfare The imagery of the sword highlights the spiritual battle believers face. Christians are called to equip themselves with the Word of God to stand firm against spiritual deception and sin. The Call to Holiness The message to Pergamum underscores the call to holiness and separation from worldly influences. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives and align their actions with God's standards. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Revelation 2:16?2. How can we "repent" in our daily lives as instructed in Revelation 2:16? 3. What does "I will come to you quickly" signify about Christ's judgment? 4. How does Revelation 2:16 connect with the call to repentance in Acts 3:19? 5. What practical steps can we take to avoid the "sword of My mouth"? 6. How does Revelation 2:16 encourage us to remain faithful amidst false teachings? 7. What does "repent" mean in the context of Revelation 2:16? 8. How does Revelation 2:16 reflect the nature of divine judgment? 9. Why is the "sword of My mouth" significant in Revelation 2:16? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 2? 11. What message was given to the Church in Pergamum? 12. How does the lukewarm analogy in Revelation 3:16 align with other biblical passages that describe God's patience and mercy? 13. Revelation 1:16 - How should one interpret the sword coming out of Jesus' mouth, and does this literal image raise questions about the text's credibility? 14. How do I achieve salvation? What Does Revelation 2:16 Mean Therefore repent!“Therefore repent!” (Revelation 2:16) is a direct command, not a suggestion. Jesus has just exposed the church’s tolerance of false teaching (vv. 14-15). • Repentance here means turning from compromise to wholehearted obedience, echoing Peter’s call, “Repent therefore and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19). • He had already told the church in Ephesus, “Repent and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:5), showing that repentance restores fellowship, not merely avoids punishment. • 1 John 1:9 reminds us that confession brings cleansing, keeping communion with Christ vibrant and unbroken. The responsibility lies with believers who have let error creep in; they must change course immediately. Otherwise I will come to you shortly If repentance is refused, Jesus warns, “I will come to you shortly.” His coming here is not the final Second Advent but a swift disciplinary visitation, like the “coming” promised to Ephesus (Revelation 2:5) or to Sardis (Revelation 3:3). • Hebrews 12:6 affirms, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,” so this threat flows from love, not irritation. • James 5:9 pictures the Judge standing at the door, highlighting urgency. • 1 Peter 4:17 reminds us that judgment begins with God’s house; believers should expect Christ to deal first with His own. and wage war against them Note the shift from “you” (the church) to “them” (those clinging to error). If the congregation refuses to address the problem, Christ Himself will confront the offenders. • Earlier, He labeled the errors “the teaching of Balaam” and “the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:14-15); tolerating such doctrines invites divine warfare. • Paul instructed Timothy, “Those who continue in sin rebuke in the presence of all” (1 Timothy 5:20), showing that public sin requires decisive correction. • 1 Corinthians 5:5 illustrates how severe action protects the purity of the body. Christ’s warfare is moral and spiritual, aimed at rooting out deception and restoring holiness. with the sword of My mouth The weapon is “the sword of My mouth,” a vivid picture of Christ’s powerful Word. • Revelation 1:16 shows the same sharp, double-edged sword proceeding from His mouth, and Revelation 19:15 depicts Him striking the nations with it. • Hebrews 4:12 declares, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword,” able to expose motives. • Ephesians 6:17 identifies the Word as the “sword of the Spirit,” the believer’s offensive weapon, but here Christ wields it in judgment. By His spoken truth He pierces deception, silences error, and executes righteous judgment—nothing can withstand the force of His utterance. summary Revelation 2:16 calls the church to immediate repentance to avoid swift, loving but severe discipline from Christ. If believers refuse to deal with false teaching, Jesus will personally step in, waging war against the offenders with the irresistible, penetrating power of His Word. His goal is always purity, restoration, and the vindication of truth among His people. Verse 16. - Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly (see on ver. 5). Some take "in like manner" with this verse: "In like manner (as Ephesus) repent therefore;" but this is not probable. Repent of having allowed some members to follow the examples of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans. With the sword of my mouth (comp. Revelation 1:16 and Revelation 2:12). It is possible that there is here another allusion to Balaam. It was with a drawn sword that the angel of the Lord withstood him (Numbers 22:23), and with the sword that he was slain (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:22). Those who follow Balaam in his sin shall follow him in his punishment; and the Church which allows such things will have to suffer along with those who commit them (comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:8).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Thereforeοὖν (oun) Conjunction Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. repent! μετανόησον (metanoēson) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 3340: From meta and noieo; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. Reconsider. Otherwise δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. I will come ἔρχομαί (erchomai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2064: To come, go. to you σοι (soi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. shortly ταχύ (tachy) Adverb Strong's 5035: Quickly, speedily. Neuter singular of tachus; shortly, i.e. Without delay, soon, or suddenly, or readily. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. wage war πολεμήσω (polemēsō) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 4170: To make war, contend, fight, battle. From polemos; to be in warfare, i.e. To battle: -fight, war. against μετ’ (met’) Preposition Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. them αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. with ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sword ῥομφαίᾳ (rhomphaia) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Strong's 4501: A sword, scimitar; fig: war, piercing grief. Probably of foreign origin; a sabre, i.e. A long and broad cutlass. of My μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. mouth. στόματός (stomatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword. Links Revelation 2:16 NIVRevelation 2:16 NLT Revelation 2:16 ESV Revelation 2:16 NASB Revelation 2:16 KJV Revelation 2:16 BibleApps.com Revelation 2:16 Biblia Paralela Revelation 2:16 Chinese Bible Revelation 2:16 French Bible Revelation 2:16 Catholic Bible NT Prophecy: Revelation 2:16 Repent therefore or else I am coming (Rev. Re Apocalypse) |
    |