Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
He who has an ear
This phrase is a call to attention, urging the listener to be spiritually perceptive. The Greek word for "ear" is "ous," which implies not just the physical organ but the capacity to understand and discern spiritual truths. In a historical context, this phrase echoes the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, where He often used similar expressions to emphasize the importance of truly listening and understanding His message.

let him hear
The Greek word "akouō" means to hear, listen, or comprehend. This is not a passive hearing but an active, intentional listening that leads to understanding and action. In the scriptural context, hearing is often linked with obedience. The call to hear is a call to respond to God's message with faith and action.

what the Spirit says
The "Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who communicates God's will and truth to believers. The Greek word "pneuma" is used here, emphasizing the Spirit's role in guiding and instructing the church. Historically, the early church relied heavily on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially in times of persecution and doctrinal challenges.

to the churches
This phrase indicates that the message is not just for an individual but for the collective body of believers. The Greek word "ekklesia" means assembly or congregation, highlighting the communal aspect of the Christian faith. In the context of Revelation, the churches refer to the seven churches in Asia Minor, representing the universal church throughout history.

To the one who overcomes
The Greek word "nikaō" means to conquer or prevail. This phrase is a promise to those who remain faithful and steadfast in their faith despite trials and tribulations. Historically, the early Christians faced significant persecution, and this promise served as an encouragement to persevere.

I will grant the right to eat
This promise signifies a reward for faithfulness. The act of eating is symbolic of fellowship and communion with God. In the ancient world, sharing a meal was a sign of acceptance and relationship. This promise assures believers of their place in God's eternal kingdom.

from the tree of life
The "tree of life" is a symbol of eternal life and divine blessing. It first appears in Genesis in the Garden of Eden and reappears in Revelation as part of the new creation. The Greek word "xylon" is used for tree, emphasizing its life-giving properties. This imagery connects the beginning and end of the biblical narrative, showing God's plan for redemption and restoration.

in the paradise of God
The word "paradise" comes from the Greek "paradeisos," meaning a garden or park, often used to describe a place of bliss and divine presence. This term evokes the image of Eden, the perfect dwelling place of humanity with God. Historically, paradise has been understood as the ultimate destination for believers, a place of eternal peace and communion with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Spirit
Refers to the Holy Spirit, who communicates God's message to the churches.

2. The Churches
Specifically, the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed in Revelation, representing the universal church.

3. The Overcomer
Believers who remain faithful and victorious in their spiritual journey.

4. The Tree of Life
Symbolizes eternal life and fellowship with God, first mentioned in Genesis.

5. The Paradise of God
Represents the restored Eden, a place of eternal communion with God.
Teaching Points
Listening to the Spirit
The phrase "He who has an ear, let him hear" emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

The Call to Overcome
Believers are encouraged to persevere in faith and righteousness, overcoming trials and temptations through the power of Christ.

Promise of Eternal Life
The reward for overcoming is access to the Tree of Life, symbolizing eternal life and restored fellowship with God.

Paradise Restored
The promise of the "paradise of God" points to the ultimate restoration and fulfillment of God's plan for humanity, echoing the original creation.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "have an ear" in the context of Revelation 2:7, and how can we cultivate a listening heart to the Spirit's guidance in our daily lives?

2. How does the concept of overcoming in Revelation 2:7 relate to the challenges and trials you face today? What practical steps can you take to be an overcomer?

3. In what ways does the promise of the Tree of Life motivate you to live a life of faithfulness and obedience to God?

4. How does the imagery of the "paradise of God" in Revelation 2:7 inspire hope and anticipation for the future? How can this hope influence your present actions and decisions?

5. Reflect on other biblical passages that discuss overcoming (e.g., John 16:33, 1 John 5:4-5). How do these scriptures collectively shape your understanding of what it means to be victorious in Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2-3
The Tree of Life is first introduced in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing eternal life and God's provision.

John 16:33
Jesus speaks of overcoming the world, which parallels the call to be an overcomer in Revelation.

1 John 5:4-5
Discusses faith as the victory that overcomes the world, connecting to the theme of overcoming in Revelation.

Revelation 22:2, 14
The Tree of Life reappears in the New Jerusalem, emphasizing the promise of eternal life for the faithful.
An Exhortation and Encouragement to Individual ChristiansC. H. Irwin, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Ashes on a Rusty AltarJ. Hamilton, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
BackslidingEssex RemembrancerRevelation 2:1-7
BackslidingP. C. Turner.Revelation 2:1-7
Christ'sR. Hall, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Christ's Care in Glory for His Church's Good on EarthWm. Strong.Revelation 2:1-7
Conquest and ImmortalityBp. Phillips Brooks.Revelation 2:1-7
Decay of LoveRevelation 2:1-7
Declension from First LoveC. H. Spurgeon.Revelation 2:1-7
Emotion Wanted in ReligionRevelation 2:1-7
EnduranceThomas Manton.Revelation 2:1-7
Ephesus -- the Strenuous ChurchA. Mackennal, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
False ApostlesJames Durham.Revelation 2:1-7
First Love LeftH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Forsaking the First LoveE. Griffin, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
God's Voice to the ChurchJ. S. Exell, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Hatred of Evil Essential to LoveIsaac Williams.Revelation 2:1-7
Heaven, a GardenD. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
His Lost IdealJ. Caird.Revelation 2:1-7
How to ConquerF. J. Sharr.Revelation 2:1-7
Inward DeteriorationW. Mitchell, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Labouring and not FaintingC. H. Spurgeon.Revelation 2:1-7
Letter to EphesusJ. Parker, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Loss of the First LoveW. H. M. H. Aitken, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Love's ComplainingC. H. Spurgeon.Revelation 2:1-7
Neglect of the Gospel Followed by its RemovalH. Melvill, B. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Neglected LoveW. W. Andrew, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Now, and ThenF. F. Goe, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
On Leaving Our First LoveEssex RemembrancerRevelation 2:1-7
ParadiseJ. O. Dykes, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Peculiarities of This Ephesian LetterCaleb Morris.Revelation 2:1-7
Phases of Church LifeJ. S. Exell, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Red-Hot ReligionW. L. Watkinson.Revelation 2:1-7
Religion ActiveS. Charnock.Revelation 2:1-7
Religious DeclensionT. Morell, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Spiritual DeclensionH. Melvill, B. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Spiritual Declension Reproved, Admonished, and ThreatenedW. Jay, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Spiritual DeclensionsB. Beddome, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
The Address to EphesusG. Rogers.Revelation 2:1-7
The Coming of Christ a Warning Against DeclensionH. E. Manning.Revelation 2:1-7
The Conflict of the Christian LifeJ. S. Exell, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
The Decline of Spiritual LoveE. L. Hull, B. A.Revelation 2:1-7
The Enthusiasm of the First LoveJohn F. Ewing, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
The Epistle to the Church At EphesusS. Conway Revelation 2:1-7
The Epistle to the Church in Ephesus: the Decay of Early LoveR. Green Revelation 2:1-7
The False Apostle Tried and DiscoveredW. Bridge, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
The Fatal Flaw in the Ephesian ChurchesH. Crosby.Revelation 2:1-7
The Gospel RemovedS. Charnock.Revelation 2:1-7
The Great ConditionS. S. Mitchell, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Heavenly Christ's First Promise to the VictorsA. Maclaren, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Nicolaitane Doctrine Hateful to Christ and His ChurchRevelation 2:1-7
The Paradise of GodG. T. Coster.Revelation 2:1-7
The Peculiarities of the Christian's First LoveA. Alexander, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Seven Stars and the Seven CandlesticksA. Maclaren, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Tree of LifeA. Maclaren, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Tree of LifeR. Watson.Revelation 2:1-7
The True Problem of Christian ExperienceH. Bushnell, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
The Words of Christ from Eternity to the Congregation At EphesusD. Thomas Revelation 2:1-7
The Words of Christ to the Congregation At EphesusD. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
Unwearied PatienceT. Adams.Revelation 2:1-7
Watchman, What of the NightH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
What Christ Likes to See in a ChurchC. H. Irwin, M. A.Revelation 2:1-7
Zeal for Truth Must be LovingW. Milligan, D. D.Revelation 2:1-7
People
Antipas, Balaam, Balac, Balak, Israelites, Jezebel, John
Places
Ephesus, Pergamum, Smyrna, Thyatira
Topics
Assemblies, Churches, Conquers, Ear, Ears, Eat, Eating, Fruit, Grant, Heed, Midst, Overcomes, Overcometh, Overcoming, Paradise, Privilege, Saying, Says, Spirit, Tree
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 2:7

     1444   revelation, NT
     1445   revelation, responses
     3025   Holy Spirit, personality
     3140   Holy Spirit, teacher
     3236   Holy Spirit, and Scripture
     3275   Holy Spirit, in the church
     4126   Satan, resistance to
     4209   land, spiritual aspects
     4241   Garden of Eden
     4438   eating
     4526   tree of life
     4528   trees
     5147   deafness
     5148   ear
     5159   hearing
     5290   defeat
     5504   rights
     7026   church, leadership
     7028   church, life of
     8330   receptiveness
     8351   teachableness
     9105   last things
     9411   heaven
     9413   heaven, inheritance
     9414   heaven, community of redeemed
     9430   paradise

Library
May 17. "To Him that Overcometh, Will I Give" (Rev. Ii. 17).
"To him that overcometh, will I give" (Rev. ii. 17). A precious secret of Christian life is to have Jesus dwelling within the heart and conquering things that we never could overcome. It is the only secret of power in your life and mine, beloved. Men cannot understand it, nor will the world believe it; but it is true, that God will come to dwell within us, and be the power, and the purity, and the victory, and the joy of our life. It is no longer now, "What is the best that I can do?" but the question
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

January 11. "Hold Fast Till I Come" (Rev. Ii. 25).
"Hold fast till I come" (Rev. ii. 25). The other day we asked a Hebrew friend how it was that his countrymen were so successful in acquiring wealth. "Ah," said he, "we do not make more money than other people, but we keep more." Beloved, let us look out this day for spiritual pickpockets and spiritual leakage. Let us "lose nothing of what we have wrought, but receive a full reward"; and, as each day comes and goes, let us put away in the savings bank of eternity its treasures of grace and victory,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Love's Complaining
Hence our Lord's fitness to deal with the churches, which are these golden lamp-stands, for no one knows so much about the lamps as the person whose constant work it is to watch them and trim them. No one knows the churches as Jesus does, for the care of all the churches daily comes upon him, he continually walks among them, and holds their ministers as stars in his right hand. His eyes are perpetually upon the churches, so that he knows their works, their sufferings, and their sins; and those eyes
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Declension from First Love
But further, Christ says, "I know thy patience." Now there be some that labour, and they do it well. But what does hinder them? They only labour for a little season, and then they cease to work and begin to faint. But this church had laboured on for many years; it had thrown out all its energies--not in some spasmodic effort, but in a continual strain and unabated zeal for the glory of God. "I know thy patience." I say again, beloved, I tremble to think how few out of this congregation could win
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

The New Name.
To him that overcometh, I will give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.-- REV. ii. 17. Whether the Book of the Revelation be written by the same man who wrote the Gospel according to St John or not, there is, at least, one element common to the two--the mysticism. I use the word mysticism as representing a certain mode of embodying truth, common, in various degrees, to almost all, if not all, the writers of the New Testament. The
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

That There is no Security against Temptation in this Life
"My Son, thou art never secure in this life, but thy spiritual armour will always be needful for thee as long as thou livest. Thou dwellest among foes, and art attacked on the right hand and on the left. If therefore thou use not on all sides the shield of patience, thou wilt not remain long unwounded. Above all, if thou keep not thy heart fixed upon Me with steadfast purpose to bear all things for My sake, thou shalt not be able to bear the fierceness of the attack, nor to attain to the victory
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Seven Assemblies as a Whole (I. 11).
We must here, at the outset, remove the greatest source of all the misunderstandings which have arisen with regard to these seven "churches." The fact of their being called "churches" has naturally led commentators and students of this book to infer that it is the Church of God, or at any rate the historic Christian Church, which is meant. The difficulty is thus arbitrarily created. The Bible student is at once confronted with an overwhelming difficulty. He has read the Epistles which are addressed
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Fourth
refers to the books of Numbers and Samuel. The promise is, "to him will give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star" (Rev. ii. 26-28). Here again the literary order in the Apocalypse goes forward with the historical order: for it is in the book of Numbers that we have the basis of this promise given to the same People, who were the subjects
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Jesus
C. P. C. Rev. ii. 28 O Name, the psalm and the music That fills the heavenly place-- O Name by which there I enter And see Thee face to face-- O Name, Thou art here the music, And here the sweetness and song, Though the sea and the waves are roaring, And though the night is long. The night--but a night of glory, For there in the heavens I see The Morning Star in its brightness, Thy gift of love to me. I have the pledge of the dawning, The glow of the golden Day, For Thou, O my Lord, hast arisen,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Conclusion of the Subject. Pain of the Awakening. Light against Delusions.
1. To bring this matter to an end, I say that it is not necessary for the soul to give its consent here; it is already given: the soul knows that it has given up its will into His hands, [1] and that it cannot deceive Him, because He knoweth all things. It is not here as it is in the world, where all life is full of deceit and double-dealing. When you think you have gained one man's good will, because of the outward show he makes, you afterwards learn that all was a lie. No one can live in the
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

The Dialogue against the Luciferians.
Introduction. This Dialogue was written about 379, seven years after the death of Lucifer, and very soon after Jerome's return from his hermit life in the desert of Chalcis. Though he received ordination from Paulinus, who had been consecrated by Lucifer, he had no sympathy with Lucifer's narrower views, as he shows plainly in this Dialogue. Lucifer, who was bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia, first came into prominent notice about a.d. 354, when great efforts were being made to procure a condemnation
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

The Laodicean State of Christendom.
In Revelation two and three we have seven Epistles addressed to the seven churches in Asia. These Epistles--in keeping with the nature of the book in which they are found--are prophetic in their scope. They record the sentences of the Divine Judge who appears in the midst of these churches (see 1:13-20) inspecting and passing decisions. They contain a panorama of the Church's history. They give us a complete outline of the entire course of the Christian profession, of going from bad to worse, until
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

As Many as were Called by Grace, and Displayed the First Zeal...
As many as were called by grace, and displayed the first zeal, having cast aside their military girdles, but afterwards returned, like dogs, to their own vomit, (so that some spent money and by means of gifts regained their military stations); let these, after they have passed the space of three years as hearers, be for ten years prostrators. But in all these cases it is necessary to examine well into their purpose and what their repentance appears to be like. For as many as give evidence of their
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Vanity of Human Glory.
"The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."--1 John iii. 1 Of St. Simon and St. Jude, the Saints whom we this day commemorate, little is known[1]. St. Jude, indeed, still lives in the Church in his Catholic epistle; but of his history we only know that he was brother to St. James the Less, and nearly related to our Lord and that, like St. Peter, he had been a married man. Besides his name of Jude or Judas, he is also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus in the Gospels. Of St. Simon we only
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Job's Regret and Our Own
I. Let us begin by saying, that regrets such as those expressed in the text are and ought to be very BITTER. If it be the loss of spiritual things that we regret, then may we say from the bottom of our hearts, "Oh that I were as in months past." It is a great thing for a man to be near to God; it is a very choice privilege to be admitted into the inner circle of communion, and to become God's familiar friend. Great as the privilege is, so great is the loss of it. No darkness is so dark as that which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and all Its Vanities
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,(1) saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ; and they teach us how far we must imitate His life and character, if we seek true illumination, and deliverance from all blindness of heart. Let it be our most earnest study, therefore, to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ. 2. His teaching surpasseth all teaching of holy men, and such as have His Spirit find therein the hidden manna.(2) But there are many who, though they frequently hear the Gospel,
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Calling of the Regenerate:
"Whom He did predestinate, them He also called."--Rom. viii. 30. In order to hear, the sinner, deaf by nature, must receive hearing ears. "He that hath ears let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, 29; iii. 6, 13, 22). But by nature the sinner does not belong to these favored ones. This is a daily experience. Of two clerks in the same office, one obeys the call and the other rejects it; not because he despises it, but because he does not hear God's call in it. Hence
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Theology of Grace.
The theology which Augustin opposed, in his anti-Pelagian writings, to the errors of Pelagianism, is, shortly, the theology of grace. Its roots were planted deeply in his own experience, and in the teachings of Scripture, especially of that apostle whom he delights to call "the great preacher of grace," and to follow whom, in his measure, was his greatest desire. The grace of God in Jesus Christ, conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit and evidenced by the love that He sheds abroad in our hearts, is the
St. Augustine—Anti-Pelagian Writings

The First
refers to Genesis ii., the promise being, "I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev. ii. 7). God begins from Himself. The Apocalypse related not only to Israel, but to the earth; and the first promise goes back to Eden and to the "tree of life." The way to that tree was lost: but was "kept" (or preserved) by the cherubim (Gen. iii. 24). These cherubim next appear in connection with the way to the Living One, in the Tabernacle, and are thus linked
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Letter cxxvi. To Marcellinus and Anapsychia.
Marcellinus, a Roman official of high rank, and Anapsychia his wife had written to Jerome from Africa to ask him his opinion on the vexed question of the origin of the soul. Jerome in his reply briefly enumerates the several views that have been held on the subject. For fuller information he refers his questioners to his treatise against Rufinus and also to their bishop Augustin who will, he says, explain the matter to them by word of mouth. Although it hardly appears in this letter Jerome is a decided
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Parting Counsels
'And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

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