Revelation Chapter 2 verse 26 Holy Bible
And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:
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He who overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him I will give rule over the nations,
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And he that overcomes, and he that keeps unto the end my works, to him will I give authority over the nations,
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And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
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He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
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and he who is overcoming, and who is keeping unto the end my works, I will give to him authority over the nations,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 26. - And he that overcometh. The usual promise (vers. 7, 11, 17; Revelation 3:5, 12, 21) is here closely connected with the charge which immediately precedes. In this and in the remaining three epistles the proclamation, "He that hath an ear," etc., follows instead of preceding the promise. Keepeth my works. This is a phrase thoroughly characteristic of St. John's style; compare for this use of "keep," Revelation 1:3; Revelation 3:3, 8, 10, etc.; John 8:51, 52, 55; John 9:16; John 14:15, 21, 23, 24, etc.; 1 John 2:3, 4, 5; 1 John 3:22, 24, etc.; and for "works," in the sense of works which Christ does or approves, comp. Revelation 15:3; John 6:28, 29; John 7:3, 21; John 11:3, 4, etc. "My works" here are in marked contrast to "her works" in ver. 22. "He that overcometh, and he that keepeth" is a nominativus pendens; and such constructions are specially frequent in St. John (comp. Revelation 3:12, 21; John 6:39; John 7:38; John 15:2; John 17:2; 1 John 2:24, 27). Links of connexion between the Revelation and the Gospel or Epistles of St. John should be carefully noted. The phrase for "unto the end" (ἄχριτέλους) occurs only here and Hebrews 6:11; but comp. Hebrews 3:6, 14; 1 Corinthians 1:8. "Unto the end" (εἰς τέλος) in John 13. I probably means "to the uttermost," not "to the end of life." Authority over the nations. "Authority" is better than "power" for ἐξουσία, not merely as implying that the power is rightly held and exercised, but also to mark the parallel with "Have thou authority over ten cities" (Luke 19:17; comp. Matthew 21:23, 24, 27; Acts 9:14; Acts 26:10).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26, 27) Power (or, authority) over the nations: and he shall rule them (or, shepherd them) with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers.--The promise is of authority ("the might of right, not the right of might") to share in the shepherd-like sovereignty of the anointed King. (Comp. the Messianic prophecy of Psalms 2) Those who refused to stoop to the customs around them, and to gain influence by crushing or ignoring their convictions--those who, like their Master, refused to win power by doing homage to wrong (Matthew 4:8-10), would share the nobler sway which He now established. Wherever the Church has illegitimately grasped at power, she has lost it. "The wretched power which she had wrenched and stolen from the nations has been turned against her; she has been obliged to crouch to them, and beg their help, and they have justly spurned her. She has chosen to exalt herself like Lucifer, and she has fallen like Lucifer. If she had trusted her Lord, He would have given her the morning star. She would have derived from Him what she claimed independently of Him. She would have dispensed light to the world."
