Revelation 2:23

“And I will kill her children with death, etc.] Her popes, cardinals, priests, Jesuits, monks, friars, and all that join in the Romish apostasy, they shall be killed with death; there shall be an utter extirpation of them in God's own time; or they shall be killed with the second death: antwm, when used alone, or as distinct from any other kind of death, signifies the plague; compare with this (<120924>2 Kings 9:24 10:1,7); and all the churches: that shall be in being at the time of Rome's destruction: shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and heart; or am the omniscient God; which will be known by inflicting punishment on the followers of antichrist; when their hidden things of…”

“her children-- (Isa 57:3; Eze 23:45, Eze 23:47). Her proper adherents; not those who suffer her, but those who are begotten of her. A distinct class from the last in Rev 2:22 (compare Note, see on Rev 2:22), whose sin was less direct, being that only of connivance. kill . . . with death--Compare the disaster that overtook the literal Jezebel's votaries of Baal, and Ahab's sons, Kg1 18:40; Kg2 10:6-7, Kg2 10:24-25. Kill with death is a Hebraism for slay with most sure and awful death; so "dying thou shalt die" (Gen 2:17). Not "die the common death of men" (Num 16:29). all the churches shall know--implying that these addresses are designed for the catholic Church of all ages and places. So…”

“And I will kill her children with death - A strong Hebraistic mode of expression, meaning that he would certainly destroy them. It has been made a question whether the word “children” here is to be taken literally or figuratively. The word itself would admit of either interpretation; and there is nothing in the connection by which its meaning here can be determined. If it is to be taken literally, it is in accordance with what is often threatened in the Scriptures, that children shall be visited with calamity for the sins of parents, and with what often occurs in fact, that they do thus suffer. For it is no uncommon thing that whole families are made desolate on account of the sin and folly…”

“And I will kill her children - Those which she hath borne in adultery, and them whom she hath seduced. With death - This expression denotes death by the plague, or by some manifest stroke of God's hand. Probably the remarkable vengeance taken on her children was the token of the certainty of all the rest. And all the churches - To which thou now writest. Shall know that I search the reins - The desires. And hearts - Thoughts. Revelation 2:24”

“with death: Rev 6:8 and all: Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11; Deu 13:11, Deu 17:13, Deu 19:20, Deu 21:21; Zep 1:11 I am: Sa1 16:7; Ch1 28:9, Ch1 29:17; Ch2 6:30; Psa 7:9, Psa 44:21; Jer 11:20, Jer 17:10; Jer 20:12; Joh 2:24, Joh 2:25, Joh 21:17; Act 1:24; Rom 8:27; Heb 4:13 and I will: Rev 20:12; Psa 62:12; Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11; Mat 16:27; Rom 2:5-11, Rom 14:12; Co2 5:10; Gal 6:5; Pe1 1:17 Revelation 2:24”