Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Ephesus
Posted By Joe on November 13, 2009
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Introduction
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Ephesus
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Smyrna
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Pergamum
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Thyatira
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Sardis
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Philadelphia
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Laodicea
Last time, we talked about how each of the seven letters in Revelation presents a panoramic view of church history. Today we will study the first of Jesus' letters: the letter to the church of Ephesus.
Ephesus: "the Light of Asia"
The historian Pliny described Ephesus as "the Light of Asia." Ephesus was located in modern-day western Turkey. It was a port city and became the capital of the Roman province called "Asia." The city was a commercial, political, and religious center.
The apostle John had lived here before and after his exile on the island of Patmos. The great temple of Artemis (Diana, in Latin) was located here as well.
On his third missionary journey, Paul came to Ephesus and stayed for about three years. The gospel spread throughout all of Asia Minor from Ephesus. Thus, the city is representative of the apostolic church.
Jesus writes his letter to Ephesus during a time of materialism, degraded animalism, paganism, and heathenism.
Jesus' Letter to Ephesian Church
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this." --Revelation 2:1.
Jesus will describe Himself at the start of each letter to each church. Revelation 2:1 is Jesus' self-description to the church in Ephesus. He holds the stars (the angels, the pastors of the local churches) in His right hand. This is revealing. Christ Himself holds the church leadership in His own hand! Jesus also says that He walks among or in the midst of the churches, the "lampstands." We covered the stars and the lampstands in the last post.
The Good News
Jesus will now commend the Ephesian church:
"'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.'" --Revelation 2:2-3.
These are the "good news" items. This is the positive side of the church's performance review, if you will. Jesus commends them in seven areas:
- Deeds and toil
- Perseverance
- Intolerance of evil men
- Testing those who call themselves apostles who are not
- Perseverance (a second time)
- Endurance for Christ's sake
- Not growing weary
It's an admirable list. It's telling that "perseverance" appears twice. It is the Greek word "ὑπομονή" or "hypomonē" which means "steadfastness, constancy, endurance." Another translation is "patience." It is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
These commendations apply to the church period between Pentecost and A.D. 100.
The Bad News
Jesus does have one word of condemnation for this church.
"'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.'" --Revelation 2:4.
I've been married for eight years to a wonderful woman. We have two handsome boys, one is sixteen and the other will be two on Christmas day this year. We've been through a lot together these past eight years. I couldn't really imagine my life without her.
But marriage is hard work and takes time and effort to keep our relationship strong. If we neglect our marriage, it suffers.
Our individual relationship with Jesus is no different. In fact, it's monumentally more important! I'm not proud to admit that Jesus has written this letter to me on occasion over the past years. It breaks my heart when He does. And you know what? He is always waiting and ready to start anew with me.
"'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand our of its place--unless you repent.'" --Revelation 2:5.
"Remember." Jesus wants to remind us where we have been and to repent. Jesus uses the word "repent" twice in this verse. It's that important. Remember, too, this is a letter written to a church, not the world. Sometimes the church needs to repent and to turn back to the One.
Jesus also explains the consequence of not repenting: He will remove the effectiveness of the local church. I sometimes think that this is what has and is happening in the United States today.
The Nicolaitans
"'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.'" --Revelation 2:6.
The Nicolaitans were a Gnostic cult formed by Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5). They advocated indulgence in sinful acts in order to understand them. There are differing theories on who the Nicolaitans were, but this one makes the most sense especially when comparing the Ephesians' position on them versus the Pergamum church (who tolerated the Nicolaitans).
The Promise to the Overcomer
"'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'" --Revelation 2:7.
"The Spirit" is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher of the church. The "overcomer" is the true believer. The promise is that Jesus is granting access to the tree of life in heaven.
Way back in Genesis, God cast Adam and Eve out from the Garden of Eden to avoid them eating from the tree of life.
Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." --Genesis 3:22.
When God cast them out of the garden, it was an act of mercy. Had God not done so, then man would have lived forever apart from God. But blocking access to the tree, man became mortal and would eventually, physically die.
But now that Jesus paid the price for our sin at the cross, the believer will now have access to the tree of life in heaven!
This is the church at its best: Ephesus, the apostolic church.
Next time we will look at the letter to the church in Smyrna, the martyr church.
May He Increase!
About the author
Joe.....do you think "our" (believers) judgement will be similar to these churches? Another words.....He will commend us for our good but also bring up what wasn't. Some will be saved "as by fire" and receive no rewards. I'm not sure I look forward to that day.
Ike, as you know, as believers, all our sins will be "charged to Jesus' account." As we stand before God, we aren't at the White Throne judgment, we're at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). God will be judging our works, our fruits. The sin issue has already been dealt with for us.
That being said, Chuck Missler pointed out something provocative in Revelation 21. There is the passage that says:
Chuck pointed out that this was us in heaven. Why are there tears? He postulated that we may get to heaven and realize all the missed opportunities or the "might have beens." These are lost rewards, but not a loss of salvation. We can rejoice that we are with our King, but we will also mourn the points at which we fell short.
I believe this is scriptural and reasonable. What do you think?
I agree, and I have certainly fallen short too many times. I pray I will finish well.....you're young Joe.....keep pressing on.. because He is worth it!!!
Well, you know that "race" that Paul mentions isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. So yeah, you're right, we need to keep pressing on and keep running!
[...] to Seven ChurchesSeven Letters to Seven ChurchesSeven Letters to Seven Churches: IntroductionSeven Letters to Seven Churches: EphesusSeven Letters to Seven Churches: SmyrnaSeven Letters to Seven Churches: PergamumSeven Letters to [...]
[...] to Seven ChurchesSeven Letters to Seven ChurchesSeven Letters to Seven Churches: IntroductionSeven Letters to Seven Churches: EphesusSeven Letters to Seven Churches: SmyrnaSeven Letters to Seven Churches: PergamumSeven Letters to [...]