Revelation 2:1-7

Rev. 2-3 contain letters from the Lord Jesus (the Judge in Rev. 1) to the 7 churches. Each letter has a similar format which we will follow.

Commission: to the angel of the church in Ephesus.  Ephesus (meaning desirable) was the most prominent of the 7 cities, being the center of the worship of the Roman goddess Diana and being a major trade center.  The church there was blessed to have had several notable servants of God in their midst, including Paul (Ac. 18:19-21; 19), Aquilla and Priscilla and Apollos (Ac. 18:24-28), and (according to tradition) both Timothy and the Apostle John had pastoral roles there.  Paul did not start the church there but did spend two years teaching and using Ephesus as a home-base to plant churches throughout the area.

Character of Christ: From Ch. 1 (v13,16) Jesus holds the seven stars (the messengers, perhaps angels or pastors) of the churches; and He walks in the midst of the seven lampstands (the churches).  He has a right to judge the seven churches; His judgment will be accurate (He knows, He is in their midst) and the communication of His judgment will be accurate (He holds the messengers).

Commendation: They had works, labor and patience, the same Greek terms seen in 1 Th. 1:3 as desirable for a church.  They were particularly commended for taking strong stands for sound doctrine.  Paul had warned them about this (Acts 20:28-31) and they had taken the warning seriously.  This included the Nicolaitans, an apostate group whose heresy is not known with certainty.  But what is certain is that both the Lord and the Ephesian church hated what they did.

Condemnation: But they had left their first love.  First love is illustrated in the story of Mary who chose that good part (Luke 10:38-42) and who anointed Jesus with costly oil (John 12:1-8).  It is seen in Paul when he said for me to live is Christ, to die is gain (Phil. 1:21) and whose only passion was to know Christ (Phil. 3:8-11).  It is the relationship with Christ that makes work, labor and patience more the passion of one’s life rather than mere duty.  Over time the Ephesians had lost this passion for Christ.

Correction: Jesus called them to remember, repent and repeat.  It was a call to the vibrant life common among new believers but essential for all believers.

Call: He who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  This challenge (with each letter) is to churches (plural!).  In other words we must hear what our Lord is saying to us on the issues of sound doctrine and first love.

Challenge: The overcomer (Greek nikao, victorious one; thus, the one who perseveres in what Christ has called for) will be rewarded with unending life (from the tree of life) in blessed surroundings (the Paradise of God).

Consider yourself before you consider your church.  Do you love Christ deeply?  Does that love stir a love for truth and righteousness as well?