Revelation 2:1 - 7

April 30, 2020

Thursday again. Wow it seem like time is flying. Time to begin exploring the inner workings of the seven churches.

The theory behind the seven churches: 1.) historical churches of John’s day, 2.) Church ages, 3.) churches of any time period, 4.) representative of individuals. If we demand a literal interpretation, we must stick to the churches of John’s day. However, I think there are lessons for today’s churches and individuals we are at peril to ignore. 

 1.           Ephesus [2:1 – 7]

Overview: population around 250,000, Temple of the Sebastoi (family of Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian), temple of Artemis (seven wonders)… pictured as a palm tree on coins, enjoyed running water through pipes, sewage system, port city.

REVELATION: “I am the one who holds the seven stars in my right hand, and I walk among the seven gold lampstands.” [Revelation 2:1b CEV] Jesus is saying He is the rightful owner of the church.

Strengths: good deeds, hard work, perseverance (patient endurance), does not tolerate wicked people, test false apostles, endured hardship (for Jesus), not weary, and hate the Nicolaitans.

Weakness: forsaken, abandoned, divorced first love. “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” [Revelation 2:4 ESV]

Threat: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” [Revelation 2:5b NIV]

Remedy: remember, repent, and rekindle (do what you first did). “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” [Revelation 2:4a ESV]

Promise: To the “overcomer” the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in paradise. “To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” [Revelation 5:7b NLT]

Let’s examine the Ephesian church closer. Paul wrote a generally positive and joyful letter to this church. In a sense, it’s a dream church. It was hard working with the ability to endure trials of all sorts without giving up or growing weary. They put false “apostles” to the test and had the wisdom to sort out who was telling the truth and who was lying.

Their main problem was in working so faithfully, they became more zealous about holding the line of truth than zealous in loving God and others. They abandoned the love they had for God and others (see verse 4). The image from the Greek is something that is deliberate and willful, not accidental or careless. It comes from the image of a husband divorcing his wife. Heartbreaking. Vicious. The cure is remembering, repenting, and rekindling (by doing what was first done). Thus we see the danger of being “right” and shutting our hearts to God and others. God wants us to be right, but without love our actions are meaningless.

The promise is to those who are continually victorious. The Greek word is “to conquer” and carries the weight of a continual action. While Paul emphasizes faith, John emphasizes victory, using this expression 17 times in Revelation. This is the first of twelve promises Jesus gives to His churches. Pay attention to the fact this verb is in a continual sense. The Ephesian church was failing, in danger of losing its position.

It has been proposed, if the Ephesian church represents an era in time, then it is from Pentecost to 120 A.D., also known as the “Apostolic period.”  If the Ephesian church could reflect an individual, then we have the theological quandary of the result of abandoning, forsaking, and turning our back on God and others. This is not something a genuine Christian would do. Then again, maybe it’s something a genuine Christian would not admit to doing. Big difference. Care to bet your soul?

The fine print: Optimistically looking forward, the isolation will slowly be relaxed and we will be able to meet as a congregation, hopefully soon. If you are reading this and are in need of a church family, please join us at Faith Alliance Church of Fuoss Mills. (Just search "Fuoss Mills" and you will find us.)