Lesson 3
In chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, Jesus—through the Apostle John—sends messages to seven churches in Asia Minor, which is now western Turkey (see map on page 10). These seven churches are significant in several ways. First, they were actual churches in the cities mentioned, but they were not the most prominent churches of their day. Only two are previously mentioned in the New Testament. What are they (Ephesians 1:1b & Colossians 2:1b)?
Jesus says He “ ‘walks among the seven golden lampstands’ ” (2:1c). As also stated in Lesson 2, what do the lampstands represent (1:20)?
In the person of the Holy Spirit, Jesus walks among His churches, examining and evaluating them. Our Lord commends the church at Ephesus for several things: their “ ‘toil’ ” (hard work), their “ ‘patient endurance,’ ” their intolerance of “ ‘those who are evil,’ ” and their identification of false “ ‘apostles’ ” (2:2). They also rejected “ ‘the works of the Nicolaitans’ ” (2:6), who practiced idolatry and sexual immorality (2:14). False teachers were a problem in the Ephesian church, just as Paul had predicted to the Ephesian elders some forty years earlier. In his farewell address, what does Paul tell them (Acts 20:30)?
It has been about forty years since Paul established this church and then stayed about three years leading it (Acts 19). Most of the church are now second-generation believers. Though they have retained their pure doctrine and have continued working hard in the church, they have abandoned their first love—Christ. In other words, they are doing the same things, but not because of their love for Christ; it is all mechanical and habitual. Quoting Isaiah, how does Jesus describe this condition in Matthew 15:8?
Sometimes it’s easy to go through the motions of serving the Lord. You can go to Bible study each week, attend worship services, tithe, and even teach a Bible class. Yet, it may all be just a religious show. What warning does Jesus give about doing righteous things just to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1b)?
Jesus says to the Ephesian church: “ ‘Remember therefore from where you have fallen’ ” (2:5a). Forgetfulness is often the cause of losing your first love. Remember when you first believed? You were so excited and passionate about your Savior. Remember when your prayer time was always uplifting? Remember when you couldn’t wait to go to worship services because you were so encouraged and refreshed every time? The Lord knows how forgetful we are. That’s why Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper. After taking the bread and praying, Jesus gives it to His disciples (Lk 22:19a–c). As He does this, what does He say (Lk 22:19d–e)?
To repent means we confess and forsake our sin of just “playing church” or mechanically serving the Lord. We must rededicate our lives to our first love—Jesus Christ—asking God to reignite our spiritual passion. We need to tell the Lord we want our “spiritual honeymoon” with Him to never end. Basically, we need to pray what prayer of King David, recorded in Psalm 51:12a?
In conclusion, our Lord says: “ ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ ” (2:7). In a broad sense, what the Spirit says is what is written in the Bible. How does 2 Peter 1:21b describe divine inspiration?
Jesus concludes His words to the church at Ephesus by saying: “ ‘To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’ ” (2:7b). The tree of life is first mentioned as being in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22) and last referred to as a part of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:2). It represents eternal life. The one who conquers, or overcomes, refers to all true Christians. How does 1 John 5:4a express this fact?