The Church at Ephesus

Lesson 2: Revelation 2:1-8 Central Baptist Church Pastor James Woodley, Th.D. The Church At Ephesus I. (Vs. 1) ADDRESS “angel” (7 times in 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1,7,14) …. of the church …..of Ephesus” II. (Vs. 1) VISION REFERENCE “He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, James 3:1 Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” Deuteronomy 23:14; Leviticus 26:12 III. (Vs. 2-3, 6) PRAISE “I know thy works; Thy labor; Thy patience” “Thou canst not bear them which are evil” “Thou has tried them which say they are apostles” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4; 13-15; Isaiah 8:20 “And are not, and hast found them liars” “thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes which I also hate” IV. (Vs. 4) REBUKE “thy first love…..thou hast left” V. (Vs. 5) CORRECTION “rememeber” “repent” I John 1:9. “remove candlestick” VI. (Vs. 7) INVITATION “he that hath an ear, let him hear” Hebrews 5:11-14 “what the Spirit sayeth…. unto the churches” VII. (Vs. 7) PROMISE “to him that overcometh …tree of life” Lesson 2: Revelation 2:1-8 Central Baptist Church Pastor James Woodley, Th.D. I. (Vs. 1) ADDRESS “angel” (Seven times in 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1,7,14) • Word literally = “messenger”. • The word is used of both spirit beings and human beings. • Matthew 11:10“For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (= Elijah / John the Baptist) • James 2:25 “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (= the Isrealite spies) • Here it would have to be human beings (i.e. the pastor of each church) ➢ Because of the commands to repent (2:5; 2:16; 3:3; 3:19); ➢ Because of Satan casting some into prison (2:10); ➢ Because they were to be faithful unto death (2:10). • For the first 300 years + of church history, each church had 1 pastor as the norm. • Each church having one pastor = the plan for the whole church age. “of the church” • A real local church at Ephesus. • Everyone who is saved is part of the body of Christ in Heaven. (Eph. 1:3, 22-23) • But every saved person is also supposed to be member of a local church. “of Ephesus” • Ephesus means “to let go, relax”) • A major sea port that was starting to decline due to silting in of the river mouth. • Located in modern Turkey today on Cayster River. • On main road between East and West. • Economically very well off. • A free city with a Roman proconsul. • • • • • • • • • A center for paganism. Largest building in town = 425 ft. x 220 ft. x 60 ft. temple to Diana (Artimus). Diana = a goddess of fertility (men, animals & crops). Annual spring fertility rites with temple prostitutes, etc. A large trade in idol making and occult aritifacts. Symbolizes the history of the church age from 30 to 100 AD. Church founded by Paul about 54-58 AD. (See Acts 18:19-20; 19:1 – 20:38) A headquarters for outreach into other areas. Paul spent 3 years there. II. (Vs. 1) VISION REFERENCE “He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, • The “had” of 1:16 is intensified to “holdeth”. • This emphasizes the closeness and accountability to Christ. • James 3:1 Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” • The walking emphasizes personal communion with God and our need for holiness. • Deut. 23:14“For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.” • Lev. 26:12“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” III. (Vs. 2-3, 6) PRAISE “I know thy works” • The inference is that they were doing many good works. (Eph. 2:10) • They started by burning all their pagan possessions. “Thy labor” • This intensifies the picture to extended effort in serving the Lord. “Thy patience” • They did not let hardships or opposition stop them. “Thou canst not bear them which are evil” • They had a keen sense of doctrinal purity. “Thou has tried them which say they are apostles” • The early church was plagued with counterfeits. (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 13-15). • The protection was in comparing to the Scriptures. (Isaiah 8:20). “And are not, and hast found them liars” • No true minister will contradict the Bible. “thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes” • Niko = to conquer; Laos = people. The “people con querors”. • The beginning of a priesthood apart from the people, who have special privileges. • It is an abuse of the office of elder. (Diotrephes in III John 9). • The office is still valid – remember “to the angel”. • Baptists believe in the priesthood of all believers ! “which I also hate” • God hates sin. • He loves the sinner in that He makes provision for salva tion from sin. IV. (Vs. 4) REBUKE “thy first love” • Love = to cherish above all else. • First love = the changes they made when first saved be cause they loved Christ. “thou hast left” • Christ did not change, they had. V. (Vs. 5) CORRECTION “rememeber” • Observe in the Bible how others reacted when they were first saved. • Remember what it was like in your own life when you were first saved. “repent” • Not get saved, but change of attitude in the believer here. • Compare to I John 1:9. “remove candlestick” • A loss of power and blessing. • Building and people can go on, but Christ no longer rec ognizes as a true church. VI. (Vs. 7) INVITATION “he that hath an ear, let him hear” • Expression used 14 times in N.T. • No one can truly understand the Bible without the illu mination of the Holy Spirit. • Those who respond to the truth they have, are enabled to understand more truth. • Those who reject Biblical truth are hardened. • Hebrews 5:11-14 “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” “what the Spirit sayeth” • Christ spoke, John wrote, and the product is the Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16) “unto the churches” • This truth is not just for one church at one time, but for all believers. • Note the underlying assumption that every believer is part of a local church. VII. (Vs. 7) PROMISE “to him that overcometh” • God does not remove every obstacle for us. • He provides the spiritual resources for us to overcome the obstacles. • Believers are responsible to use their spiritual re sources for victory. “tree of life” • A contrast to the palm branch (symbol of divine favor) of Artemis. • A real tree in Heaven. • Point = God alone can give eternal life to His followers.