Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1-7 Ἐφεσῖνος Outline: We should all realize that these letters are important to each and every one of us. The letters are not only for the historic churches that existed 2000 years ago but also for us today. They are to the churches (plural) and to all those that have an ear to hear what the Spirit saith. Smyrna and Philidelphia are the only two churches that have nothing bad said about them. I. SALUTATION AND NAME OF CHURCH IDENTIFIED verse 1(He knows us by name) II. IDENTIFICATION OF CHRIST AS THE SENDER verse 1(Title of Christ given. This is relative to the core message that Christ communicates to the Church in Ephesus) III. ASSERTION OF KNOWLEDGE verses 2,3 (That which Christ Commends in the Church) IV. COMMENT AND CONCERN verse 4(That Which Christ Condemns in the Church) V. EXHORTATION verse 5,6 (Jesus emphatically urges the Ephesian Church to remember, repent, resume, and remain) VI. PROMISED BLESSING verse 7b (The graciousness of the promise is to incite them to heed His word) VII. ADMONITION TO HEED verse 7a(They were not only to hear the word but to heed the word) ∞≻≺∞ I. SALUTATION AND NAME OF THE CHURCH IDENTIFIED (He knows us by name) “Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write…” A. John had just seen a vision of the risen Lord. The one for whom he was in exile and the one for whom He would now write. John apparently regained his composure after falling to the Lordʼs feet as one that was dead and grabbed a “pen” in hand and started writing all that the Lord told Him to write. B. All that John wrote was what the Lord told Him to write in chapter. And so we have a divine outline of the book in 1:19 given to us. There the Lord had specifically commanded him that he should write “the things which [he] has seen” (the vision of the risen Lord in glory and power, chapter 1), “the things which are” (the topic at hand and the present state known as the church age, chapters 2,3), and “the things which shall be hereafter” (hereafter is meta tauta [μετά ταῦτα] in the greek, the things that will happen when the church age comes to a close at that great event known as the rapture of the church [ἁρπάζω = harpazō, caught up]) C. Now John begins to write the Lordʼs personal letters to these seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philidelphia, and Laodicea) as Jesus dictated them to him. 1. It is interesting to me that The Lord chose this method of writing to these seven churches. If the Lord wanted to He could have simply sent a direct letter to each church without any human hand in the mix. But he chose a method where he dictates His letter and then one of His disciples would write what was dictated and then it would be sent to where it needed to Go. To me this lends a great deal of credibility to the letters of Paul who wrote several of his letters this way. If Paul chose this method of writing and then latter on our Lord chose the very same method of writing we can conclude that Paul had chosen an effective and reliable way to transmit a letter to someone or to a church. In other words there need not be worry as to “who wrote” these or Pauls letters because there was someone transcribing them. These letters to the seven churches were not letters from John but from the Lord Himself! D. The angel that is mentioned in the Salutation, as stated last week, could be a pastor, as many think, or it very well may be an angelic being looking in on and over the church and all that took place there. The important thing is that the “angel” is representative of the whole church. 1. The word in greek for angel is aggelos (ἄγγελος), and simply means a messenger. Almost every time this word is used in the Bible it is speaking of an angelic being. But there are instances where this word occurs and speaks of a human messenger. See Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52. E. Ephesus (e-fe-sē'-nos, Ἐφεσῖνος) means desirable: Map of Ancient Ephesus 1. The city itself was founded about 1400 BC 2. Through many years of history it eventually became the Roman capital of the province of Asia 3. It was known as the “Queen of Asia” or as Pliny put it “the light of Asia”1 4. It was extremely wealthy and very beautiful, in fact, it was one of the most beautiful cities at that time. 5. The “Marble Way”, as the street was so called, went from the temple of Artemis or Diana through the city to the Magnesia Gate (one of the three entrances to the city of Ephesus) 6. The Arcadian way, another main road which went through the city. It began at the theater and went to the harbor. It was 528 meters long and 21 meters wide, lined columns and shops and was illuminated at night. The Marble Way The Arcadian Way 7. It had a library (The Celsus Library) that contained 200,000 volumes. All hand written of course. The Celsus Library 8. The most amazing architectural feature was itʼs temple to Diana. This temple was considered one of the “seven wonders” of the ancient world. The structure contained 127 Ionic columns each of which were 18 meters high. The temple was 4 xʼs as large as the Parthenon at Athens. 1 Marvin R. Vincent, D.D., Word Studies in the New Testament II, Pg. 436 Artemis or Diana 10. At this temple terrible and ecstatic sexual rites were practiced in the worship of Artemis or Diana. Both male and female prostitutes were involved. Ionic column 9. It had an amphitheater that was 150 meters in diameter and could seat 25,000 people. (Acts 19) Amphitheater 11. This was a dark city with a lot of influence upon many other places and people and so Paul the apostle went there! Paul would minister here for three years (Acts 19:1, 20:31). It was the city where Aquilla and Priscilla, with Apollos ministered (Acts 18:24-28). It was the city where Paulʼs close associate ministered (1 Timothy 1:3). And according to church history and tradition this was the city in which John the Apostle ministered after Timothy did and in which he and the mother of our Lord, mary died. 12. God in his mercy reached out to this city in all of itʼs darkness. God sends his light (gospel) into dark places in order to dispel that darkness and bring people into the light. a) Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” 13. This was indeed an extremely privileged place. F. So the Church in the city of Ephesus is addressed in this first letter. II. IDENTIFICATION OF CHRIST AS THE SENDER verse 1(Title of Christ given. This is relative to the core message that Christ communicates to the Church in Ephesus) “These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” A. Here we see the title that Christ chose for himself in this letter. It is important to note that the title that Christ chooses to use of himself in these letters corresponds to the situation in the church being addressed. B. He is the one who holds the seven stars in His right hand. This speaks of the authority of Jesus over the church. He is in control and He is Lord of this church. The churchʼs representative was in the hand of Christ and therefor all the members of the church were too. The believer is as secure as the church is. 1. This reminds us of of Jesusʼ words when He said “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.” in John 10:28-29. 2. How great a security the believer has in Christ. C. He walks in the midst of the golden lampstands. This speaks of Christ's presence in His church. He said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Jesus is central to the church and He should always remain center of our churches. He and He alone deserves centrality. 1. Notice too, that He is not in the midst as one that is inactive but as one that walketh about. This expresses Jesusʻ activities on behalf of the Church. The Lord Himself said that He would build His Church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). What great encouragement as we seek to serve and to minister unto Him and for him. He is the one that will do the work! 2. In fact, apart from Him doing the work (i.e. building the church and keeping it) we shouldnʼt want any work to be done. It says in Psalm 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” III. ASSERTION OF KNOWLEDGE verses 2,3 (That which Christ Commends in the Church) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. A. “I know” 1. This is a full knowledge. God knows all things and canʼt learn anything. He knows everything that is, everything that will be and has been. And God canʼt forget because He knows everything at one time. a) This is both a consolation and a convicting thing to think of. B. “thy works, and thy labour” 1. works, Christ knew in general all that they undertook as a fellowship. 2. labour, this word means to toil or travail to the point of weariness or exhaustion. a) “It may be said in conclusion that ʻlabour,ʼ ʻtoilʼ (or perhaps ʻtravailʼ) and ʻweariness,ʼ are the three words which in English best reproduce the several Greek words, μόχθος, πόνος, κόπος, with which we here have to do.” 2 3. Jesus takes note of workers. Hard workers are admirable to the Lord. Jesus looks for workers and people willing to put their hand to the plow to send off into His service. a) He found Gideon threshing grain and called Him b) He finds Moses on the backside of the desert tending the flock c) He finds David tending his fathers flock d) He finds Elisha working in the field e) He finds His disciples mending their nets or at their occupation whatever it may be f) Jesus looks for workers. The world is going hell and the church needs to be established and strengthened. He admires workers, people who are simply faithful. C. “Thy patience” 1. Jesus saw their patience as well a) This word in the NT speaks “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”3 he may endure. 2 Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament,http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/trench/section.cfm? sectionID=102&lexicon=true&strongs=G2873 3 http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5281&t=KJV b) In short it is a bearing up underneath pressure with godly character. c) How are we under pressure. Jesus takes note of how we bear up under pressure. D. “thou canst not bear them which are evil” Church Discipline Restoration Removal Reconciliation 1. This was a church that practiced church discipline. They did not tolerate those that were evil. i.e. those that would harm the church (division, heresy etc.) 2. Evil is kä-ko's (κακός) in the greek and means troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful E. “and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” 1. This is evidence of a well taught church. a) The scriptures say that we should not continue to be “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Eph 4:14). b) The only way this happens is if we are studying the scriptures. Paul said to the Ephesian elders “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 c) In fact Paul taught these elders in Ephesus to be aware of false apostles . (1) “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:28-32 d) This church was 25 to 30 years old and they were still pretty keen in this aspect. They are still in pretty good spiritual shape. F. “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.” 1. All this they did for Christʼs name sake. 2. Things sounded great thus far! IV. COMMENT AND CONCERN verse 4(That Which Christ Condemns in the Church) A. “Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” 1. “In the Greek the order of the words is especially emphatic in that the object of the verb is before the verb- “thy first love thou hast left”. The word for love (Gr. agapen) is the deepest and most meaningful word for love found in the greek language. Though they had not departed completely from the love for God, their love no longer had the fervency, depth, or meaning it once had had in the church.”4 2. Amazing to think that what we do or donʼt do can affect the heart of God. We can make him sorrowful and so the scriptures say do not grieve the Holy Spirit” (Eph 4:30) 3. love is what needs to be at the center of our service and worship. Without it all our service is in vain 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 V. EXHORTATION verse 5,6 (Jesus emphatically urges the Ephesian Church to remember, repent, resume, and remain) A. Remember B. Repent C. Return VI. PROMISED BLESSING verse 7b (The graciousness of the promise is to incite them to heed His word) A. “The promise here mentioned for the overcomes is not a message to a special group of christians distinguished by their spirituality in contrast to genuine christians who lack these qualities; it is rather a general description of that which is normal, to be expected to be among those who are true followers of the Lord. The Apostle John in his first epistle asks, “Who is he that overcometh the world?” (1 John 5:5). He answers the question, “he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.” In other words, those in the Ephesian church who were genuine christians and by this token had overcome the unbelief and sin of the world are promised the right to the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”5 VII. ADMONITION TO HEED verse 7a(They were not only to hear the word but to heed the word) A. James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Amen… 4 John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Pg. 55 5John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Pg. 59