Part 6 | Letters to the Churches (1)

Last week we finished up chapter 1, which sets up the book of Revelation. Remember, though the book is for all churches throughout the ages, it is addressed particularly to the seven churches in Asia minor.

Chapters 2 and 3 are comprised of letters written to each church. My plan is to deal with the first church this week, three next week, and the final three after that.

These letters provide direct significance to the church today. The encouragements and issues addressed in these letters are timeless.

Each letter is a word of prophecy from Jesus communicated through the Spirit, who inspires John.

In your handout, I have included a helpful table from Thomas Schreiner’s commentary, where he lays out the common elements of each letter. Each letter includes the following:

The name of each church is given

An address to the angel of the church (remember, this is thought to be a literal, heavenly being that is given watch over each church, though it could be a leader of each church).

An aspect of the vision of Christ in chapter 1

Commendation/Encouragement of the church (Except for Laodicea)

Correction of the church (except for Philadelphia)

A Call to Repent (except for Philadelphia)

A Call to listen to the message of the Spirit

A Promise to the conquerer (those who endure/persevere)

The basic principle for applying these letters to ourselves and others today... seems to be: If the shoe fits, wear it. To whatever degree our lives or churches reflect symptoms analogous to any of the churches the risen Lord addresses in these letters, we must take heed to “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Keener, C. S. (1999). Revelation (p. 109). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

I plan to follow a particular outline as we consider each letter addressed to the churches:

The Letter’s Depiction of Jesus

The Commendation of Each Church

The Correction - meaning the failures of the particular church.

The Admonition that Jesus gives to each church

The Promise given to those who endure til’ the end.

The Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Ephesus

Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman empire— it was one of great prominence as it was an important port and commercial center.

It was the local capital and 1st Century Historian, NT Wright, refers to it as “the most important city in the whole of western Turkey.”

Its was home to over a quarter of a million people.

According to Zondervan, inscriptions refer to the city as “First and Greatest Metropolis of Asia.”

The city is known for housing one of the great wonders of world—namely, the Temple of Artemis (the Greek name for the Roman Goddess Dianna).

According to Craig Keener, the emperor Domitian (who ruled when John wrote Revelation) named Ephesus “guardian of the imperial cult.”

The imperial cult was a form of state-religion where an emperor or dynasty of emperors were worshiped as deities.

It is possible that a temple for the emperor Domitian was erected before John wrote Revelation. (Show Picture)

In spite of its pagan culture, Ephesus became a city with a vast Christian presence.

Depiction of Jesus

Revelation 2:1 (ESV)

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

In verse 13 of chapter 1, we read that John saw one like the son of man

Review:

The seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches… these heavenly beings that represent or superintend the churches.

The seven golden lampstands are the seven churches.

The vision of Jesus holding the seven stars in his right hand speaks of His power and sovereignty.

The fact that Jesus “walks amongst the seven golden lampstands” reminds us that He is especially present among the churches.

To summarize, this vision of Jesus reminds us that he is omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing).

It is both comforting and frightening to know that Jesus is with us in this way.

Interestingly, Zondervan’s Bible Background Commentary points out that similar imagery of this vision of Christ was used by the emperor Domitian in AD 83 to celebrate the deification of his infant son after he passed away. Coins were issued depicting the child seated on a globe with seven stars surrounding him.

It has been said that for everything real, there is a counterfeit. The imperial cult offered motifs that were satanic imitations of divine truth.

You might recall in a previous message, where I pointed out that in Revelation you have a picture of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— and you have a depiction of the unholy trinity— the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.

A Roman emperor— or dynasty— may claim to be all powerful—but it is only the True and Living God who is Sovereign and All-Powerful.

Commendation

For what does Jesus commend the Ephesians? What is He please with?

Revelation 2:2–3 (ESV)

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

A) Jesus Commends Their Deeds

Jesus says that he is aware of the Ephesians “works.”

In the context of their toil and endurance—and the fact that they reject those who are evil—it seems clear that they have not given into the pagan culture of Ephesus.

If you go down to verse 6, you find that Jesus commends them for hating the work of the Nicolaitans. We do not know much of this heretical group, but John mentions them again in verse 15, in the letter to Pergamum, suggesting—in context—that they were seducing God’s people to participate in idolatry and sexual immorality. The Ephesians rightly rejected this kind of loose living.

One of the trials that the Ephesians had to face—was this temptation to take on the practices of the secular climate in which they lived. It seems to me that they strived to live by Biblical standards, despite the pagan culture of Ephesus.

Jesus commends their deeds.

B) Jesus Commends Their Doctrine

... (you) have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. (v. 2, 3)

Apostles here, is not uses as in the twelve apostles; the word means a messenger or a delegate sent forth with orders.

These are people who came in, who claimed to represent the church, but by their doctrine and deeds, clearly showed that they were false disciples.

The Ephesians stood against such false teachers.

In Acts 20, Luke records Paul’s speech to the Ephesian Elders:

Acts 20:28–30 (ESV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

The Ephesians didn’t listen to everyone who claimed to represent the Lord or His church. They tested the beliefs and behaviors of such people; they stood strong against false doctrine.

Standing up for truth, and living by God’s commands can be exhausting… but they have not grown weary in well doing… they have not endured for their own sake, but for the name of Jesus.

So, Jesus commends the Ephesians belief and behavior.

Correction

Revelation 2:4 (ESV)

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Many have suggested that this means that their love for Jesus has waned. This could be true, and a love for Jesus must remain central.

But John has just said they they have endured for the sake of Jesus’ name.

In the next verse they are told to repent and to return to their “first works”

Christian love is not just love in declaration, but it is love in demonstration.

Remember, we have said that our love for God is express in our love for others.

Jesus says that if the Ephesian church doesn’t repent, that He will remove their lampstand.

Remember, as a lampstand, each church is to reflect the light of God’s glory into the world.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

It seems that the Ephesians were so inwardly focused, that they lost their zeal for sharing the gospel with others and were failing to meet the practical needs of others—both within and outside of the church.

Admonition

Jesus admonition is for them to repent. To go back to their firstfruits. This has nothing to do with salvation…it doesn’t mean that they need to be resaved or rebaptized, but it means that they need to go back to meeting the needs of others and being the light of the world.

If they fail to repent, their lampstand will be removed… meaning they will lose their status as a Christian church.

As strong as the church in Ephesus was, interestingly, there are no active churches there today.

Promise

Revelation 2:6–7 (ESV)

...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Notice that the Spirit is speaking—not to the church—but to the churches (plural). The particular message isn’t limited to the church at Ephesus, but there is a universality to the words here; as John applies to all the seven churches and all the churches throughout time.

The tree of life, of course, was in the Garden of Eden. Paradise, here, literally means Garden. This represents the final reward for all believers. The tree of life and paradise signify eternal life lived on the new earth.

Those who endure to the end… who remain faithful in the midst of persecution… will inherit eternal life and ultimate victory.

Application

1) Doctrine is important. We should reject false teachers and false teachings.

2) We are called to be Holy as God as Holy. We are to be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World. We should not give in to the temptation to live like the world around us.

3) We need to reflect God’s glory to the world. We do this (1) through the proclamation of the Gospel and (2) by serving others who are in need—both in and outside of the church. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for others.

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