The Message to Ephesus
Book of Revelation
Chapter 2 verses 1 through 7
Today we will begin
to look at those seven churches that the Lord told John to write
about.
Remember Jesus has
given us this time to make those necessary changes to make each
church to be a better church.
Jesus picked these
seven churches because they represent the church as a whole.
Notice also Jesus
speaks to the individual church as independent churches, and no
church is to make rules over another church.
Every church is to
be a church established in the name of Jesus Christ.
They also represent
the seven ages of the church and we can be certain that we are in
that final church age!
The City of Ephesus
was the capitol of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Ephesus may have
been the richest province of all the Roman territories.
It was the Apostle
Paul who visited this area on more than one occasion, so we can be
sure the true Gospel was preached in all these churches.
This same area had
been colonized by the Greeks before they fell to the Romans.
We should also
remember the Temple of Diana was located in Ephesus which had the
largest theatre in the world.
It would hold 50,000
spectators.
In fact it is said
that this temple may have been one of the seven wonders of the world
at one time.
Different religious
beliefs were everywhere, but Christianity is the work of the One true
God!
1Co 15:32 If after
the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what
advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to
morrow we die.
1Co 15:33 Be not
deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34 Awake to
righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I
speak this to your shame.
The Church at
Ephesus was established by the Apostle Paul and sustained by the work
of Priscilla and Aquila.
Apollos preached in
this church.
Timothy preached in
this church.
What were some of
the obstacles?
The Jews hated the
Christians.
The city was full of
idolatry and false priests.
There was the effect
of riches all over this city.
There was the open
display of sensual pleasures everywhere.
We know that there
were at least four more Christian churches in the area. Those four
that are not mentioned are the Church at Troas:
Act 20:5 These
going before tarried for us at Troas.
2Co 2:12
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a
door was opened unto me of the Lord,
The Church at
Miletus:
Act 20:17 And from
Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
The Church at
Colossae:
Col 1:2 To the
saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be
unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church at
Hierpolis.
Col 4:13 For I bear
him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in
Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
It is well known
that there were even more churches that had been established in Asia.
The Lord Jesus will
begin with the Christian Church in Ephesus, but He is standing in the
midst of all these churches that He has called out.
What this means is
the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ is written unto these four
churches just as is intended for all churches!
Every true Church
will fit into at least one of these seven categories.
Every Church from
then until now will exist in every Church Age with the named church
being the most dominant Church.
Though all these
types of Church existed in the day of Ephesus, the particular traits
of Ephesus dominated the first Church Age.
The greatest cause
of persecution of the Church during this Age came from the Emperors
of Rome beginning with Nero and ending with the Emperor Diocletian in
310 AD.
Some would say that
this Age of the Church had its beginnings in the Apostolic Age and
ran to the Constantine Age, keeping in mind that even today we can
find the remnants of each individual church.
Let's begin by
listening to the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to the Church at Ephesus.
*****Rev 2:1 Unto
the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst
of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 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:
This message is
written toward Ephesus, but it is actually written to the Messenger
or the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus.
The Greek Word
"angelos" which could mean Angel and an Angel is a
Messenger sent from God.
Heb 1:13 But to
which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until
I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they
not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation?
This same Greek word
is derived from two other Greek words "ago" which means to
lead and "agelay" which means a drove.
These two words put
together would mean a Shepherd or Angel, so we know by the way it is
used, it means the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus.
This message is from
Christ Jesus because in Chapter One we established that it is Jesus
who holds the seven stars in His right hand of power and stands in
the midst of the candlesticks which are these seven churches.
In fact the Lord
Jesus says He is walking in the midst of these seven churches and
Ephesus in this lesson.
What are the things
Jesus knows, as He walks in the midst of this church?
This church had been
established by the Apostle Paul and later led by Timothy almost a
duplicate of the Apostle Paul in many ways.
Jesus says He knows
the "effort" put forth by this church to spread the
"Gospel" and everything else this church does.
Jesus says He knows
the "labor" that is put forth to spread the "Gospel".
Jesus says He knows
the "patience" of the is church as they attempt to honor
God the Father through His Son Jesus.
Each and every
church have need of patience as the church continues in this world,
until the Lord returns to take us home.
1Ti_1:16 Howbeit
for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might
shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
In every church, we
must labor for Jesus and then patiently wait to see if there are
results while still applying sunlight and water to that seed that was
planted.
The Apostle Paul
preached to this church with these words:
Eph 4:1 I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love;
Eph 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is
one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord,
one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and
Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ.
Jesus says He knows
that this church hated evil.
Why is this so
important?
3Jn 1:11 Beloved,
follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth
good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
We are all to hate
evil, but we are never to hate the sinner who does that evil
We could say that
Jesus knows everything that goes on in every true church!
Jesus knows all the
good and all the evil that goes on in every church!
This means that in
each church that has the presence of Jesus, He is there to lead and
guide that church!
A church that does
not have the presence of Jesus Christ, is not a church by Biblical
Standards!
We also realize that
some false preachers, calling themselves apostles, had come through
this church and they found them to be liars.
When we know the
Word of God and it is written in our hearts and our minds, we should
be able to tell if a preacher is preaching the truth or preaching
with lies.
The church at
Ephesus was able to do this.
Then Jesus repeats
Himself.
*****Rev 2:3 And
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted.
My pastor preaches
many times about turning up the heat within us.
When we were first
saved, we were on fire for God. As time goes by if we are not careful
that fire will begin to grow dim and in some, that fire will go
completely out.
We simply cannot
allow this to happen to us.
Listen to Jeremiah:
Jer 20:8 For since
I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of
the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
Jer 20:9 Then I
said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones,
and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
If the Word of God
is within our hearts, then it will want to come out!
We cannot allow the
things of this world to discourage us in the work the Lord has given
us to do.
Afflictions and
reproaches will increase as we get closer to the arrival of our Lord
Jesus.
Persecutions will
increase as we get closer to going home.
We must understand
these things and keep on going for the Lord!
The message of Jesus
Christ is not a burden! It is a message of hope in a wicked and dying
world!
The message of Jesus
Christ is all about love!
We are filled with
the fruit of the Holy Spirit and this church was taught these things.
Eph 5:8 For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as
children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the
fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
We can be sure that
the church in Ephesus had been taught these things from the church in
Galatia because all the works of the Apostle Paul were passed from
church to church.
Gal 5:22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they
that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.
When we grow cold,
we then grieve the Spirit, and He cannot do His work within us and
within the church.
Let us all turn up
the heat and get busy about the work of the Lord.
Remember the Lord
Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church!
Those that gather in
any other name are not a church built on Jesus Christ!
If not for the Love
of God, we would all end in a burning hell and then a lake of burning
fire.
We must remain in
one heart, one mind, and in one accord for our Lord Jesus Christ, who
gave His all when He did not have to!
When we allow sin to
overwhelm us, the church will grow cold!
Mat 24:12 And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this
gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This Church needed
to turn up the heat and get back on fire for our Savior.
This church needed
to remember back to the time the Apostle Paul who through much
persecution, taught this church about a perfect Savior who loved them
enough to die for them!
Again the message of
Jeremiah:
Jer 2:1 Moreover
the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 2:2 Go and cry
in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember
thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when
thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
This is the message
that should be preached in all those churches that have followed in
the path of this church in Ephesus.
What was the remedy
given to this Church by the Lord Himself?
*****Rev 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
It is a fact that if
Jesus was here and preaching to the churches today, they would run
Him out of many churches, and He would not be allowed to preach!
Jesus says to
"remember" "or else"!
There is not much of
that "or else" preaching going on today!
In every so called
"House of God", unless the flame of love for the Lord Jesus
Christ, which includes His Gospel, is not kept bright and glowing, He
will withdraw His support.
A Church without the
"Spirit of Jesus" is not a church at all, but just a social
club where people gather to give praise to the devil!
Repentance has
become an unknown word to many who claim to be Christian today!
Remember what Jesus
said and we see He warned us many times.
Mat_24:5 For many
shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mar_13:6 For many
shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Luk_21:8 And he
said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not
therefore after them.
Joh_5:43 I am come
in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in
his own name, him ye will receive.
We see the way that
the Apostle wrote, and it is happening more today than any other time
in Church history.
The false teacher
and false preacher come in their own names!
What must we do if
our fire grows dim?
1) Remember
2) Repent
3) Return to doing
the first works, "or else"!
There is also not
much "repenting" preaching going on today.
Just what does those
words "Born Again" mean.
They mean repenting!
Repenting is a
complete change of heart, having a new heart toward Christ Jesus.
Repenting includes a
compete change of mind, having the mind of Christ.
Repenting includes a
compete change of direction, stop walking with the world, and the
ways of the world, and beginning a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!
Anything else falls
into that "or else" category!
When Jesus removes
the candlestick, that house will become a house of darkness.
Darkness is a symbol
of the "Judgments" that are coming from the Lord!
Mat 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then
shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
A so-called church
without a candlestick of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a church at
all!
They did have one
thing the Lord bragged on them about. The hated the deeds of the
Nicolaitan.
*****Rev 2:6 But
this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which
I also hate.
This Church had
remained faithful to the Doctrine of the Scriptures in every way
except the first commandment of Jesus.
Mat 22:37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is
the first and great commandment.
Who or what are the
Nicolaitans? In reality they are those in the Church who claim to be
Christians but follow the ways of the world.
There is a certain
mayor who is running for President and claims to be a Christian made
in the image of God, who is also queer and proud of it. He could be
said to be a Nicolaitan.
Jud 1:4 For there
are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Jud 1:7 Even as
Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving
themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are
set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise
also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and
speak evil of dignities.
The Church in
Ephesus had rejected anyone who had this Doctrine.
This would include
all those who claim to be Christian and walk in the ways of this
sinful world.
To be "Born
Again" must have a real meaning and Jesus said we must be "Born
Again"
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there
come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he
that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Psa 101:2 I will
behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Psa 101:3 I will
set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that
turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Psa 101:4 A froward
heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
The Psalmist also
wrote:
Psa 139:19 Surely
thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody
men.
Psa 139:20 For they
speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Psa 139:21 Do not I
hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those
that rise up against thee?
Psa 139:22 I hate
them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Psa 139:23 Search
me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see
if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
In reality the
Doctrine of the Nicolaitans are all those who stress that Jesus
Christ did away with the Old Testament and has given all Christians
liberty to live as they wish!
They stress that the
spirit and soul of man are far more important than this body we live
in daily and therefore the sins of the body do not change the
Doctrine of Salvation. The body is free to live as it wishes!
We need to hate this
doctrine just as Christ Jesus did!
Without the laws
such as the 10 Commandments, we would not know how the Lord expects
us to live!
What does the Lord
say about all those laws given to the Jews?
Mat 5:17 Think not
that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Jesus Christ came to
fulfill all the Law and we are part of His Body and He is the Head of
the Church!
And the Holy Spirit
gives us all a warning.
*****Rev 2:7 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of
life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
In reality as
Christians our redemption is based on the promises of God!
God makes many
promises and those promises will be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus
Christ.
As "Born Again"
Christians we are to die to our old sinful ways and be born again to
live in the ways of Jesus Christ.
Our salvation and
redemption are based upon these promises!
We must be
"overcomers" to the very best we can. We should remember
that phrase Jesus used in verse five, "or else".
That "or else"
means we will miss out on the pleasures Heaven!
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt
shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Notice the Holy
Spirit is speaking to the Church, but He is also talking to each
individual Christian.
We are given this
last opportunity to try to change the direction of the church we
attend to reconnect with our first love, the Lord Jesus Christ, or
maybe it’s time for us to leave a church that will not return to
the Doctrine of Christ and find one that does, but in the least we
must remember that we are a Temple of God in our body and we need to
bring our own body back in line to the ways of our Lord, and hate the
doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
Amen
Let's Pray!