Ephesus:         The most important sea port in Asia Minor, in its time.

It was the main location of trade and travel, and senators and dignitaries came to the area through Ephesus from Rome before traveling to their final destination of Pergamum (the capital) to serve their year of governing.

There were geographical and political reasons to mention Ephesus first in these letters, but also because it was the most important church in the province.  Forty years earlier Paul spent about three years ministering here.  It is also the probable location of the writing of Revelation by John years later, and possibly the Gospel and epistles of John as well as the pastoral epistles of Paul.

 

 

v. 2:1 – “to the angel of the church in Ephesus write…” – This is a message from the risen Christ to this church.  He is the one holding the seven stars in His hand.  Christ is present in His churches.  He is intimately concerned with them and cares for and protects (“right hand”) the church. 

 

v. 2:2 – “I know your deeds…” – Jesus knows what is going on!  He cites three things he knows:  their deeds – their hard work – their perseverance.  Perseverance here to show their courage and dedication to face of accept suffering and persecution for the sake of Christ and their faith.  They could not tolerate wickedness!  They recognized false apostles and exposed them as deceivers.  How do we recognize false teachings?

 

v. 2:3 – special note of their persevering hardships for the cause of Christ.  They did this without growing weary – they endured it.  It was “hard work” (v. 2), but they persevered (v. 2).  Lots of praise is give to this church.

 

v. 2:4 – “Yet” – here comes the rebuke.  “I hold this against you …” – the words no one wants to hear Jesus say to them.  This message can be heard by a group or an individual, to people back then or the church today.  “You have forsaken your first love.”  What love? Love for God?  Love for each other? Love for humanity in general – outside the church?  Different translating groups have added their own interpretation at this point.  Maybe it is love in general.  We tend to hold onto and build on things we can measure and see.  Look how diligent they were and how intolerant.  Where is love in legalism? It is usually missing.  Without love everything else is nothing.  Jesus tells us that we will be judged if we lose love as our motivation.  “John has much to tell us about the demonic process by which all that is noble and good can be distorted into opposition to God, but nothing more eloquent than this simple statement that zeal for Christian truth may obliterate the one truth that matters, that God is love.” (Caird, p. 31).  Love gone astray becomes hatred, and is evil.  Be careful, or we could be in danger of losing our lampstand!  No one is exempt from the wrath of Almighty God in this regard.

v. 2:5 – “Remember …” – It is possible to gradually drift away from God.  We must recognize this fact – or even be shown (by circumstances, other people, revelation, etc.). Keep remembering the way it was at first.  They once had a close relationship with God.  Keep that thought in mind.  “Repent” – Turn from the known fault and go back to “square one” if necessary.  A pastor once said, “When you lose vision, go back to the place where you last had it, and start over again from there.”  Jesus tells these people, Remember, Repent, Return to their first love.  “If you do not repent…” – God’s judgment is conditional.  “I will come” or “I am coming” – Not the Parousia (second coming of Christ at the end of the age).  This is a promise of judgment against this specific group.  The destruction of this church was pending; they had to repent.  Jesus was coming to remove their lampstand – signifying the destruction of this church.  Without love, no true church can survive.  The church is the Body of Christ – Who is love.  They were no longer Christ-like.  They became legalistic. They could “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.”  Instead of loving people into Christlikeness, they were intolerant and condemning.

 

v. 2:6 – “You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans …” – Hate? Sounds rather strong.  We cannot love what is good without hating what is evil.  God hates what is evil.  Notice – hate the “practices” – not the Nicolaitans.  God loves all humanity and desires relationship with His creation.  There is nothing really known besides speculation about the Nicolaitans beyond what is mentioned in Revelation.  However, their deeds were evil and most likely led many astray.  They did not practice true Christianity.  If they practiced a false variant of Christianity that led people astray and away from a true relationship with God, we can understand why He would hate these practices.  Whatever it was is recognized by the church of Ephesus and they didn’t tolerate it at all, but they did not act in love.

 

v. 2:7 – “He who has as ear …” – This phrase is in each of the seven letters.  The Holy Spirit is communicating with us constantly – are we listening and hearing what He is saying to us?  “to the churches” – not singular – not just to the one church addressed at the beginning of the letter, but to all who have an ear to hear.  God speaks, Jesus speaks, and the Holy Spirit speaks to all churches.  The words of Jesus are the words of the Spirit.  Jesus is speaking to John, telling him what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

“To him who overcomes …”  - John uses the word “overcome” seventeen times in Revelation.  It is a book of victory for the true believers, and therefore, the use of “overcome” rings of victory.  To those who “overcome” and persevere to the final victory, there is a great reward or benefit.  They get to “eat from the tree of life.”  The tree of life was hidden when the humans broke relationship with God in the Garden through disobedience and mist-trust - (Gen. 3:24).  God offers, once again, eternal life to all who are victorious in Christ.  The paradise of God brings our mind back to the Garden of Eden where it was intended by Him that humanity would dwell in His presence and care forever.  It can be taken away, but it is offered to the triumphant followers of Jesus.