Church At Ephesus Series

Revelation 2:1-7

CHURCH AT EPHESUS

Introduction:

True Church is the only potential entity to bring changes in society. God’s people are the true church and they are placed everywhere and in every job to establish the values of the Kingdom of God.

Indian Theologian Samartha Said: “God fights with the tyrant rulers and oppressors through freedom fighters notwithstanding of their faith and religions”.

Revelation beautifully unfolds the communication of God to the Churches of the first century and to the generations to follow on. The common feature we come across in all these seven letters is a City, Character of Christ, commendations, condemnations, concentrations, and conquerors.

Christ Authors these letters with authority and kept answers to their problems. Each letter was addressed to different locations and for different times but conditions are applicable in all generations because of the unrepented human beings.

Christ doesn’t alone condemn and leave them aside but he makes a way for them to escape from their situations and gives them new avenues of prosperities and blessings.

Revelation 2:1 The City of Ephesus: It was a rich seaport capital city of the province of Asia, (Now modern southwest Turkey). It is located at the western edge of Asia Minor, with easy access to the Aegean Sea, It was at its height in the 1st and 2nd centuries, a rich heritage of wealth, philosophy, and Roman law.

Citizens of Ephesus were deeply religious and highly devoted to Diana (Artemis by Greek). The Fertility God was exalted by Greeks as Artemis and by Romans as Diana. The city was full of idols. Also, it had the most attractive temple of Diana, a goddess of fertility (Acts 19:27).

Three shrines were built for her first shrine in 8th C BC, the second shrine in 550 BC but it was burnt in 356 BC on the night Alexander the Great was born. The third shrine was built in 323 BC. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The women in Ephesus gave their jewels to build Diana’s temple. So, plenty of Gold, silver, and other materials were heaped up. A big theatre was there with a seating capacity of 24000. Ephesians believed that Diana came from heaven (Acts 19:35).

The church at Ephesus:

Paul in his second missionary journey along with Aquila and Priscilla went to Ephesus and enjoyed their team ministry (Acts 18:19). A good example of a Team of clergy and Laity. Apollo visited Ephesus and expounded the Gospel. Paul established this church in Acts 19 and mentions in Acts 20:31 about his passionate tearful ministry. After almost a generation passed, the letter came to Ephesus.

Christ walks among the Church:

The Lord reveals his divine care and presence by setting his hand upon his bridal Church. Paul explains the mystical relationship with the Church in his Epistle to Ephesians 5. Christ loved her, purchased her, died for her, and lives in her (Ephesians 5:22-32).

YHWH declared “I carried you on eagle’s wing” (Exodus 19:4 & Deuteronomy 1:31), “I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10), “I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:4), “My presence shall go with you” (Genesis 28:15, Exodus 33:14), “When you go to war I will be with you” (Deuteronomy 20:1), “when you pass through waters and fire I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).

Revelation 2:2 -3 Commendations of God

“I Know”. God uses this word to make the Church understand the power of God.

“2 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. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary”.

God’s Divine Knowledge about our deeds, hard works, perseverance is revealed. Nothing is hidden from God’s vision and views. “Your deeds are weighed” (Psalm 69:5, Psalm 139:2), “He reveals the deep and hidden things” (Daniel 2:22), “Let people see your good deeds” (Matthew 5:16), “be rich in those deeds” (1 Timothy 6:18) “set an example in doing what is good” (Titus 2:7).

Patience: Be temperate, worthy of respect, and self-controlled (Titus 2:2). Perseverance helps to get promised blessings (Hebrews 10:36, James 1:4). Perseverance is sister concerns of Gentleness and humility. Both go together.

Ephesians were talented and spirit-filled to identify liars, deceivers, pretenders, and in the Church and they avoided unholy alliances and never entertained them.

Ephesians were people of hard works/ bearing hardships without rest: Revelation 14:13 says ‘they will cease from hard work’. ‘Why do waste your labor on the things which are not satisfying you’ Isaiah 55:2. Blessed are you for insults, persecutions, and evils against you (Matthew 5:11), All men hate you (Matthew 10:22), suffer for God’s name and ministry (Acts 9:16).