From A Flame To A Dying Ember Series

Prelude

As we continue our series of messages on “End Time Prophecy” we enter into the second chapter of Revelation which starts out with a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor.

Consider this that these letters can be viewed three different ways.

1. They can be viewed Prophetically – These churches appear to represent different stages of the church over the last 2,000 years.

2. They can be viewed Practically – These letters were sent to literal, real congregations that were actually functioning at the close of the First Century.

While they were written to real churches existing in that day, they still speak to every church in existence today.

God has a word for us in these verses!

3. They can be viewed Personally – These letters speak to congregations, but we should also be mindful that the Lord has a word for the individual in these letters as well.

The Lord Jesus Christ has something to say to you and to me about our relationship with Him.

My desire is that we take the practical application of these letters and seek to apply them to us.

Consider these words spoken by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:11 Jesus Christ declares that he is "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to … now apply it to yourself.

Now follow along with me as we take a look at our passage for this evening in Revelation 2:1-7.

Scripture

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 lampstands. (candlesticks);

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:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

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.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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.

Prayer

Introduction

It is easy to see that the city of Ephesus was a wicked, degenerate, vile place to live. A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus said, “No one could live in Ephesus without weeping over the immorality which he must see on every side.”

COMMIT ABOUT TODAY:

Our cities are not safe to live in today. Immorality is running wild in America.

It was once said of our county that the number one cash crop was marijuana, not it is meth.

In the End Times people will seek darkness because their deeds are evil. I used to think that verse meant that people did things in the dark, but really what it is saying is they seek the prince of darkness. In other words they do the work of Satan.

It was to this vile city that God sent the Apostle Paul, Acts 18:19-21; 19; 20:17-38. Paul spent two years preaching there and wrote the books of first and second Corinthians.

Timothy was the first bishop of this church, 1 Timothy 1:3. Aquilla, Priscilla and Apollos all labored in the Ephesian church, Acts 18. The Apostle John also spent the last years of his life in Ephesus.

It was here that he wrote the Gospel of John and his three epistles. According to tradition, Mary the mother of Jesus is buried in Ephesus.

This church was privileged to hear and know the best of the best in those early days.

This was an active church, serving in a wicked hour. But, God used them and many souls were saved.

By the way, the same methods used in Ephesus will still work today, Acts 20:17-21.

Thirty years have passed and the Lord comes to this church to speak to them about where they are and where He wants them to be.

He comes to them with a message of comfort. They are reminded in Revelation 2:1 that He has them safely in His hand.

The word “holdeth” speaks of “being in absolute control”.

In a society that was out of control, they needed to know that He was in control.