Our First Love Series

Lord of the Lamp Stands

Revelation 2:1 NLT

1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

Angel - lit. “messenger.” Likely the person(s) who represented the church before God. Pastor, evangelist,

Ephesus - gateway to the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Home of massive temple to Artemis, a goddess of fertility (Diana)

as well as hosting temples to the Imperial cult. Perhaps as many as 250,000 residents.

Church now about 40 years of existence.

Deeply immersed in the culture, value and life of Rome

Acts 19:28 NLT

28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Also considered a center for the magic practices. Generic term to describe document that had magic formulas, spells, etc. were called “Ephesian documents.

Acts 19:18–20 NLT

18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Paul’s home base for three years of his ministry. Warned somewhat prophetically that false teachers would attempt to draw them away from true faith

Acts 20:29–31 NLT

29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

John also ministered from Ephesus in his later life.

Seven stars/Seven lamp stands - symbolism of Christ’s protection and control of His churches. Ephesian church is reminded that they aren’t calling the shots here. It is Christ who determines right and wrong. He is intimately engaged with every church. He knows and understands their predicament, conditions, situations.

The Good

Revelation 2:2–3 NLT

2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

This is “Loyalty in practice.”

hard work - toil, work at the cost of pain, great difficulty to achieve the goal. A working church.

Endurance - “To take a cut or a beating.” Often trans. as “labor.” In this case, intense labor on behalf of Jesus.

the church was working hard to resist the values and pressures of the culture around them. (and always had)

Diligence in examining others’ teaching - discovering false apostles (Matt. 7.15-16) They made careful assessments of teachers who claimed to be apostles. Loyalty in doctrine.

Patient suffering - Bearing up without become weary. Being willing to remain under the burden. Again, loyalty in practice.

Galatians 6:9 NLT

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Examined - they had spiritual discernment. They could differentiate sin and immorality.

Ephesians 5:11 NLT

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

James 1:27 NLT

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

The Bad:

Revelation 2:4 NLT

4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

Matthew 24:12 NLT

12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Abandoned or lost their first love. Could be love for God or their love for people. Likely both.

Paul had commended them for their love in the early days (Eph. 1.15-16)

Odd dichotomy.

They loved doing the right thing and believing the right doctrine but chose not to be loving at the same time. Pure faith and doctrinal correctness are based on a love for God and a love for others. To see lost people learn the truth about God and respond to it.

Their initial impact on their culture had cooled and they had fallen back on a defensive posture of orthodoxy rather than a loving effort to evangelize.

They were still allied to Jesus and maintained their citizenship in the kingdom but were not reaching out to the world a message of liberation, healing, cleansing, transforming grace in Jesus.