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).
Christians of outward signs: The Christians at Ephesus had possessed all qualities needed for a person to be a follower of Christ. They did good works, toiled for God, and endured patiently all pains of the persecutions. They were intolerable if anyone is against the Gospel and the Church. But their real inward life was more pathetic and horrible. The church was full of programs and priorities. They were so excited and exhausted doing things for God. But their prayer life, their time with God, personal motivations to keep the standard of Gospel values were reduced and completely lost. Therefore, God said, “you have lost your first love”.
Revelation 2:4 First Love:
Christ at Ephesus: Jesus was demanding their first love for God. Love for God and love for fellow human beings can’t be separated. The Loving God always expects his true followers to love men. No one can say that I can love God but not men. Love is limitless and boundaryless but it can’t associate with all.
What was the First love of Ephesus church? Paul made his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:1). He spent three long years and preached them with tears and told everything needed for them to grow in Christ. He preached there for over two years. Paul did miracles (Acts 19:11). The name of the Lord was magnified (Acts 19:17), Books on Diana were destroyed (Acts 19:18-19), Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19: 20), Diana was despised and her splendor was destroyed (Acts 19: 27).
Paul labored here and presented the real God who came from heaven, Diana never came from Heaven, and upon conviction, they burnt the scrolls Ac 19:19. The same theatre was used by the mob to bring trouble to Paul Ac 19:23-41.
Jesus Vs Diana is nothing but Conflict between Evil & good, Jesus & Satan, Eternal & Temporal, Emotional & Spiritual, Pleasure of life & Pleasure of Holiness. How your first love is decreased? The issue is not about the subject of love but first love. There is every possibility for us to do everything without true love, say it personal prayers, work in Church. There is a possibility of depletion in Holiness, in meditating the word, in singing, in Observing the Sunday Services, etc., in giving time and tithe to God.
Revelation 2:5 Remember, Repent and return to God
Remember from where you have fallen, the height, the wounds you got, the lost glories, the lost grace. Realize it. Mostly we want to maintain our false image and dignity. We try to hide reality.
Repent: sinners reform your actions (Jeremiah 35:15), wicked turn from your ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11), come he will bind our wounds and heal them. Open the doors for him to enter (Revelation 3:20). Repent knowing that your death is nearing, your days are numbered (Matthew 3:2, Luke 13:2-3). In the past, he did not bother you but now he demands from you (Acts 17:30).
Return to God: He is near to broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18), the Broken and contrite heart is a real sacrifice so he never rejects them (Psalm 51:17), tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2), have godly sorrows to be blessed (2 Corinthians 7:10).
2:6 Nicolaitans: means the “conquerors of People”. He was Nicolas one among the seven deacons (Acts 6:5). His followers emphasized that one must become a Jew to become a Christian by circumcision and Baptism. This was not accepted by Christians. God Says that I hate the practices of Nicolaitans.
God hates the practices of human ideas, principles, and philosophies. Our identity is always with Christ. We must love what God loves and we should hate what God hates. God’s will is my will. God’s desire is my desire.
Revelation 2:7 Spiritual Receptivity and Spiritual Food:
Receive the word with eagerness (Acts 17:11) word of works in you (1 Thessalonians 2:13), it cleanses you, brings peace to you, it heals you. God loves the hearers than the sacrifices (Psalm 40:6), Word is like a jewel to the ear of the hearer (Proverbs 25:12).
Conquerors:
"We are more than conquerors" raises a question, how can a person be more than a conqueror? After conquering, what else is there to conquer? Greek word Hupernikao means "prevail completely." from super or hyper means "over, above, beyond, excess of measure” from nikao means “to conquer, have victory."
we are conquerors in all things, such as Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, life, angels, demons, present, future, powers, height, depth. Despite the circumstances we may be going through, we are truly victors. None of these things can take away our most precious treasure, God's enduring love for us.
Revelation 22:11 gives tips to overcome:
1. By the blood of the Lamb
2. Word of their testimony
Martyrdom of Polycarp:
Bishop of Smyrna., in 155 AD, stood before a Roman magistrate who insisted that he deny Christ. He was threatened with death by lions, then to be burned alive. "When the magistrate pressed him, and said, 'Swear, and I will release you; revile Christ,' Polycarp said, 'Eighty-six years have I been serving him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Tertullian observed, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."
Tree of Life:
I will give the lost glory, lost grace (Genesis 2:9, 3:22, Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, Ezekiel 47:7,12, Revelation 2:7 and 22:2).
Paradise:
It is a reality that exists in heavenly places. God never tells lie. All will not go to paradise. The Sinners, the liars, prostitutes will be away from God Revelation 22:15.
