Revelation 2:1-7 Series

Revelation 2:1-7

So it begins, Jesus is confronting seven specific churches in these next sections, but have no doubt that this assessment by Jesus of these churches is an assessment of every church in some way and we should be holding up what Jesus says about each of these churches in honest assessment of our own church.

The church is called to hold itself up to scripture in order to grow and repent just as the individual is. A church that isn't constantly adjusting its theological stance to scripture even just slightly is a church that has stopped growing and that is always a negative thing not a positive for any church.

As I mentioned in the last message we would look at who these angles are. According to Dr. G.K. Beale, four different interpretations are common. The angels are seen as either 1) heavenly beings in general, 2) heavenly beings who are representatives of or guardians over these seven churches, 3) human leaders or representatives of the churches, such as the pastor of the congregation, or 4) personifications of the prevailing spirit or character of the churches.

Most commonly when we see the word “angels” it means heavenly beings not human ones.

In Revelation 8:1- we read this: When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Notice in verse two it says “then I saw the seven angles” the word “the” seems to signify that these are the same seven angles of the churches. That would possibly mean that God at least at that time appointed an angel to these churches. That doesn't mean that God does this with all churches or even any churches today.

The word “angel” can sometimes mean “messenger” which could still mean an angel and that the messenger translation just means that the role of these seven angels was to be messengers to these churches. These angels were delivering a message from Jesus himself to each of the churches.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

This is Jesus (Revelation 1:12,13), the one telling the angel of the church in Ephesus to write what He is saying. Each word I am sure that this angel was writing was meticulous, insuring not to miss any single word given. To do so could change the entire meaning of the letter.

1 “‘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.

We often seem to forget that Jesus as well as God know everything that we are doing at all times, even what we are thinking but it is important to keep that fact close to us.

Someone asked me once why I hang a little wooden cross from my rear view mirror, was it to let everyone know I am a Christian. I responded no, I hang it from there so at times of frustration when I am driving I can be reminded of the cross and to be patient when life gets a little tense.

This church in Ephesus has worked hard at running their race which is what we are all called to do and they are doing it with great patience. When we lack patience we often make mistakes in our lives as Christians, remember there is no rush for those who have done well in their faith and obedience to Christ and eternity is waiting for us so slow down and get it right.

This church also hates evil which means they are not tolerant of it. Many churches today think it is biblical to be tolerant of evil even to the point of accepting it to an extent.

It goes on to say that they have tested certain people who made themselves out to be someone they are not, they made themselves out to be more important or more holy than others, they made themselves out to be of higher Christian status as well. Most times these people have such low humility they are easy to spot but we should test those wanting to lead in positions of the church.