The Book Of Revelation (Revelation 2)

Four of these churches are in Chapter two and three of them in chapter 3.

The first church we are going to look at…

I. THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

Revelation 2:1-7

God chose these seven churches that were symbolic of the seven kinds of churches that were to exist in the future. One thing that caused Him to choose the ones He did was because of THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.

Illus: As you travel across America today you will find that all churches have similarities, yet, still, there are major differences also.

The first thing the Word of God reveals to us about the people in the church at Ephesus deals with...

I. THEIR LEADER.

In verse 1 we read, "Unto the angel (Pastor) 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 candlesticks;..."

This letter is addressed to the leader of the church. We read, "Unto the ANGEL of the church of Ephesus..."

WHO IS THE ANGEL HE IS TALKINIG ABOUT?

The angel that he is talking about is the pastor of these seven churches. The word angel here means messenger.

Notice, the word "angel" is singular, not plural. He is not addressing ALL seven church leaders, He is addressing the one leader of the church of Ephesus.

This letter is written to "...the ANGEL (Pastor) OF THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS..."

Illus: Sometimes people will ask, "How does a preacher know what to preach?" God tells him what to preach. God speaks TO HIM and THROUGH HIM. He is God's messenger.

Then notice, in the same verses John switches to the plural in verse 1 - "STARS." "...These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand..."

The stars here can be one of two things:

(1) It could be another word used for the seven pastors

(2) It could be another word used for the seven churches.

In either case God holds His church and His pastors in His right hand.

Often as a pastor in my prayers when I pray for this church, I remind myself this church is His church. Everything is in His hand.

That is, God holds ALL of His ministers in His hands if they are His ministers.

We have looked at THE LEADER of the church of Ephesus, but now let us look at…

II. THE CANDLESTICKS

Look at verse 1, where we read, "...who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks .."

The seven golden candlesticks represent the seven churches of Revelation.

What is a church?

Simply defined, it is: "A place where Christ has promised to meet with those who have come together because they love Him."

Look at Revelation 1:1 again, "...who walketh in the MIDST of the seven golden candlesticks."

That word MIDST is the same word we see in the promise in Matt. 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the MIDST of them."

John tells us about THE LEADER, and the SEVEN CANDLESTICS.

He also tells us about...

III. THEIR LABOR.

In verses 2-3 we read, "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: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted."

Look at the word "know" in verse 2; it means absolutely He has clear vision of knowing what is going on in the church today.

Illus: Most churches have business meetings once a month to let the people know what is going on financially and any problem that needs to be discussed.

But only God knows what is really going on any church!!!

He not only sees WHO PHYSICALLY ATTENDS HIS CHURCH, He KNOWS WHY THEY ARE ATTENDING HIS CHURCH.

Look as we read what the Lord said about them...

A. "I know thy works, and thy labour..."

We need to understand that the Lord is commending believers for their works.

He does not ask lost people to work for Him.

Why? Because, if He did, they would think they were earning their salvation by their good works.

We can not do one good deed to earn our salvation, we are saved by the grace of God only.

The Bible tells us BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.

When who are saved by the grace of God get to heaven, HE IS GOING TO GET ALL THE PRAISE!!!

Our works is our rewards in heaven.

Ephesus were willing workers and they laboured for the Lord.