The Message To Ephesus

The Lord began immediately, by explaining that the seven stars represent the angels, the messengers or pastors of the seven churches and that the seven candlesticks represent the seven churches themselves, in Revelation 1:20.  “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

Jesus had used the same illustration in Matthew 5:14-16.  “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  The church was to hole up the light so that the world could see God.  With the persecution of the churches around Rome, the churches in Asia became vital to the spread of the Gospel.  With that in Mind, the Lord directed John to address what was happening in each of the churches and tell them what actions they needed to take to please God.

The first church the Lord had John write to was the church at Ephesus.  Paul had gone there shortly after starting the church at Corinth.  Priscilla and Aquilla were members of the church there and Apollos and Timothy both were pastors there.   Paul wrote the book of Ephesians especially for that church.  It had a very strong foundation and had survived numerous attacks both by the Roman government, and from false teachers without turning away from their basic faith, as Revelations 2:1-3 describes.  “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 candlesticks; 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.”

For forty years, the church at Ephesus had faithfully followed God, maintaining moral and doctrinal purity.  Despite the constant attacks.  Humanly speaking it seemed like the ideal church, but the Lord was not satisfied, as Revelation 2:4-5 tells us.  “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  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.” 

Though they still loved the Lord, they had begun to take his love for granted.  Many couples who have been married for a long time are so focused on earning a living, caring for the house or yard, washing clothes, or fixing meals they don’t take time to spend with each other, sharing their innermost thoughts and concerns.  In the same way, the church at Ephesus had become so busy going to church, reading their Bible, and winning souls that they were not taking time to build a proper relationship with the Lord himself.   When we let the relationship deteriorate, the activities become just a habit, rather than an act of love, and neither party is satisfied.  Eventually there is nothing holding them together, and they begin to look for satisfaction elsewhere, often resulting in a divorce.  The Lord warned them that if they continued to ignore their relationship they would lose their testimony and cease to be a source of light to the world.    

There was one area the Lord was especially appreciative of, as Revelation 2:6 describes.  “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. “  We have no records of such a group but the name means to rule over the laity or common people.  Jesus warned against this attitude in Matthew 20:25-28.  “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  Peter warned against lording it over the people in I Peter 5:2-3.  “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”  When leaders begin to lord it over the people and make their own rules and punishing those who don’t obey, they are usurping God’s authority and setting themselves up as gods.   God hates both the attitude and the resulting actions. 

God finishes off his message to each church with a warning to take them seriously, and a promise for those who obey.  Revelation 2:7 says, “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.”  It is crucial that we heed the warnings that the Lord gave the church.  Those who are victorious will experience everlasting life, and victory comes through faith in Christ as I John 5:4-5 tells us.  “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”