EPHESUS CHURCH PERIOD Day of Pentecost 33 A.D. 100 A.D. The City in John s Day Ephesus was one of the oldest and largest cities in Asia. During the first century it was a major city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. It was the crossroads of civilization in that day, noted for its great library, abundance, and wealth. Politically, it was a free city and home to the Roman governor of the province. Ephesus was located on the Cayster River, three miles from the Aegean Sea, and had a major harbor where ships could unload their cargo. Caravan routes from cities in the north, south, and east converged in Ephesus, making it a leading commercial center. Religiously, the Ephesians worshiped Diana (Artemis), the goddess of the woodlands and fertility. The temple of Artemis was one of the wonders of the world, dating back to the sixth century B.C. Religious prostitution and orgies flourished within that temple. In 262 A.D. the Goths destroyed the entire city of Ephesus, including the temple. A group of Christian bishops held a council in Ephesus as late as 431 A.D. Ephesus was later attacked by the Arabs, Turks, and finally the Mongols in 1403. Today the city s seaport is a marsh covered with reeds and the city itself is desolate. The Ephesus Church Period in History The Church Age begins with the Ephesus Period, which is the first generation of Believers; and also a time when the local church in Ephesus was established. The Ephesus Church Period began on the Feast of Pentecost when the gift of the Holy Spirit descended upon the Believers in Jerusalem. Paul founded the church at Ephesus, where he spent three years preaching and teaching. Both Timothy and John had served there. Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos had also worked in this City. It was during the Ephesus Period that the books of the New Testament were written. The church of Ephesus was well-established in doctrine, being taught and shepherded at times by those who had personally experienced Yeshua Messiah firsthand. The word Ephesus, means desirable. 1 It should be noted that Ephesus became a missionary center from which all of Asia heard the gospel (Acts 19:8-10). Paul had ministered in Ephesus for many years before this letter in the Revelation was sent to them. The ones that entered into the Ephesus Church Period, on the day of the Feast of Pentecost, came in with such a passionate love for Messiah He was the first love of their lives. By the time John had written this letter, the Church would have been in the second generation of Believers. It is apparent that this second generation, of Believers which followed, did not have the same love and zeal of heart for Messiah as that of the first generation. 1
Messiah s Character Revealed Rev 2:1 1 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. One needs only to look back at Revelation 1 to see the reference being made here: Rev 1:20 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. Messiah to the Church of Ephesus Of the seven Churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3, this is the only one where reference is made to the apostles. It would stand to reason that the message of Messiah to the Church of Ephesus was directed not only to one local church, but to the Church of the first century, usually called the early Church or the Apostolic Church. There are ten good things recorded in verses 2, 3, and 6, concerning this Church Period: I KNOW YOUR: works labor patience that you cannot bear those who are evil tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars you have persevered you have patience you have labored for My name's sake you have not become weary you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans The significance of the Nicolaitans has a need to be addressed at this point. There was a movement within the first century Church, during the Ephesus Period, that was attempting to establish a Priestly Order. This probably emerged from trying to model the Church after the Old Testament order of Priests, Levites, and common people. This is seen in the meaning of the word, which is from Niko to conquer or to overthrow, and Laos the people or laity. By not calling those who had been entrusted over congregations, pastors, but calling them Clergy, Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals, Popes, instead; we have here what is the origin of the teachings of Apostolic Succession, which means the separation of the clergy from the laity. The object is 2
to have an established Holy Order of Men, placed over the laity, the common people a thing that Messiah hates. Messiah praised those of the Ephesus Period, in this message, who hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. In this letter to the Church of Ephesus, Messiah has only one complaint: Rev 2:4 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Their relationship and attitude toward Messiah was not right. Despite all the hardships and hard work they were doing, the Believers of the Ephesus Period had left their first love. They definitely had been grounded in sound doctrine. Outwardly, they had the appearance of being a zealous, loving, and God-serving group of Believers. But, inwardly, there was disaffection of that passionate love that they first had at the beginning toward Messiah. Perhaps, they had forgotten that: 1 John 4:19 19 We love Him because He first loved us. Messiah now counsels the Church to: Rev 2:5 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen... Messiah is trying to cause them to remember where they were in the beginning. They had drifted away from Yeshua, their first love, even though they were doing many works and even suffering for His sake. Just because a person is serving God, does not mean he remembers the first love that he had for Messiah as he ought. God not only wants us to serve Him, but He also wants the totality of our spiritual heart. The greatest commandment is: Mark 12:30 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. Our love for Yehovah should far exceed our love for anything else in this life. We should be serving Yehovah not just because it is the right thing to do, but because of our overwhelming love for Him. We need to remember Yehovah s love for us and His everlasting gift in light of eternity. The love decline, in Ephesus, came not in a lack of service to God, but in their heart s devotion and love for Messiah. Messiah urges the Believers of Ephesus to recall their faithfulness of earlier years and to take inventory of their spiritual walk. He then instructs the Church to: 3
Rev 2:5 5... repent... and lastly, He advises them to: Rev 2:5 5... do the first works... Now comes the warning: Rev 2:5 5... or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. The love-lacking Church of Ephesus eventually lost its ability to shine in a lost world. The fervency of the Believers that brought in the Ephesus Period had diminished in its light within 70 years of its formation. As one of the shortest Church Periods, Ephesus was quickly removed and replaced by the next Church Period, Smyrna a Period of great persecution. Promises Are Given to Those of Ephesus Rev 2:7 7... To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."' The Tree of Life, of which those who overcome are given the opportunity to eat, is unquestionable the tree from which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat after their sin. A symbol of eternal life, it is pictured as having a prominent place in the Paradise of God that awaits those who put their trust in Him. The Tree of Eternal Life will be eaten only by overcomers. Who is an overcomer? In 1 John 5 we find the answer: 1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God? The letter ends with a message that says: Rev 2:7 7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..."' 4
The letter is addressed to the Church, in general; however, the message is directed also to the individual, HE that has an ear. Not everyone has an ear, or a heart, to hear Yehovah s Word. These verses are not addressed to the unbeliever or the make-believe Christian; they are directed to the Believers, the Church, the Ekklesia, the Bride. Even some that are Believers can become hardened toward God s Word and turn away. They no longer have an ear to hear correction. They no longer have a discerning heart to examine themselves by God s Word to see their true position with Him. They can no longer discern right and wrong by the Word. Therefore, both collectively and individually, they are being told, HE WHO HAS AN EAR (or a heart to understand), LET HIM HEAR. The verse continues, WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. The Spirit of Yehovah is speaking. These same words are repeated in all seven Churches. Note the word churches is used at the end. It is plural. While each Church only cover events from a specific period, all Church Periods are intended for the entire Church Age to consider and learn from. 5
Endnote: 1. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 6