REVELATION: THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Class 2. Church of Ephesus The Loveless Church When Jesus addressed the churches in the book of Revelation, He ministered to them with a 4-point communication. a. First - He told them what they were doing that pleased Him. He testified to their faithfulness in certain areas to encourage them. b. Second He told them what they doing wrong and what He had against them in order to expose their sin or problem. c. Third He told them what they needed to do in clear, concise and precise terms. In doing this He corrected them and gave them a way of escape from their sin and problems. d. Fourth He told them what they could expect as the fruit of their repentance and obedience. By doing this, He provided a way for them to measure their obedience to His direction and it provided for them an obtainable goal. I. EPHESUS THE LOVELESS CHURCH Rev 2:1-7 1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 1 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' NKJV A. The City and the Lord Jesus - Acts 18-20 1. Ephesus was a great commercial center of Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Cayster and on the shore of the Aegean Sea, about 50 miles south of Smyrna. It was noted for the great temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world (Acts 19:20). The site of the city is now covered with ruins and the residence of a miserable Turkish village without a Christian living there, fulfilling Rev. 2:5. According to tradition, it was the residence of John before and after his imprisonment on Patmos. Read Acts 19:21-41 2. The name Ephesus means: desired one. This was the most desirable of churches and church ages because it was characterized by fervent evangelism! It held a large percentage of Jews who were zealous of Jesus as their Messiah and ready to share the Gospel of Jesus fearlessly among the people. Therefore, Jesus notices their act of service and commends them for it. Dr. M. R. DeHann, the great prophetic bible teacher, once stated, To come to Christ costs you nothing, to follow Christ costs something, but to serve Christ costs everything. 3. Verse 1 says; These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstand. Again, Jesus reminds the church Who He is and is described as the One Who Oversees every church and is in charge of the ministering angels or messengers there. This portrays Christ as the Head of the church and every ministry. B. The Fruit of the Ephesian Church Rev 2:2-3 2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. NKJV 2 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
1. Verse 2 This church is known for its works for Christ and its patience with those who attended it and were willing to learn and grow. If there were some who came with wrong motives or were just plain evil or wicked, they were not allowed inside the church in order to protect those who were members in the fellowship. This was very commendable in Jesus eyes as these leaders protected Jesus body or flock, as He desired all shepherds to do. 2. The word for church is ecclesia, literally meaning called out ones. Tim LaHaye states that a true church is a church in the world but not of the world. Not partaking of the world or fraternizing with those who caused divisions or corrupted God s word characterized them. Rom 16:17-20 17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. NKJV 3. False Apostles Jesus expresses a major concern of His against false teachers, prophets and apostles and the church s willingness to tolerate them. Jesus taught to be aware and not tolerate anyone who would distort His Word or weaken its power or authority. Jesus knew the Ephesus church toiled with great difficulty and He recognized their perseverance under trial. This church refused to tolerate evil men in their congregation that falsely claimed to have known and seen Jesus. These evil men were put on trial and found guilty of lying! 3 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
4. Jesus instructs us to test all who claim spiritual authority! He would later rebuke Pergamum and Thyatira for accepting rather than withstanding those disloyal to the truth of His Word and the standards God has established throughout history in His covenants and commandments. C. The Problem with the Ephesian Church and Christ s Warning Rev 2:4-5 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. NKJV 1. This refers to the Ephesians first deep devotion to Christ and His Word, which had degenerated into a dead orthodox routine. 2. This warning from Jesus should tell us that knowing correct doctrine, obeying some of the commands and worshipping in the church are not enough. We must have a growing, heartfelt love for Jesus and His Word. This speaks of building a daily relationship with Christ on a consistent basis. 3. Christ establishes a plan for the Ephesians: a. Remember the height from which you ve fallen - Jesus tells them to take an inventory of their life and relationship with Him and honestly discern where it is and where it s heading. b. Repent They are to turn back from their coldness and indifference to a vital relationship with Christ. c. Do the things you did first We are known by our fruit! (Matt. 7:16) If we truly love Him with all of our heart, we will obey His every command. (John 14:15) If we are a people of excuses, indulgences and have a lack of consecration, we by our conduct only prove that we do not love the Lord Jesus with all our heart, our entire mind, all our soul and all our strength! Christians who are unwilling to yield all their talents and capabilities to Jesus Christ have a love problem they do not love Christ sufficiently. 4 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
4. Christ threatened to remove the lampstand from the church. I see lampstands as an instrument of illumination and revelation. I believe that Jesus was saying He would take away the ability of that church to be a light and revelation of Jesus Himself. That can only be done by removing the Holy Spirit and His ministry from the church leaving it in a darkened state with no light or revelation from God in it. D. Hating the Practices of the Nicolaitans Rev 2:5-7 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." NKJV 1. Nicolaitans A sect started by Nicolas, a disciple who was picked to serve in the ministering of widows on behalf of the Apostles. Acts 6:1-7 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 5 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. NKJV 2. The Nicolaitans were supposedly a sect of Gnostics. They taught impure and immoral doctrines, such as the community of wives, that committing adultery and fornication was not sinful and that eating meats offered to idols was lawful. 3. The name Nicolaitans is symbolic, meaning, Conquering the Laity. Some believe that this group held a superior status in the spiritual realm than other believers that allowed them to commit immorality without consequence. They felt that their spirit or soul was perfect and separate from their sinful nature and that whatever they did in the flesh wouldn t carry over into the soul or spirit. 4. They shared the same sin as Balaam. Balaam was a false prophet who sold his services to a heathen king and advised him to tempt Israel to compromise their faith by adultery and immorality. (Num. 22:5, 7; 25:1-2; 31:16) The teaching of Balaam refers to corrupt teachers and preachers who were leading people into fatal compromise with immorality, worldliness and false ideologies, all for the sake of personal advancement and monetary gain. Num 22:2-8 2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4 So Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this company will lick up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." 7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner's fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. NKJV Num 25:1-5 1 Then Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor." NKJV 5. God hates heresy and the teaching that we can be saved and live immoral lives. To hate these practices as God does is an essential characteristic of those who are loyal to Christ. E. He Who Has Ears and Overcomes Rev 2:7 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' NKJV 1. He who has an ear, let him hear. Jesus used this term many times in His teachings and parables. There are three individuals who will fall into this category. a. Those without ears Those who are not attuned to the Holy Spirit because they are not born again or anointed by the Holy Spirit to hear Him. 7 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
1 Cor. 2:9-14 9 But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa. 64:4; 65:17]. 10 Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man s scrutiny]. 11 For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man s thoughts except the man s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. 14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. b. Those who are dull of hearing. Not all born again Christians desire or are willing to hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks. Some are in rebellion against the Holy 8 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
Spirit and His mastery over their lives as mentioned in Hebrews 5. Heb. 5:11-14 11 Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight]. 12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law. c. Those spiritually minded Christians who are willing to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. The test of this hearer is seen in their conduct as doers of the word of God and not hearers only! James 1:22-25 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24f or he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV 9 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
Matt 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' NKJV Luke 6:46-49 46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." NKJV 2. He who overcomes will eat from the tree of life. This is the tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from after their sin. God will give us the right to eat from it if we overcome! Who is it that overcomes? 1 John 5:3-5 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 Jesus is the Son of God? NKJV 1 John 5:3-5 3 Loving God means doing what he tells us to do, and really, that isn't hard at all; 4 for every child of God can obey him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him. 10 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2
5 But who could possibly fight and win this battle except by believing that Jesus is truly the Son of God? TLB 3. That tree of life is in the garden waiting for us! Rev 22:1-2 1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. NKJV 11 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 2