THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION - EPHESUS

RECOVERING OUR FIRST LOVE - REVELATION 2:1-7

Having experienced his encounter with the glorified Christ recorded in Revelation chapter one, John receives messages for seven churches located in Asia Minor.  These churches are geographically ordered so that a messenger could visit each one with a circular itinerary, delivering Christ’s revelation to each one in sequence.  Each message includes an aspect of the previous description of Christ, a summary of the church’s behavior in various degrees of commendation and rebuke, a call to repentance for most and a promise accompanying a response of obedience.  It is addressed to “the angel of the church”, which probably refers to the church leadership, who will receive the message.  The term, “angel”, literally means messenger and can be supernatural referring to angelic beings (such as in Daniel 10:13, 20) or natural referring to human beings (Luke 9:52).

The first church is in Ephesus, to which previously Paul ministered (Acts 19; 20:17-38) and wrote a letter (Ephesians), and where Timothy ministered as a pastor (1 Timothy 1:3).  The description of Christ, as the holder of "the seven stars" and walking among "the seven golden lampstands", focuses on His authority over the churches and presence among them (Revelation 2:1).  He commends the church at Ephesus for its persevering toil and rejection of false teaching and apostles in protecting God's name (Revelation 2:2-3).  Nevertheless, Christ rebukes them for inward spiritual defection in losing their first love, which may be toward Him or one another (Revelation 2:4).  He calls them to remember what they have lost and repent by returning to their first works sourced in love (Revelation 2:5a).  This is accompanied with a warning of losing their witness if no repentance occurs (Revelation 2:5b). 

An additional commendation encourages the church to respond positively in that they “hate the Nicolaitans”, which probably refers to another source of false teaching (Revelation 2:6).  The label can be translated, "conquer the people", which is similar to the associated term in Revelation 2:14-15, “Balaam”, also meaning "conquer the people" but with a different setting.  The mention again of the Nicolaitans alongside the episode with Balaam suggests a similar problem is in view.  At the very least, this group sought control of believers through its false teaching.  Next, Christ commands the recipients to receive the message and adds a promise of access to “the tree of life”, which suggests a guarantee of eternal life (Revelation 2:7).  Overcomers (“one who conquers”), used seven times in these letters to the churches, are not a special category of believers, but a description of all genuine believers who share in Christ’s victory (1 John 5:4-5).

The Ephesian church started well under the ministry of the Apostle Paul and then continued with Timothy as the pastor, but over time things have changed.  The commitment to doctrinal orthodoxy remained strong but the motivation driving it has changed.  Perhaps that change was a loss of love toward God, while keeping the external activities going, which tends toward legalism.  Or, possibly the loss of love was among the believers and so the external conformity to correct doctrine resulted in a focus on agreeing with one another rather than loving one another.  Both may be in view.  We can all fall into the trap of doctrinal alignment without devotional fervor, leading us astray from genuine spirituality.  May we learn from this message to the church at Ephesus and protect our heart, as we do our mind.  Remembering how we first expressed our love for God and one another is a good starting point.