As we look at these seven churches, there
are three ways to study them:
1) according to their history as
churches;
2) according to their history and
prophetic message; or
3) according to their representation
as the church body. There are people who think that
Revelation
was just for the seven churches and we should read them as history.
The people who think the seven churches are just
history with no prophetic significance, want to skip these first
chapters and go to chapter 4. With this mindset, an important question
comes up. What about the rest of the New Testament, since it was written
to other churches? Therefore, you can see why this kind of thinking
would cause a major problem.
The second approach is to see them as history and
prophecy. We saw the problem with them being history. Yet the issue with
prophecy is that we see them as future events or the stages in the
development of Christianity. This means that we will not use them as a
mirror into our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Therefore,
if the words to the seven churches are for the future we do not have to
think about it now.
The third view is the one that causes pain, but it is
healing pain. For if we recognize them to represent the church as a
whole and we understand that we are the church, and then they represent
each one of us. Therefore, we will have to pay very close attention to
how each one of them may reflect us. Many people do not enjoy examining
themselves. Some of us have a very high opinion of ourselves or a very
low opinion of ourselves.
If you fall into any one of these areas then you will
have some hard times as we examine these seven churches. For in our walk
with Christ we have been one of these churches at some time in our
lives. The question is, which one are you now? Hold on to this verse as
we move on Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of
this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the
time is at hand. Rev. 1:3.
The first letter goes to the church of Ephesus. The
name Ephesus means desirable or first love. Ephesus was the capital of
the Ionian state and was known for its wealth, wisdom, and wickedness.
The people worshipped Diana and the worship of her had spread over the
known world. In Acts 19, we see that Paul had trouble in this city, but
a church was born there and became a key church. In Acts 20: 17 32 we
see Paul warning them. We can also call this letter I am leaving my
first love. In chapter 2:1, we are told who is writing this letter and
what position the author holds in the church.
In verses 2-3, the church is commended for some
specific things. In order for us to appreciate what they are being
commended for we need to know the meaning of the key words presented in
the original Greek language.
Verse 2:
Know = fullness of divine knowledge
- Works = task
- Labor = toil resulting in weariness or trouble
- Patience = an abiding under trails, undeserved
affliction, incident to service to God
- Bear = to support as a burden of the refusal to
endure evil men
- Evil = whatever is evil in character, base, not
beneficial, not useful, destructive
- Tried = tested
- Apostles = one sent forth
- Found = search by enquiry
- Liars = false witness
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Verse 3:
- Borne = to bear in respect of the sufferings endured in the
cause of Christ
- Patience = an abiding under trails, undeserved affliction,
incident to service to God
- Name = all that it implies, authority, character, rank,
majesty, power, excellence
- Labored = to toil
- Fainted = grown weary from constant work
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Therefore, there are seven things they are being commended for:
- hard work
- determination
- intolerance toward wickedness
- testing false claims
- unrelenting
- enduring hardship
- not growing weary
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Yet even with these commendations, there is still condemnation. The
Ephesus church had forgotten their focus. Remember Ephesus was the
capital of the Ionian state and was known for its wealth and worldly
wisdom that then moved into the church impacting the body.
In verse 4, the following definitions are useful:
- Left = to send away, or put away
- First = chief
- Love = the identification of believers with God
in character, and judgment seat hereafter
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In other words, they were
about church business and not Godly business. Even with this attitude,
God still loved them enough to send a warning to them. Included with
this warning was some counsel on how to return to the right relationship
with God. In verse 5, the following definitions are useful:
- Remember = call to mind
- Fallen = to fall out of its course
- Repent = to change one's mind or purpose
- First = chief
- Works = task
- Quickly = swiftly
- Remove = to set in motion
- Except = save for the cause of
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In verse 6, the name
of Nicolaitans is used. So we need to know about them to understand why
their deeds are hated. The following definitions are useful:
- Deeds = work
- Hate = of a right feeling of aversion from
what is evil; said of wrongdoing
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The origin of this sect
is questionable. Some say they came from Nicholas of Antioch (Acts 6:5),
some say that they just used his name to gain the prestige, and others
say they come from a different Nicholas of a later date. No matter how
they came to be their teaching and lifestyle was counter to Jesus
teaching. They believed that they could practice fornication, adultery,
and that freedom in Christ gave them the right to do anything.
Verse 7 deals with the rewards for those who
overcome (prevail). These rewards include our future home in heaven, but
also the peace and joy to live in this world. For if the church lets
Jesus be its center, then we know that we are covered and protected by
God through Jesus. Remember what Jesus said before he left earth in John
14: 15-21, also 1 John 5: 3-5.
