REV. # 4~1:17-20 CHURCH OF EPHESUS 5-9-09
Today we’ll continue our study of this great book of prophecy, this is # 4 0f our study.
Before we go into chapter 2: I want to point out once again that the key verse of the Revelation is 1:19.,
The Book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that contains an inspired outline of the entire book. The Lord said to John the writer;
1:19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
I. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN ch. 1:** John’s vision of the exalted Christ
II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE - chs. 2—3** --The messages to the seven churches that had began in John day and would continue until the rapture of the True church, its been being built now for over 2000 years, and by the things that are happening in the world today, the rapture could happen just any time.
III. THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER ---chs. 4—22**
Listen as I read part of verses 12-13 & 16 to get our thought line back on track,
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man,
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars:
Verse 20 the Lord explains the mystery of the seven golden candlesticks, and seven stars.
20The 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.
In Scripture, “mystery” refers to what was before unknown but is then revealed by revelation from God. It’s not something mysterious, but previously unknown.
The candle sticks, are the churches portraying their function and purpose in the world, and the stars are the angels or messengers of the seven churches.
The spiritual significance is that these angels are messengers, or the Ministers who are responsible for the spiritual welfare of these seven churches and are in the right hand of the Son of God, indicating possession, protection, and sovereign control.
As the churches were to cast off light as a lamp stand, or candle stick as it is here, the leaders of the churches were to project light as stars The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
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With the Church of Ephesus, we begin with the 2nd part, the things which are.
THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS ~the time period of about ~30-100 A.D
Listen as I read Chapter 2: 1-7 and lets notice that its all in red writing as it’s the Lord doing the talking.
1Unto 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; 2I 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:
3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember 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.
6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He 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.
“the things which are”. The 7 churches. The church age. The messages to the churches have a threefold meaning.
First, each message has a direct bearing upon the church to which it was written. Each message was a measuring rod by which each church could know it’s standing in the sight of the Lord Jesus who is the Head of the True Church.
Lets not forget that there was only one letter and it was sent to all 7 churches, so all-7 churches could read are hear how the Lord saw each assembly.
Paul sent 7 letters to 7 churches, and a 2nd epistle to some. R-C-G-E-P-C-Th.
Ø Also lets keep in mind that each letter has a personal application as well.
To each church, and to each church member Christ says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Each church individually, as well as the seven churches combined, reveals a prophetic picture, or different stages we could say in the life of the Church on earth, commencing with Pentecost, when the True Church was born and concludes with the Rapture.
When John wrote he probably didn’t understand all that these 7 churches represented, John, like all the other writers of Prophecy just wrote down what he was told whether he under stood it are not.
Soldiers don’t ask why, they just do what their told.
So keep in mind that these 7 churches in 2: & 3: is a prophetic picture of seven periods of time that tells the Church’s history on earth.
The Ephesus message was addressed to the spiritually strong apostolic Church of the first century, but as we’ll see they begin to leave their 1st love.
Ephesus was a strategic city, the seacoast capital of proconsular Asia, and was one of the great religious, political, and commercial centers. The famous temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was situated in Ephesus.
Its not certain as to how or when the Word of God was first preached in Ephesus. But we do know that Paul stayed three years in that city (Acts 20:31).
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;
The name “Ephesus” means desirable, and this was the desirable church. The “stars,” which are the angels [or messengers], are held in His right hand, the place of power and authority, and that’s the only place where His servants can be sustained and strengthened.
In the early days of the Church Christ walked in the midst as the recognized Head, and men took instructions from Him (Ephesians 1:22 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, -
He is concerned with the “living stones” as Peter calls the believers and not so much the building.
But the Ephesian believers were so busy maintaining their separation that they were neglecting true worship. Labor is no substitute for love.
When we read Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, we read of many references to love. Paul also emphasized the believer’s exalted position “in Christ... in the heavenly places.” But the Ephesian church had fallen and was not living up to its heavenly position in Christ
In verses 2-3 we see The Lords APPROVAL of some things.
2 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:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Having all-seeing and discerning eyes, He knows and is therefore qualified to approve or disapprove; He approved them for their sacrificial service, their works and labor. Vs 1.
The early Church was marked by missionary and evangelistic zeal as seen in the house-to-house witnessing, the missionary Journeys of Paul, the witness of men and women like Stephen, Philip, and Ananias, Barnabas, Priscilla and Acquila, and others.
The church at Ephesus was a time of HoIy-Spirit-directed activity. He approved them for their steadfastness.
But in verse 4 He says: 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
They maintained a spirit of sacrifice, steadfastness, separation, and a keenness for detecting heresy, but they were guilty of a sin that no average person could detect.
They had left their first love. He told His disciples in Matthew 24-12, concerning the last days, that the love of many shall wax cold.
But we see that they could not be charged with having no love at all for Christ, but they had left their first love.
It is the one thing that the Lord wants more than anything else. The Lord is jealous of our hearts, and it is no small thing for Him to see our love declining.
Love is the first essential in Christian character, and when it starts to decline the soul begins to drift. It was not in doctrinal errors, but in the loss of first love, that was the root cause of the falling away in the early Church.
In verses 5- we read His ADMONITION:
5 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.
“First love” can be restored if we follow the instructions Christ gave. First, we must remember (literally “keep on remembering” what we have lost and revitalize a desire to regain that close communion once again.
And then re-pent**—change our minds—and confess our sins to the Lord-1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And then repeat the first works, which suggests restoring the original fellowship that was broken by our sin and neglect.
And this certainly means prayer, Bible reading and meditation, obedient service, and worship.
In spite of the privileges the church of Ephesus had enjoyed, it was in danger of losing its light!
The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, “I will come unto thee quickly here in verse 5 is not referring to the Lord’s return, but to His coming judgment then and there.
The glorious city of Ephesus today is only a heap of stones and no light is shining there.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Nicolaitans is a compound word. Nikao means “to conquer,” and laos means “the people.
This was a priestly order, which was beginning to take shape, when we get to the 3rd & 4th church, [pergamas & Thyatira, we’ll read more about them and see that the people excepted it.
7 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
