This word “Revelation” (apokalupsis) means disclosure, revealing, manifestation, appearing; and the base root means to take the cover off (apokaluptō). What is it saying? This book takes the cover off of Christ. It reveals Him in all His glory. From Ch.1 where John see's Him, through ch.2 and 3 where He is revealed to the seven churches, all the way through to ch.17 and 18 where He is revealed in His judgement of Mystery Babylon and the commercial city of Babylon, until ch.22 when He dwells in the midst of His people in a new heaven and earth.
The Careless Church: Rev.2:1-11
2:1, “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;” At the beginning of each of the seven letters certain attributes concerning Christ are set forth before the Church in a very specific manner. The two spoken to Ephesus concern the "stars" and the "candlesticks."
1:20, “The 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.”
The “stars” are the angels (aggelos) of the churches. This word literally means 'messengers.' Remember that in ch.1:1 and verse 11 we see that Christ sent an angel to John with this message and that John was to write the message in a book and send it to the seven angels of the seven churches. While only an angelic spiritual creature could carry a message from Christ to John you dont write letters to such angels. The messenger sent from Christ was indeed an angelic being but John wrote to seven local physical men who were the messengers to their local churches. The seven stars/angels are local church preachers. It is being revealed to the Church at Ephesus that these seven preachers are held in Christ's right hand. This means that He is the one who gives them, He upholds and encourages them, He blesses them and uses them, and He can remove them.
It is also revealed to them that Christ walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The “Candlesticks" (luchnia) are churches. This word actually means lampstand. Christ is active amongst these seven churches. He is revealed as the Great High Priest walking from candlestick to candlestick in order to keep the oil flowing and their fire burning. He inspects them inside out in order to remove any hindrance to the burning of the fire.
2:2, “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:” He has personal intimate knowledge of things which concern them.
“I know thy Works” (ergon) = an act, deed, business, employment. He is commending them. 'I know thy works. I know all the things you have done in the past. I have seen it all.'
“I know thy...labour” = to be worn down through work or trouble. Christ fully and intimately knew how they had been worn down in their good works and ministry. This is not condemned or rebuked.
“I know thy...patience” = cheerful (hopeful) endurance; (continuance). He not only knew that they keep going and kept going straight, but He also knew the attitude of heart in which they endured. It was a happy, hopeful, cheerful endurance. Endurance does not need to be drudgery.
“I know...how thou canst not bear them which are evil” = those that were worthless, bad, or trouble. They could not stand such or tolerate them in their midst. This is how the Church should be and Christ commends them for it and encourages them in it.
One last thing Christ had personal intimate close knowledge of: "I know...thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." Men came to Ephesus who "said", that is 'asserted, professed, affirmed' that they were "apostles." They were self proclaimed apostles. They were saying it of themselves. They claimed that they possessed a gifted ministry from Christ. They did not plant the work at Ephesus but had a desire to be recognised as apostles at Ephesus. We are told that the church "tried” them. This means 'to test, scrutinize, examine or prove.' Please note it was the church - the whole church - that tested these apostles. A local church has the right to test travelling men who claim to be apostles. No one is above testing. No one; including apostles. A man who claims that he is beyond being tested is a charlatan. After the church at Ephesus had tested these so-called "apostles" they found that they were “liars” (pseudes) = untrue, erroneous and deceitful. These self proclaimed apostles were using deceit, lies and falsehood to promote their ministries. They were false apostles.
2:3, “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”
“Borne” means to 'take with both hands and to lift.' In other words they were not being dominated, overwhelmed or carried along by these surrounding circumstances; they were taking charge and dealing with them. It was for the sake of Christ's name that they had done this. Again He mentions that they had "laboured." This Greek word means 'to grow tired, weary or to toil to the point of exhaustion.' A charismatic cliché I have heard over the years is that if you are tired, weary or exhausted in God's work then you have been operating in the flesh. This is an utter contradiction to Christ's wise words spoken to the Ephesians. He commended them for such but added that they had not "fainted."
This was an absolute sound church, orthodox in the faith and faithful in keeping false doctrine, false teachers and worldliness out of its midst. If we could stop there we would think all is wonderful. But we can't. There was a serious problem.
2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
They had “left” their "first love." This means that they 'neglected, deserted or disregarded it.' It is the same act as a man divorcing his wife; he puts her away. They had literally neglected their "first" love in a way that was without excuse. "First” (protos) means 'foremost in time, importance or place.' It was surely the love revealed in Acts 19 and 20 when the church was first established but it was more than that. It was their very best love which they had neglected. Their most vital love. To love (agape) Christ should have taken "first" place. It is good that they loved truth, loved to defend the Gospel, loved to protect the church; but that was not the first priority of their love. It should have been a burning hot love for Christ, first and foremost. This is so vital and fundamental that a serious warning is given.
2:5, “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.” If agape love for Christ is not your preeminent task then you have fallen from the best place and been moved from the initial track you were set on at the beginning of your walk. We have 4 R's here. If the first three are not followed then He will perform the 4th.
1. “Remember” = to exercise the memory, to rehearse. This is how you begin to get back to your first love. Begin to remember how it was when Christ was the supreme and vital thing when everything else flowed out of this.
2. “Repent.” There are two different Greek words used in the NT for repentance. One deals with the emotions the other deals with the mind. It is this second form of repentance mentioned here. It means 'to change ones mind.'
3. Redo – “do the first works” (protos). A return to the "first love" is a return to "first works." You cannot separate love from works. They are intimately connected. Never to be parted. Doing what you did at the beginning is part of recovering first love. As a believer begins to lose their primary love they begin to neglect things which they were once diligent over.
4. “Remove” (kineo) = to move, set in motion, to disturb. If the church did not listen then Christ would remove their candlestick. This would be a removal of their testimony, their light, their influence, their purpose in Ephesus and Asia.
2:6, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” After a serious rebuke, warning and call to repentance Christ again turns to words of encouragement in commending them.
They hated (literally detested) the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Who were these Nicolatians? This was some form of spiritual movement in Asia that had either arisen within or infiltrated from without. It is taken from the name Nikolaos which is made up of two Greek words: Nikos (nike) meaning conquest, triumph, victory or to subdue. And laos which is the Greek word for people (laity). In other words it was a form of leadership which triumphed over or subdued God's people. They were above the laity, they dominated the laity, they insisted on submission from the people in the churches to their leadership. This was the beginning of a clergy mentality.
Where does the word clergy come from? – When Peter writes to elders in I Pet.5:3, he says “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” This word "heritage" is klēros in the Greek. It means the possession of God. It is clearly used concerning the people of God in local churches. The people are God's kleros/clergy. It is not a leadership term. Peter also warns that the elders are to lead by example not by force. There is no clergy/laity divide in the church. Leadership is not forceful or abusive. Godly leadership does not demand submission any more than a godly husband demands submission from his wife. Thank God the Church at Ephesus hated the “deeds” (works, an act, deed, business, employment) of these Nicolatians. They had no time or room in their church for such styles of leadership.
2:7, “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.”
“overcometh” (nikaō) = subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory. While some men wanted to overcome the Church, Christ calls the whole church to overcome such tests and trials. There is indeed a promised reward for all who do. Christ promised a future eternal reward of life, peace and refreshment to all who would hear what the Spirit of God was saying to the Church. The Holy Spirit through chosen messengers speaks directly into the heart of what is going on in a local church.
History
Ephesus was the capitol of the Roman province of Asia (western Turkey) with a population of 250,000 people (3rd biggest in the Empire). It was famous for its worship of the goddess Diana or Artemis. She was the mother goddess of all Asia. She was called the Lady of Ephesus and considered to be a virgin as well as the Mother of the gods. Her temple was supported by 100 great columns, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. When Paul pioneered the Church at Ephesus we see how powerfully the gospel turned goddess worship on its head and shook its influence and control to the very core throughout all of Asia (Acts 20).
Sad to say the Church at Ephesus did not maintain this powerful impact upon pagan (babylonish) worship. A day came when the religion of Ephesus and Asia began to invade the church. A church council was called at Ephesus in 431 AD with 250 bishops in attendance from many other cities and lands. While discussing the divinity of Christ Mary was proclaimed as the 'Carrier of God' which was to become well known and widely used as the 'Mother of God.' It would not be long before the worship of Mary would take on many other ancient pagan names like Queen of Heaven, the Lady, perpetual virgin, etc which all had their origin in Mesopotamia. This was to later become central to the worship of the Catholic church in Rome and acrossthe world.
Today there is no Ephesus - no city and no church. It is an archaeological site. It is only ruins. In the end Christ did indeed remove the candlestick because of their loss of their "first love."
LISTEN TO SERMONS ON THIS SERIES