Message to the Church of Ephesus
Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus
What Jesus first revealed about these letters to John on the island of Patmos
Revelation 1:11
“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
The seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1:11 were located in a province under the Roman Empire, which was then known as Asia Minor, and it is an area that belongs to present-day Western Turkey.
1. Background information about the city/church of Ephesus
Ephesus, located in the western part of Asia Minor, was an important city at that time. There was a port in this city, which had a population of about 300,000, and this port was on the bank of the ‘Cayster’ river. This river fell into the Aegean Sea and the island of Patmos, where John stayed, was located in this sea.
Ephesus was also a trade center due to its location on a major trade route. And Ephesus was then under the rule of a Roman governor.
A large temple was also located in Ephesus to worship a Roman goddess known as ‘Diana’. Because of the fact that the goddess represented sexuality and fertility, immorality and sin spread throughout Ephesus.
2. How Jesus describes himself.
Revelation 2:1 :- ”….. He who holds the star in his right hand and walks in the midst of the golden lampstand says these things.”
i. ‘He who holds the star in his right hand’
Jesus addresses his message to the ‘messenger’ of the congregation to whom the letter was sent.
However, Jesus introduces himself to the church of Ephesus as “He who holds the seven stars from his right hand”. Meanwhile, Revelation 1:20 states that “the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” Thus, our Lord Jesus declares that He holds all the apostles of the seven churches of Asia Minor at His right hand.
ii. ‘He who walks among the seven golden lampstands’ (Revelation 1:20)
The seven lamps are the seven churches.
By this he reminds,
– That he is working in the assembly.
– That the congregation is being built.
– That it is the Lord who appreciates the good works of the congregation.
– It is the Lord who sees the shortcomings, mistakes or sins of the congregation and points them out to the congregation.
3. Appreciation of Jesus’ service and work in the church of Ephesus.
Revelation 2:2
“I know thy works, and thy labor, 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.”
i. ‘I know your works’
Every true Christian knows very well that we are all ‘saved from sin’ because of our faith and not by our good works.
(Ephesians 2:8,9)
According to the word of God, we are not saved by good works. Anyone can be saved in accepting Jesus and at the same time be baptized. It is very important for us who have been saved through faith to do good things like Jesus.
ii. I know your hard work and your perseverance
Because of the location of the church in Ephesus, it was difficult to serve in Ephesus. Things to be like this,
– The Temple of Diana, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, is located there
In the midst of many difficulties and obstacles, the church of Ephesus patiently did not give up their work and worked faithfully.
iii. and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars.
A person who has been able to perform miracles by some power other than God’s may be able to start some Christians or Christian churches. Children of God, like the church at Ephesus, we seek those who say you are spiritual, and let us approach men who show not power but the character of Christ.
4. Jesus criticizes, advises and warns the church of Ephesus
Revelation 2:4,5
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
i. The danger of losing our love for God
– How much thirst do you have to approach God?
– Is the time you set aside daily for God, God’s word, prayer, and other things decreasing?
– Do you habitually do many useless things in the name of service and smile with Christian joy?
– Don’t you care too much about the sinful things in your life?
– Have you lost interest in bringing doomed people to salvation?
– Do you allow things like your family, friends, work to interfere with your relationship with God?
ii. Jesus’ instructions to the church
– Remember where you are from.
This means don’t forget the love God had in you when you first came to faith.
– Repent, that is, regret the decrease of the original love that was in you.
– Do the first actions. That is, do the actions you do with love as you did in the past.
– Or I will remove your lampstand from its place (Revelation 2:5)
5. Jesus’ promise to overcome
Revelation 2:7
“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor* I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God.”‘