THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Part 5
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ
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By
John, Christ sent specific messages with warnings and eternal promises to “the
seven churches.”
Message
to the Church in Ephesus
The Words of Jesus written to the Church of Ephesus
"To
the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the Words of Him Who holds the
seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I
know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot
tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but
are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured
hardships for My Name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have
forsaken your First Love. Remember the
height from which 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.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what The
Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat
from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Rev
2:1-7 NIV
The church of Ephesus, a famous church planted by
the Apostle Paul in Acts 19. The Lord started this church with about 12 men.
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the
interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them,
"Did you receive The Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit."
So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He
told the people to believe in the One coming after Him, that is, in
Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the Name of The Lord
Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, The Holy Spirit came on them, and
they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
Acts 19:1-7 NIV
After this church was planted by Apostle Paul, it
was afterwards watered and governed by John, who had his residence very much
there.
Timothy was of an excellent spirit, and naturally
cared for the good state of the souls of the people, he was sole pastor and
bishop, of this church at this time.
Here we have one of those titles that were given to
Christ in His appearance to John in the chapter foregoing: “He that holds the
seven stars in His right hand, and walks in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks, ch. 1:13,16.
This title consists of two parts :—(1.) “He that
holds the stars in His right hand.” The angels of God are under His special
care and protection. It is the honor of God that He knows the number of the
stars, and calls them each by their names. It is the honor of The Lord Jesus
Christ that His spirit-messengers, who bring His blessings to ‘the heirs of
Salvation,’ are in His hand.
Ministers of the Gospel are ministered to by the
stars in His right hand. His “stars” are instruments in His hand, and all the
good they do is done by His hand with them.
(2.) “He walks in the midst of the golden
candlesticks.” This intimates His relation to the churches. Christ is in an
intimate manner present and conversant with the churches; He knows and observes
their state; He takes pleasure only in His obedient servants; as a man does to
walk in his garden. Though Christ is in Heaven, He walks in the midst of the
churches on earth, observing what is amiss in them and what it is that they
want. This is a great encouragement to God’s people, to remain steadfast with
Him.
The Church of Ephesus forsook her "First
Love."
Christ is our "First Love."
Anyone who once knew Him, but forsakes Him, falls from
a great height.
May we all reach to the top of the mountain and
behold Him!
Church of Ephesus was known as “church of the
Apostles,” it was ‘desirable.’ Was planted by the apostle Paul in the 1st
Century.