Message to the Church in Ephesus
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;
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:
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left
thy First Love.
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.
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.
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.
Rev 2:1-7 KJV
Ephesus was a large and important city on the west
coast of Asia Minor.
The church of Ephesus was a famous church planted by
the Apostle Paul (Acts 19), and afterwards watered and governed by Apostle
John.
This epistle to the church in Ephesus was sent from "He that holds the seven stars in His
right hand." "The seven stars" are “the angels of the seven
churches” (see Rev.1:20)
It was sent by The One “Who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”
(lampstands). “The seven lampstands” are “the seven churches” (Rev.1:20).
For each church, there is ‘a chief-angel (angel of the
church) in-charge of spiritual supervision over it. Each of these
“chief-angels” represent a host of angels of Heaven.
The angel of a church ministers to the church—special
“Word of Instruction” from Heaven, and gives his own unique brilliant light to the
church.
The churches also were given the ability to burn like
lampstands in the world.
‘The angel of a church’ also has the assignment of
divine security over the church.
God’s Divine Light in "the seven stars" (angels
of the seven churches) influences the churches for good. “The angels of the
seven churches” are supernatural instruments in His hand, and all the good they
do for the Church is done by His mighty hand which hold them.
Jesus Christ walks in the midst of “the golden
candlesticks” (the seven churches). This intimates His relation to His
churches.
He walks in the midst of the churches (the seven
golden candlesticks) on earth, observing what is amiss in them and what the
state of their spiritual growth is.
His heart desire is to purify His Church and make her
ready for “The Marriage Supper of The Lamb.”
The church in Ephesus was diligent in duty, and
patient.
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience…” (v.2)
It is not enough that ‘the Church’ be diligent, but we
must be patient, and endure hardship as soldiers of Christ.
The Church must have zeal against what is evil, and
continually hold on to her ‘First Love’—Jesus Christ our Lord.
Nicolaitans were an early Christian heretical sect
made up of followers of Nicolas, who was possibly the deacon of Acts 6:5. The
group is mentioned explicitly only in “the message to the church in Ephesus”
(Rev. 2:6), and in “the message to the church in Pergamos” (Rev. 2:14-15) –
where it is equated with a group holding "the doctrine of Balaam,"
who taught Israel "to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual
immorality."
Balaam probably was responsible for the cohabitation
of the men of Israel with the women of Moab (Num. 25:1-2; 31:16).
In these last days, Jezebel is at war against the
Church, and against the State.
The church in Thyatira was corrupted by ‘the spirit of
Jezebel’ (see Rev. 2:20).
"Jezebel" is the spirit that lures many
people into idolatry mixed with sexual immorality, false prophecy, false
teachings, witchcraft, and rebellion against GOD.
It is the spirit that influences people in government
to become corrupt, and spread corruption to the fabrics of society—education,
politics, security, science, sports, entertainment, business, et cetera.
‘The Christian life’ is a warfare against sin, Satan,
the world, and the flesh. It is not enough that we engage in this warfare, but
we must never yield to our spiritual enemies, but in total dependence on our
Lord, fight the good fight, till we gain the victory.