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Revelation 2:1-7 “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: 2 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 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. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 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.”
REMEMBER that all of Revelation is God’s message to seven churches named in chapter one. Within the entire message is our Lord’s particular encouragement, admonishment, rebuke and praise to both these seven churches and to his universal until he comes again. God’s first specific message is to Ephesus. Ephesus was also the site of a grand temple to the goddess Artemis – the one who Romans and Greeks believed gave life. As it is true today, many traditions and much idolatry blinded people in Ephesus to the true Lord of Life. The Holy Spirit, then, had formed this church in a strategic spot. Jesus’ “lampstand” shines brightest in sin’s darkest strongholds. The church had been a light to the nation. Jesus praised their hard work and perseverance, staying strong through trials. The Lord commends them for their focus on pure living and right teaching. They have cleansed the church of false teachers who tried to infect the true gospel. This is the meaning, also, of “You hate the practices of the Nicolaitan s, which I also hate.” These were people who succumbed to sexual immorality and other ungodly ways of living, even as they claimed to worship Jesus. But then Jesus rebuked Ephesus. The church seems to have become too works focused, forgetting their highest purpose is to love the Lord God. He commands the church to repent and do the things you did at first – be faithful to the true gospel. If they do not, he will remove his light from Ephesus. A church without Jesus’ light is no church. Does this seem harsh? Then remember the Lord commands us to love him above all. A command is not an option. Jesus spoke his firm truth in John 15:10 “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Loving as Jesus loves is essential to be his church. Then Jesus gives a blessing of obedience: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” The Tree of Life image is very important in Revelation. In Genesis 3, we read that God set a guard of cherubim at the Tree of Life in Eden, so sinful man would not taste of it and live forever. Jesus’ sacrifice has opened the way to the Tree of Life. Believe and obey Jesus. Receive life everlasting. Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for commanding us to love you above all. Comments are closed.
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AuthorBob James Archives
February 2025
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