httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW5-J0hSrm0

Chapters 2 and 3 are letters from Christ to His churches. He is going to inspect His churches. Before He judges the world He must judge His own people. 1 Peter 4:17 “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and it if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Historically: the actual churches named in these two chapters

Personally: for each believer

Prophetically: the church periods from the first century until the final church period

Each begins with a salutation: “To the angel of the church…”

Each begins with His knowing: “I know your….”

Each offers a promise: “to him who overcomes…”

Each concludes: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Six receive a commendation

Four receive a rebuke

Ephesus: Rev 2:1-7

2:1 “To the angel” – the leader of the church of Ephesus

“of the church in Ephesus write:” – Ephesus was the mother church of Asia Minor. All of the other churches addresses came after the church in Ephesus was started by Paul and had the wonderful opportunity to have Timothy and the apostle John himself lead them. Love was a word that occurred often in the book of Ephesians. Paul encouraged them to love the Lord, to love each other, and to love the lost. It is now four decades later that this letter is sent to them from the Lord Himself.

Read Ephesians 1:15, 3:14-19, 4:2, 4:16, 5:1, 5:25,

It was a city estimated at between 250,000 and 500,000 people. It was a self-governing city and prosperous. The city hosted athletic events rivaling the Olympic games. It also had many gods and goddesses.

“These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:” remember that seven is symbolic of fullness or completeness. The seven stars are the leaders of the churches and the seven lampstands are the churches. Because he uses the number seven we can see that He holds all church leaders in his hand and He walks among all the churches. He walks in the midst of your church, my church, this church. Gold represents preciousness and the church is precious to Him. He is very interested in the church. It bears His name.

2:2 “I know”: this word for know is oida which means to have complete and full knowledge. Not know as by experience but know as intimately aware – remember His gazing stare from chapter 1.

“your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance” The word hard work or toil comes from the word kopis which beans to labor to the point of sweat and exhaustion. He knows the hard work you do in the church (both within the walls and out). He sees. This was a serving church, a sacrificing church, and a steadfast church.

“I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and you have found then false.” They were a separated church who was discerning and not easily swayed.

2:3 “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” They were a suffering church. This is a wonderful commendation from the Lord Jesus Christ. Who wouldn’t want to hear these words?

2:4 “Yet I hold this against you:” Can you imagine Jesus saying this to you? “I have something against you.” These are Christians, believers. This is His church and it was a busy serving Church and He has something against them.

“You have forsaken your first love.” The church which started out so fervently in love with Jesus had cooled. What is first love? It is that wonderful, joyful, forsaking all love that you have when you first fall in love. Think back to your first love in a man. Now think back to your first love in Jesus. When did you first know Him? What was it like? He tells us in Deut 6:4-5 “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Labor is no substitute for love. The church that loses it love will soon lose its light.

2:5 “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” Think back to where you were the last time you were in love with Him. The word remember really means keep on remembering.

“Repent and do the things you did at first.” Remember, repent, return. Think back, repent – agree with God that it is sin, return – go back and do the things you did at first. What things? Prayer, bible study, worship.

“If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” You can obey or not obey. To disobey has consequences. He will personally visit you and remove your lampstand from its place. You cannot lose your salvation but you can lose your place of service. The glory can depart (Ichabod).

2:6 “But you have this in your favor: you hate the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” There is encouragement that they are doing some things right. The Nicolatitans were followers of Nicolas. Nicolas which means “to conquer the people” , started a sect of followers who lorded it over the church and robbed the people of their liberty in Christ. Nicolas was made a deacon in Acts 6. He was a false believer who became apostate but because of his credentials he was able to lead the church astray. The deeds of the Nicolaitans involved sensual temptations leading to immorality and eating things sacrificed to idols.

2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Holy Spirit must indwell you in order to hear. You can only hear the Spirit if you belong to Him. Pay attention to what He says.

“To him who overcomes” Overcomers are the believers. You are saved and you overcome this world. 1 John 5:4-5 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this the the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

“I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” The tree of life was in Eden and Adam and Eve were driven from it. See Genesis 2:9 and Revelations 223:2. Now in Revelation we see the tree is still there and it is eternal life. The paradise of God is heaven.