The apostle John is next directed to begin to write to the angels over the seven congregations. First Christ identifies who he is and what he has been doing. Some of the counsel is directed specifically to people, but first it is to those over it. Christ gives them spiritual direction and warns of the consequences of failure. He also reminded the congregation of their reward for victory.
To The Angel of Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-29… “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: “This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands.
The New Testament traces some of the history of the congregation in Ephesus from its founding in Acts 18 to facing this rebuke of Jesus here at Revelation 2:1-7.
The word Ephesus means desirable, and in many ways it was certainly a desirable place to live. In the ancient world, Ephesus was a center of travel and commerce. Situated on the Aegean Sea at the mouth of the Cayster River, the city was one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world. Three major roads led from the seaport:
- One road went east towards Babylon via Laodicea
- Another to the north via Smyrna
- A third south to the Meander Valley
On Paul’s second missionary journey (52 AD), he visited Ephesus after leaving Corinth, and evidently started the church there. Acts 18:19
On Paul’s third missionary journey (54-56 AD), Paul spent up to three years teaching in the city. Acts 19:8-10 He spent his time addressing false doctrines and pagan practices. Paul’s teaching in the rented school of Tyrannus was so successful that those who practiced magic brought their books and burned them as an act of repentance. Acts 19:18-20
As the sale of silver idolatrous images began to fall off, the silversmiths caused uproar. Shortly after the dust settled Paul left for Macedonia. Acts 19:26-41
Several months later (57 AD) Paul met with the Ephesian elders on the nearby island of Miletus and made his farewell address to them. Their mutual love is evident as these tenderhearted men weep over what God has done, they know they will not see Paul again. Their conversation and prayer are evident there is increasing maturity in the faith. The picture now is of a church that has been carefully nurtured to the point of vitality. Acts 20
About a decade after the church had been started, Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians commending their faith and love (62 AD). A careful reading of this epistle shows that they had done well. They appeared to be devout in their faith, well organized, and busy in the gospel. During these early years they had been growing, expanding and doing the will of God. Jews and Gentiles, from several ethnicities and nationalities, had come together to form the “one new man,” (Ephesians 2:15), “one body” (Ephesians 2:16). They were multiethnic as well as diverse in their socioeconomic make-up. Paul commends their sincerity in the final sentence of his letter: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” Ephesians 6:24
In Paul’s first epistle to Timothy, we begin to see there is some evidence of doctrinal drifting:
1 Timothy 1:3-4… “As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith”.
The apostle John wrote three letters probably no later than 90 AD. He wrote from Ephesus and to the churches mentioned in Revelation 2:8–3:22. The church by that time had some difficult problems and had apparently undergone a church split. False teachers had arisen in the church who claimed to have deeper knowledge of the things of God. They claimed to have the “secret” to knowing Christ, but in reality, they denied Him by their works. They taught many other heretical concepts, their motive may have been to take some elements of pagan religion and blend them with Christianity, in order to make it more acceptable to the pagan culture.
It was during the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD) that John was banished to Patmos. During this period the Lord gives His assessment of the Ephesian congregation through the apostle John.
We have no way of knowing whether they corrected their problem but, sadly, the church started to die sometime during the second century. In later centuries Ephesus was even a leading city for the councils of the early Roman church.
Next Christ gives the angel commendation for the work they been doing.
I Know How Hard
Revelation 2:2-3…I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not and have found out that they are liars. 3 You are patient, you have suffered for my sake, and you have not given up.
An apostle is someone that has been sent by Christ Jesus to do works in his name. Should we put men to the test who say they are sent by Jesus Christ to help us?
Follow the Hyperlink to have that question answered:
The Rebuke
Revelation 2:4-5…But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first. 5 Think how far you have fallen! Turn from your sins and do what you did at first. If you do not turn from your sins, I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place.
For the angel to have the lampstand removed from his place would be like a slap to the face. It would be a disgrace and a dishonor. The angel would no longer have the authority to minister to the people of the Ephesus congregation.
As members of the congregation, we too should take note of the counsel being given to the angel over the congregation. We should have the mindset to allow for our readjustment in our thinking and our actions.
Revelation 2:6…But this is what you have in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans do, as much as I do.
What were the Nicolaitans doing?
The Sect of Nicolaus
Acts 6:5 tells us that this Nicolas was “a proselyte of Antioch.” The fact that he was a proselyte tells us that he was not born a Jew but had converted from paganism to Judaism. Then he experienced a second conversion, this time turning from Judaism to Christianity. From this information, we know these facts about Nicolas of Antioch:
He had deep pagan roots, very much unlike the other six deacons who came from a pure Hebrew line. Nicolas’ pagan background meant that he had previously been immersed in the activities of the occult.
According to the writings of the Early Church leaders, Nicolas taught a doctrine of compromise, implying that total separation between Christianity and the practice of occult paganism was not essential. From Early Church records, it seems apparent that this Nicolas of Antioch was so immersed in occultism, Judaism, and Christianity that he had a stomach for all of it. He had no problem intermingling these belief systems in various concoctions and saw no reason why believers could not continue to fellowship with those still immersed in the black magic of the Roman empire and its countless mystery cults.
Occultism was a major force that warred against the Early Church. In Ephesus, the primary pagan religion was the worship of Diana (Artemis). There were many other forms of idolatry in Ephesus, but this was the primary object of occult worship in that city
It seems that the “doctrine” of the Nicolaitans was that it was all right to have one foot in both worlds and that one need not be so strict about separation from the world in order to be a Christian. This, in fact, was the “doctrine” of the Nicolaitans that Jesus “hated.” It led to a weak version of Christianity that was without power and without conviction, a defeated, worldly type of Christianity. The evil fruit of Nicolas’ “doctrine” encouraged worldly participation, leading people to indulge in sin and a lowered godly standard. In this way he literally conquered the people.
Listen to the Spirit
Revelation 2:7…If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches! “To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the Garden of God.
Before Jesus his death he told his disciples about the helper that would come. We need not rely upon our own understanding but that we have help from above that we need to rely on.
John 16:13-14… However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming. 14 That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to You.
We should pray for the spirit of truth to operate upon our minds and our hearts. If we continue to seek truth we will indeed find righteousness.
The next letter is written to the angel of Smyrna.
The Message to Smyrna
Revelation 2:8-9…To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived again. 9 I know your troubles; I know that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a group that belongs to Satan!
When people are lying and say evil things against us we should identify these ones as belonging to Satan. Slander is hurtful and words that go forth cannot be recovered.
Christ next encourages the congregation about the things that it is going to suffer. The angel of this congregation has now been clued in. He’s going to have to give a greater amount of strengthening, encouraging, and support to those he looks after.
Revelation 2:10-11…Don’t be afraid of anything you are about to suffer. Listen! The Devil will put you to the test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory. 11 “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches! “Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.
What is the second death that Jesus is talking about? Follow the hyperlink to find out about The Second Death
To the Angel of Pergamum
Revelation 2:12-13…To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
“This is the message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you live, there where Satan has his throne. You are true to me, and you did not abandon your faith in me even during the time when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed there where Satan lives.
Christ having a two-edged sword means he has the ability to put to death with a word.
Then he identifies that Satan has his throne in their vicinity. That they put up a hard fight for his name during the time that Antipas was put to death. Antipas became a martyr. He was stabbed and then put into a basin that looked like a bull and burned. There is really not much in history about him only what Christ reveals about his faithfulness.
I Have this Against You
Revelation 2:14-16…But there are a few things I have against you: there are some among you who follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to lead the people of Israel into sin by persuading them to eat food that had been offered to idols and to practice sexual immorality. 15 In the same way you have people among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Now turn from your sins! If you don’t, I will come to you soon and fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.
Christ reveals that it is a sin to eat food that has been offered to an idol. Also, it is a sin to practice sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:17…If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches! “To those who win the victory I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.
What is this hidden manna that Christ promises to give? Is it not his body? Also he reveals that each one who wins the victory will receive a new name. These are the blessings that come from Christ.
Message to the angel of Thyatira
Revelation 2:18-19…To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
“This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, whose feet shine like polished brass. 19 I know what you do. I know your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first.
It is very important that we identify not just the good things that were doing but we need to look at possible wrongdoing that we are involved in and make the adjustment.
Revelation 2:20-24…But this is what I have against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a messenger of God. By her teaching she misleads my servants into practicing sexual immorality and eating food that has been offered to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her sins, but she does not want to turn from her immorality. 22 And so I will throw her on a bed where she and those who committed adultery with her will suffer terribly. I will do this now unless they repent of the wicked things they did with her. 23 I will also kill her followers, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who knows everyone’s thoughts and wishes. I will repay each of you according to what you have done. 24 “But the rest of you in Thyatira have not followed this evil teaching; you have not learned what the others call ‘the deep secrets of Satan.’ I say to you that I will not put any other burden on you.
It seems that Christ has a special dislike for the Jezebel influence upon the congregation. He called it an evil teaching and the deep things of Satan.
Revelation 2:25-29…But until I come, you must hold firmly to what you have. To those who win the victory, who continue to the end to do what I want, I will give the same authority that I received from my Father: I will give them authority over the nations, to rule them with an iron rod and to break them to pieces like clay pots. I will also give them the morning star. 29 “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!
Ephesians 4:30… do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which YOU have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.
Can we see and then learn from the struggles of these congregations? Can we identify as being in one of these congregations today?
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Revised 11/17/24