By T. W. Parker

Jesus Christ addresses each Church He introduces in (Rev. 1:11, NIV). These prophetic messages or edicts follow a standard literary structure. John highlights Christ as he sees Him (1:12-16), relevant to the Church’s situation. Jesus asserts His detailed knowledge of the Church when He proclaims, “I know” (2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). He then commands, rebukes, and exhorts believers to repent and persevere amidst adversity. The Church of “Ephesus” is the first one Christ addresses because it is the order in which a messenger from “Patmos” would have traveled around Asia Minor.         

To the Church in Ephesus: Christ commends believers in Ephesus for doing good works, preserving, and rejecting false teaching but summons them to repent of letting their love for Jesus’ fade, threatening their identity as a Church. Ephesus is a major center for commerce, political administration, and religion and is home to the massive temple of Artemis. (Acts. 19:27, 35). Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos labored in the city, and The Apostle Paul preached there for three years. It is said that the Apostle John, having left his home in Jerusalem, ministered for thirty years in Ephesus. The Ephesians tested those claiming apostolic authority; the apostles were dying, and John perhaps was the only one left. “I know your deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance; I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false.” (Rev. 2:2).    

In verse 2:4, Christ rebukes the Chruch, for they seemed to have lost their first “Love,” Jesus Christ Himself. Despite all this Church’s commendable qualities, one lacked the love for the “Savoir.” This was true of the Chruch, whose name means “desired.” Their hearts were drifting away from the “Messiah.” The first love is marked by its all-engrossing quality, fervency, and constancy. A church may have great zeal and activity, soundness of doctrine and practice, yet have its first love for Christ on the decline. Love looks for love; meticulous care with doctrine and discipline will not occur. The Chruch is commanded to repent or suffer removal; this does not mean that individuals will lose their salvation. However, the Church can forfeit its place of light-bearing and witness in the world. “Consider how far 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.” (Rev. 2:5). 

Further commendation follows, but Christ says, “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Rev. 2:6). The Nicolaitans were a heretical sect whose name means “victory people.” Nevertheless, they promoted false teaching, idolatry, and immorality like Balaam (vs. 14) and Jezebel (vs. 20), and the Ephesian Church opposed their practices, while some in Pergamum did not (vs. 15). Let them hear, echoes similar exhortations in the Gospels (Matt. 11:15, Mark. 4:9) and the Prophets (Isa. 6:9-10; Ezek. 3:27) to hear and respond to God’s Word.   

As with the other Churches, Christ gave Ephesus a promise to those who would hear His command. Because Adam and Eve did not obey God’s authority and did eat from the “Tree of Life,” God banished them from the garden, denying them access to the “Tree.” However, this is a blessing that God’s people receive again in the “New Creation” (Rev. 2:9; 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19). The promise is to eat from the Tree of Life, which will be in New Jerusalem, where it bears abundant fruit for all those who are victorious. Believers share in Jesus’ victory (5:5; 17:14) and must faithfully bear witness to Jesus (12:11, 17) and maintain the hope of their promised inheritance (21:7). The “Tree of Life” symbolizes eternal life in fellowship with God, a connection that is lost after humanity’s exile from Edan (Gen. 2:9; 3:22-24). However, it is gained again in the “New Heaven and the New Earth.” 

The letter to “Ephesus,” as does the other sex Churches, contains four elements: (1) The way Christ presents Himself. (2) The commendation (or condemnation) He gives. (3) The reward He promises and (4) The appeal to hear. Believers must be heavenly-minded so their love for Christ does not grow cold. Furthermore, Ephesus was guilty of not keeping their minds and hearts on heavenly things. The believers in Ephesus did not seek God with their whole hearts in light of eternity. “As time had passed, their love had diminished. Their church life was filled with other priorities.” (Hindson, Edward). Indeed, the same can be said today about many Churches.

Jesus Christ addresses the 1st century Church’s specific circumstances as they face persecution, false teaching, and spiritual complacency and compromise. He also encourages and strengthens believers to hold fast to their testimony about Himself, steadfastly endure trials, and resiliently hope in God’s present and future reign (1:9; 2:10; 3:11; 12:17; 14:12; 22:7). The Church in Ephesus’ warning is for all in that day, John identifies with his readers in their present suffering and future glory, modeled on Jesus’ own experience. Suffering is expected for believers (2:9-10; 7:14) who share already in God’s “Kingdom” and hope for its future fullness (11:15; Acts. 14:22). Patients and endurance are what the early Church needed; it entails waiting on the Lord and overcoming evil amid suffering (13:10; 14:12). The Apostle John is an example of how a believer should live in a city and world of unrighteous people. Because of his faithful testimony about Jesus, John was exiled to the island of “Patmos” in the “Aegean Sea” about thirty-seven miles southwest of “Miletus” (Acts. 20:15).       

Finally, Christ calls everyone to hear the Spirit’s message to the Churches and promises life and blessing in the “New Jerusalem” to victorious, persevering believers. These messages directly addressed the struggles of the 1st century Church but present a unified message relevant for all Churches past and present. The messages refer to different historical Churches in the province of Asia. However, they are timely and apply to types of believers of every age. Hence, they are timeless; Ephesus may be characterized as the Church of departed love. Nevertheless, many Churches today are guilty of working for the Kingdom so much that they forget about their first Love, Jesus Christ. Therefore, our calling is to pick up the mantle and lead the Church today pleasingly and acceptably while honoring God in everything we say and do!  

Bibliography 

Liberty University Custom: Hindson, Edward. The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2002.