Urgent Words of Warning in the Letters to the Seven Churches – Revelation 2-3

It seems as though I am being drawn back again and again to the book of Revelation and especially the letters to the churches. Anyone familiar with me knows that I am expecting the Lord to return to take His family home very soon. The idea of “coincidence” and the signs of the times that have occurred in our times and are becoming increasingly prominent in today’s headlines just doesn’t hold water as I see things. We who claim to be part of the “church,” the body of Christ, need to be examining ourselves in reference to these letters. I believe the churches chosen to receive these letters are representative of the kinds of churches that have existed since it came into being. The words of warning and comfort are meant to challenge and encourage us on our spiritual pilgrimage while here on planet earth.

In my beginning series of blogs on Revelation, I just gave a thumbnail summary of these letters. I now feel the need to address these letters more in depth since the attack from the enemy is getting more aggressive and producing more victories more quickly than I actually thought possible.

We begin with the letter to the church at Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1 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;

Jesus identifies Himself to the church at Ephesus as the one who “holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” This is a statement that He is the strength and authority behind His messenger to the church. He is aware of and concerned about what is happening in His churches.

Revelation 2:2-3 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.

He is aware of their works/deeds/behavior/actions. He knows that they have labored, worked to the point of weariness. They have been patient (endured with hope and cheerfulness). They don’t have anything to do with those that are evil/worthless. They have been very careful to test those who claim to be teaching the truth of God and identify those who were teaching lies. They have endured and been steadfast. They have worked hard and toiled without giving up in honor of the name of Jesus.

Rev. 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Nevertheless--On the other side of the coin, Jesus isn’t happy with them. Why? They have left/laid aside/abandoned their “first love.” “Something can be lost by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act,” David Guzik.

I like this quote from Chuck Missler that really applies to this church—“Don’t be so busy in the business of the King that you have no time for the King.”

My friend Dixie wrote a poignant description of this church. “This church was a wife, but she had forsaken her first love. She had loved Him, but no longer did her eyes light up at the mention of His name. She didn’t want to talk with Him. She didn’t seek to hear His voice. She had no desire to spend time with Him. She didn’t look forward to His appearing. She no longer yearned for intimacy. She was attentive to her duties, but distant to Him. She was a housekeeper, but not His lover. Her work was more important to her than her relationship to Him. She was always busy, but too busy to have time for Him. He didn’t neglect her. He hadn’t forsaken her. He obviously desired a relationship of closeness with her and sought to reestablish it—hence, the letter. He desired an intimacy with her that is described in the Song of Songs which many waters cannot quench and money cannot buy, because both partners value it as invincible and priceless.”