With this post we begin a
look at the letters to the seven churches.
I am only going to focus on the primary points in the letters; for a
more detailed look, please go to my website (www.momsbiblejournal.com). The first letter is addressed to the church
at Ephesus. This city was noted for its
great temple dedicated to Diana and for its open theatre, which was the largest
in the world at that time; it could hold up to 50,000 people. I actually visited the ruins of that city and
stood in awe while imagining what it must have been like in its glory.
Revelation 2:1–7 “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; 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. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But
this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which
is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
In the letter to each
church the Lord emphasizes that He knows what they are doing. The believers at Ephesus were very busy
serving the Lord, but it seems that they had gotten so busy that they no longer
had time for fellowship with the Lord—“left thy first love.” I think Satan loves to encourage this kind of
attitude in the hearts of believers.
Believers who no longer spend time in fellowship with the Lord will be
stunted in their spiritual growth and much less effective in the spread of the
love of Jesus through the gospel. This
church is commended, however, for their discernment and taking a stand against
evil and false teachers. They are also
commended for hating what God hates. In
this letter, specific address is against the Nicolaitans. Scripture is clear in identifying what God
hates.
Proverbs 6:16–19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto
him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A
false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
I think these Nicolaitans
were offenders in several of these categories—lying and sowing discord among
the brethren being predominant. In think
it is significant to note that God hates the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans; however,
He loves the sinner.
Romans 5:8 “But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.”
The Lord urges His people
to repent and return to their “first works.”
What always characterizes the heart and actions of a new believer? A desire to spend time in fellowship with God
through His word and a desire to please Him in all that he/she says and
does. They are eager to share the truth
they have found with others.
Note that the Lord makes a
point of saying that this letter is a word from the Holy Spirit for the
churches (plural)—not just the believers in Ephesus. Every believer needs to guard his/her time
of personal fellowship with the Savior.
We need to serve as an outpouring of our love for the Lord, not just
from a sense of duty or in seeking to please others. We need to continually exercise discernment
and guard against falling for the deceit of false teachers.
Who is an “overcomer?” One who has been born of God—born again spiritually
through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3–5 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter
the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.”
1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
To be able to eat
of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God is to experience eternal
life in the presence of God—abundant life that never ends.
(to be continued…)
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