Resuming our study of Revelation, today we delve into Chapter 2, focusing on verses 1-8, a message for the Ephesian church. Despite its specific address, the message extends to all believers in Christ, as outlined in Chapter 1, urging them to heed these words.
The Passage: Revelation 2:1-8
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Verse 1
The message is addressed to the angel of the Church in Ephesus, we need to know what this means. This term doesn’t denote a celestial being, but rather the church’s head – potentially a bishop, elder, or pastor. Some speculate that Timothy might have been this leader. Although the person’s identity isn’t specified, it’s clear the leadership is in focus. However, this doesn’t mean the message is solely for the leader. Instead, the pastor is the one to read this message aloud to his congregation and together they must wrestle with keeping the words given to them.
The scripture communicates that the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands is the originator of the message. This reference is utilized as one of the seven descriptive titles of the glorified Christ from Revelation 1:12-19. In the context of the church in Ephesus, the speaker identifies himself as the holder of the seven stars and the wanderer among the seven golden lampstands.
It’s crucial to note that the Ephesian church was privileged to be influenced by Paul’s teachings and guided by Timothy and, it is believed, the Apostle John. This meant they had three leaders and were a church on strong foundations. Consequently, it would have been simple for them to pledge their loyalty to Paul, Timothy, or the Apostle John. This is a trap many fall into; admiring our pastor to such an extent that we forget they are merely stewards, and that our true allegiance belongs to God.
Jesus is our true leader, and the others are simply placeholders. This point must always be remembered. Thus, Jesus reminds the Ephesian church that HE is the one who holds the seven stars, and walks among the lampstands.
He is their foundation, the one who upholds them and positions them where they are. He is the orchestrator, so their gaze should be directed towards him.
Verse 2-3: Commendations
Before analyzing these verses, let’s understand the Ephesian Church better. I suggest reading Paul’s letters to them, particularly Ephesians 5:1-21, which provides valuable insight into the commendations they received from Christ,
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
As you can see, this church, addressed by the angel of the Lord, has been largely faithful to its teachings. Jesus acknowledges their deeds, toil, and perseverance, highlighting their intolerance for evil men and their diligence in testing self-proclaimed apostles. Their endurance and unwavering commitment to His name is commendable.
From verse one to three, Jesus approves of the church’s practices. They are steadfast, intolerant of evil, and keen on exposing false apostles. They have lived true to the teachings given to them by Apostle Paul.
Their doctrine is sound; they do not tolerate evil . This church is doctrinally strong, standing firm against evil, fulfilling their intended roles effectively.
Verse 4: Abandoning Their First Love
In verse four, Jesus identifies an issue: the church has abandoned its first love. This is a concept that I, too, am grappling with and believe it’s applicable to many, including myself. It’s like the fervor of a new Christian slowly diminishing over time.
Let me illustrate this with a marriage analogy. In the early stages, such as the honeymoon phase or the first few months, there’s immense excitement about your spouse. You eagerly anticipate seeing them every day. However, as the years pass, this enthusiasm may wane, and things are taken for granted.
The marriage continues to function: meals are prepared, children are taken care of, and work is done. But the early days’ passion fades. This might not be the perfect analogy, but it’s similar to what’s happening with the Ephesian church.
While the church is thriving doctrinally, the initial passion is missing. If you recall the book of Ephesians, when Paul first preached to them, they were zealous Christians. They loved the Lord and spent quality time in His presence. Remember Jesus’ words to Peter: “If you love me, feed my sheep.”
Our service in the church should stem from our love for God. We can love others because He first loved us, and we comprehend His love. Hence, we can minister from a place of love. It becomes challenging when we operate solely on functionality, knowing what needs to be done and doing it, but losing the essence of love. The Ephesian church had become mechanical in its faith.
Verse 5: The Remedy
Jesus offers a remedy to the church in verse 5 accompanied by a strong warning. Now the remedy to their current malady follows a three- step plan. First they needed to remember where they had fallen from, in other words go back in time to their initial passion for following Christ, recollecting those fond memories of their new found faith, when spending time with, speaking about and sharing about Jesus was what they yearned for. And they needed to contrast those early days to now when everything had become mechanical, and stale, where their works was void of passion.
The next step was to repentance. Once the Ephesian church became acutely aware of how far they had fallen, those that were truly born again would have no other alternative but to grieve this loss of passion and repent, meaning change direction, almost like making a U turn. Then the final step would be to go back to doing the deeds they did at first, when passion and works for Christ had a symbiotic relationship.
This process clearly demonstrates how the Holy Spirit works in our lives – not to condemn us, but to convict us so that we may repent. He always provides a solution. However, Jesus issues a strong warning at the end of verse 5. If the Ephesian church ignores His message, He will remove their lampstand. This is a clear indication that He means business; His message requires a response, and a quick one at that, lest their lampstand be removed.
The removal of the lampstand seems to imply the stripping away of their ministry, potentially leading to the closure of the church. As the scriptures say, if the church fails to shine for Christ, much like salt that has lost its saltiness, it is good for nothing except to be trampled underfoot.
Verse 6: More words of Hope
Following a stern warning, the Lord reassures the church, as He did in verses 3 and 4. He acknowledges His approval of their disdain for the Nicolaitans’ deeds, which He too detests, encouraging them to maintain their good works. This encouragement comes last to prevent them from feeling disheartened, a pattern also used by Paul when he rebuked the Corinthian Church (see 2 Corinthians 7).
In my search about the Nicolaitans, some commentaries suggest they were a Gnostic group promoting immoral behavior. They believed physical actions had no impact on one’s spiritual life, leading many into lawlessness and immorality. Jesus urges the Ephesians to continue their deeds but with the right motivation: a love for Christ that aligns them with His loves and hates, as they are part of His Body
Verse 7
The verse, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God,” imparts a significant message. The first part essentially communicates that those who have been blessed with the grace to understand His words addressed to the churches should not only listen but also implement them. This message isn’t exclusive to specific churches like the Ephesian church; it is meant for anyone with a receptive ear, in essence, a born-again believer. This underscores the importance of recognizing that the Book of Revelation is intended for the Born Again believer. The scripture’s directive, “let him hear what His spirit says to the churches,” was delivered by the Lord’s angel, to whom the scripture says the spirit is given without measure for the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him in the flesh. As you hear this message, understand it is from God, and let the Spirit of God within you guide you to heed it.
The latter part of this final address to the Ephesian church holds equal importance, as it carries a promise. Jesus continues to uplift His church, promising that to the one who overcomes or conquers, He will bestow a unique reward. Recalling Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, they were denied access to the Tree of Life after their sin against God. God did this to prevent them from an eternal state of fallenness. Now, by promising that conquerors will eat from the Tree of Life, Jesus essentially implies these individuals have been renewed, with the Spirit of God residing within them. As the scripture tells us, we will see Him as He is because we will become like Him. This promise serves as a monumental encouragement to the larger church community. The Ephesian Church likely welcomed these words with immense enthusiasm, comprehending their elevated calling.
My name is Tayib Salami and I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. In 2017, I entered a very dark time in my life and it’s only by the grace of the Living God that I’m still alive today. It led me to really go deeper in my faith and consider a myriad of questions that I never thought about asking myself or others before. Welcome and enjoy the ride with me.