Revelation 2:1

“The Church of Ephesus”

The Bible says in Revelation 2:1-3, “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, 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.”

Here in revelation chapters 2 and 3 we get into the 7 churches. We will be told both good and bad things about these churches. The first church mentioned is the church of Ephesus. Several good things are said about this church.

First the labour and patience of the church is mentioned. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” There is much work to do in this world for Christ. To do it takes patience. This is why labour and patience are mentioned together.The church of Ephesus had patience and therefore they were able to do much work for the LORD.

The church of Ephesus also kept its guard against false teachers, wolves in sheeps clothing. Because they did so they were not led astray by false doctrines. “Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” by not being led astray by false teachers and false teachings the labours of the church of Ephesus were all the more successful in Christ.

To do much work for the lord takes more than zeal and diligence it takes patience and it takes not being led astray by false teaching. This is the example of the church of Ephesus and so Jesus said of them, “I know thy works.”

Revelation 2:4 says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Yes the church of Ephesus did great works for Christ but they also had a great failure, they left their first love.

Of the seven churches Ephesus is mentioned first. Perhaps it is mentioned first because of how great was the works of the church or perhaps because of how great was its failure. Jesus said the greatest commandment is Deuteronomy 6:5, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

If the greatest commandment is to love God then perhaps the greatest failure would be to leave your first love. The Bible says in I John 4:19, “We love Him because he first loved us.” Why this means our love for God through Jesus Christ is based upon His love for us. God is love. There is no limit to how much God loves you are I. Therefore there is the potential to love God greatly.

How is it that a church with such great works and sound Bible teaching could make such a great failure as to leave its first love. Well consider the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:5, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” This means it takes an effort of the mind, the body, and the spirit. At some point they stopped putting forth the effort to love God.

Revelation 2:5 says, “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 candle stick out of his place, except thou repent.”

The church of Ephesus needed to remember the promises of God; the love of God and the basics of the gospel. If they would remember the suffering and the sacrifice of Jesus if they would remember that for God so loved the world then they would return to their first love again.

Notice what would happen if they did not repent Jesus said, I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candle stick out of his place, except thou repent.” Perhaps this answers the question for us as to the reason why a local church ceases to exist it leaves its first love and fails to repent.

Revelation 1:6 says, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” What were the deeds of the Niicolaitanes? Well it involved controlling and dominating.

It is the selfish sinful nature of man that lends towards control and domination not the Spirit of God. Those who creep into churchs to control and to dominate will suppress the teaching of the truth. It is wise to hate such behavior. God hates it. The church at Ephesus hated it. And we should hate it too.

Revelation 1:7 says “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.” This is a reference to salvation and the victory over eternal death that is found in Jesus.

To him that overcometh because there is a great contest. The world is filled with nicolaitanes both people and organizations that opposes and oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whenever a soul is saved from sin it is a great victory an eternal victory.

Once a person is saved there is still much to overcome. There is the life long spiritual battle against one’s own sinful flesh and against the world. What great rewards await those who overcome make the suffering more than worth it. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Saviour you can do so today and win the victory over this world.

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