Letters to the Church: Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7
Ephesus (v. 1a)
· City on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
· Center for commerce
· Center for the Imperial Cult and the Temple of Artemis
· Center for the spread of the Gospel in Asia Minor (see Acts 18-20; Ephesians)
o Also closest city to Patmos, the island where John wrote Revelation (Rev. 1:9)
A Vision of Jesus (v. 1b)
· Jesus is portrayed as being holding the churches in His right hand and walking among them
o A symbol of both His power and His presence
“I know…” (v. 2-3)
· Jesus commends the Ephesians for:
o Their hard work
o Their patient endurance
o Their impatience for evil
o Their sound doctrine
§ Especially by testing those who would claim to be in authority
· The Nicolaitans (v. 6)
· Would Jesus commend us for these things?
“This I have against you…” (v. 4-5)
· The Ephesians have lost sight of their first love
o This may be a reference to love for:
§ God Himself
§ One another
§ The Lost
· They are called to return to the basics
· They lost their focus
o Have we?
The Call to Conquer (v. 7)
· The Ephesians are called to conquer* through truth, unity & love
o Conquer: a play on the name ‘Nicolaitan’
§ Not conquering people
§ Conquering lies, division and apathy
So What?
· How are we doing as a church? Have we lost our focus on loving God, each other, and the lost? Are we defined by truth, unity and love?
Meditation Verse: Revelation 2:4-5a
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