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1. The Letter of Jesus Christ to the Pastor in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)

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REVELATION 2:1-7
1 “To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things: 2 I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. 3 You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that 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 assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.”’

To the Angel of the Churches in Ephesus, write …: The largest and most important city of the Roman province, Asia, had heard the Gospel for more than 30 years (i.e., since AD 53 or 55). The Apostle Paul, more than once, had been hindered from traveling to Ephesus by the Holy Ghost during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-8). However, on his third missionary journey he stayed in this capital city of Asia Minor for three years, where he evangelized openly (Acts 19:8-10; 20:31). A revolt by Ephesus’ silver smith then led to a public uprising against the Christian Church (Acts 19:23–20:1). Paul’s farewell to the bishops of the churches in this large city is one of the most impressive passages in The Acts of the Apostles (Acts 20:17-35). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul, while under house arrest, addresses the church members there as “saints” (Ephesians 1:1).

After Paul was decapitated in Rome in AD 63, and after Peter was crucified in AD 64, it may be that Paul’s assistant, Timothy, for a time became a bishop of the churches in this multicultural administrative center. James, the brother of Jesus, had already been stoned to death in AD 62. So John, the last remaining Apostle and one who had been an eye witness of Jesus Christ, hurried to Asia Minor to assume a position of legal authority at this new center of Christianity. However, the Lord Jesus allowed him to be moved like a chess piece to the isle of Patmos, so that he, in isolation and solitude, could write stirring letters to the churches, as well as record visions of the last days for the global church throughout all generations!

The Lord Holds the Seven Stars in His Right Hand and Walks Among the Seven Golden Lamps: John heard the command of Jesus Christ to the leader of the church in Ephesus (referred to as “angel” or “messenger”). The judgments and criticisms of the church by the Apostle John did not come from himself, but rather from Jesus Christ. The Lord Himself was speaking to the church leader and his congregation.

All seven church letters begin with Jesus’ command to John to write. Therefore, the Lord, as the sender of these letters, introduces Himself with different descriptions each time (Revelation 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14). These royal descriptions of Jesus are taken mainly from the two introductions to the Book of Revelation or from the introduction of Jesus Christ Himself (Revelation 1:17-18).

There next comes a diagnosis of the spiritual condition of each church leader and his congregation. For five of the churches, the spiritual analyses were to lead the congregants to repent, for if they didn’t, a threat was boding!

For two of the churches, instead of a call to repentance, we find an encouragement to persevere amidst persecutions. Glorious promises from Jesus form the ending of each letter – if the church leaders, through the power of the Holy Spirit, overcome the inner and outer temptations seeking to lead them astray. These twelve promises* are anticipatory and give glimpses of the coming fullness of salvation, which is thoroughly described in chapters 19-22 of the Revelation**. Thus the letters to the churches harmonize with the entire book and constitute a necessary requirement for the unfolding of the end times.

In His introduction as sender of the letter to the Ephesians – “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand...” – Jesus assumes the first image that John received in his vision of the glorious Son of Man and Judge of the world. Jesus assures the pastor in Ephesus that He, the Lord, did not abandon or forget the church, despite the deportation of John to Patmos. He says that He is holding and protecting both him and the other pastors in His right hand of blessing.

Moreover, the living Lord walks amid the seven golden lamps. The pastors and their seven churches all experience the powerful presence of Jesus Christ. As High Priest He fills the necessary oil of the Holy Spirit in the golden lamps, so that the lamps will burn continuously. He cleanses the wick of remembrance, so that the flame burns clearly. The Lord cares for the unbroken radiance of each of His churches. They are never alone, nor left to their own devices.

I Know Your Works and Your Labor: The diagnosis of the Lord shows that He knew about all the deeds of His church pastors in Ephesus – the good as well as the bad. Jesus is all-knowing and all-wise. He does not react in a gruff manner when He is not pleased. He waits patiently and sees through everything. He acknowledges every act of service, whether significant or insignificant. He realizes that working in the church, especially as a missionary among non-Christians, is hard work. Such service does not last merely eight hours a day; rather, it demands constant devotion, like that from a nurse or a midwife. The word work – meaning spiritual service – appears more than twenty times in the New Testament. Church pastors must move, speak, serve, and pray. The love of Jesus Christ drives and compels us to go to our neighbors and fellow Christians, offering them the grace of Christ through His fullness. Jesus did not command us to remain sitting in church pews, but rather to rise up and seek to win disciples from among all nations. Jesus seeks to get us off of our merry-go-round church life and get us moving in the right direction. In Ephesus He found a vibrant community of believers and a living faith expressed in word and deed.

I Know Your Patience, and that You Cannot Bear Those Who are Evil: In their work as peacemakers, the Ephesians and their pastors encountered harsh resistance, both from idolaters as well as from Jews, who held fast to their ideas of justification through works while disparaging the grace of Christ.

Some of Jacob’s sons called themselves Christians, but they were more Jewish than Christian. They talked like Christians, yet in the final analysis they lived as though their justification was achieved through their own striving. They put on their pious masks and had admirable knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. But Jesus called them evil. Piety does not always indicate true Christian discipleship. Satan also used scriptural terms when he spoke to Adam and Eve, in order to tempt them. He sought to seduce Eve to self-deification and to an awakening of the knowledge of evil through a lie. Satan even tried to tempt Jesus to seek to attain salvation without the Cross and slyly claimed that all earthly riches and power belong to him.

You have Tested Those who say They are Apostles and Are not, and have Found them Liars: It is the task of each pastor and church leader to scrutinize all speakers, guests, evangelists, and prophets that wish to serve in his church. In his letters the Apostle John taught us a helpful method to determine who has an anti-Christian spirit: whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:23-25; 4:1-5). Jesus had already said earlier: “By their fruits, you shall know them” (Matthew 7:15-23).

Whoever describes Islam as a religion from God and Muhammad as a prophet is proclaiming a lie. The Qur’an denies the Fatherhood of God and rejects the Sonship and Crucifixion of Christ in 17 different passages. Moreover, Muhammad married an eight-year-old girl, Aisha, and claimed that Allah had given him permission to marry any Muslim who gave herself to him, if he liked her. In Islam there is no Holy Spirit. The Muslim views of paradise are of a fleshly nature, and Allah is not present there. These are all false teachings that bear rotten fruit.

The situation is similar with the appearance of philanthropic humanism, which teaches that mankind is good and in no need of repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual rebirth. Many godless worldviews have sprung from this sly temptation. Today marriage between same-sex partners is being promoted increasingly as “natural”, when it is perverse.

The Church must condemn all seductive worldviews clearly and openly, instead of tolerating them and sinking along with them into a multicultural swamp. Paul said that powerful false teachings would infiltrate the churches, and that unrepentant, false Christians would always be open to new and sensational movements and ideas that seek to bypass the “offense” of the Cross. It doesn’t always have to be outright Satanism that keeps people away from God. There are also thousands of snares in global ecumenicalism, in Catholicism, in Philo-Semitism, in feminism, in abortion laws, and in nationalism, with which the Evil One seeks to ensnare unbelievers or lukewarm believers. Satan is older than we and is intimately acquainted with our weaknesses.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). Whoever does not accept these words of Jesus separates himself from the crucified Son of God and His full salvation. Mere pious words amount to nothing, but faith in the Holy Trinity is what brings us life and true security. All calls for syncretism are seductive demonic temptations that can quickly lead to intolerant judgments and persecutions of those who think differently. Therefore, pastors need to be spiritually awake and humble, and to pray for the spirit of discernment.

Perhaps the false teachers in Ephesus manifested special spiritual gifts, while claiming to be legitimate apostles of Christ as a result of the impressive wonders they performed. Yet none of them were actual eyewitness of the Lord. The crucified, resurrected One was not central to their teachings. Thus they separated themselves from the wellspring of the Holy Spirit, the source of the finished, atoning sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

You have Persevered and have Patience, and have Labored for My Name’s Sake and have not Become Weary: Such a testimony is rare – both in the secular world, as well as in the Church. The pastor of the church in Ephesus did not flee when difficulties arose. He showed perseverance and bore pressures, suspicions, animosities, and attempted divisions patiently. He fought the good fight of faith and climbed the inner ladder of personal growth and maturity. He was purified through suffering (Romans 5:1-4).

He defended the name of Jesus openly and did not fall victim to any of the Universalist beliefs about God. He directed the church through many individual discussions, presided over numerous home groups and sermons about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and fought against all modernistic heresies. He drew strength from the Scriptures and from prayer. He did not grow tired, despite relapses and the unteachable and worldly attitudes of lukewarm Christians.

He led his congregation to labor in the Faith and encouraged them to perform works of love and service for Jesus again and again. The main church in Asia flourished and became an example for many. However, it may be that some church members found little time to pray due to strain and business. They served diligently, but did not come to rest in the presence of Jesus.

PRAYER: We thank You, Good Shepherd, because the minister of the church of Ephesus and other church ministers served You continuously, toiled in patience, and distinguished the unclean spirits in the factions that had entered their churches. Prepare ministers, bishops, and church members to serve You continuously, and take off our laziness and stinginess that Your love may become evident in us.

QUESTION

10. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the pastor of the church in Ephesus?

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