EPHESUS Rev 2:1-7
REVELATION 2:1 7 (NASB95) 1 TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS WRITE: THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND, THE ONE WHO WALKS AMONG THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS, SAYS THIS: 2 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS AND YOUR TOIL AND PERSEVERANCE, AND THAT YOU CANNOT TOLERATE EVIL MEN, AND YOU PUT TO THE TEST THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES APOSTLES, AND THEY ARE NOT, AND YOU FOUND THEM TO BE FALSE; 3 AND 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 HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. 5 THEREFORE REMEMBER FROM WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN, AND REPENT AND DO THE DEEDS YOU DID AT FIRST; OR ELSE I AM COMING TO YOU AND WILL REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND OUT OF ITS PLACE UNLESS YOU REPENT. 6 YET THIS YOU DO HAVE, THAT YOU HATE THE DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS, WHICH I ALSO HATE. 7 HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL GRANT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD.
EPHESUS Jesus said in v. 3 you have perseverance and have endured for My name s sake, and have not grown weary This is really interesting as Ephesus was a very culturally advanced and pagan city. In fact it would have lead the charge in these ares within the Roman Empire Persecution was acted out in full force in Ephesus on early believers In spite of all this Jesus s Words are true. v. 3 you have perseverance and have endured for My name s sake, and have not grown weary
THE CITY Paul converted much of Thessalonica in three Sabbaths so that the Word of the Lord went out from the Thessalonians almost immediately. But when Paul went to Ephesus, he had to stay three whole years (Ac. 20:31) Pergamum was the official capital of Asia Minor, but Ephesus was its greatest city. A Roman writer called it "Lumen Asiae," which means, "the light of Asia." It was prominent for many reasons Ephesus was called "The Marketplace of Asia" by historians. In later times, when martyrs were brought from Asia so they could be thrown to lions in the arena in Rome, they were usually brought through Ephesus. As a result, it acquired the name of "The Highway of Martyrs." "The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World."
A CENTER OF COMMERCE Was a port city Ephesus was located on the Cayster River, which flowed directly into the Aegean Sea There were very sophisticated systems of docks and levels located on the river so that ships could travel up the valley and then later turn around and go back to sea.
A CENTER OF COMMERCE Was called in its time the Crown Jewel of Asia Minor Ephesus was very wealthy and powerful There were very sophisticated systems of docks and levels located on the river so that ships could travel up the valley and then later turn around and go back to sea Merchandise would have been distributed throughout the Empire from Ephesus
CENTER OF PAGAN WORSHIP Ephesus was the center of Artemis worship. Artemis was the fertility goddess Eunuch priests, thousands of priestesses and prostitutes, unnumbered heralds, and many singers, flute players, and dancers participated in one giant orgy in the temple. Ephesians were involved in all kinds of indescribable activities of sexual perversion and self- mutilation. One Greek philosopher said that the morals of the temple were worse than the morals of animals, because even dogs do not mutilate each other.
In general the people thought Artemis is who protected them and made them rich. CENTER OF PAGAN WORSHIP One of the seven wonders of the ancient world The temple was tremendous. It was over 450 feet long and 250 feet wide and over 20 columns 60 feet high Ephesus was the center of Artemis Worship. Like the Vatican for Catholicism. All thoughts and ideas flowed through here 1) It Was a Museum Collections of great works of art from all over the world had been brought to Diana's temple. 2) It Was a Sanctuary for Criminals Anyone who was inside the temple was free from the penalty of the law. He couldn't be prosecuted. Interestingly enough, there were so many criminals that the boundaries of the temple had to be expanded. As the years went by, if a criminal was found in the district of Ephesus, he was safe. 3) It Was a Bank The inner sanctuary of the temple of Artemis was so sacred that no one dared to violate it. The people deposited their money there since it was so safe. 4) It Was a Center of Commerce The temple was a center for business because of its idolatrous system of religion. In Acts 19, Demetrius the silversmith made a fortune making little gods that could be put any place. That is why the economy was thrown into chaos when Paul arrived.
CENTER OF PAGAN WORSHIP Unless you take a very early date for Revelation by the time John writes Revelation Ephesus had also become the Center of Emperor worship Domitian was the first Emperor to demand worship of himself He made his own family worship him because he believed he was truly divine Ephesus built huge structures to Domitian in fact their structures modeled what Zeus s gymnasium in Mt. Olympus. It was a statement The columns of the structures where carved with Roman and Greek gods and the temple and statue was above it As people would have come by land or sea into Ephesus you would have seen this 27 foot statue of Domitian towering high. He was proclaiming that he is god of gods if you would. The divine ruler of the world. Of course we know the real Lord of Lords Maybe this is why John was in prison at Patmos because he claimed Domitian was not the King of the Universe
THE CHURCH Spiritually Strong at its foundation Founded by Paul Their first pastor after Paul was Timothy. Other Christians who ministered to that assembly included Apollos, and Aquila and Priscilla Zeal - They had a lot of Zeal. Its Foundation The church at Ephesus was founded by Paul on his third missionary journey. Acts 19 describes what happened when that church was founded
THE CHURCH Acts 19:1 10 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him, No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. 3 And he said, Into what then were you baptized? And they said, Into John s baptism. 4 Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men. 8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Observations?
RESULT OF THE PREACHING Receptivity As a result of Paul's tremendous ministry, "all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (v. 10). What a great beginning! Reinforcement Verse 11 says, "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul." God performed miracles in the founding of Ephesus. Revival Verse 18 says, "And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds." A revival took place.
RESULT OF THE PREACHING Repentance Verse 19 says, "Many of those also who used magical arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." Verse 20 is the key to the church at Ephesus: "So mightily grew the word of God..." That is the foundation and strength of any church that fulfills what God wants. It grew and prevailed because the Word of God was its foundation--not someone's ideas, but solid teaching of the Word of God. Revolution Christianity has a way of creating chaos. People were falling in love with Jesus Christ. All of Asia was buzzing because of what was going on in Ephesus. Verse 23 says, "And at the same time there arose no small stir about that way." Christianity was becoming a big problem. Idol sales were a major business in Ephesus. But the conversions were cutting into that business. The silversmiths were starting a revolution because no one was buying their idols.
JESUS S ENCOURAGEMENT Revelation 2:2 3 I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name s sake, and have not grown weary. Their Deeds and Toil and The idea is they were serving to the point of exhaustion. When we really love something we give time to it don't we? Their Perseverance/Patience The word for "Perseverance" here means "steadfast endurance." Think Paul and Silas in prison singing It is easy for us in our Christian life to give up at times. I would encourage anyone who is at a point where it doesn't feel like you can go on endure be patient.
JESUS S ENCOURAGEMENT Their Suppression of Evil (v. 2d) you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false They could not tolerate sin. When sin appeared, they put it out of the church. Think of house breaking the dog. All our righteousness is as... What does that say about our sin. The Ephesians were following Paul's instruction. In Ephesians 4:27, Paul said, "Neither give place to the devil." When Paul left Ephesus and met for the last time with the elders, he said, "God is with you, but don't forget that wolves will try to enter your fellowship seeking to ruin you. Satan will try to destroy your testimony" (Ac. 20:28-29).
JESUS S ENCOURAGEMENT Their Spiritual Discernment - they recognized the false Apostles What is the only way to stand against what is wrong? To know the truth. Knowing the real thing Their Stand Against the Nicolaitans (v. 6) As best as can be determined, Nicolas (Acts 6) became a heretic. He pushed liberty to an extreme and his sect was characterized by extreme indulgence and uncleanness. Evidently the Nicolaitans had come to Ephesus, but the Ephesians spotted them and sent them away because they hated their deeds. The only way that you can perceive false doctrine is to know true doctrine. That's why Peter says, "... be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you..." (1 Pet. 3:15). You need to understand doctrine.
JESUS S ENCOURAGEMENT Revelation 2:3 (NASB95) 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name s sake, and have not grown weary. They had endured good and bad. They had been patient; they labored and didn't faint. The church at Ephesus was strong, spiritual, steadfast, working, toiling, and serving. What was their motive? "for My name's sake" The primary reason for serving God is because of who He is. He is God. The question we need to ask ourselves is, Why do we do what we do?
BUT I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU Based on Revelation 2:2-3 and 6, you would have to conclude that the church at Ephesus was fantastic. Revelation 2:4 (NASB95) 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Jesus wants us to serve Him because we love Him right? Scripture? John 21:15 17 (NASB95) 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Tend My lambs. 16 He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Tend My sheep.
THE GEARS OF ORTHODOXY WITHOUT THE GREASE OF LOVE "What do you mean by first love?" We are most like Ephesus? Thoughts? What does the Bible say about our service to God when it lacks love? Thoughts? 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB95) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 John 3:14 16 (NASB95) 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Is coldness a fair description of your Christian life? Is your first love of Christ gone? Have you have fallen out of love with Jesus Christ
THE SOLUTION Revelation 2:5 (NASB95) 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent. When a church begins to fall out of love with Jesus Christ, that is the first step in the downward progression. Ultimately, the light goes out. The physical lights may still be on, and someone may be speaking in the pulpit, but the spiritual light of the church is out. REMEMBER - First, Jesus says that they should remember what they had. If your Christianity is cold orthodoxy, remember the warmth and thrill that you had when Christ first became real in your life? The first time Paul went to Ephesus he told the people how real Christ was. Now Jesus says, "Remember those days." REPENT - He wanted the Ephesians to say, "God, I'm sorry. I want that warm love again." Then Jesus tells how to get it back. REPEAT - The Ephesians were to go back and do what they did at the beginning. They were to study God's Word, get together with Christians and pray, share Christ, and warm up the fellowship. FOR REMEMBER POINT Men, have you ever had your wife say, "You take me for granted. You didn't before. Remember how you used to treat me?" In other words, "Where is that first love?" In like manner, Christ says to Ephesus, "Remember the warmth of that exciting love we had at the beginning?" FOR AFTER - Revelation 2:7 (NASB95) 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.
A picture of a fish and a cross from possible John s times. Was uncovered at Ephesus during excavations.