Revelation 2, Part One

The letter to the church at Ephesus (vs. 1-7)—Chapters 2 and 3 contain seven letters, one to each of the seven churches in Asia, to whom the book was written. These epistles are direct dictations from Jesus to John. They contain what the congregation is doing well, and where it needs to improve. The first letter was to the church at Ephesus.

The author (v. 1)—Jesus identifies Himself as “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (v. 1). We have already seen that the seven lampstands represent the seven churches and the stars are the angels of those churches (1:20). Jesus will be identified differently to each of the churches.

The good (vs. 2, 3, 6)—The church in Ephesus had its good points. They had labored for the Lord, been patient, persevered, and not become weary (vs. 2-3). But the main commendation of the Lord was that “you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (v. 2). In other words, opposition to false teachers. Interestingly, the church in Ephesus had apparently taken heart to the warning Paul had given to their elders almost a generation before: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch…” (Acts 20:28-31). Opposition to error is a duty of every Christian (Matt. 7:15; Rom. 16:17). The Ephesians to whom Jesus wrote also “hate[d] the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (v. 6). This obscure sect apparently held some ideas similar to the doctrines of the Canaanites and their god Baal; the church at Pergamum was censored for tolerating some who believed that teaching (2:14). Iranaeus, a 2nd century Christian writer, claims that the Nicolaitans were founded by Nicholas, one of the seven chosen to serve at tables (Acts 6:5). This isn’t conclusive, however. They are mentioned by several 2nd century writers. It appears that they had some Gnostic tendencies as well. Whatever their exact identity, the Lord hated their doctrine and so did the Ephesians.

The bad (vs. 4-5)—“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (v. 4). Exactly what that means, we do not know. Perhaps they had lost their zeal and were simply going through the motions of Christianity. One can do what’s right, and the Lord will be pleased with that, but if we do not operate from proper motives, then we also stand to be condemned. Jesus told them to “repent…or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from it place” (v. 5). The Lord was merciful and would give them space to repent, but it must be done.

The promised blessing (v. 7)—“To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (v. 7).

The above structure is followed, with three exceptions, in each of the seven letters—an introduction to Jesus, the good in the church, the bad in the church, and the promised blessing. And each of them also end with Jesus saying “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In other words, pay attention. The Lord is serious about this.