Nevertheless i have this against you, that you have left your first love. A letter to ephesus seven churches of revelation 2. The bible is clear that an angel leads the church at ephesus in revelation. This is the first course in a series of courses, titled unlocking revelation s mysteries, in which pastor holland will explore the seven literal churches ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea mentioned in the book of revelation. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. I swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became mine. This article explores the very meaning of the first love and the deeds of that love which the ephesians neglected in revelation 2. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. Suffice it to say that these are undoubtedly two groups of believers in ephesus. Ephesus smyrna pergamos thyatira sardis philadelphia laodicea. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches first message, ephesus we now come to the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. The letter to the church in ephesus by dennis johnson. The ephesian church was doctrinally sound and opposed evil, false doctrines, and false. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. Jan 26, 2014 this free online course reveals how you can discover the true meaning of the revelation or apoclaypse of st. The apostle paul wrote a letter to the church of ephesus as well. To the church in ephesus to the angel of the church in ephesus write. Ephesus was a busy church with high spiritual standards. Lessons from the church in ephesus part 1by chris holland. At the time that john penned these words the church at ephesus was busy working for the lord but had no sincere love for him. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. October 2007 this sermon was delivered at the iron hall evangelical church in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge.
The book is also written to all believers everywhere. Located opposite the island of samos, it is the closest of revelations seven churches to the island of patmos where the apostle john wrote the book of revelation. Paul wrote a letter to the ephesians, which contains additional information about his ministry in this city. We know this letter as the book of ephesians and we learn much about this church from his epistle. Christ commended them for their good works, for their perseverance, and for their church discipline that guarded against false teaching revelation 2. Interesting biblical facts about ephesus from archaeologous. This is not surprising, since rome pretty much cleared jerusalem of jews in 70ad actually completely destroyed jerusalem in 125ad.
Ephesus, founded primarily by those from the city of athens, was the capital of both ionia and proconsular asia. Christs letter to the ephesian church praises the congregation for its. In the book of revelation, real apostles are connected to the 12 foundations of new jerusalem at rev 21. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.
Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons applicable to our own lives today. It was transcribed from the fourth recording in his the book of the revelation series, entitled ephesus, the loveless church transcribed by preach the word. The only reference to his appearance is found in the book of isaiahmore than seven hundred years. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil. The church of ephesus had many admirable qualities and one tragic flaw.
Oct 03, 2016 ephesus was a thriving city at the time of johns letter 95 ad that had a population of about 250,000 people osborne, revelation, 108 to 500,000 people mulholland, revelation 2011, 434. Apostle john lived in ephesus christianity stack exchange. Paul beseeches the ephesian christians to live worthy of their calling to serve god ephesians 4. The salutationunto the angel of the church of ephesus write. Nicolaism also nicholaism, nicolaitism, nicolationism, or nicolaitanism was an early christian sect mentioned twice in the book of revelation of the new testament. Timothy, pauls protege, was pastor of the church 1 timothy 1. Each letter to all 7 churches is addressed to the angel of that church.
In terms of commercial work, it was the largest city in the roman province of asia thomas, revelation 17, 128. The church at ephesus was the first church mentioned of the seven churches. Why did the church in ephesus receive a direct message from the lord. Revelation 2 kjv unto the angel of the church of ephesus. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. So, lets go to revelation 2 right now and lets look at what we are told in this very important message that is given to the angel of the church of ephesus in revelation 2 beginning in verse 1 revelation2. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried revelation 2. Who are the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. Pauls epistle to the ephesians is directed to no such angel. Revelation 2 niv to the church in ephesus to the bible gateway. The church of ephesus thus became a sizable congregation and served as a major center for preaching the gospel to asia in what is now western turkey. The adherents were called nicolaitans, nicolaitanes, or nicolaites. Each church is mentioned by name and ephesus is no exception.
Ephesus was the site of the first congregation that jesus addressed in the apocalypse, and the new testament tells us more about the history of this church than about any of the others. Ephesus, in the roman province of asia, is 56 kilometers 35 miles from smyrna. To the angel or messenger of the church in ephesus. Indeed, revelation 2 3 is a series of letters to the 7 cities in western turkey, and ephesus is by far the largest of them. As much as ephesus had been a working church and a welltaught church, ephesus had now become a loveless church, i. Behold, you were at the time for love you were ripe for love so i spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness. The seven churches of asia in stained glass in york minster by john thornton.
Is the ephesian church of the revelation the same group as. Tradition tells us that after john had written the book of revelation he also went to ephesus and spent the closing years of his life there. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and. Revelation 2 new international version niv to the church in ephesus 2 to the angel a of the church in ephesus write. Aug, 2009 the apostle paul wrote a letter to the church of ephesus as well. As ignatius letter to the ephesians commends them for their. Fallenoutoflove ephesus had forgotten the great love wherewith he loved us ephesians 2. These courses are available only on hopelives365 online university.
In the book of acts, lydia was a wealthy benefactress and convert to. One of apostle johns students, polycarp who lived from 69 to 155 a. They were considered heretical by the mainstream church. Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle johns time in asia minor modernday turkey. This is not johns message to the ephesian believers. The first thing to note in this letter to the ephesian church is that the message is from the lord jesus christ. If we are to correctly interpret and apply the message contained in this passage we must first pause to look at the first three chapters as a whole. The entire revelation of this book is addressed to the seven churches that are in asia vss. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. Ephesus was not the capital of the roman province of asia, but it was the most important city in it. In revelation, jesus commended the ephesian church for enduring. In this lesson we look at the message to ephesus, the church that had left its first love revelation 2. Jan 02, 2020 the first thing to note in this letter to the ephesian church is that the message is from the lord jesus christ.
What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in. They were a busy church with great statistics, but a church drifting away from heartfelt devotion to christ. Book of revelation 03 the church of ephesus chakra muladhara. Ephesus had some unique challenges for a christfollower in that it was home to the emperors cult and the worship of the greek goddess artemis acts 19. He explains to them afresh what it means to have put on christ ephesians 4. These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. In ezekiel 16, a powerful scripture, ezekiel 16 verse 8, then i passed by you and saw you god speaking to israel. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.