Both the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelations are about the letters that are written to the seven churches in Asia. There are four aspects to each letter. In the beginning of each letter, Jesus reveals something about Himself to that church. He then gives some praise for the good, reveals a warning to their eras and then reveals what is in store for the overcomers. I will break each church down to these categories, Jesus is, Praise, Warnings, Action Needed, Consequences and Overcomers Reward.
To the church in Ephesus,
Jesus is:
The One who holds the seven stars (Angels of the Churches) in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (The Churches).
Praise:
1) Jesus knows their deeds, toil and perseverance.
2) They don't endure evil men.
3) They test self proclaimed apostles and have found them to be false.
4) They have persevered and endured for His name's sake, without growing weary.
5) They hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans as He does. ( The Nicolaitans had hierarchy of superiority, where some were looked at as more important than others. This is opposite of what Jesus wants, because Jesus said that the least among you shall be the greatest, and the greatest shall be the servant of all.)
Correction:
1) They have left their first love. ( Their first love would be a love for Jesus and others.)
How can a church that has deeds, toils and perseverance and keeps and eye on
that
which is not true be seen as doing something wrong ? The doing means nothing if you
loose focus on the most important thing about being a believer in Jesus, and that is LOVE,
Foremost a love for Jesus and then overflowing to a love for your neighbor. They
had gotten all caught up on formalities and going through religious motions that they forgot
what was really important. Jesus had said, in Mathew Chapter 25, verses 35-40, " For I
was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something
to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick
and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.........Truly I say to you, to the
extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it
to Me". Just like today we have many churches with the same flaws. They get so caught
in playing church, that they miss what is important. The function of the church becomes
more important than the welfare on the people in the church. Those people are actually
the church. The main purpose of a church is to first proclaim the Gospel to let people
know the way to eternal life, then second to love them. If you really love them, then you
will care for them as yourself. When one suffers, we all suffer. How we love others is
how we are loving Jesus.
Action Needed:
1) They are told to remember from where they have fallen.
2) Do the deeds you did at first.
Consequence of not:
1) Jesus will remove their lampstand right out of it's place. Which means that their organization won't last.
Overcomers Reward:
1) Jesus will grant you to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
At the end of every letter it says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." When John had written all that he had been given in Jesus' revelation to him, it included all the letters to all the churches, just like we have today. That is why what is said to one church was also to be heeded by all the others also, as we should do today.
Peace to you.
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