Messages to the seven churches. Who are they?
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamum
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodicea
Why are there messages to seven churches?
Are they just for the churches of that time period?
Are they for today?
Do they represent the way the church of Christ has changed historically?
Do these still exist in the natural?
Are we one of these today?
Show "7 churches.jpg"
Ephesus
-means "permitted" mentioned in Acts, Cor, Tim, Rev
-was the second largest city in the Roman empire
-Rome, Ephesus, Antioch
-the other six churches mentioned in Rev 2-3 may have been planted by the church of Ephesus
-Paul writes the book of Ephesians btw 60-62 AD
-John writes Revelations in 96 AD
Who established the church at Ephesus?
Paul
On Paul's second missionary journey (52 AD), he visited Ephesus after leaving Corinth, and evidently planted the church there (Acts 18:19). On Paul's third missionary journey (54-56 AD), Paul spent between two and three years teaching in the city (Acts 19:8-10).
Timothy
Pastored in Ephesus
John
Tradition says John the apostle lived in Ephesus.
Here is the backstory:
The apostle John had disciples. One was named Polycarp whom John had ordained as a bishop in the neighboring town of Smyrna. Polycarp was the last known living connection with the Apostles.
After John's death, in the town of Smyrna lived a man named Irenaeus who had seen and heard the preaching of Polycarp.
Irenaeus is the source of the idea the John lived in Ephesus. Irenaeus was born in Smyrna in 130 AD - at least 30 years after John died.
Irenaeus wrote a book named "Against Heresies" in about 180 AD - it is this work where he tells a story that Polycarp told him about John. This is what he wrote:
"..John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, “Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within.”
Who was Cerinthus?
An early heretic who lived btw 50-100 AD. He was an opponent of John the apostle. Cerinthus' interpretation is that Christ descended upon Jesus at baptism and guided him in ministry and the performing of miracles, but left him at the crucifixion. He maintained that Jesus was not born of a virgin, but was a mere man, the biological son of Mary and Joseph.
***John probably wrote 1st, 2nd and 3rd John while in Ephesus.***
Mary the mother of Jesus
May have lived in Ephesus altho the evidence is weak. John may have taken her in while in Jerusalem or in Ephesus. But we aren't sure.
Pattern of How each church is spoken of:
The message is given to the angel (messenger) of each church
A reference to Jesus is made that has been already mentioned in Rev 1; (for example: he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand) prob in relation to something regarding that particular church
A positive "validation" for their "work".
But not every church is given postive validation.
Followed by a negative citation in which the church is told to repent of.
Not every church is given a negative reference.
Each church is told "he that hath an ear to hear"...
Each church is challenged to overcome something.
If they overcome, they will receive something from Jesus, usually something found in Rev 20,21 or 22.
Rev 2:1-3
1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: 2 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; 3 and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.
Summary
To the angel of the church of Ephesus..
that holdest the seven stars
This description of Jesus is from Rev 1:16
Holds - Jesus holds, has dominion, is powerful over the angels/messengers of the seven churches
Seven stars = the angels of the seven churches
In his right hand - prominent hand
Jesus walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
This description is from Rev 1:13:
"and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man".
Different from Rev 1:13, here it says he "walks" thru the midst of the candlesticks.
Walks - tread all around, go, be occupied with
***It is showing us a picture of great care that Jesus has for his church, whom he walks with and is occupied with.
***And the prominent importance that Jesus shows with the seven angels/messengers by being in His right hand.
***Per John 8:31, Jesus concern is with his "disciples" who abide in his word. They are the one who are "set free".
(Positive validation)
I know thy works, and thy toil and patience (STEDFASTNESS)
-think of last week, in Col 1:23
"if so be that ye continue in the faith...",
Vs 2 "You can't tolerate evil men, and tested those that call themselves apostles, but are not, and found them false"
***This is a big deal***
In Act 20:29-30, Paul said to the Ephesian church:
29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock
30 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
So 30+ years, the Ephesians are doing their job to prevent the foxes from guarding their henhouse
Does this happen today?
Psa 105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.
Vs 3 "
"and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary."
(Now for the negative statement)
Rev 2:4-5
4 But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. 5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.
Summary
Ephesus left their first love?
Per Coffman commentary:
"The first love of every true church is our Lord himself; and what is indicated here is the departure (in heart) of the Ephesian church from their Lord who had redeemed them. Oh yes, they were still busy with all kinds of tremendous works; but, significantly, these were not designated as "the work of faith." They were running their religion from a center of affection, not in the Lord, but in themselves. Of course, they were still advocating and defending all of the great doctrines of the faith, but the love of the Saviour was missing."
Or another example might be Mary, the sister of Lazarus in Luke 10:39 who "sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word."
Her sister Martha was busy serving and got angry at Mary for not helping:
What did Jesus say?
Luk 10:41-42
41b …"Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: 42 but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Repent and do the first works
-possibly the works of faith and love?
-maybe like the works of Abraham?
Clarke's commentary
"Resume your former zeal and diligence; watch, fast, pray, reprove sin, carefully attend all the ordinances of God, walk as in his sight, and rest not till you have recovered all your lost ground, and got back the evidence of your acceptance with your Maker.
If you don't repent, I will come to thee and move (remove) your candlestick out of its place.
***What might it mean to move your candlestick?***
-get rid of the light in Ephesus and leave it dark.
Rev 2:6-7
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Summary
Jesus/Ephesus hates the works of the Nicolaitans.
Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolaus, who was mentioned in Acts 6:5. He was chosen to be one of seven men to help in ministry in Jerusalem along with Stephen, Phillip and 4 others.
Act 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;
History says Nicolas (the Nicolaitans) distorted Paul’s teaching on liberty. Giving them freedom to abuse the flesh.
Hence: Rev 2:6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
***No biblical support that this is true***
That leaves us with using the word "Nicolaitan" itself to identify who it may be.
Nicolaitan comes from two words, "Nikao", meaning "to conquer", and "laity", meaning "the people".
Ministers are to make disciples of Jesus and His Word, not themselves and their traditions.
God never wanted a king over Israel; men did. (Think Saul)
Jesus said that Ephesus hates the work of the Nicolaitans.
Eph 4:11-13
11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: 13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
-In vs11, who is in charge?
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers
-Which are the head in our church system today? Pastors
-Notice which book in the bible this was listed in? Ephesians
-verse 15 tells us who the head is. Jesus
-The Nicolaitans will be mentioned again in association with another church
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith….
What does this mean?
Matt 11:15
Mar 4:9
Luke 8:8
Luke 8:18
Luke 8:21
Luke 14:35
Jesus frequently said "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Why does Jesus say "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" when he says it himself?
To him that overcomes,
I will give him to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise (garden) of God
Overcomes what?
-leaving our first love
fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.
Overcomes eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
What is the tree of life, in the Paradise of God?
***This is vital to know cause we can gain this ourself in our own life if we overcome losing our first love***
Tree of life
Adam & Eve in garden of Eden
Gen 2:9
And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
-Which tree is in the "midst" of the garden? Certainly the tree of life and probably the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Gen 2:16-17
16 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
-So they were allowed to eat of the tree of life? Wonder if they had?
-So the serpent convinces Eve and eventually Adam to eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil".
Gen 3:22
And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever —
-The difficulty of this verse. They were allowed to eat of the "tree of life" already.
-But if they eat of the tree of good and evil, they become as one of "US".
Who is 'us'?
-If they eat of both trees, they live for ever?
Seems to suggest it.
Therefore God does this:
Gen 3:23-24
23 therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
-So what happened to the "tree of life"?
-Any clues in vs 24 as to who the "tree of life" may refer to?
"East" and "sword"
Next appearance of the tree of life
Pro 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
-Who is she?
vs 13 Wisdom
-verse 19 tells us who "US was in Gen 3:22
Pro 3:19
"Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth"
Tree of life is also found in these 3 proverbs:
Pro 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
Pro 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
-In Hag 2:7, Jesus was the "desire of nations"
Pro 15:4
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
See this verse:
Pro 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
In the New Testament:
Rev 22:2
in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:14
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
-In what city is the tree of life? The spiritual city of New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2). It is also known as the Holy City AND the Paradise of God.
Rev 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
-We come full circle back to the tree of life which was hidden in Gen 3?
It seems to be Jesus or the Word or Jesus' fruit.
What happens if we take away from the words of the book?
God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city
So back to Rev 2:7.
Rev 2:7b... To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
What does it mean?
If you overcome or reestablish your first love, you will be allowed access to Jesus (the tree of life), which is now in the New Jerusalem (Paradise of God).
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