Ephesus – The Loveless Church - Revelation 2:1-7

Ephesus – The Loveless Church

Revelation 2:1-7

EPHESUS – A.D. 30 – 100.

THE SALUTATION

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands (Revelation 2:1).

This was John’s third command to write.

He (the One) – The description of Christ taken from Revelation 1:13, 16 reinforces the truth that He is the author of these letters and that they are His direct Word. Christ identifies Himself to each of the first 5 churches by using phrases from the vision in Revelation, chapter 1.

7 stars –These are identified as the angels (ἄγγελος ággelos, Gk.), better rendered as “a messenger, one who is sent in order to announce, teach, perform, or explore anything (Matt. 11:10; Luke 7:24; 9:52; Gal. 4:14; James 2:25; Sept.: Josh. 6:17; Mal. 2:7).” The angels of the seven churches are probably the bishops or pastors of those churches, the delegates or messengers of the churches of God (Revelation 1:20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). Hebrews 13:2 may have reference to itinerate preachers rather than angels. They are to be instruments through which Christ, the head of the church, mediates His rule (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

7 golden lampstands – The lampstands are symbolic of churches as lights of the world (Philippians 2:15). Christ is the light, but He uses the churches and the children of God in the churches as lampstands to convey this light (Matthew 5:14). The only limitation placed on the brilliance of the light is the lampstand (church) being yielded to Christ. He walks among the churches scrutinizing, examining, assessing, and evaluating them. Salvation is no longer coming out of Judaism, It is for all.