Ephesus – The Church That Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – Part 1

Today we begin our journey through the seven churches of The Revelation with the church at Ephesus. Allow me to share with you how I plan to take you through these churches. I would like for us to spend two Mondays on each church. The first week, I will give you the passage of Scripture dealing with the church, as well as an introduction. In the second week we will examine the commendations, rebukes and promises of Christ to the church, as well as a takeaway from each church for those of us who live in 2013. It is impossible to include every piece of information that I taught in each class, so know that you are getting the highlights. I would love to teach this class again locally if there is enough interest.

Ready, set, go!!

Ephesus

 The Church That Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’

Read Revelation 2: 1-7 (NIV)

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

 

Background

‘The angel’ – the Greek word used is aggelos. Several possibilities exist for the identity of this person:

1. Heavenly guardians of the church, actual angels
2. Bishops or pastors of the church – this is most popular meaning
3. Personifications of the churches themselves
4. Human messengers, i.e. postmen

Church

• The church at Ephesus was the most prominent of the seven churches of The Revelation. It was the mother church to all the others and was referenced in Acts 19:10
• Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, Apollos were instrumental in starting the church in Ephesus. The book of Acts is full of references to the birth and growth of the church at Ephesus.
• John, the apostle spent the last of his life at Ephesus, and wrote his epistles from there. His leadership of this church was probably the reason for his arrest and imprisonment on Patmos.

City of Ephesus

• Considered the most important city in Asia Minor
• Population in New Testament times – approximately 250,000
• The main theatre in the city held an estimated 25,000
• It was the primary harbor for Asia
• The city was heavily involved in magic, emperor worship, and idol worship (Acts 19: 11-20)
• Ephesus was the center of worship of Artemis/Diana – The Artemision, or temple,was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was supposedly inviolable.
• The Artemision also served as the major bank, as well as a supposed safe place for accused felons. Go figure!!
• Temple-associated articles used in worship were a major source of income for the city, i.e. figurines of Diana/Artemis
• Worship of Diana was vile and included temple prostitutes and lots of sexual immorality

Nicolaitans

• We will meet them again later when we study the church at Pergamum
• It is uncertain exactly who the Nicolaitans were.
• ‘Nicolaitan’ means to conquer the people. 
• Linked to Nicholas, “one of the seven men appointed to oversee the distribution of food in Acts 6. Some argued that Nicolas was a false believer who became an apostate, but retained influence in the church because of his credentials. Others suggested that the Nicolaitans misrepresented his teaching.” (MacArthur p. 61)
• The Nicolaitans’ actions ‘involved sensual temptations leading to sexual immorality and eating things sacrificed to idols without regard for the offense of such behavior—all in the name of Christian liberty.’ (MacArthur p.61)

What do I want you to remember from today’s study?

• The church should be a shining light for Jesus Christ in the midst of a dark world.
• There will always be those who oppose, and try to silence the gospel message.
• Even a church that starts out well, like the church at Ephesus, can lose their first love. Beware!!!