THE CHURCH AGE

ONE

Christ's messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor were not only words of exhortation accompanied by praise and rebuke, but also words of prophecy covering the span of church history until the present time. That history falls into seven periods. Examining the prophecy in light of what has happened, we are thrilled to find that events took place just as foretold and are still being fulfilled. Studying the second and third chapters of Revelation leads to a firm belief that this is truly the last age for the church.

Each letter to the seven churches can be divided into six parts. First, Christ indicates the name of the recipient church. Next comes His spiritual evaluation of the church; third, His commendation; fourth, His rebuke; fifth, His exhortation; and sixth, His promise. In each letter we'll see how those things applied prophetically to the church during the past two thousand years.

To THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS (2:1-7)

A. Destination The first letter was addressed to the church at Ephesus, which was a major city in Asia Minor, a seaport and a commercial and export centre. It was also the location of the great temple of Artemis (Diana). This large city was so thoroughly stirred by Paul's message that the silversmiths rioted because they believed their business of making shrines for Diana was threatened (see Ads 19:2341). There were also many people practising magic arts. As a result of Paul's preaching, a number of those who practised magic arts believed in Jesus, then brought their books together and burned them (see Acts 19: 13-19).

The church at Ephesus was the most privileged among all the churches because it was blessed with the best of that day's pastors. It was successively pastured by the apostle Paul, Apollos, Timothy and the apostle John.

It was therefore the most trained in the Scriptures and doctrinally orthodox.

Hut as the church greatly expanded, thanks to its firm standing on the Word of God, it changed into an organisation and became systematised. Naturally, little by little, its first love began to wane and grow cold. Prayer and praise ceased too, and the worship service leaned toward form and ritual.

B. The Description of Jesus Many churches today have members who simply attend the services. They listen to the pastor's sermon. They're interested in things that are scientific and philosophical, and in the church ministry. But they forget the Jesus who is present. He is the reason for our attending and our worship. These churches typically do not lead people to feel their need to be saved, encourage them to be baptised with the Holy Spirit or pray for the sick. Therefore nobody repents. Nobody receives the Holy Spirit. And nobody is healed miraculously from disease. The works of God disappear and are replaced by human efforts. The service turns into a humanistic meeting, void of spiritual nourishment and blessing.

The church at Ephesus had become like that. At first it was a God-centered church, full of the Word and the Holy Spirit. But then the church degenerated into a humanistic body that leaned toward activity and organisation. Jesus showed His insight into the church with His rebuke: “Look! I'm still walking in the midst of the seven candlesticks holding the seven stars in My right hand, but you have forgotten” (my paraphrase).

C. Commendation The method of discipline our Lord used was always to commend first before He rebuked. Our feelings are hurt less that way, and we're more open to reprimand to correct our shortcomings. This approach is also effective in bringing up our children and in all our relationships.

Jesus commended the Ephesians because their work had been Christ-centered. They also toiled sacrificially, bearing trouble and hardships in much perseverance. He also commended their purity; they would not tolerate those who were evil. Instead, they drove the false apostles out of the church.

According to Jewish tradition, the Nicolaitans referred to in verse 6 were the followers of Nicolaus, one of the first seven deacons chosen by the early church. Nicolaus, who had fallen from orthodox faith, introduced heretical Greek philosophy into the church. He held the belief that the spirit of man is good and pure, but his body is fundamentally forever evil. The spirit is by no means affected by the body's activities because the spirit is pure and holy forever. Therefore one's spirit is not affected harmfully even though one lives an unrestrained life of indulgence, drinking and eating as one wishes, living immorally. Since the spirit is purified, once a man believes in Jesus, there is no difference in his body even though it commits evil.

Many churches followed the Nicolaitans and went into corruption and licentiousness.

Furthermore, the Nicolaitans systematised the church and set up a sinful hierarchy. Understandably, our Lord hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The church at Ephesus did too, so He commended them for that as well.

D. Rebuke

Next our Lord sharply rebuked the church by declaring, “Thou hast left thy first love” (v. 4). It was a grave problem indeed. They had learned the Word well, but while they had been busy with their many activities, including service and sacrifice and bearing hardships, they lost Jesus from their midst. What was left but form and ritual? The situation was analogous to what can happen in a marriage relationship. When the love is lost, the husband is bound only by the duty of earning bread for his family. The wife is bound only by her duty of rearing the children and running a household. There's not a day of rest from irritation and quarrels in such a home. The same is true in the church. Once believers' fervent relationship with Jesus has cooled off, they will just attend church on Sundays out of habit. They're going through the motions without joy or enthusiasm. How many churches today are like that? How fervent the early Christians must have been when they first believed in Jesus Christ! Doesn't the Bible say they were all filled with the Holy Spirit? Therefore the church cannot please God unless its members maintain a constant, fervent fellowship with Christ.

E. Exhortation

Jesus exhorted the church at Ephesus to “remember...from whence thou art fallen” (v. 5). We so easily forget the blessing of the Lord. We also forget His chastisement. Jesus says “remember...from whence thou art fallen.” He asks, “What happened that you now possess only a hollow faith?” If we come to our Lord at such times, confessing what we've done and repenting, we can return once again to a fervent faith-life. Then we won't repeat the failure of the church at Ephesus.

F. Promise

Jesus promised that when the Ephesian church's first love was restored, two blessings would be given (see v. 7).

First He promised paradise. This paradise is far better than the one where Adam and Eve lived. The new paradise will be in heaven. Christ will transform our bodies from their former state of dishonour to a glorious new state; from weakness to power; from the natural to the spiritual so that these mortal bodies will put on inimortality, and we will live forever with Him. Second, He promised He would give the fruit of the tree of life. That fruit isn't given just for the pleasure of seeing, but also for nourishment.

G. Interpretation of the Prophecy (A.D. 33-100)

The letter to the Ephesian church represents the apostolic church in the period from A.D. 33 to 100. The name Ephesus means “to relax or let go.” Hence, the name implied that love had departed, and only form and rituals were left. The church of Christ, which had been red-hot with the fire of the Holy Spirit in its initial stages following His ascension, slowly lost its first love, By the year 100 it had turned into a church with nothing more than forms, like the Ephesian church. What will happen to a church that has lost its first love if it doesn't repent and return to the Lord? God will visit it with chastisement, as we'll see in the next letter.

Next Part I1. To THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA (2:8-11)