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The History of the Ages – Lesson 82

In the first chapter of Revelation John has a vision of Christ (verses 12-16). Then we see, “Therefore write the things you will see, the things which are, and the things that must happen in the future. And this is the hidden meaning of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand and the seven lampstands of gold: the seven stars are the seven messengers of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (1:19-20) What follows in chapters 2-3 are the messages to the seven churches outlining the current conditions of those churches in John’s day (the things which are). These messages characterize the conditions of the church throughout this age. So, what we’re going to do is analyze these messages, so we can understand what Christ sees as commendable and what is not commendable.

The first is the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. I’ll not quote it here; you can read it for yourself. As I look at this passage I find these commendations:

1. He knows their works, labor and patience (verse 2). Generally, Christ is commending them for how they conduct themselves in their surroundings. They set a good example for those who are watching.
2. They can’t bear those who are evil (verse 2). Here “evil” is kakos, what is morally or ethically wrong. It is the direct opposite of Godly character.
3. They have exposed those who have entered the church with wrong motives or teachings (false apostles).
4. They’ve endured the opposition of others and have not been ashamed to bear the name of Christ (verse 3).
5. They haven’t quit in the face of opposition or persecution (verse 3).
6. They hate the Nicolaitanes (verse 6). Here, a little explanation is needed. These were followers of Nicolaus, who was a heretic who taught that having a plurality of wives, committing adultery and engaging in various forms of fornication was the path to spiritual enlightenment. This is a view that has been common in religion from the idolatrous cults in the Old Testament down to some current groups.

Then we find in the midst of these commendable attributes one condemnation – they had left their first love (verse 4). Here I have to paraphrase the verse to give the proper context. “And yet I have this one thing against you: that you have abandoned the love you had (for Me) in the beginning.”  

This is where we have to wake up, sit up straight, pay attention, and maybe splash a little cold water on our face. When you look at religion today, most of the churches are pretty good at doing the things the Ephesians were commended for. They try to set an example when others are watching (remember, that’s my definition of morality – what you do when you know others are watching). They may take a public stand against what they view is wrong. They fuss with each other over what they may think is wrong teaching (though today doctrine has been so diluted and changed over the years, the result being many different groups, with different doctrinal statements). They put the name of Christ on everything they do. They haven’t quit, there’s a church on every corner.

But, this is what drove me away from religion, gave me a reality in Christ religion never could and convinced me that I could never go back. All the things Christ commended the Ephesians for are not wrong things to do if done with accuracy and purity (though, when you look at some religious institutions today, that is certainly in question). The Ephesians had busied themselves with things that were good things to do, but they had abandoned the one thing Christ insisted that they do – maintain a relationship of intimacy with Him. You cannot spend your life doing all the good things while ignoring the one essential thing that connects you with Him. A relationship with Him is not based on all the activities you carry on with others. Only time spent alone with Him, submitted and obedient to Him will do that.

This brings us to verse 5. “So, remember where you were before you fell back. Repent and do what you did in the beginning, or else I will come and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” So, here’s the warning and it’s crystal clear. There are a couple of things we have to consider here. The first is that Christ is telling the Ephesians (and us) that a relationship of intimacy with Him is an absolute necessity. That is what our salvation (deliverance) is based on. Everything we do and everything we are must flow from that relationship. Otherwise, it’s worthless, useless, meaningless.

The second thing is that all the activity in the world does not add up to a real relationship with Him. You can go to church, follow the traditions and rituals, learn all the doctrine there is to learn, fellowship with others, do good things, support the institutions, live a moral life, try to get others to do the same and never know Him.

Then, the third is that this passage illustrates the fact that you can have a relationship of intimacy with Him, abandon and lose it, repent and gain it back. And, that failure to repent and go back to that intimacy will mean your eventual destruction (look back up to the last part of verse 5 above, “unless you repent”). This is where religion falls short. They emphasize all the good things and give only lip service to the one thing He requires.

The message ends with the confirmation of God’s mercy and His promise of things to come. “He who is willing to listen; let him heed what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Notice the wording. This is what the Spirit is saying to the churches. This is written to the Ephesian church, but applies to all the churches.