Revelation 2:1 Commentary and Bible Study

We come to this second chapter and the first of the letters to the seven churches, seven literal churches. These letters form section one of the Book of Revelation, from chapters 1 to 3, and show us the seven churches in Asia. They were literal churches. You learn in the seven letters the condition of those churches, and the purpose of those chapters is to show how Christ is shining his light into the world, because the churches are depicted as lampstands, as light bearers. Interestingly, chapters 1 to 3 in the Book of Revelation don’t recognise anything else but churches. Local churches are God’s authorised and required and appointed units to bear the light. But more than that, you see that Christ is in the centre of the churches. In his glorified body he is in the glory in heaven, but by his Spirit he is on earth, and he works through his churches. You see those churches beset by various problems, and some are very faithful, some are less faithful. One or two are rather unfaithful, and they are commanded to repent and return to the standards. You get a picture not only of those literal churches, but since seven is the perfect number you know that they are also a type or picture of churches throughout the ages, struggling to stay separate from the world, struggling to stay faithful to the Scripture and the doctrines, putting forth in their pastors and people every effort to stay close to Christ, and keep him as their first love. You see a picture of the kind of things that would constantly try to pull them away from that. All the letters are to be sent to each church, so although there is a letter for each one, the message of each letter is for all the churches. These were literal churches in western Asia Minor, though we believe there were far more than the seven to whom letters, messages were given through the apostle John. But, though they are real churches who truly have these circumstances, they undoubtedly represent all churches throughout all ages, and they encompass so many of the problems that we all come up against as churches.Each of these letters follows a very similar structure. There is an opening address to the recipient, an identification of the sender, the Lord Jesus Christ, in terms of some aspect of the vision of chapter one, an insight into the works of that church, whether good or bad. In most cases there is a commendation of what is good, in most cases there is also a condemnation of what is bad, stressing some shortcoming or sin. There is an accompanying warning and correction, and lastly there is a word of exhortation from the Spirit to all the churches with a promise to those who obey, which is expressed in terms of overcoming in the great battle against sin and the devil. The letter to Ephesus, the first to be addressed, has all seven parts, but some letters omit some of these.Ephesus is a second, if not third, generation congregation. The church is over forty years old. It is a conspicuously wealthy city. Four miles from the sea, it is connected to the sea by a wide river and had a fine harbour. It was a commercial centre of Asia in those days. Paul had virtually founded the church during his second missionary journey in AD 52. The city had a centrally located house of prostitution and gambling tables. The temple was the place of worship of Artemis (or Diana as she was known to the Romans). Statistics show well over four hundred feet long, and well over two hundred wide, and sixty feet high, hundred and twenty-seven marble pillars. What a structure it must have been! More than thirty of them were overlaid with gold and precious stones. That temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world the experts tell us. Ephesus regarded itself as the guardian of this temple, which was built in the middle of the 6^th century BC and was considered one of the great wonders of the world. Concern for the reputation of this temple caused the inhabitants to riot when it seemed to be under threat during Paul’s ministry there (Acts 19:23-29). Diana, the god, was portrayed with features of exaggerated feminine fertility. Later on, in his third missionary journey, he came again to Ephesus and he stayed three years as their pastor. According to Irenaeus, Ephesus was the place to which John returned to live after his exile on Patmos, until the time of the emperor Trajan (AD 98-117).The letter is addressed to the angel of the church at Ephesus. That is something like the pastor or the presiding elder of the church, who bore a particular responsibility. Of course, the letter is addressed to the whole church, every member of the church, but there is also a special responsibility for the pastor. The angels of messengers or pastors of the churches are described as in Christ’s right hand which does not mean that they are special, but not only that he will care for them, but that they are under his orders. They are accountable to the church as well, but they are also accountable to him.