The Message to the Church in Ephesus Revelation 2:1

John the apostle continued to share the “Revelation” which was given to him by Jesus Christ through an angel, and he told how he, “was in the Spirit on the Lord's day”, and he saw “the Son of Man” or “Jesus” and many of His visible characteristics. He was instructed to, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter”, and he added Jesus' words, “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.” In chapter two and verse one of Revelation, John wrote to, “the the angel of the church of Ephesus” where we read:

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

The verse begins, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, ...” John began with the words, “unto the angel” which means “to the messenger, envoy, one who is sent and by implication the pastor” “of the church” or “pertaining to the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting” “of Ephesus” which means “the maritime city of Asia Minor which was the capital of Ionia and under the Romans, belonging to the proconsular Asia which was situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus whose name means permitted ” “write” or “delineate or form letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material”; “these things” which refers to “that which John is about to write” “says” or “speaks, utters, proclaims and declares” “he that holds” or “Jesus who owns, possesses, seizes, takes power over and is master and chief of” “the seven stars” which refers to “the seven stars as strewn through the sky” “in his right hand” or “within Jesus' right hand of honor and authority”. John's first address was toward the “messenger or pastor” of the church located in “Ephesus”.

The verse continues, “... who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” John added the words, “who walks” or “the Son of Man makes progress, due use of opportunities, regulation and conduct” “in the midst” which means “within the middle and among the center-most point” “of the seven golden candlesticks” which refers to “of the seven candles which are in a lamp stand or candelabrum”. These words were to come from Jesus who “makes His progress” within the “seven candles in the candelabrum”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we notice a few things that will be common with each of the churches John addresses. First, we notice to whom this message is addressed – “the church of Ephesus”. Secondly, we notice that John was to “write to the angel” or “messenger” of the church. Thirdly, John referred to two characteristics of Jesus that were mentioned in the first chapter of Revelation – 1) “who that holds the seven stars in his right hand” and 2) who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”. Each of these “seven churches” will mention some portion of the vision of Jesus. God's message through Jesus was directed to this “first” church in His list, and as we progress through our study we shall discover more about “Ephesus” to whom Jesus directed His words.

Next time John continues Jesus' words to the church of Ephesus as he wrote, “I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.