To the church in ephesus to the angel of the church in ephesus write. Church of ephesus chakra muladhara from march 21 to april 19, develop your ability to see internal images. In the apostle johns vision of revelation, jesus spoke to the christians in these cities, commending some but warning most. It is appropriate that the church at ephesus is addressed first. The message to the church in ephesus lays an important foundation for the rest of the book of revelation.
The specific church being described is the church at ephesus revelation 2. A letter to ephesus seven churches of revelation 2. Ephesus bible study guide with scriptural cross reference. To him who overcomes i will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of god revelation 2. The absence of the church on earth from revelation 4 to revelation 18 is consistent with the pretrib view of revelation 3. Revelation 2 leb the letter to the church in ephesus. Sep 29, 2005 the esoteric meaning of the church of ephesus in the book of revelation apocalypse. The names of the seven churches of revelation are symbolic names and represent the church down through the ages from the beginning of the new testament church, right to the end at the second coming of christ jesus, and reveals the condition of the church at different periods in history. In this statement jesus advises us to heed the messages given to all of the. What is behind this message christ gave to ephesus that is vitally important for the church in todays world. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. It had big impressive buildings and the largest library around. Dec 05, 2001 with a account you will be able to save items to read and study later. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the.
These churches were planted and cultivated by the apostle paul, with the church at ephesus being the lead church. The ephesian church appears again in the second chapter of the book of revelation, where, this time, jesus speaks to the church. In the opening letter to the church at ephesus, christ is pictured as walking among the seven lampstands, which represent the seven churches 1. The church at ephesus was the first church mentioned of the seven churches. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and. Each church is mentioned by name and ephesus is no exception. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.
Why did the church in ephesus receive a direct message from the lord. If most believers saw these amazing qualities of ephesus in a church or individual they would mistakenly think they are saved. All of these seven churches mentioned in revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal churches that were located in asia minor. Ephesus was the site of the first congregation that jesus addressed in the apocalypse. This takes place after the book of revelation has already been written and. The churches at ephesus, smyrna, pergamum and thyatira revelation 2 ephesus. The initial visit by paul to ephesus and the powerful preaching of apollos marked the beginning of the church of god in ephesus called simply the church of ephesus in revelation 2. The church at ephesus had more written to it then to any other of the seven churches in revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in. Ephesus was one of the seven cities addressed in the book of revelation, indicating that the church at ephesus was strong.
Although ephesus had all these amazing qualities it was not enough to meet jesus high standard of requirements for overcomers or conquerors. Revelation 2 lexham english bible leb the letter to the church in ephesus. Ephesus was a prominent citythe gateway to asia minor. Christs letter to the ephesian church praises the congregation for its. It is assumed by pretribulationists that the church is not present on earth during the events spoken of in the majority of the book of revelation. Who are the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. This is jesus christ telling john to write to the angel of the church of ephesus.
The book is also written to all believers everywhere. Located opposite the island of samos, it is the closest of revelations seven churches to the island of patmos where the apostle john wrote the book of revelation. We know that the church was established there in ephesus. Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle johns time in asia minor modernday turkey. Index books of the bible revelation church in ephesus. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. Pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the bible from the book of revelation. Many people today think of jesus christs messages to the churches in the book of revelation as simply historical warnings to the. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. Lets examine the universal spiritual advice jesus christ gave for christians of all time in his message to the church in ephesus.
This is the first of seven studies on the churches of revelation chapters 2 and 3, of which there is so much to learn from the great teacher himself, jesus christ, who is the instigator of these seven letters to the churches. Understand the relevance of the church in ephesus to modernday christians. We will find that important message and hold it up to ourselves for instruction. Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons. Now in his revelation to john, the lord of the church identifies. Concluding his message to the church of ephesus, jesus said, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. The letter to the church in ephesus by dennis johnson. What well see when we examine chapters of revelation that the worldwide church is not mentioned.
The seven churches described in the book of revelation. Is the ephesian church of the revelation the same group as. But i have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Jun 17, 2015 this is the second part in the bible study series. Ephesus was the largest city of the roman province of asia. Revelation 2 niv to the church in ephesus to the bible. The letter to the church in ephesus by dennis johnson ephesus was the site of the first congregation that jesus addressed in the apocalypse, and the new testament tells us more about the history of this church than about any of the others. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches first message, ephesus we now come to the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Ephesus smyrna pergamos thyatira sardis philadelphia laodicea. Lessons from the church in ephesus part 1by chris holland. That was covered in chapter 1 in the last bible study. Oct 07, 20 pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the bible from the book of revelation. Accordingly, paul instructed them more precisely in the gospel, and immersed them into the name of the lord jesus acts 19.
Learn lessons applicable to modernday christians from the commendations, rebuke, exhortation, and promise jesus made to the church in ephesus. With the penning of revelation we have the ability to go back and look at the history concerning the churches. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in. These things says the first and the last, who was dead but is alive. The revelation of jesus christ webberville church of christ. Aug, 2009 read this letters full text in revelation 2. Likewise, each church name has a specific meaning that gives and. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The entire revelation of this book is addressed to the seven churches that are in asia vss.
In his letter, ignatius commends them for their faith and love of christ. Church of ephesus chakra muladhara from march 21 to. The city was the center for the worship of diana mother of the gods and in 480 bc the great temple of diana was erected here as a symbol to the world. To the church in ephesus oak grove church of christ. Smyrna is the second of seven churches in asia minor who receive a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ. And to the angel of the church of the smyrneans write. The city was famous for its temple of diana or artemis, acts 19. Love letter to the church at ephesus revelation for kids. The seven churches of asia in stained glass in york minster by john thornton. According to eusebius of caesarea, saint timothy was the first bishop of ephesus.
Located opposite the island of samos, it is the closest of revelation s seven churches to the island of patmos where the apostle john wrote the book of revelation. Paul went to macedonia, timothy was left at ephesus 1 timothy 1. The esoteric meaning of the church of ephesus in the book of revelation apocalypse. The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one. The book of revelation is one of the most misunderstood and misused books in the. Eagles wings ministries a study about the letter to the church of ephesus in revelation chapter 2, written by jerry gerald bouey. Revelation 2 niv to the church in ephesus to the bible gateway. Ephesus was on the coast of ionia, one mile northeast of the presentday town of selcuk in the izmir province of turkey. In this lesson we look at the message to ephesus, the church that had left its first love revelation 2. At the time this letter was written, ephesus was a major city of asia minor and a seaport. Ephesus was a city on the western coast of asia minor, near the mouth of the cayster river. This is what the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands.
Ephesus was the fourth largest city of the roman empire in the first. Ephesus had some unique challenges for a christfollower in that it was home to the emperors cult and the worship of. Ephesus was the site of the first congregation that jesus addressed in the apocalypse, and the new testament tells us more about the history of this church than about any of the others. The savior commends the church on several points, and then speaks perhaps the most indicting words found in all the new testament. At the time that john penned these words the church at ephesus was busy working for the lord but had no sincere love for him.
Ephesus, in the roman province of asia, is 56 kilometers 35 miles from smyrna. These letters to the churches are full of warnings, rebukes and commendations. Lets explore what this ancient letter had to say to the ephesians in johns time and what we can learn today. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. Does the book of revelation teach that the church will be.
What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. Its more accurate to say that the words churches and church are found 19 times in chapters. They were a busy church with great statistics, but a church drifting away from heartfelt devotion to christ. As i read jesuss words to the seven churches and learned about each location, i wondered how these rocks should change my life. The book of revelation is the ending to the greatest story. What does it mean to have left your first love revelation 2. If you want to learn more about the history of the city of ephesus and the other six cities, there are many online resources available. Ask god to open your heart to hear what he wants to say to you through the message to the church at ephesus. Ephesus, founded primarily by those from the city of athens. If we are to correctly interpret and apply the message contained in this passage we must first pause to look at the first three chapters as a whole. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog.
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