The Church At Ephesus; Revelation 2:1-7
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
March 1, 2013
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Introduction:March 1, 2013 The Church At Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7 This month's study is about the church at Ephesus. Because this church was so intimately considered in Paul's travels and because it occupies more than nineteen separate passages in the New Testament, it stands out in importance. In Acts, the hardships of ministering in that area are well documented. In the book of I Corinthians (which some believe was written from Ephesus), Paul makes reference to it. Timothy was commissioned to go to Ephesus and "straighten out" the mélange of false ideologies forming there. Finally, Revelation addressed Ephesus' struggles, commended its progress and challenged its loss of first love. Having four very different references from which to view this congregation, the reader has an advantage that is not readily available for the other six churches of Revelation. Ephesus was the first to be called up for appraisal. (Thyatira and Laodicea had brief contact with Paul through Lydia [Acts, met Paul at Philippi] and Epaphras [Col. 4]). Exposition: Ephesus in Revelation: As one segments these verses, it becomes apparent that the Lord Jesus has intimate knowledge of what is going on within the church community. What is interesting are those things that are meaningful to Him in light of what Acts and Timothy emphasize. Take a moment to review in sequence what Jesus says to them.Focal Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus was offered (along with all who overcome) to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God if they turned back to their first love. Yes, they had endured pain and suffering from the evil doers. Yes, they had overcome so many invasions they were seasoned warriors for Christ, but the erosion of their first love had blinded their spiritual perception. Focusing on "overcoming," they had lost contact with what mattered to the Savior. (Could this be said of today's church?) Ephesus in Acts: Background: The Book of Acts, chapters 19-20. Acts 19:1-20:3Because Ephesus had a synagogue, it could be assumed these disciples were Jews and had heard Apollos preach John's baptism. Acts 18:24-28 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.These disciples (perhaps of Apollos) stood out from among the other Jews as Paul preached in the synagogue. Paul taught these twelve true baptism, showing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and themselves with Him. Paul laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, and they manifested their baptism by speaking in tongues and prophesying (the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy). Neither Paul nor his disciples lasted more than three months in the Ephesian synagogue. The twelve taught others "the Way." Before long, persecution began. "The Way was evil spoken of," because the power elite deemed it contrary to "their way." (How often this is the case today. Consider the oxymoron, "tongue talking Baptist.") Paul took his disciples and resorted to a building housing Tyrannous' school. Once again, the Apostle proved his calling and opened a venue to those beyond the reach of established religion. Acts 19:10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.Miracles broke out in their midst, handkerchiefs were anointed and people were healed simply by touching them. Jewish mystics began to evoke the Name and found themselves bludgeoned by demons. Yet these demons were being cast out by the humblest of converts. Acts 19: 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.So significant were these transactions that it disrupted the economy of the area. Silversmiths, casting companies and retailers began losing customers and income due to the preaching of this growing group. (Any time true revival grasps a community then evidences, like those in Ephesus, sweep the public arena.) Acts 19: 23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."(Please remember that Jesus was accused of proclaiming the overthrow of both Temple and Emperor. Remember that all of Jesus' disciples ran into difficulty with authorities, both political and religious. Remember that Paul was imprisoned because of these forces. Note also, the mother-goddess, Diana, was contrasted by Paul in his Ephesian letter by his teaching on the creator, the son and the saints. Much of the work in the book of Ephesians refute false teaching and replaces it with sound theology.) Listen to pagan logic:(Today, citadel cities, acting as guardians of false gods, still exist. Take the Vatican for instance, Roman Catholics have replaced Diana with Mary, as a type of mother-goddess. They have sainted and canonized and introduced mysticism and paganism into Christian worship as well.) (Review Clarke's comment:After this disturbance, however, Paul departed. The riot over the silversmiths propelled him toward his original goal. Heading toward Jerusalem, he called for the elders of the Ephesian church to come to him for a final convocation. Paul knew this would be a final meeting. He knew he would never see them again, so what was said to them was of most importance. (Man's final words, though spoken in brevity, carry great weight.) Acts 20:17 The Ephesian Elders were Exhorted(Author's Note: It is time to kiss the saints that have blessed you. In these perilous hours ahead, don't let the opportunity pass to bless and show affection for those who have guarded your soul!) Paul taught against savage wolves among the sheep ... the elders listened and they watched and prayed and stayed faithful and Jesus rewarded them in Revelation 2. Ephesus in the Corinthian Passages: The Corinthian letters were written by Paul while facing opposition in Ephesus. Here are a couple of passages found in I Corinthians related to his ordeals in that city. Countering false teachings in Corinth, he cites his battle against untruth in Ephesus. Who were these wild or savage beasts? Perhaps it was Demetrius and the wild crowd in the theater. It could have been savage personal attacks fomented by the unbelieving Jews. It could have been local authorities. We do know that "Heraclitus, of Ephesus, had termed his countrymen 'wild beasts' 400 years before." (Christians in America are about to face "wild beasts." )1 Corinthians 15:32 Paul again mentions Ephesus.(Author's Note: I have had the privilege of knowing many missionaries. Every last one of the worthwhile ones talk just as Paul did in this passage. They count the open door greater than the opposition against them, and I know of absolutely none who do not have great forces working against them. I have heard many accounts. [Being escorted out of Catholic dominated countries by Jesuits, being tortured and killed by Communists, being daily threatened by military forces, being intimidated by government officials and thugs, loved ones targeted and killed by Islamists-all during my lifetime.]1 Corinthians 16:8-9 This very morning a skillful man of God said in conversation, "A great door is opening, one that will include Asia and ultimately the world, I am laying all my resources and life into this project." [How can a church with all its many millions of resources withhold them for themselves or their sainted few, while this man labors secularly to fund that which God has endorsed?]) Ephesus in I Timothy Once again, in his writing to Timothy, the great heart of Paul is concerned about the work in Ephesus. He commissioned Timothy to go there and minister the true gospel and to expel that which would corrupt it. (Jesus commended the church for expelling evil and testing for false doctrine and false apostles and prophets. Paul and Timothy did a great job with their assignments.) 1 Timothy 1:3-11Personally, I like the word "swerved" that Paul used to describe to young Timothy those who pursued error.3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work-which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. Some might have started out right and been faithful to the truth, but then they swerved. That about describes the apostasy we hear today.1 Tim 1:6 (I even like the phrase, "vain tangling" translated "vain talking." Vain jangling means vain talk, empty declamation, discourses without sense. )So much of what one hears from today's clergy is best catalogued as "swerved minded vain jangling." Many saints are hard pressed to find a congregation that teaches the full gospel in purity and power because of the off course vain jangling. (Clarke sums it succinctly:The Epistle to the Ephesians Now it will be rather simple to cruise through the Epistle to Ephesus and locate passages which address the issues found in Revelation 2 and the other references. After preaching the wondrous gospel, where he reached back to the foundation of the world in chapters 1-3, Paul uses the "knowledge and wisdom" prayed for in chapter one. Upon declaring the position of the saint in Christ, he moves to the "thorns in his flesh (the issues which attack his very being)." Ephesians 4:11-15If the reader gleans nothing more from this study than this-- let it teach that the church at Ephesus LISTENED when they were taught. They actually DID what the apostles and prophets told them. They discerned in the Spirit and prevailed against all kinds of interruptions and hell sent divisiveness. For this they were given accolade. They laid waste the Nicolaitans, hated evil, stood against the savage beasts and having done all---fell away from their first love. O how we must think like Jesus thinks and not like man thinks. Jesus promised if the church at Ephesus would repent, they could eat of the tree forbidden to Adam and Eve. They would stand complete before Him, just as the first of creation did in the garden--before sin. Gone is the flaming sword; present is the flaming heart. Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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