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Chapter 2:1-7: The message written to the church in
Ephesus:
 "To
the angel of the church in Ephesus write: the One who holds the
seven stars
in His right hand, the One who walks among the
seven golden
lampstands, says this:
 2'I
know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil
men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are
not, and you found them to be false; 3and you have perseverance and
have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4'But I
have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5'Remember
therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at
first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its
place-- unless you repent. 6'Yet this you do have, that you hate the
deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7'He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will
grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.' Revelation
2:1-7 (NAS)
Jesus is with His church:
In Revelation 2:1, Jesus is described as the one who holds the
seven stars in his right hand and walks amidst the
seven golden
lampstands (candlesticks). As the
congregations of the Lord's church faced severe
persecution at that time, how comforting it must
have
been for them to be reminded in the Revelation that
Jesus was still walking among them and was very much
aware of their circumstances. Before Jesus ascended to heaven,
He had promised the following:
"For
where two or three have gathered together in My
name, there I am in their midst." Matthew 18:20
(NAS)
"...for He Himself
has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever
forsake you," Hebrews 13:5b (NAS)
Question:
In verses 2-3 & 6, Jesus commends the church in Ephesus for
their toil and patience (perseverance); for not accepting evil people (including the Nicolaitans*) and for trying or testing whom?
*Note: The Nicolaitans were a heretical sect in the 1st Century
B.C.
who were said to have retained pagan practices like idolatry and immorality. |
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"Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: "The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the
seven golden lampstands is saying these things [to you]. 2I know what you do. You work hard, and you never quit. I know that you
don't accept evil people. You have tested those people who say that they are
apostles but are really not. You found that they are liars. 3You continue to try without quitting. You endured [troubles] for my name.
And you have not become tired of doing this. 4"But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the
beginning. 5So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do the
things you did at first. If you don't change, I will come to you. I will take
away your lampstand from its place. 6But there is something you do [that is right]: You hate the things that the Nicolaitans do. I also hate what they do.
7"Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit says
to the churches. To the person that wins the victory I will give the right to
eat [the fruit] from the tree of life. This tree is in the garden of God. (ERV)
1To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the
seven golden candlesticks: 2I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil
men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and
didst find them false; 3and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown
weary. 4But I have (this) against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.
5Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works;
or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except
thou repent. 6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I
also hate. 7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To
him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in
the Paradise of God. (ASV)
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven
golden candlesticks;
2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not
bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles,
and are not, and hast found them liars:
3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and
hast not fainted.
4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love.
5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place, except thou repent.
6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I
also hate.
7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God. (KJV)