The Seven Churches and the Kingdom Today
Topic: Ephesus: The Introduction of the Lord and Historical Facts of Ephesus
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7; Ephesians 5:25-27; Acts 18:19-26; Acts 19:28,34,35; Acts 20:17-38; 1 Timothy 1:3;
Greetings Kingdom Citizens and Sons of God:
Ephesus is the first church of the seven that Jesus asks John to write to. Now the word Ephesus has a double meaning. It means “desirable” and it is also that of a Greek man’s hope for a bride. So we have the two words, desirable and bride. Now Jesus starts this letter by introducing Himself as the one who holds the seven stars and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. You may ask what does that mean?
The seven stars Jesus holds in His right hand, which is symbolic of power, are the seven messengers or pastors to the seven churches. In others words, He has complete control, power and authority (grace) over the seven churches and the seven pastors that He has placed there to oversee them. The seven candlesticks that Jesus walks in the midst of represents the seven churches. In other words, Jesus walks in the midst of the church approving and rebuking the actions and conduct of the church.
Now if we go back to the meaning of Ephesus then we can see why Jesus said what He said through Paul in the letter to the Ephesians. We know that Ephesus means bride. Now in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul, by the grace given to Him by the Lord, speaks of the husband and the bride in a mystery. In Ephesians 5:25-27:
“Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleans it with the washing of water by the Word, That he might present it to Himself a glorious church,not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, nut that it should be holy and without blemish.”
So the people at Ephesus was given the mystery between Christ and the church and know that their city means bride, they can come to understand the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ being the bridegroom (Husband) and the church being the bride. Jesus says that He will sanctify and cleanse the bride (church) by the word. So the church at Ephesus could receive the mystery and revelation of Christ and the church.
Now let me give you some historical facts about Ephesus that will be crucial in knowing as we proceed.
Ephesus was considered the greatest city in the province of Asia. It was considered a free city in the Roman Empire and what that means is that they were self-governing and Roman troops did not have to be stationed there. Ephesus was the center of worship of Artemis or better known in scripture as Diana of the Ephesians (Acts 19:28,34,35). In turn Ephesus was a very superstitious city and people would come from all over to buy little trinkets that claim to be remedies for illnesses. The population of Ephesus was mixed population from the people of that area, Greeks and Jews. In addition, Ephesus had an extremely high crime and immorality issue. It would be at the Temple of Artemis that criminals can find asylum from the crimes they commit and within this temple were priestesses who were sacred prostitutes. Now with all of this bad news how could Christ desire such a city? Even though the place looked unfavorable it was the perfect place for the seed of the Kingdom of God to set root and grow and let me show you how.
Paul stayed at Ephesus longer than any other city (Acts 20:31). Timothy, Paul’s son in the gospel, was the first bishop or elder at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). It is at Ephesus where we run into Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos (Acts 18:19-26). In Paul’s farewell address it was written to the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:17-38). So Ephesus was a prominent place in Biblical History
In the next message we will continue to look at Ephesus and allow God to bring the good and the bad issues of Ephesus to the Kingdom today.
At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.
