Revelation 2:1 "Unto 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"
The Angel, as said is a person carrying forth a message from God, as in, a Minister, or servant of God.
The name Ephesus = "permitted”, meaning give authorization or consent to (someone) to do something. My source for this definition is, Thayer's Greek Definitions. Here, it’s the Greek, G2181.
-Original: Ἔφεσος
-Transliteration: Ephesos
-Phonetic: ef'-es-os
-Definition: Ephesus = "permitted"
1. a maritime city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsular Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus
Here our Lord and saviour, again, he vets himself as the only True and Living God. As said, holding the seven stars in his right hand. One other thing about the RIGHT HAND here, it’s the POWER of God and the Power of God is in his ARM, God himself, the Holy Spirit. And it was the Holy Spirit, God, who have the Power to open the seals of the book/bible and look thereon, Revelation 5:1 "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals”.
We’ll discuss these verses in detail when we get to chapter 5 Lord’s willing.
And it is the same Holy Ghost who can, and will teach us what’s in the book/Bible, which was in his right hand,. (see Luke 12:12, John 14:26, and 1 Corinthians 2:13).
Revelation 2:2 "I 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:
The Keyword that Jumps out here is the word “patience”, as in the next verse, meaning, The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. this lack of becoming annoyed is What Christ gives a warning about
Revelation 2:3 "And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
As God did by the apostle Paul, he warns this church about false prophets, teachers, and false apostles "BEFORE". he calls for the elders together at Ephesus to give them this same warning again. Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:29 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them". (one might want to read that verse agan).
Acts 20:31 "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
And because they know some was not of God, (even some amoung them), yet as the name Ephesus means, they “permitted” some of their way in the church. Because the next verses bear this out.
Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
"The warning and danger of Syncretism "
Remember this is directed at the LEADERSHIP in the churches. Some may have good intention, but the wrong doctrine
Revelation 2:5 "Remember 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.
(please note, "and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent". that's a danger sign there.
this first work I have a handle on, but if anyone else have something on the work please post it.
Revelation 2:6 "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
For the Nicolaitans: it means to a vanquishers of a people, conquerors over the laity (the people). ruling people without LOVE. This the Lord Jesus hate. Just like many leader in congregation today, they think they own the church, and have people to do what they say. That church can be seen in some churches today. ruling without LOVE, which means to serve, yet they want to be served. maybe this is the first "Work" they left?
Revelation 2:7 "He 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.
hear what the Spirit teaches one to do. read with the ONE who have open the book/Bible, and seen there on. Those who hear his voice … today, will overcome.
So the Lord Jesus goes straight to the problem in this church, “LEADERSHIP”. the Gift he has in his right Hand. Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
So reading Marks chart we see all of this in the overview of the chart.
Looking for others input.
PICJAG
