REPENTING CHURCHES MUST BE FOUND FAITHFUL—Ephesus and Smyrna

#722       REPENTING CHURCHES MUST BE FOUND FAITHFUL—Ephesus and Smyrna             

Scripture                                                                                                                      Orig. 9/7/1978

Revelation 2:1-11, NIV                                                                                              Rewr. 2/18/1989

Passage: “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Purpose:  In a Bible study series on Revelation call attention to the need within all churches for repentance and faithfulness.

Keywords:      Bible Study                  Faithfulness                 Repentance                 Revelation

Timeline/Series:           Revelation Ephesus and Smyrna

Introduction

            One doesn’t have to be all that good at imagining to imagine the difficulties with which the early church had to deal.  They were struggling against what we would take to be impossible odds.  They had little, or no material resource.  There was no political power base.  In fact, the opposite was true.  During the last 1/3 of the first century, Rome not only looked with a critical eye at the followers of Jesus, she persecuted these believers inside and outside of the law.

            It is different for us today.  How often, do you suppose, a man could be elected who outspokenly opposed traditional religious values?  Too often we find such office seekers using these values under false pretenses.

            We, today, have a political power base.  We have resources.  Never in the history of the world has the so-called Christian church had more to do with than we do today.  But just as surely as inflation eats away at church ledger sheets, even to a greater degree, indifference eats away at the very soul of the church.

            The discipleship crisis of the first century was having leaders to take the place of faithful witnesses sacrificed to Rome.  Our discipleship crisis is having leaders who fall not before the on-slaughts of Satan, but of sin.  They resume their places as if nothing had happened.

            Discipleship begins with repentance, and from there it rushes pell-mell toward faithfulness to Christ.  The altar of repentance is a regular spot of visitation for every believer.https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2019/08/17/three-things-in-ephesus-timothy-likely-saw/

I.          Ephesus: Eager but Indigent.  “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, . . . I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience . . . .  Nevertheless . . . thou hast left thy first love.”

            A look at background: Perhaps the chief city of Asia: “Lumen Asiae.”  Harbor city: “market of Asia.”  Temple of Artemis (Diana) Acts 19:28.  This last one of seven wonders: [377x180’] with 120 columns 60’ high.  Traded in religious amulets Acts 19:24.  Steeped in immorality with sacred temple prostitutes.

            Particulars about the church.  It was nearest to Patmos.  Paul probably started (at Ephesus on 2nd/3rd

missionary journey).  John spent 25 years as pastor, itinerant evangelist.  Place identified as quarters of Mary. 

            Considering the message to the church.  It is unquestionably from the Lord.  Ephesus represented by candlestand.  Christ is referred to as “alpha and omega” Revelation 1:11; “Son of man” Revelation 1:13,

Acts 7:56 (by Stephen) and Psalm 8:4-5; “he that liveth and was dead” Revelation 1:18;  the unpardonable sin, Matthew 12:31f.  Stars are identified as angels of the seven churches.

            How the message reaches the church—through John by means of this angel; angel may be pastor, messenger, some spiritual entity called to serve.  Christ holds not just the star but “the seven stars” 2:1 in His hand: the whole of believers; individual churches of believers.  John 10:27f “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any pick them out of my hand.” 

            Kratov—here accusative “hold entirely”, genitive—“hold on to.”  Have someone hold a chair, then a marble.

            The message is one of declining love, v4.  The message received is one of instruction.  V4 “I have somewhat against thee . . . remember [the height from which you have fallen]”. Involving what has been: Diligence to duty—work-service rendered, labor-toil at the cost of pain, patience [----text lost----], Galatians 6:9 “Let us not be weary in well-doing”; Zealous against evil—v2 “cannot bear [evil] ones.”  The Lord, in His omniscience, knows what they have left undone: Sins of commission, sins of omission;  not in the sense of deserting cause as Demas “hath forsaken” 2 Timothy 4:10; as in neglect—they were busy, but not for Christ’s glory.  Parable of seeds/soil—some spring up quickly, but without root, they died.

            Leaving instruction, there is injunction.  “Remember . . . or else.”  Injunction to “remember” the glorious years of faithful service to Christ.  Injunction to “repent”—resisting change.  2 Corinthians 7:9f “I rejoiced, . . . that ye sorrowed unto repentance.  Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” (Leaves no regret.)  Injunction to return—“the first works do”—a restored mind/heart state; serve out of love for Christ. 

            The message Ephesus received is a simple one.  The church’s charter is temporary, valid only with faithfulness to her Lord.  The lampstand isn’t snatched away, it becomes a barrier to grace:  kineo—to set in motion—cinema; churches, like people, slow to die.

II.         Smyrna: Suffering but Secure.  V8 “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write; . . . I know thy works . . . tribulation . . . poverty, . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

            First, a brief look at Smyrna’s surroundings.  A city of great beauty: from 1000 BC/ destroyed 600 BC/ rebuilt 200 BC as a planned metropolis.  Aristides: “a flower of beauty such as earth and sun had never showed to mankind.”  Christians maligned for laying no store by such surroundings.  On the Aegean: trade capital of Hermus Valley.   Only one of the seven that survives, [Now known as the] Turkish city Izmir.

            A look at the church.  Believers who were losing everything because of their faith.  Some, however, were renouncing their faith to keep their goods.

            There is a five-part message. (a) Smyrna’s Saviour: (v8) myrrh—had to be crushed to emit fragrance; He knew all that was happening; their loyalty.  (b) Smyrna’s loyalty: word for works does not appear—“I know you”; a church surviving in an antagonistic environment. (Places in the world today.)  Penia—one who has nothing extra.  Ptocheia—one who has nothing.  (c) Smyrna’s satanic surroundings: v9 reverted to Jewish faith to keep their goods.  Problems caused by Jews: Acts 13:50, 14:2,5,19; 17:5.   Anti-semitism is still a sin.

            Smyrna’s suffering: v10 Significance of ten (10) (a) literal, (b) ten imperial persecutions (Nero 64 to 312), (c) a brief period, (d) extreme.  Church age from 170 to 312.

            Smyrna’s Salvation: v10 (a) crown—not royal, but victor (stephanas), (b) Mt. Pagos—crown of Smyrna, (c) shall not, never, (d) Second death—rabbinic term for death of wicked in next world:  physical death, final punishment, unpardonable sin.

Conclusion

            Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church

                        Proconsul:       Curse the Christ

                        Polycarp:         Eighty and six years have I served.

                        Proconsul:       Swear by the genius of Caesar.

                        Polycarp:         I am a Christian.

                        Proconsul:       I have wild beasts, repent or I will throw.

                        Polycarp:         Send for them, repentance from better to worse is not a change permitted us.

                        Proconsul:       I will make thee to be consumed by fire.

            Polycarp:         Thou threatenest the fire that burns [for an hour and in a little while is quenched; for thou knowest not the fire of judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly.]1       

1 Bettenson, H. (Ed.), (1967)  Documents of the Christian Church (1st edition). Oxford: Oxford University.