Revelation 2:1-7 | What Happened To Love?

Revelation 2:1-7 | What Happened To Love?

Revelation 2:1-7
What Happened to Love?

I. Historical Background to the Church and City

  1. Map of the seven churches.
Distance between Cities Approximate distances between the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, beginning at Ephesus and moving in a somewhat circular manner (corresponding to their order in Revelation):

Ephesus to Smyrna35 miles  
Smyrna to Pergamum  45 miles  
Pergamum to Thyatira  40 miles  
Thyatira to Sardis  30 miles  
Sardis to Philadelphia  28 miles  
Philadelphia to Laodicea45 miles  
Laodicea to Ephesus  95 miles  



  1. Ephesus was “the metropolis of Asia,” the center of trade and business. It was a seaport, the capital of the province of Asia Minor, and its largest city.
    1. Pictures of ancient Ephesus today.





    2. The ancient city is now six miles from the Aegean Sea.
    3. “Today, the remains of ancient Ephesus are located about four miles inland from the Aegean Sea on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. However, the first-century geographer Strabo (64/63 bc–ad 21) describes the city as a seaport located about the middle of the western coast of the Roman province of Asia (Asia Minor) at the mouth of the Cayster River. Over the years the silting of the Cayster River made Ephesus a gulf city.”[2]
    4. The city had as many as 500,000 inhabitants, with an amphitheater holding 25,000.
  2. Picture of the theater at Ephesus.


  3. Pagan worship was big business in this city. They worship the goddess Diana, who was a goddess of sex and fertility.
    1. Reconstruction of the Temple of Diana.


  4. Size comparison of Diana’s temple to a football field.


  5. Remains of the Temple of Daina.

  1. Church
    1. This church seems to have begun before Paul’s arrival. It seems that Priscilla and Aquilla began this work around AD 52.
    2. Apollos, Paul Timothy, and John all ministered in Ephesus.
    3. The overall message to the Ephesians is to beware of neglected priorities.
    4. While there is some uncertainty about the meaning of Ephesus, it has been suggested that it means “darling” or “beloved.”[3]

II. v. 1 Jesus introduces Himself to the Church.

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘ These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:’[4]

  1. v. 1a Holds seven stars.
    1. Some see these as the seven angels around the throne of God, but most view them as the pastors of these churches.
    2. In support of the stars being the pastors is the following.
      1. They are the ones being addressed. It would seem odd to address an angelic being in heaven.
      2. Following in that logic, we see that these messengers are both commended and corrected.
      3. Again, that seems highly unlikely.
    3. Comforting to be in the hand of the Lord.
    4. This also speaks of the accountability every pastor has to the Lord of the Church.

      James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

    5. The church is reminded to yield to the leadership of the church lest it be unprofitable for themselves

      Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
  2. v. 1b In the midst of the lampstand.
    1. This truth provides us with expectation, comfort, and accountability.

      Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

    2. Because Jesus is head of the Church and appoints those to teach the Church, and the teaching that He attends His Church ought to cause all of us to approach going to church as an awesome, wonderful privilege not to be taken for granted.
      1. This was the great error of the Ephesians.
      2. They had forgotten the privilege of fellowship with their Lord.
    3. The next verse tells us that Jesus is not only present at Church but is aware of our works at Church.

III. vv. 2, 3, 6 The Church is commended.

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

  1. vv. 2-3 They were engaged in service.
    1. In v. 2 the Lord says she knows their labor.

      Labor – 3160 κόπος – to engage in activity that is burdensome, work, labor, toil [5]
      1. Jesus makes a similar statement of awareness of the works of each church.
      2. That should cause all of us to pause and consider what he is seeing.
      3. The word “know” in v. 2 is a perfect verb that conveys having known something in the past, with that knowledge still present until the future.
    2. This fellowship was fervent in their duties as the church.
      1. They took Jesus’ command seriously to seek first the Kingdom of God.
      2. They understood that Jesus had sent them on the continuing mission that the Father had sent them on.

        John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

      3. We will all stand accountable before Jesus for the giftings and opportunities we have been given to advance the purposes of Jesus.
      4. Consider the weight of the parable of the talents and the servants to whom they were given.
      5. Be careful of the mindset that wants to protect oneself from serving Jesus too much.
    3. They hadn’t become weary.

      Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

      1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
  2. v. 2b They were steadfast in the faith.
    1. These believers had been patient in serving the Lord.
    2. I know your patience.

      5281 hupomone {hoop-om-on-ay’} Meaning: 1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance 1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.

    3. Serve the Lord and serve Him patiently/diligently.
    4. Many people have named the name of Christ at one point in their lives, but today are far from Him.
      1. They allowed temptations and trials to drive them from their place of faith in the Lord.
  3. v. 2c They were discerning.
    1. Did not tolerate those who were evil, even though they claimed to be apostles.
    2. They tested them to see if they were legitimate.

      1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

      1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

    3. The only way you can resist false teaching is by knowing the Word of God.
    4. If you don’t know the Word, you are open to attack.
    5. We see this as being a huge problem in the Church today with false teachings.
      1. If you point out errors in the Church today, you’ll be accused of being divisive.
    6. These believers were not tolerant.
      1. Today, tolerance has a different meaning than it did years ago.
      2. It is a new tolerance that:

        “The new tolerance suggests that actually accepting another’s position means believing that position to be true, or at least as true as your own.”[6]

      3. While this may be what is esteemed in our culture today, it does not find any sanctuary within Scripture.
    7. Jesus wants us to be those who test and hold fast to His revelation.
  4. v. 6 They opposed the Nicolaitans.

    6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
    1. We do not have extensive information about this heretical group.
    2. They are mentioned again in Revelation 2:15, and based on that information, we can understand a few key problems with this group.
      1. They accommodated the pagan culture around them.
      2. They allowed sexual immorality and participation with food offered to idols, most likely at the pagan temples.
      3. They blurred the lines between holy living and cultural acceptance.
    3. Some sought to identify this group with Nicolas, who is listed as one of the seven servants from Acts 6.
      1. This view, while ancient, is not considered reliable.

        “These Nicolaitans have been identified from the time of Irenaeus (i. 26, 3, iii. 11. 1) and Hippolytus (Philos. vii. 36), who was dependent on Irenaeus, with the followers of Nicolaus the proselyte of Antioch (Acts 6:5).”[7]
    4. The Ephesians are commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
      1. Rebellion against Jesus should never be tolerated.

        Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.


      2. But remember it is the deeds, not the people, who were hated.

IV. v. 4 Corruption within the church.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

  1. They had abandoned Jesus.
    1. Note that we read “left” first love, not “lost.”
    2. Consider the semantic range of this verse.

      Left – 863 aphiemi {af-ee’-ay-mee} • 1) to send away 1a1) of a husband divorcing his wife 1c) to let go, let alone, let be 1c1) to disregard 3i) abandon, leave destitute.
      1. While this word can, in certain contexts, mean “divorce,” it seems unlikely that it is the best translation in this context.
      2. However, the seriousness of this word is noted as we have been called the Bride of Christ.
    3. The Lord did not save us to have a slave workforce.
    4. Jesus looks to fellowship with us, to talk with us, to reveal Himself to us.
    5. They left the simple joy of meeting with Him in the congregation, at home, and in worship.
      1. They were doing good things, but they weren’t flowing out of a heart of love.
      2. They were going through the motions.
      3. They had lost the emotion that had characterized their early days.
    6. Excitement to hear the Word, to share, to fellowship, and to worship.
  2. What contributes to that abandonment?

    Mark 4:18-19 18 “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,: 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
    1. Cares of this world
      1. Work, sports, school, home, car, etc.
    2. Deceitfulness of riches
      1. Trying to live for material gain.
    3. Other desires
      1. This is a broad statement that opens the door for anything that steals our affection.

V. v. 5 A call to return to the first works

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

  1. Repent and do your first works.
  2. When we look back on the beginning of the Church, we find out what their first works were (Acts 2:42-47).
    1. Apostles’ doctrine.
    2. Fellowship.
    3. Prayer.
    4. Praise.
    5. Centrality of the cross.
    6. Evangelism.

VI. v. 7 Promised to eat from the Tree of Life.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

  1. Eat from the Tree of Life.
    1. For those who overcome, they will partake of its fruit in heaven.
    2. The Tree of Life is first mentioned in the Garden along with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen 2:9).
    3. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was forbidden.
    4. After Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God removed them from the Garden so they would not eat of the Tree of Life (Gen 3:22-24).
    5. The tree is mentioned in Revelation, granting us the opportunity to eat from it.
    6. This tree is symbolic of the eternal life we have in Jesus Christ.
    7. What a joyous occasion it is going to be when we reach up and take from the tree that represents the gift of eternal life.

VII. Conclusion

  1. Are you able to be commended for your labor and zeal?
    1. If not, reprioritize your life.
  2. Are you in a religious rut?
    1. If so, return to the first works of your faith.

[1] Mitchell Reddish, Revelation, ed. R. Alan Culpepper, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated, 2001), 56.

[2] Harold Hoehner, Philip Comfort, and Peter Davids, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon., vol. 16 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008), 16.

[3] Stelman Smith and Judson Cornwall, The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos, 1998), 70.

[4] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

[5] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 558.

[6] D. A. Carson, The Intolerance of Tolerance (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012), 3.

[7] R. H. Charles, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St John, vol. 1, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T&T Clark International, 1920), 52.

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