As we can see, each of the seven churches of Asia Minor to which the word of the Risen One was addressed had its own problems...
As we can see, each of the seven churches of Asia Minor to which the word of the Risen One was addressed had its own problems, and each of the messengers ("angels") heading to one church or another receives his own message to deliver to those to whom he is sent. Of course, such messengers could have been (and in this case really were) not angels in the sense we give the word today, but people sent on the apostle's behalf to a specific church community in order to deliver the message written for them and attest to its authenticity. On the other hand, the number seven is hardly accidental here: the seven-branched lampstand (menorah) symbolizes the light of God and the fullness of revelation, and in the New Testament context also the fullness of that sanctification which the world awaits from the Church. Understood in this way, the seven churches of Asia Minor become a symbol of the fullness of the Church, the fullness that the Church bears within herself throughout her whole history.
But the history of the Church differs from the history of any other community that has ever existed on earth in that it knows no development. Of course, external church forms change, but spiritually she always remains the same: at all times there is present in her both the righteousness by which the world is sanctified and the sin that hinders this. Of course, one can speak of better and worse times in church history, but here everything is relative: the universal Church is vast, and different communities can live, and in fact usually do live, in different ways, so that their spiritual condition can differ substantially even when the same historical period is in view.
This is also how the church of Asia Minor appears: the condition of specific churches (church communities) within it, as we can see, differs quite noticeably. Addressing the Ephesian church, Jesus points out to the Ephesian Christians that they have "left their first love" (v. 4), though He has certainly not forgotten their service and steadfastness during persecutions ("patience") (v. 3). It is possible that at this time the Ephesian church saw an intensification of the problems about which Paul had once written to the Ephesian Christians: a certain spiritual laxity and a known indulgence toward what are usually called sins of the flesh. In the setting of a large port city such as Ephesus, something of this sort can always be expected: bustle and petty fleshly sins are, as is well known, among the simplest temptations, yet they are very widespread, largely because their effect, especially at the beginning, is almost unnoticeable.
Considering that the Ephesian church had not lost its spiritual bearings, that it knew how to distinguish true apostles from false ones (v. 2), and that it was by no means trying to turn the sin of some of its members into a principle, as the Nicolaitans did (v. 6), the situation had not yet become catastrophic. Nevertheless, Jesus calls the Ephesian Christians to "remember their first love," to return to the purity of the first days when the Ephesian church had only just been born; otherwise, according to His words, the consequences may prove severe (v. 5). And He calls the Ephesian Christians to be more decisive and spiritually collected, so that through spiritual laziness and laxity they do not lose the fruit from the tree of eternal life that is intended for them in the event of victory (v. 7).
2 Of the following letters to the angels of the seven churches it may be necessary to speak first in general, and then particularly. In general we may observe, when the Israelites were to receive the law at Mount Sinai, they were first to be purified; and when the kingdom of God was at hand, John the Baptist prepared men for it by repentance. In like manner we are prepared by these letters for the worthy reception of this glorious revelation. By following the directions given herein, by expelling incorrigibly wicked men, and putting away all wickedness, those churches were prepared to receive this precious depositum. And whoever in any age would profitably read or hear it, must observe the same admonitions. These letters are a kind of sevenfold preface to the book. Christ now appears in the form of a man, (not yet under the emblem of a lamb,) and speaks mostly in proper, not in figurative, words. It is not till Rev 4:1, that St. John
enters upon that grand vision which takes up the residue of the book.There is in each of these letters,
- A command to write to the angel of the church;
- A glorious title of Christ;
- An address to the angel of that church, containing A testimony of his mixed, or good, or bad state; An exhortation to repentance or steadfastness; A declaration of what will be; generally, of the Lord's coming;
- A promise to him that overcometh, together with the exhortation, "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear"
The address in each letter is expressed in plain words, the promise, in figurative. In the address our Lord speaks to the angel of each church which then was, and to the members thereof directly; whereas in the promise he speaks of all that should overcome, in whatever church or age, and deals out to them one of the precious promises, (by way of anticipation,) from the last chapters of the book.2:1 Write - So Christ dictated to him every word. These things saith he who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand - Such is his mighty power! Such his favour to them and careover them, that they may indeed shine as stars, both by purity of doctrine and holiness of life! Who walketh - According to his promise, "I am with you always, even to the end of the world." In the midst of the golden candlesticks - Beholding all their works and thoughts, and ready to "remove the candlestick out of its place," if any, being warned, will not repent. Perhaps here is likewise an allusion to the office of the priests in dressing the lamps, which was to keep them always burning before the Lord.
2:2 I know - Jesus knows all the good and all the evil, which his servants and his enemies suffer and do. Weighty word, "I know," how dreadful will it one day sound to the wicked, howsweet to the righteous! The churches and their angels must have been astonished, to find their several states so exactly described, even in the absence of the apostle, and could not but acknowledge the all - seeing eye of Christ and of his Spirit.With regard to us, to every one of us also he saith, "I know thy works." Happy is he that conceives less good of himself, than Christ knows concerning him. And thy labour - After the general, three particulars are named, and then more largely described in an inverted order,
- Thy labour
- Thy patience:
- Thou canst not bear evil men:
- Thou hast patience:
- Thou hast tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars.
- Thou hast borne for my name's sake and hast not fainted.
And thy patience - Notwithstanding which thou canst not bear that incorrigibly wicked men should remain in the flock of Christ.And thou hast tried those who say they are apostles, and are not - For the Lord hath not sent them.2:4 But I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love - That love for which all that church was so eminent when St. Paul wrote his epistle to them. He need not have left this.He might have retained it entire to the end. And he did retain it in part, or there could not have remained so much of what was commendable in him. But he had not kept, as he might have done, the first tender love in its vigour and warmth.Reader, hast thou?
2:5 It is not possible for any to recover the first love, but by taking these three steps, 1. Remember: 2. Repent: 3. Do the first works. Remember from whence thou art fallen - From what degree of faith, love, holiness, though perhaps insensibly.And repent - Which in the very lowest sense implies a deep and lively conviction of thy fall. Of the seven angels, two, at Ephesus and at Pergamos, were in a mixed state; two, at Sardis and at Laodicea, were greatly corrupted: all these are exhorted to repent; as are the followers of Jezebel at Thyatira: two, at Smyrna and Philadelphia, were in a flourishing state, and are therefore only exhorted to steadfastness.
There can be no state, either of any pastor, church, or singleperson, which has not here suitable instructions. All, whether ministers or hearers, together with their secret or open enemies, in all places and all ages, may draw hence necessary self - knowledge, reproof, commendation, warning, or confirmation.Whether any be as dead as the angel at Sardis, or as much alive as the angel at Philadelphia, this book is sent to him, and the Lord Jesus hath something to say to him therein. For the seven churches with their angels represent the whole Christian church, dispersed throughout the whole world, as it subsists, not, as some have imagined, in one age after another, but in every age.This is a point of deep importance, and always necessary to be remembered: that these seven churches are, as it were, a sample of the whole church of Christ, as it was then, as it is now, and as it will be in all ages. Do the first works - Outwardly and inwardly, or thou canst never regain the first love. But if not - By this word is the warning sharpened to those five churches which are called to repent; for if Ephesus was threatened, how much more shall Sardis and Laodicea be afraid! And according as they obey the call or not, there is a promise or a threatening, Rev 2:5, Rev 2:16, Rev 2:22; Rev 3:3, Rev 3:20. But even in the threatening thepromise is implied, in case of true repentance. I come to thee, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place - I will remove, unless thou repent, the flock now under thy care to another place, where they shall be better taken care of. But from the flourishing state of the church of Ephesus after this, there is reason to believe he did repent.
2:6 But thou hast this - Divine grace seeks whatever may help him that is fallen to recover his standing. That thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans - Probably so called from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons, Act 6:5. Their doctrines and lives were equally corrupt. They allowed the most abominable lewdness and adulteries, as well as sacrificing to idols; all which they placed among things indifferent, and pleaded for as branches of Christian liberty.
2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear - Every man, whoever can hear at all, ought carefully to hear this. What the Spirit saith - In these great and precious promises. To the churches - And in them to every one that overcometh; that goeth on from faith and by faith to full victory over the world, and the flesh, and the devil. In these seven letters twelve promises are contained, which arean extract of all the promises of God. Some of them are not expressly mentioned again in this book, as "the hidden manna," the inscription of "the name of the new Jerusalem," the "sitting upon the throne." Some resemble what is afterwardsmentioned, as "the hidden name," Rev 19:12; "the ruling the nations," Rev 19:15; "the morning star," Rev 22:16.And some are expressly mentioned, as "the tree of life," Rev 22:2; freedom from "the second death," Rev 20:6; thename in "the book of life," Rev 20:12; Rev 21:27; the remaining "in the temple of God," Rev 7:15; the inscription of "the nameof God and of the Lamb," Rev 14:1; Rev 22:4. In these promises sometimes the enjoyment of the highest goods, sometimes deliverance from the greatest evils, is mentioned. And each implies the other, so that where either part is expressed, the whole is to be understood. That part is expressed which has most resemblance to the virtues or works of him that was spoken to in the letter preceding. To eat of the tree of life - The first thing promised in these letters is the last and highest in the accomplishment, Rev 22:2, Rev 22:14, Rev 22:19. The tree of life and the water of life go together, Rev 22:1-2; both implying the living with God eternally.In the paradise of my God - The word paradise means a garden of pleasure. In the earthly paradise there was one tree of life: there are no other trees in the paradise of God.