The Lord introduces Himself to "the church in Ephesus" as the One "who holds the seven stars in His right hand" and "walks among the seven golden lampstands." Most descriptions of the Lord in these letters are similar to those in Chapter 1.
Footnote
[1] John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, S. 50-100.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-29 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
The Seven Messages
Revelation 2 and 3 are of exceptional interest. Therefore I would like to make some introductory remarks before we deal with the text itself. In these two chapters seven churches are addressed with regard to their actual spiritual condition. It is however clear that the meaning goes beyond what happened then.
It is also clear that you can draw spiritual lessons from their spiritual condition for our time. But these two chapters show in the seven churches also seven sequential stages in church history, from the beginning of the church until its rapture. They contain a prophetic outline of the history of professing Christianity, for the whole book is after all prophecy [Rev 1:3], thus including both these chapters.
You read here the history of the church as it has behaved and developed on earth through the ages. It is all about its responsibility. On other places in the Bible you read about the church as how it has been formed and seen by God. In that case we speak about the church in accordance to the counsel God, wherein everything is perfect. That is not the side from which the church is presented in this book.
In this book of judgment the house of God, professing Christianity, is judges first [1Pet 4:17]. This judgment takes place in accordance to the way it has fulfilled its duty to be a testimony (a ‘lampstand’) in the world. After the judgment on professing Christianity, from chapter 4 the judgment on Israel and on the world follow.
Briefly said you can see in the sequential letters the following periods in church history:
1. Ephesus (means: lovely) is the time that followed right after the death of the apostles when outwardly a lot of things were in order, but the first love had been abandoned.
2. The time of Smyrna (means: bitterness) corresponds with the time of the Christian persecution by the Romans. Of all these persecutions there were ten that took place under ten Roman emperors. It could be that the tribulation of ‘ten days’ refers to that [Rev 2:10]. That period comprises the end of the second century and the third century.
3. The time of Pergamum (means: fortress) runs from the fourth to the seventh century. It begins with the acceptance of Christendom by emperor Constantine. Christendom became the state religion. It became advantageous to be a Christian.
4. The time of Thyatira (means: incense or sacrifice) covers the period from the seventh to the sixteenth century. In that period the roman-catholic church dominates in the person of the pope over the world, the reverse of Pergamum, where the church sought protection from the world. As a ruling church the roman-catholic church has (for now) come to an end, but as an institution it still exists and it will exist until the coming of the Lord.
5. In the time of Sardis (means: remnant) protestantism originates from and next to the roman-catholic church in the sixteenth century. Also the protestant churches will exist until the coming of the Lord.
6. During the period of protestantism, the period of Philadelphia (means brotherly love) emerged in the nineteenth century. God’s grace causes in dead protestantism a faithful biblical revival movement that separated itself from it. Like roman-catholicism and protestantism, Philadelphia remains until the coming of the Lord.
7. The final stage of church history is characterized by Laodicea (means: people’s government) which also finds its origin in the nineteenth century. The characteristic of Laodicea is lukewarmness. There is the high confession of Philadelphia, but the Lord is outside. We find that spiritual condition in all kinds of churches and denominations that emerged from the revivals of Philadelphia, but which are today often worse off spiritually than Sardis. Also Laodicea remains until the coming of the Lord.
To conclude these introductory remarks on Revelation 2 and 3, let me point out the structure of the letters. It is roughly the same in all the letters:
1. The command: “write”.
2. A characteristic of Christ from chapter 1 followed by: “says this”.
3. The assessment: “I know”.
4. The judgment (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia): “but I have against you”.
5. The exhortation: “repent”.
6. The appeal: “he who has an ear”.
7. The promise: “to him who overcomes”.
It is also remarkable that in the last four messages the promise is first given and then the appeal follows.
V1. The first message is addressed to the church in Ephesus. This church has played a major and typical role in the early church history:
1. Paul has worked there during his third missionary journey for a period of three years [Acts 20:31];
2. he has spoken out his important farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus with a warning for the oncoming decay [Acts 20:17-35];
3. he wrote to them his letter with the highest Christian truths (the letter to the Ephesians);
4. after Paul also Timothy worked there [1Tim 1:3]; to him Paul wrote his farewell letter about the decay in the last days and about the path of the believer in that time, the second letter to Timothy;
5. and now the Lord addresses Himself to the church in Ephesus as the first of the seven churches.
John does not receive the command to write to the church in Ephesus, but to the angel of the church. As I already remarked earlier, angel means ‘messenger’ or ‘representative’. To think of a literal angel gives more troubles than solutions. As a matter of fact, there is nowhere an example that an angel fails in his duty and even less that an angel is called to repent. The angel represents people who are responsible for the condition in the church.
You could think of persons who have a special responsibility in a church, like elders. But that doesn’t alter the fact that also the rest of the people have a responsibility. Each member of the church is responsible to ensure that the church is faithful to God’s Word and that there is faithfulness in testifying to the truth. You can compare this with the people of Israel and the king who ruled over them. God held the king responsible for the condition of the people, but He did not thereby diminish the guilt of the people.
The Lord Jesus presents Himself here as “the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand”. All stars are in His hand. He “holds” them in His right hand (cf. [Rev 1:16-20]). That indicates power and authority, protection and support to keep it from total ruin, but also to exert control over her. This authority He exerts in all local churches and He checks up on it whether His authority is taken into consideration in the right way. Therefore He walks “in the middle of the seven golden lampstands”. He, as it were, goes around to see whether the lampstands are burning clearly, whether they spread the light which He has kindled.
It is also clear that you can draw spiritual lessons from their spiritual condition for our time. But these two chapters show in the seven churches also seven sequential stages in church history, from the beginning of the church until its rapture. They contain a prophetic outline of the history of professing Christianity, for the whole book is after all prophecy [Rev 1:3], thus including both these chapters.
You read here the history of the church as it has behaved and developed on earth through the ages. It is all about its responsibility. On other places in the Bible you read about the church as how it has been formed and seen by God. In that case we speak about the church in accordance to the counsel God, wherein everything is perfect. That is not the side from which the church is presented in this book.
In this book of judgment the house of God, professing Christianity, is judges first [1Pet 4:17]. This judgment takes place in accordance to the way it has fulfilled its duty to be a testimony (a ‘lampstand’) in the world. After the judgment on professing Christianity, from chapter 4 the judgment on Israel and on the world follow.
Briefly said you can see in the sequential letters the following periods in church history:
1. Ephesus (means: lovely) is the time that followed right after the death of the apostles when outwardly a lot of things were in order, but the first love had been abandoned.
2. The time of Smyrna (means: bitterness) corresponds with the time of the Christian persecution by the Romans. Of all these persecutions there were ten that took place under ten Roman emperors. It could be that the tribulation of ‘ten days’ refers to that [Rev 2:10]. That period comprises the end of the second century and the third century.
3. The time of Pergamum (means: fortress) runs from the fourth to the seventh century. It begins with the acceptance of Christendom by emperor Constantine. Christendom became the state religion. It became advantageous to be a Christian.
4. The time of Thyatira (means: incense or sacrifice) covers the period from the seventh to the sixteenth century. In that period the roman-catholic church dominates in the person of the pope over the world, the reverse of Pergamum, where the church sought protection from the world. As a ruling church the roman-catholic church has (for now) come to an end, but as an institution it still exists and it will exist until the coming of the Lord.
5. In the time of Sardis (means: remnant) protestantism originates from and next to the roman-catholic church in the sixteenth century. Also the protestant churches will exist until the coming of the Lord.
6. During the period of protestantism, the period of Philadelphia (means brotherly love) emerged in the nineteenth century. God’s grace causes in dead protestantism a faithful biblical revival movement that separated itself from it. Like roman-catholicism and protestantism, Philadelphia remains until the coming of the Lord.
7. The final stage of church history is characterized by Laodicea (means: people’s government) which also finds its origin in the nineteenth century. The characteristic of Laodicea is lukewarmness. There is the high confession of Philadelphia, but the Lord is outside. We find that spiritual condition in all kinds of churches and denominations that emerged from the revivals of Philadelphia, but which are today often worse off spiritually than Sardis. Also Laodicea remains until the coming of the Lord.
To conclude these introductory remarks on Revelation 2 and 3, let me point out the structure of the letters. It is roughly the same in all the letters:
1. The command: “write”.
2. A characteristic of Christ from chapter 1 followed by: “says this”.
3. The assessment: “I know”.
4. The judgment (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia): “but I have against you”.
5. The exhortation: “repent”.
6. The appeal: “he who has an ear”.
7. The promise: “to him who overcomes”.
It is also remarkable that in the last four messages the promise is first given and then the appeal follows.
V1. The first message is addressed to the church in Ephesus. This church has played a major and typical role in the early church history:
1. Paul has worked there during his third missionary journey for a period of three years [Acts 20:31];
2. he has spoken out his important farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus with a warning for the oncoming decay [Acts 20:17-35];
3. he wrote to them his letter with the highest Christian truths (the letter to the Ephesians);
4. after Paul also Timothy worked there [1Tim 1:3]; to him Paul wrote his farewell letter about the decay in the last days and about the path of the believer in that time, the second letter to Timothy;
5. and now the Lord addresses Himself to the church in Ephesus as the first of the seven churches.
John does not receive the command to write to the church in Ephesus, but to the angel of the church. As I already remarked earlier, angel means ‘messenger’ or ‘representative’. To think of a literal angel gives more troubles than solutions. As a matter of fact, there is nowhere an example that an angel fails in his duty and even less that an angel is called to repent. The angel represents people who are responsible for the condition in the church.
You could think of persons who have a special responsibility in a church, like elders. But that doesn’t alter the fact that also the rest of the people have a responsibility. Each member of the church is responsible to ensure that the church is faithful to God’s Word and that there is faithfulness in testifying to the truth. You can compare this with the people of Israel and the king who ruled over them. God held the king responsible for the condition of the people, but He did not thereby diminish the guilt of the people.
The Lord Jesus presents Himself here as “the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand”. All stars are in His hand. He “holds” them in His right hand (cf. [Rev 1:16-20]). That indicates power and authority, protection and support to keep it from total ruin, but also to exert control over her. This authority He exerts in all local churches and He checks up on it whether His authority is taken into consideration in the right way. Therefore He walks “in the middle of the seven golden lampstands”. He, as it were, goes around to see whether the lampstands are burning clearly, whether they spread the light which He has kindled.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-01-22 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches, and professors. Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his churches on earth, observing what is wrong in them, and what they want. The church of Ephesus is commended for diligence in duty. Christ keeps an account of every hour’s work his servants do for him, and their labor shall not be in vain in the Lord. But it is not enough that we are diligent; there must be bearing patience, and there must be waiting patience. And though we must show all meekness to all men, yet we must show just zeal against their sins. The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. Surely this mention in Scripture, of Christians forsaking their first love, reproves those who speak of it with carelessness, and thus try to excuse indifference and sloth in themselves and others; our Savior considers this indifference as sinful. They must repent: they must be grieved and ashamed for their sinful declining, and humbly confess it in the sight of God. They must endeavor to recover their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as when they first set out in the ways of God. If the presence of Christ’s grace and Spirit is slighted, we may expect the presence of his displeasure. Encouraging mention is made of what was good among them. Indifference as to truth and error, good and evil, may be called charity and meekness, but it is not so; and it is displeasing to Christ. The Christian life is a warfare against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh. We must never yield to our spiritual enemies, and then we shall have a glorious triumph and reward. All who persevere, shall derive from Christ, as the Tree of life, perfection and confirmation in holiness and happiness, not in the earthly paradise, but in the heavenly. This is a figurative expression, taken from the account of the garden of Eden, denoting the pure, satisfactory, and eternal joys of heaven; and the looking forward to them in this world, by faith, communion with Christ, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit. Believers, take your wrestling life here, and expect and look for a quiet life hereafter; but not till then: the word of God never promises quietness and complete freedom from conflict here.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
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;› 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:› 3 ‹And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.› 4 ‹Nevertheless I have› [somewhat] ‹against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.› 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.› 6 ‹But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.› 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.›
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
To the Angel of the church of Ephesus. The great St. Timothy, who was bishop of Ephesus, died a glorious martyr about this time. But as for the admonitions and reprehensions given in these letters, we must take notice, that they are given to the faithful of each church, and not only to the bishops, as it appears by the words so often repeated. (Witham) — Angel. This could have been no other than St. Timothy, who was then bishop of Ephesus. We must not suppose the faults, which are reproved by St. John, to belong individually to St. Timothy, but to some members of the Church. (Bossuet, and others) — These things, saith he, who holdeth, &c. That is, Christ, or the Angel who represented Christ, as appeareth by his titles repeated out of the last chapter. — And hast not failed, or fainted, in opposing the teachers of false doctrine. — Thou has left thy first charity, or first fervour, a common, yet a very dangerous disposition, and especially in a bishop, charged with the care of those under him. — Do penance….practise the first works, return to thy first fervour, or I will remove thy candlestick out of its place. The church of Ephesus is threatened, as in danger to lose its faith, which faith should be transplanted and received in other places. It is what God has divers times permitted, that churches flourishing in the profession of the true Christian faith should be perverted by infidelity and heresy, while the faith hath been planted in other kingdoms of the world. I need not bring instances, where candlesticks have been removed out of their places. (Witham) — The Nicolaites were an infamous sect, who disturbed the rising Church by the superstitions and all the impurities of paganism. See St. Augustine, de hæresib. — To him, to every one that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, (that is, eternal happiness, differently expressed in these letters) which is in the paradise of my God. It is spoke in the person of Christ, as man. (Witham)
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
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;› 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:› 3 ‹And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.› 4 ‹Nevertheless I have› [somewhat] ‹against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.› 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.› 6 ‹But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.› 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.›
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
"These things, says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands"
The Lord appears to each church according to her convenience, according to her needs, that she might see in Him her people and her cure from every weakness. As this church suffers from her "Lukewarmness of love," that is why he declares to her that it is He who holds the seven stars (the bishops) in his right hand. In other words, it is He who protects them, cares for them and encompasses them. He also announces to her that he is "who walks in the midst of the golden lampstands" who wanders ceaselessly in His church, working for the salvation of every soul. As if He is saying: “I love you, so why does your love to me weaken?” On the other hand, the stars in themselves are dark; their light comes from Him who holds it "the Sun of Righteousness" assuring us that we cannot possess love by ourselves, but it comes from God who holds us in His right hand.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-08 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
