Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
July 30, 2023
Broadlands, Louisiana
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Thesis: The leading teaching elder(s) is/are to be engaging in his/their laborious works with one guiding principle: the absence of legitimate "Love" is disastrous to the church.
Introduction: In our last study we made the concept of "church" a primary consideration. The "angel of the church" was the leading teaching influence that was exercised over the body. He was to be fully aware of the identity of Jesus as the One Who was "holding him" in His right hand and was "walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands". He was also to be significantly aware of the Church in respect to its identity/function so that he might make it his goal to enable that in Ephesus.
- I. The Letter To Ephesus.
- A. The "angel" is "aggelos". This word is used in 72 texts of this Revelation, and most of the time it refers to that category of created beings known as "angels" and defined in Hebrews 1:14 as "ministering spirits who have been sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation".
- B. The Ephesian church is well known to the readers of the book of Acts.
- C. The One Who is sending this letter by John's hand is identified.
- D. This particular message is suitably constituted for the "Ephesian" called-out group, but it does have implications for any other group with similar characteristics.
- E. In Paul's declaration of the "Church", as to its identity/function, he said that "The Church" is the "pillar and support of The Truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), and this fits the imagery of the "churches in Asia Minor" as "lampstands" which hold up the Light for all to be able to see.
- II. The Specifics Of Jesus' Message To Ephesus.
- A. "I know ("am fully aware of")...
- 1. "...your works..."
- a. These "works" are those of the "angel of the church".
- b. These are the activities that require the expenditure of energy, as a fundamental identity.
- c. These are how the days are filled.
- d. These are circumscribed by Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 3:15).
- 2. "...and the labor..."
- a. This is also identified in 1 Timothy 5:17 where the "kopon" (noun) of Revelation 2:2 is filled in by the "kopiao" (verb) as it is applied to "preaching and teaching".
- b. This focuses upon the method by which the "light" of the "lamp" is given its impact as it rests on the top of the "pillar" that is the "church".
- 3. "...and the endurance..."
- a. This is the deliberate willingness to "remain under" the "load" of the calling.
- b. This, for instance, made it necessary for Paul to urge Timothy to "kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6).
- 4. "...and that you are not able to bear evil ones..."
- a. "And you have tested those who say themselves [to be] apostles"
- 1) "and they are not..."
- 2) "...and you found them [to be] liars..."
- b. "...and you are exercising endurance..."
- 1) "...and you have borne on account of My name..."
- 2) "...and you have not grown weary..."
- B. BUT I have against you that you forsook the of you first love.
- C. Remember therefore from whence you have fallen and repent and do the first works.
- D. Now, if not, I am coming to you and I shall remove your lampstand out of its place, if you should not repent.
- E. BUT this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans which I also hate.
- III. The Larger Application.
- A. The one having an ear...
- B. Let him hear what The Spirit is saying to the churches.
- 1. No amount of "commendable works" will alter the fundamental principle of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
- 2. If "Love" is absent, the lampstand will be removed: it is better to not have all of the "works" if they are falsely motivated.
- C. To the one "overcoming" (nikonti) I shall give to eat out of the tree of life which is in the paradise of the God.
