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To the Angel at the

Church in Ephesus...In the opening letter to the church at Ephesus we find Christpictured as walking among the seven lamp stands, which representthe seven churches of Asia Minor (1:20-2:1). By walking amongstthe lamp stands it tells us that He is the head of the church and isits Savior (John 10:28). Many suppose that there is an allusion toGenesis 3:8, where the Lord is walking in the Garden of Eden withthe man and woman he had created. Furthermore Jesus walkingamong the lamp stands recalls an Old Testament promise: "I willwalk among you and be your God, and you will be my

people" (Leviticus 26:12). This promise to ancient Israel is nowmade to the church; the new Israel (Galatians 6:16).

From the creation to the consummation of all things in Revelationthe key focus is that the Lord seeks a personal relationship with hispeople, and desires to interact with them and be their guide.

Each of the seven letters are introduced with Christs assertion, "Iknow..." (2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). The church, all those twothousand years ago and today need to be aware that Christ has a

perfect understanding of our sin, distresses, and persecution of Hischurch. He also knows what they have achieved and where theyhave failed in their faithfulness to him.

Patmos

Ephesus served as a key city for pagan worship,trading, military power, and learning for the

Roman Empire. Therefore it was also the epicenterof the Christian movement in Asia Minor.

The church at Ephesus had endured much for their faith. They

had suffered and had not grown spiritually tired.

False teachers had attempted to infiltrate the Ephesian church.They are Nicolaitans mentioned in 2:2, 6. Their practices orteachings are specifically identified because the focus is thefaithfulness of the church.

This tells us that the Ephesian church was diligent to eliminatefalse teaching before and after Johns day. Assuming the date forRevelation as 90 A.D. we find Ignatius writing in 110 A.D.praising the church in Ephesus for rejecting those whopromulgated heretical doctrines .

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Community Free Church of MahometVisit our website at: communityfreechurch.com

Print this out and bring this to your nextCommunity Group meeting.

If your not in a group yet join one that meets Monday night at 7pm

at the Eichstedts home or Tuesday night at 7pm at the Church orthe Schifos home!

animatedfaithfollowing

Jesus

like never

before!

October 2012

Where we are in chapters 2 and 3 as we look at the greatercontext of the Letter of Revelation

Ironically though, the Ephesian church and its leadership may havegone too far in rooting out heresy. Jesus asserts that the spiritualproblem in the church described as a forsaking of "first love" (2:4). Thisis generally taken to mean the church members love for one another,and others.

If this interpretation is correct then it is possible that hatred of heresyhad created suspicion and intolerance of each others differences andweaknesses. This could have lead to an undue preoccupation withalways being "correct," resulting in the proverbial "straining at a gnatand swallowing a camel."

This is an important lesson to the church at large. Doctrinal purity isimportant to the Christian faith but we must be cautious because it canunintentionally lead to a critical spirit. We can defend the faith in

power only if we first remember to defend love for one another (John13:34). Since God is love then Christians will reflect that love as theyare being kept by God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.