The Seven Churches of Revelation Pt. 4 by Chris White

Author and Library of Ephesus a wonder of ancient times

 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.      –Rev. 2:4-5

The church of Ephesus had been in existence nearly 25 years before John the apostle had moved there to flee the war between Rome and Jerusalem that had ended in the city’s destruction.  Paul, who had planted the church, had been martyred in Rome two years prior.  Paul’s associates Luke and Timothy were also living in Ephesus around this time as well and so with such an assembly of choice servants of the Lord there is little doubt that this church was sound in its doctrine and discipline.  But the Lord Jesus had a criticism for this church that had everything to do with their orthodoxy:  they held sound doctrine but had significantly cooled in their love for him and each other.   Many years ago, I heard a respected church leader suggest that every church should put it in their by-laws that at the 50 year mark they will disband as a corporation and donate their facilities and equipment to congregations that are just starting out.  The reason: when a church reaches a certain age they tend to lose track of what’s important and often become so critical of each other they become more a house of humbug than a house of worship.  In the case of the church of Ephesus, they had hit the 35 year mark by the time this was written and so they were at a prime age for “hardening of the attitudes.”  The exhortation of Jesus was to remember, repent, and return to their first love.  As we grow towards maturity in our Christian faith our love should be increasing not diminishing over time.  If a church is long on orthodoxy and short on love, it is in danger of losing its light which is its witness to the world.  How do we put this exhortation into practice?  I believe it is simple at its core.  Love and prioritize the value of people over anything else in our lives.  When a church is young, its people are everything and the love is real, almost palpable.  But in the course of time everyone’s love must be rekindled and the quickest way to that end is to invest time and energy in each other’s lives.  Never underestimate the power and importance of loving your brothers and sisters in Christ and yes, even your enemies.  For while love is no church dogma, it is the unmistakable sign of being one of Christ’s disciples.

With you on the journey,

 Chris

The Seven Churches of Revelation Pt. 3 by Chris White

The traditional burial spot of John the Apostle in Ephesus

 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet  saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”  --Revelation 1:9-10

The apostle John received the message of Jesus while he was in exile on Patmos, a small island off the coast of Asia Minor.  John the Apostle lived in Ephesus and was well-known member of the Christian community having been one of the Lord Jesus’ inner circle.  The Roman emperor Domitian had John under “relegation” (as the Romans called it) at Patmos because he was a considered a trouble-maker.  John’s transgression was most likely his lack of enthusiasm for the temple Domitian was building in Ephesus that his genius might be recognized and worshipped by the people.  But God is never one to waste an opportunity to turn something meant for evil for the good and so instead of John’s ministry being diminished in any way by the exile, the Lord increased it by giving him additional revelation and the charge to disseminate it among the churches.  Procophorus was an able-bodied assistant sent to help John during his exile as he was in advanced age.  This was a common practice with the early church and apparently readily permitted within the Roman world.  It is commonly believed that Procophorus wrote the letters down on parchment and then delivered them to the pastors since he himself was not a prisoner.  The seven churches from Ephesus to Laodicea are all close together on a circuitous road that makes its way inland from the Mediterranean coast.  Someone just walking on foot could have easily completed the task within a couple of weeks.

When John eventually returned to Ephesus at the end of his relegation he is believed to have lived possibly another 15 years and died around 110 years old.  In the last years of his life he wanted to live in a hut on the Ayasaluk hill.  The tradition of the Greek Church is he knew his death was imminent and so called his disciples to come and dig his grave and when it was finished he left his hut, layed down in the grave and dismissed his spirit.

John the apostle died far from the place he started in Galilee as a young man following Jesus.  On the other hand, John ended his life closest to the last place he heard the Lord speak to him.  Sometimes our Lord requires us to make our home far from our birthplace in order to serve him.  But when Jesus calls us to ‘go into all the world’, we never go anywhere he can’t find us or beyond his ability to speak with us.  Wherever we are called to serve, Jesus is always there ahead of us which means even a bleak and lonely island can be a table set for us in the wilderness to enjoy his company.

With you on the Journey,

Pastor Chris