The letter to Ephesus praises work and truth,
and grieves a love that was left.
I know your works,
your toil and your patient endurance.
But I have this against you,
that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen.
Repent,
and do the works you did at first.
Ephesus is the first lampstand. Jesus holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden lampstands. He knows the toil, the endurance, and the refusal of evil men. They tested those who called themselves apostles and were not. They hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which He hates. The Ephesians had heard the word, burned their magic books, and stood. The wound is not laziness. It is love left behind.
This letter belongs with the seven letters. The Spirit says it to the churches, not only to one city. Labor without the first love is the warning. The works He wants are the works they did at first.
He knows the toil.
He misses the love.
Remember.
Repent.
Do the first works.
Full text from Revelation 2, as on the chapter page.
Rev 2:1 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;
Rev 2:2 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:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 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.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 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.
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance.
You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember from where you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.
If not, I will remove your lampstand from its place.
To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life.
Do not trade the first love for a reputation of discernment. He sees the toil. He wants the love that did the first works. Hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.