Yeshua's Letters to the 7 Churches
- Thread starter Silk
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In looking at a brief summary of Missler's comments on the first church, Ephesus, he indicates that Ephesus means "darling", a term of courtship. He feels that because " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches..." (which is a sort of postscript in the 1st 3 churches, the last 4 it is in the body) that this probably means an historical termination(?). He links Ephesus in the prophetic profile to the apostalic church and also with the parable in Matt 13 The Sower and the 4 Soils and Paul's letter to Ephesus. Here is the letter to Ephesus:
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.
And the parable: Matt 13
Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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.
And the parable: Matt 13
Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
After rereading the letter to Ephesus for the nth time, I realized something important, personally, I hadn't quite grasped before. The first priority is the first love which is the personal faith and devotion to God - above good works. I probably said that wrong but His concern is first and foremost that we take care of the daily prayers/devotions first and not neglect them by being too busy with other things.
Yes, you are correct. Our 1st and best love is always the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:4-5 ...............
"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. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent".
1 John 4:8 .....................
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
We are in Jesus' hand and He is in the Father's.
*[[Rev 1:20]] KJV* The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
I don't disagree but I wonder, specifically, why Christ uses this title to Ephesus. I see it as Christ is with us and is in control....does this church need reminding of this? Is this letter reminding us to return to our first passion and wonder when we were first saved? That we need to continue to go on learning/understanding the Word - that we don't know it all, at any given point and if we don't continue, personally to our prayers/worship/learning that we lose passion and wonder - some if not all? Was the church/believer being warned to continue with learning new things so fatigue would not set in? I buy Missler's statement of what the term Nicolatians means....and to me it seems to commend them for stopping the desire to set up hierarchies, of clergy ruling/controlling over laity - or setting up an elite type of system. This letter refers to the deeds - further on another church is warned that they have accepted the doctrine. It's the 1st church addressed and talks of first love. Each church is promising the overcomer different things but isn't the overcomer the same for all the churches? What do you think?
Something that is really lost in translation from the Greek is that many action verbs are continual verbs... Others are completed verbs and need no further action. We are to continually pray, continually seek, continually ask, but our salvation is done, finished, complete. Dying to self is continual but we are dead to sin once for all time.
I get what you mean that once we accept Christ in our heart as Lord and Savior....that's complete but the rest I would hope you would expand on because I'm not clear. I get the link between the parable where the employer hires morning, noon, and night and all get the same wages/reward and salvation but isn't this speaking to something different?
1Ch_16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
1Ch_22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD
1Ch_28:8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
1Ch_28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
2Ch_7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Ch_12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
2Ch_14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
2Ch_15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
2Ch_15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
Psa_9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psa_10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa_40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psa_53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Psa_63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psa_63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
There 233 verses that speak of seeking and not seeking. Thanks for sending me in that direction. I see many places where seeking God is called for continually. I'm not sure that I was ever taught that when younger. And I thought I knew all I needed to know after reading the bible 2/3 times. No one told me the picture keeps changing as you grow. But is that what is being said in the letter to Ephesus?
1Ch_22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD
1Ch_28:8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
1Ch_28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
2Ch_7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Ch_12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
2Ch_14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
2Ch_15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
2Ch_15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
Psa_9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psa_10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa_40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psa_53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Psa_63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psa_63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
There 233 verses that speak of seeking and not seeking. Thanks for sending me in that direction. I see many places where seeking God is called for continually. I'm not sure that I was ever taught that when younger. And I thought I knew all I needed to know after reading the bible 2/3 times. No one told me the picture keeps changing as you grow. But is that what is being said in the letter to Ephesus?
It's critical to remember that every single church was surprised by the letter they received... Churches that thought they were doing great received letters of rebuke and churches which believed they were being completely left for dead by God received letters of commendation and comfort....
One I have kinda been scratching my head about is Philadelphia (which ironically every church today professes to be part of)... At first glance - it's pretty straight forward.... But then you notice Jesus is not just holding any old key that opens a door to good things (As so many expositors would have you believe) but ONE specific key - the Key of David... A very Jewish thing... The only place that a key of David is mentioned is the "Key of the House of David" in Isaiah... This is typically associated with the Jewish royal authority and administration of the Jewish civil government...
So.. The reward in Philadelphia is opening and closing the House of David to those of this church... Interestingly, to most gentile Christians - this is not really something that we are looking for - being part of a Jewish kingdom... I think for most - it doesn't have any appeal.... Conversely, we don't recognize that the threat of being shut out of the House of David is important...
Thanks
One I have kinda been scratching my head about is Philadelphia (which ironically every church today professes to be part of)... At first glance - it's pretty straight forward.... But then you notice Jesus is not just holding any old key that opens a door to good things (As so many expositors would have you believe) but ONE specific key - the Key of David... A very Jewish thing... The only place that a key of David is mentioned is the "Key of the House of David" in Isaiah... This is typically associated with the Jewish royal authority and administration of the Jewish civil government...
So.. The reward in Philadelphia is opening and closing the House of David to those of this church... Interestingly, to most gentile Christians - this is not really something that we are looking for - being part of a Jewish kingdom... I think for most - it doesn't have any appeal.... Conversely, we don't recognize that the threat of being shut out of the House of David is important...
Thanks
It's no more that what I've said: overcome the flesh and the world and be obedient to God with all that we are. Surrender to the will of the Holy Spirit in every way. Learn to walk in Him. It's a race with a goal post of death or rapture.
Something tells me we will all be surprised when we get a report card from God. I, too, want to race to the church of Philadelphia which means brotherly love. It is the one church where it is promised to be raptured - to be spared the "hour of temptation"/tribulation. There are no concerns/problems in this church and no exhortation. I agree that the Jews/Israel are our root and we are part of the same tree. We have different destinies - the gentile church and our sibling Jews and are ultimately united with Christ. I think replacement theology is error.
I have always understood the "Seven stars" to be SEVEN ANGELS. The stars represent "authority".
Jude 13 says hat apostates are called wandering stars...........
"They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever."
I think that we all understand that Angel means "messenger" and can be either human or angelic. It then could be a messenger of the host of heaven or a ruler or teacher of a church on the earth. Personally I think it speaks of the local pastors of the 7 churches but that is just me.
"The 7 candlesticks" is interpreted as "Lampstand". As the thought here is the 7 churches in Asia they would also represent all churches as a whole which make up the Bride of Christ, the church.
Lol...auto correct...I meant to say racing...One and the sameWe're teaching against ourselves.
What I got out of this read of the letter of Ephesians was that it is important to not neglect your own daily devotions no matter how busy you get - even if that busy is the Lord's business. I think of the apostalic age and how they must have been busy getting everything out from scratch, trying to avoid being murdered/persecuted. The other thing I got was DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK. I already knew that but it hit home stronger.