47 - Jesus' Message to Ephesus

Season five has finally arrived!

This episode also kickstarts a miniseries within season five about the seven churches of Revelation. Jesus said a lot to his disciples during his ministry, and they recorded some of it in the gospels.

But, technically speaking, Jesus was very clear that he was first sent to the lost sheep of Israel, and so his ministry was primarily focused on that mission. Yes, Jesus’ first mission was to Israel, and only afterward did he form the church. Ever since, Jesus has spoken indirectly to his church through prophets, pastors, evangelists and others, but Revelation 2 and 3 are the biggest chunk of Jesus’ direct speech to the church in all of the New Testament.

That makes those two chapters pretty important! So I’m going to dedicate seven episodes over this season to focus on each of those seven churches that Jesus dedicated so much of his focus on. That way, we can all better understand what Jesus said directly to those churches, and by extension to all of us in his church today!

The first church is Ephesus.

This episode digs deeper into “Epheso” (Ἐφέσῳ meaning ‘Ephesus’) in Revelation 2:1.

Revelation 2:1-7 - “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

Bammerhab - Episode 24 about the “lampstands”

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

• Dave Allam of Allam House for advanced audio techniques: sound.allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew hypertext links

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: bammerhab.