Personal Letters from Jesus Himself

Once we see the Lord Jesus Christ, high and lifted up in glory, we’re ready to hear and explore the message of the Revelation.

In Revelation 2-3, the Lord Jesus Himself sends seven letters to individual churches. Together these churches paint a composite picture of the church in all ages, each representing a unique period of church history. Most of the letters start with a word of commendation and condemnation, then end with the warning.

Now, let’s explore these seven remarkable messages and take to heart what the Lord Jesus is saying to them and to us.

Letter #1, to the Church in Ephesus: Love Me again!

Ephesus, called the “Light of Asia,” was a fabulous place when John and Paul lived there in the first century. Paul came to Ephesus on his third missionary journey and later John, the “son of thunder,” came here as a pastor. As a result of their ministries here, a huge number of people turned to Christ.

In the first century, Ephesus was the religious and commercial center of the world, influencing both Asia and Europe. To say “Ephesus,” anyone immediately thought of the temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Worshipped by more people than any other idol at the time, “Diana of Ephesians” demanded the wildest sexual deviant religious rites, both excessive and vicious. This was the world before which the church at Ephesus stood as a light in the darkness.

Jesus said to them, “I know what you do for me—your works are well done. I know, too, you’re weary but, you bear it patiently (evidence of the Spirit at work in them).” The Ephesians refused to bear with evil. They tested everyone who came to Ephesus claiming to speak for God. If they were liars, they asked them to leave town.

These words of commendation the Lord Jesus gave to the local church at Ephesus, also apply to the period of church history for the first 100 years after Pentecost. But He also applied this condemnation: “Careful—you’re leaving your first love” (v. 4). They had lost that intense and enthusiastic devotion to the person of Christ. Their doctrine was on track, but their personal relationship to Jesus Christ was drifting.

What should they do about it? The Lord said, “Remember ….” “Remember what it was like when you first came to Me.” Remember what Jesus meant to you. If you’ve become cold to that memory—stir it up. You can get back to that same place.

“… And repent” (v. 5). Christians need to repent, and turn back to Jesus—likely often and sincerely. We need to break the shell of self-sufficiency, the crust of conceit, the shield of sophistication, the veneer of vanity, get rid of the fake religious words and looking like we’re some great saint. This is the message for believers.

“Do you hear this warning?” the Lord asks (v. 7). Wake up dull ears and dull hearts. (He used this phrase a lot in the Gospels.) Listen to what the Spirit, the teacher of the church, is saying.

As a genuine believer, you can overcome this through the blood of the Lamb. In fact, the overcomers will “eat of the tree of life.” Remember in the Garden of Eden that man was forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life (see Genesis 3:22-24)? In heaven, the “no trespassing” sign will be taken down. We will live as we have never lived before in God’s new garden.

This was the hope of the church of Ephesus—the apostolic church, the church at its best.

Next: “Be fearless and faithful … even to death.” That’s the message to a church that was laying down their lives.