Churches in Revelation

                     Have You Left Your First Love?
                                  Ephesus today(Rev 2:1-7)

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.
And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Application:
We must never think that our good works and other spiritual attributes can get God's approval. To be defenders of truth is necessary but it cannot take the place of first love. We have to know that the first thing God asks of us is to love Him above all things. He is to be respected and Worshipped.

I have to admit to you after reading these verses one gets a whole new perspective of church. If someone was telling me about a Church like this one I would have highly praised their dedication for God. It would have seemed to me that this Body of Believers had it all together. They did not like evil, they where patient and labored for their faith, they stood for right and persevered. Wow! looks pretty good to me. Yet, Jesus saw the heart and knew they had a problem.  A big one!  I think we had all better look this church over. Do we know anyone or a body like that, or how about you?

We read over the churches in Revelation and go directly to the last one, which you have probably heard of before. You know, the one that makes God sick, the Laodician Church. It is true this church is more than likely a representation of the last stages of the New Testament Church. However, looking at all of the churches, should surely make one take another look at their own life and the life of the, "Called out ones." We must not overlook what Jesus told John about all seven of these churches.

Ephesus is said to be a very attractive place. There in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the known world at that time, it was the temple of Artemis or Diana. Paul stayed over two years in this city and later had to leave because of the gospel that he was teaching; The people got in such an uproar that they ran Paul out of the City. There where a group of people that made their living off of these idolatrous trades and they did not like what Paul was preaching, it was  messing up their business. 

(Acts 19:24­20:1). Religion will seek to destroy Christianity. Jesus came down harder on Religion more than anything else. He had a great deal to say to the Religious leaders during the time He walked among men.

Paul had warned the Ephesian elders that "savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). They had persevered and endured and not grown weary. Jesus knew all about them just like He does all of us today.

The real accusation against the Church of Ephesus is in verse four. "I have this against you...you have forsaken, your first love." You see, they had become so preoccupied with trying to protect and defend what they had that they allowed deception to come and defeat them without even realizing it. The Ephesian Christians had lost their devotion, which use to be a passion for intimacy. A deep hunger for their Lord had been overlooked by works and trying to be right, that they missed the purpose of what God was desiring for them. This group where doing instead of being.

Religion boasts of having everything figured out. The "father of lies" (John 8:44) is so deceptive as he attempts to cause sincere, loving Christians to lapse into religion, which inevitably turns ones love to something or someone other than Jesus Christ. Christianity does create a strong love for correct doctrine.  Jesus reminds them in verse 5 to take a look back as to how it use to be and then they must repent.

To The Church in Smyrna

   The Persecuted Church
               Revelation 2:8-11          
⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹ “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
¹¹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Application:
We don't know all that is ahead for us as believers. But this we can count on, God knows us and also sees those who persecute us for our faith. We must never think that Christ is overlooking what happens to us. He knows, sees and will vindicate us for all that we have to go through. On our part, we must trust and not be afraid. God will give us the strength to over come.

Smyrna is the second of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. It was one of only two churches (the Philadelphia Church Era being the other) that received only praise and no correction from Jesus.

Smyrna was a port city in Asia Minor, in what today is Turkey. In ancient times Smyrna contended with Ephesus and Pergamum for the honor of being called the foremost city of Asia.