Letters to the Seven Churches: Ephesus

(These are notes from Bible study on January 10, 2007)

General introduction to the seven letters:
1. The angels or stars are the messengers and the lampstands are the churches.

2. The Revelation includes letters to seven churches, although scripture mentions five more churches.

3. Each church was unique with specific strengths and weaknesses.

4. Churches were challenged to make course corrections and believers were challenged to endure.


5. The letters follow the pattern of rebuke, invitation, affirmation, promise.


The Letter to Ephesus:

1. The first letter is to the church at Ephesus, a cultural center in the Roman empire.

2. The rebuke is your “you have lost your first love.”

3. The invitation is to "repent and return."

4. The affirmation is “you hate the lifestyle of the Nicolaitans.”

5. The promise is “to him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life.”