Revelation 2
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Revelation 2
Rev 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who
holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the
seven golden lampstands says this..."
Jesus still speaks to His church from His ascended glory. Jesus last
words to the church were not the Great Commission or the injunction
to tarry in Jerusalem. His last recorded words in Scripture are here
in Revelation but they imply that Jesus is right in the midst of the
churches and desires to speak with them continually. Among the last
recorded words of Jesus in chapter 3 are "behold I stand at the door
and knock ; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come
in to him.." (Rev 3:20) Jesus wanted continuous spiritual fellowship
with the church He gave His life for. The lack of this is the
condemnation of the Laodecians. However that is ahead of us, this
week we will deal with the church in Ephesus.
The seven stars and seven golden lampstands are explained at the end
of chapter one "the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches". Jesus "walks among
the seven golden lampstands" this means He is the High Priest in the
midst of the churches. He is the Presence in their midst. While He is
"seated at God's right hand" He is also very present amongst His
churches.
The seven angels are either seven angels that guard the churches or
seven human "messengers" (angel and messengers are the same Greek
word). Both interpretations have problems. Lets look at the puzzling
phrase "to the angel of the church in Ephesus write.." We have a
puzzling order of communication...Jesus to John the apostle who then
writes to the angel. Why do angelic beings need to read John's
handwriting? This implies that angels are written to, read the
message and then do something with it, yet the message seems to be
for the whole congregation. So presumably the angel reads the
exhortation and then tells the membership. This implies that angels
can communicate with human beings and with churches and this is
certainly the testimony of Scripture where Gideon, Mary, Daniel and
many others were spoken to by angels. Thus it is not completely
unbiblical but implies an almost bizarre form of getting the message
through to the Ephesians. An angel appearing in the worship service
and announcing the words of Jesus to the Ephesians would be a
dramatic but to my mind unlikely way for God to do things.
The problem with the human messenger theory is their exalted status
as "stars" in Jesus' hand. The designations of angellos (angel) and
"aster" (star) are generally only used in Revelation of supernatural
beings. The human messengers might be people who went to Patmos to
listen to the aged apostle and then take his teachings back to the
churches. As John was the only apostle still living at this time the
revelation/teaching that travelled with them would make them
supremely important and hence as "stars" bringing the light to the
world. The fact that the "stars" were held in Jesus right hand may
indicate that they were protected on their hazardous journey through
Asia under the persecutions of Diocletian or it may refer to the fact
that their message was not corrupted but held secure by Christ or
perhaps both.
Whatever interpretation you favour the message is still clear -
LISTEN UP CHURCHES JESUS HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!
Prayer:
Lord help us to hear Your words to us - your specific words of
encouragement and correction. Lead us into clear, daily communication
with You. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
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