In His letter to Ephesus, Jesus Christ, holding the seven stars and walking among the seven golden lampstands, commends the church for their works, patient endurance, and discernment in exposing false apostles and opposing the Nicolaitans. However, He holds against them that they have left their first love, having become battle-hardened, calloused, and self-righteous through constant fighting. He commands them to remember, repent, and return to their first works of agape love and service toward God and their brethren. If they refuse, He warns He will remove their lampstand, endangering their place in the church. To the overcomer, He promises access to the Tree of Life, recalling the intimate, harmonious relationship in Eden before sin entered. Also see sermons and articles about 'Ephesus, Letter to'.
Revelation 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.""
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Jeremiah 2:2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.
Revelation 1:11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
