Ephesus
Vs. 2:1 - "Backslidden" Ephesus meens "let go"
Attribute Of Jesus:
Holds Seven stars (Rev 1:16; 1:20; 2:1; 3:1)
Walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands (Ex 25:37; Rev 1:12; 1:20; 2:1)
Promise: To eat of the "Tree Of Life" (Gen 2:9; 3:22, 24; Prov 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rev 2:7; 22:2; 22:4)
Rebuke: Left first love
Threat:: Take away Lamp Stand
History: Paul founded it, Timothy Became bishop and later possibly the leader, John stayed there after Patmos and possibly also was the leader. The First, Biggest and the mother of the rest or these churches. Ephesus was the largest city in Asia Minor and capitol of its province. This church had a deep love and zeal for Christ but was given over to idolatry, and a prevailing heresy that Christians could freely participate in heathen festivals. (Christmas and Easter? More on this subject later.) This church may represent ecclesiastical pretension and departure from their first love, characterizing the close of the apostolic period.
Ephesus was the greatest city in its province and an eminent harbor town of all Asia Minor. All roads of the Cayster River Valley converged upon it. Ephesus was the gateway to all of Asia for all travelers and trade, flowing into Ephesus, from the Cayster and Maeauder valleys from Galatia, from the Euphrates, and from Mesopotamia. Ephesus was the highway to Rome. Its position made Ephesus the wealthiest and greatest city of Asia. Ephesus was a free, self governing city, exempt from ever having Roman troops garrisoned or stationed there. Each year Ephesus held the most famous games in all of Asia. During the games people poured into Ephesus from all over the province. Ephesus was the center of worship of Artemis or Diana of Ephesus. The temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and was 725 feet long by 220 feet wide; it had 120 columns each 60 feet high. In John's day Ephesus also had temples to Claudius and Nero, Roman Emperors. Ephesus was a notorious center of pagan superstition and the production of amulets and charms. People came from all over the world to buy them. Today there is little left in Ephesus but ruins; and today Ephesus is no less than 6 miles from the sea. The coast is now a harbor-less line of sandy beach, unapproachable by ship. What once was the Gulf of Ephesus and the harbor of Ephesus is now a marsh dense with reeds.