In Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation, we read of Jesus dictating to John the letters he was to write to 7 particular churches of his time. First of all, I want to say that there is no scripture that can be found in the Bible that says these churches written about in these 2 chapters has anything do to with any dispensation through the ages. Finis Dake points out in his book “Revelation Expounded”. I quote:
The dispensational application of these church letters; i.e., that they portray seven church periods or phases of church history, is really based upon human theory alone. There can be no Scripture produced to prove this theory in any one aspect. Similarity to certain phases of church history proves nothing. One can even find similarities between the history of the Church and Israel, and there is no end to similarities that could be found in history between almost any two things one chooses to compare. Anything that is based upon human theory is not dependable and is misleading and unscriptural. If there was such an application of these letters there would have been two or three passages to support each letter and its application to some definite period in history.
Much confusion and many false teachings are based upon this method of interpretation. Some teachings are as follows: that we are in the Philadelphian or Laodicean periods; that the rapture of the Church takes place in either one of these two periods; that the Church Age ends with Philadelphia; that Laodicea deals with things after the rapture; that the Ephesian period ended with the apostles; and many other theories are unscriptural. We still have the conditions of Ephesus, etc., in local churches today. These conditions existed in John's day and they will continue to exist as long as the Church is on earth, so seeing there are Scriptures to prove a local, prophetic, and individual application, and anything said about a dispensational application must rest upon human theory and cause numberless differences as to interpretation, it would be best to forget this application entirely. End of quote. (1)
But, most expositors, and teachers still teach this. Jimmy Swaggart in his Bible Commentary on Revelation points this out too, but says he does teach that these Churches give’s us a prophetic view of the Church Age (2). However this is not why I’m writing this article. When we break down the scripture, we can see a direct correlation to what is going on in the apostate church of today.
Revelation 2:1-7 (KJV) 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
In verse 2 Jesus calls these false apostles that the “Church of Ephesus” dealt with to be nothing but liars. We certainly see this today in many of our own churches and denominations. This has much to do about the “Latter Rain” doctrine that has been allowed to enter the churches. This doctrine was condemned by the Assemblies of God back in 1948, but unknowing Christians who don’t know any better, and who don’t study their bible, have embraced this false doctrine. This is the responsibility of every Christian to recognize false doctrine when they hear it. John points out in his first Epistle: 1 John 4:1-2 (KJV) 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: Unfortunately most of these false apostles are not hearing from the Holy Spirit, but are getting their so-called “revelations” from “New Age” spirits, or their “spirit guides” When you leave the true gospel of the finished work of what Jesus did at the Cross, and start accepting false doctrine, you loose the protection of the Holy Spirit and allow the whisperings of demon spirits. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In verse 4 Jesus admonishes the Church of Ephesus for leaving their “first love.” What was this first love? Is this just the zeal we had for Christ when we were first saved? No, Jesus is talking about proper FAITH we had in Christ when we were first saved. We are taking this faith we had in the Cross of Christ and taking it to other doctrines of man. We are now trying to live a Christian life on our own strengths, which Paul so taught against. Galatians 6:14 (KJV) 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Whenever a Christian does this, he is leaving the Cross and places his faith in something else, he comes immersed in law. He finds himself in constant condemnation, which means he is walking after the flesh, not after the Spirit. Romans 8:1-2 (KJV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
In verse 5, he tells them that they must repent, and come back to their first love, or he will remove the candlestick from the church. So we see this is pretty serious stuff. How many churches or denominations can you go into today and see they are teaching another Gospel? How many churches can you go into and see that all the crosses have been removed, lest they offend someone? I can't imagine any of these Pastors preaching from the 6th Chapter of the Book of Romans. No matter what spiritual condition they are in, they want to keep them in the pew and fill the coffers.
In Verse 6, he commends them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, as he hated their deeds also. The best way to describe them is to translate the Greek “Nicao”, which means to conquer, and “laos, which means laity. Nicolaitans would be translated “laity conquerors.” They were leaders in the church who posed as “lords” over the laity. Doubtless, this is the start of the priestcraft that later developed into the Roman hierarchy. (3)
Verse 7, we have here the exegis is: 1. Jesus addresses those who know how to hear spiritually. 2. We are to hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches, and not man. 3. Only the overcomers will prevail. (4)
When we prevail against all the false doctrines being preached in today’s churches, we will be the overcomers... Dave
Footnotes:
1) Revelation Expounded. Finis Dake Chapter 4 page 44
2) Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary: Revelation P8
3) Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary: Revelation Pg 60
4) Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary: Revelation Pg 61
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