Revelation 2:1

Angel. See on ch. 1:20.

Ephesus. Some define the name Ephesus as meaning “desirable.” In John’s day Ephesus was the leading city of the Roman province of Asia, and later was its capital (see p. 88; John’s Literary Productions; see on chs. 1:4; 2:12). It was situated at the western terminus of a great highway that crossed Asia Minor from Syria, and this, together with its location as an important seaport on the Aegean, made it a focal point for trade. Christianity appears to have been preached there first about A.D. 52, by Paul, when he stopped for a short time while homeward bound to Jerusalem and Antioch from his Second Missionary Journey. His friends Aquila and Priscilla settled there at that time, and, together with an Alexandrian Jew named Apollos—whose concept of Christianity seems to have been pre-Pentecostal—fostered the work of evangelization until Paul’s return, probably a year or two later (see Acts 18:19 to 19:7). This time the apostle remained at Ephesus for about three years (see Vol. VI, p. 30), longer than at any other place on his recorded missionary journeys. This would seem to indicate that his work there was especially fruitful. His biographer, Luke, declares that “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). It is probable, therefore, that during this time at least some of the other churches in Asia were established (see Col. 4:13, 15, 16). After his first Roman imprisonment Paul appears to have visited Ephesus again, probably about A.D. 64, leaving Timothy in charge (see 1 Tim. 1:3).

Nothing further is definitely known of the history of the church at Ephesus until its name appears probably about three decades later in the Revelation. However, tradition indicates that John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, became the leader of this church, presumably after the breakup of the Christian headquarters at Jerusalem about A.D. 68, during the Jewish-Roman War (see p. 716). Thus, at the time the Revelation was written, Ephesus must have been one of the leading centers of Christianity. Consequently it was fitting that Christ’s first message by John should have been addressed to this church. Its central location with respect to the Christian world as a whole makes all the more understandable the fact that its spiritual condition could well be characteristic of the whole church during the apostolic period, the era of Christian history reaching approximately to the end of the 1st century (c. A.D. 31–100; see Additional Note at end of chapter). It may well be called the Age of Apostolic Purity, an attribute highly desirable in God’s sight.

Holdeth. Gr. krateō, “to hold fast,” a more vigorous expression than is used in ch. 1:16.

Seven stars. See on ch. 1:16, 20. In a special way the leaders of the church on earth are to be under the protection and control of Christ. In their appointed task they are ever sustained by divine power and grace. It is to be noted that the characteristic way in which Christ introduces Himself to each of the seven churches is drawn from the composite vision John saw in ch. 1:11–18.

Walketh. A more vigorous description of Christ’s relationship to His church than in ch. 1:13, where John simply refers to Christ as being “in the midst of the seven candlesticks.” As the individual churches of apostolic times enjoyed the watchcare, attention, and ministry of Christ, so has the Christian church as a whole throughout the successive periods of its history. Thus is fulfilled His promise to the disciples to be with them “alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).

Candlesticks. See on ch. 1:12.