Loving and Intolerant: Reading and Heeding our King’s Message to Ephesus

By Ryan Habbena

I am wrapping up a year long expositional class on the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is a beautiful gift of a King to His bride. From the outset of this prophetic work, it is announced:

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

As I am progressing through Revelation, I am being further convinced and convicted of the immense value this enigmatic, but powerful book has for believers in Jesus Christ. Revelation is a difficult book. It takes an extensive understanding of the first 65 books of the Bible to begin to grasp how all these matters are being “consummated” in Revelation. In short, it is the last book of the Bible for a reason.

One area that has been greatly neglected in the study of Revelation is the exhortations to the 7 churches of Asia Minor in chapters 2 and 3. These are the primary “application” portions of the book of Revelation. We are called by our Sovereign Master to hear and heed these things. In this article I want to briefly explore Jesus’ message to the church of Ephesus, as I believe it has profound implications for us as 21^st century believers.

The Commendation: “Intolerance”

The book of Revelation begins with the Risen King appearing to John in His glory. John is instructed to write matters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor. Each church has a different condition. Thus, various commendations and admonitions are given to the churches from their Lord. This section of the book begins with the church of Ephesus:

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:1-3

Jesus is the One who “walks among the golden lampstands.” The lampstands symbolize the 7 churches (Revelation 1:20). Jesus is in their midst, both ready to commend righteousness and discipline disobedience. Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for their intolerance.

In our culture, the world “intolerance” is almost always pejorative. Yet, the church of Ephesus is given a commendation by the King because they did not tolerate “false apostles” and “those who are evil.” Although the particulars are not granted, the false apostles were surely bringing a message that did not correspond to the faith delivered once and for all to the saints. So we see in this text that both the quest and application of doctrinal purity is something that pleases the Lord. It is an endeavor that needs to be engaged by a faithful church.

The Admonition: “Abandoning Love”

Yet, not all things were well at the church in Ephesus. Jesus admonishes them regarding their leaving of their “first love”:

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5

“First love” could either be referring to the love that they showed earlier in their walk or the leaving of the love that was of “first importance.” The context (vs. 5) and theological ramifications imply that both may be in view here. What is the “love” that is referred to here? Most probably this is speaking of “love for God and neighbor”—this love is of “first importance” (Mark 12:28-31). In their quest for doctrinal purity, they seemed to lessen their evangelistic zeal. Instead of standing as ambassadors for the Gospel and declaring the redemptive love of Jesus Christ, they had fallen. The answer here isn’t either/or, it is both/and. We are called to both doctrinal purity and living in love for God and neighbor by announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world and teaching the word of God to those that may be wandering from the truth. The church of Ephesus had fallen from this love, and if they did not repent Jesus was going to remove their “lampstand” entirely. Their opportunity for representation of Christ will be taken away, unless they repent. The call for them is to “repent and do the works they did at first.” They were called to return to active service in loving God and neighbor through living the Gospel-centric life, both in and outside the church.

Bridging Contexts

The church of Ephesus was commended for testing false apostles and not tolerating their teaching. Are there Christians and churches today that need to emulate the example of Ephesus in this manner? The church of Ephesus was also admonished for leaving their love of both God and neighbor, most probably by cloistering themselves, and separating themselves, not standing as God’s ambassadors and pleading with the world to “be reconciled to God.” Are there Christians and churches today that need to heed this admonition? To the informed believer who knows the lay of the contemporary Christian land, these questions answer themselves.

Start With Me, Lord

We must be careful. It is easy to look for the lack of these characteristics in others, while we come up short. In light of this, we need to hear our Lord’s commendations and admonitions and ask Him to start with us. We need to stand firm to remain doctrinally faithful in the midst of such deceptive times. In our efforts to contend for the faith we cannot become hardened to where we do not reach out, preach the Gospel to the world, and teach the Scriptures to those who may be wandering. If we fall into such a state, we are not loving God, who has commanded us to do such, and thus we are not loving our neighbor as well. In the words of Lord, we must “repent” if these virtues are lacking. Our prayer should echo David’s petition in Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!