Library of CelsusOriginally built in AD 115-25, this

restored facade is a highlight of the ruins today.  The interior measures

70 by 80 feet and held approximately 15,000 scrolls. This

library was dedicated to Celsus the proconsul of Asia.

The AgoraThe Agora was a marketplace and town center were governmental discussion and commercial exchange take place.

The largest city in Asia The largest city in Asia Minor. Minor. There were 300,000 There were 300,000 inhabitants in the city.inhabitants in the city.

Temple-of-Artemis/Diana

Temple-of-Artemis/Diana

Verse 1-“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands”.

• There is an angel assigned to every church. This angel There is an angel assigned to every church. This angel are given the task of watching over these churches. are given the task of watching over these churches.

• Jesus directly address the churches this why he Jesus directly address the churches this why he explicitly says “These are the words of him….” All explicitly says “These are the words of him….” All scriptures ultimately comes the Lord. Jesus is also scriptures ultimately comes the Lord. Jesus is also speaking todayspeaking today.

Verse 2-“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”• Jesus always starts with affirmations /encouragements Jesus always starts with affirmations /encouragements

before confrontation/correction. before confrontation/correction. GOLDEN NUGGET GOLDEN NUGGET : : ““Affirmation before Affirmation before ConfrontationConfrontation” ”

• These is a church that had gone through so much These is a church that had gone through so much adversity and persecution. There was tremendous adversity and persecution. There was tremendous opposition to the Gospel in Ephesus, especially because opposition to the Gospel in Ephesus, especially because it was the center of the worship of Artemis. Despite this it was the center of the worship of Artemis. Despite this hardship this Church continue to hardship this Church continue to ““PERSEVEREPERSEVERE””

Verse 2 Conti..-“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”• These was church that was very dutiful. They had no These was church that was very dutiful. They had no

room for wicked people and false ministers that tried to room for wicked people and false ministers that tried to infiltrate the church. They were infiltrate the church. They were great great gatekeepers/defenders. gatekeepers/defenders.

• This church listened to what Paul said in This church listened to what Paul said in Ephesus 4:14Ephesus 4:14 when he said “we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”

Verse 3-“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.”• This church had suffered and endured hardships ever since This church had suffered and endured hardships ever since

Emperor Nero to Emperor Domitian.Emperor Nero to Emperor Domitian.

• The Christian historian/writer, Tertullian (c. 155-230) called The Christian historian/writer, Tertullian (c. 155-230) called Nero the 1st persecutor of Christians

• The Pagan historian, Tacitus mentioned that Nero furiously The Pagan historian, Tacitus mentioned that Nero furiously tortured and killed Christians after the Roman fire of 64ADtortured and killed Christians after the Roman fire of 64AD

• When Jesus spoke to John around 96AD, Domitian was emperor When Jesus spoke to John around 96AD, Domitian was emperor and he was very passionate about restoring and preserving and he was very passionate about restoring and preserving Roman culture and religious tradition. So, Roman culture and religious tradition. So, he exiled or killed he exiled or killed anyone that was seen as disrupter to those traditions. anyone that was seen as disrupter to those traditions. Domitian Domitian even called himself master and Godeven called himself master and God

Verse 3-“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.”

• The Apostle Paul who helped grow the church in The Apostle Paul who helped grow the church in Ephesus (52-54AD), also experience hardship in Ephesus (52-54AD), also experience hardship in the Ephesus.the Ephesus.-Apollos a Jewish Alexandrian came -Apollos a Jewish Alexandrian came to started this Churchto started this Church

• In Acts 19, Paul hardship in the hands ofIn Acts 19, Paul hardship in the hands of JewsJews(v.9), (v.9), Demetrius the silversmith Demetrius the silversmith (v. 23-(v. 23-27)and Ephesians (v.28)27)and Ephesians (v.28)

Verse 4-“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”• The Church at Ephesus had forgotten their first The Church at Ephesus had forgotten their first

love and they become mechanical. They were no love and they become mechanical. They were no longer streams, they become stagnant ponds. longer streams, they become stagnant ponds.

• They had forgotten what Paul wrote to them in They had forgotten what Paul wrote to them in the letter to the Ephesians(60-62AD) when the the letter to the Ephesians(60-62AD) when the told them they were not saved by works but by told them they were not saved by works but by grace (grace (Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8-9). ). Essentially they Essentially they forgotten God’s Abundant graceforgotten God’s Abundant grace

Verse 4-“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”• The Church at Ephesus had forgotten they The Church at Ephesus had forgotten they

needed to grounded in love as Paul told them in needed to grounded in love as Paul told them in Ephesians 3:17-18Ephesians 3:17-18

• They had forgotten that the love of God can They had forgotten that the love of God can fulfill them. fulfill them. Ephesians 3:19-21Ephesians 3:19-21

Verse 5-7“Consider how far you have fallen! Repentx and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstandy from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,c which is in the paradised of God.

• The Nicolaitans(Acts 6:5) were anti-law The Nicolaitans(Acts 6:5) were anti-law practitioners that celebrated self-indulgence.practitioners that celebrated self-indulgence.

Didn’t tolerate wickedness/wick-men They were hard-working; not lazy Great Perseverance They hated Apostasy They hated false religions

(ex. Nicolaitans, Worship of Artemis)

They had forgotten their first love. •They were mechanical•They numb and callous•They were on survival mode

Jesus tells them to repent (180

degrees).

Jesus tells them to remember from the height they have fallen.

Jesus tells them that they will overcome-1 John 5:4

Jesus tells them they will have the right to eat from the tree of life.-Genesis 3:22-24, Revelations 22:2, 14, 19