Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle John – Revelation
An Intimate Review
Pt 2
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The Church of Ephesus: Active and Sound in Doctrine but Void in Love

In [Rev 2:1] Apostle John writes that it is possible for true Christians to be active in effective ministry and sound doctrine, yet be lacking in their personal devotion to Yahweh. Christ mentioned per Apostle Matthew’s Gospel, those who were active in ministry but on the Day of Judgement will be deemed workers of iniquity He never knew. [Mt 7:21-23] Apostle Paul notes that very noble abilities and deeds are worthless in Yahweh’s perspective, when void of genuine LOVE for HIM. [I Cor 13] What Yehovah desires above all with each of HIS worshipers is intimate relationship. Nothing, not even effective Christian ministry, is to supersede one’s responsibility to nurture their personal relationship with GOD. Thus, the First and Chief of all commandments is and has always been to LOVE THE LORD GOD with all one’s heart, mind, soul and strength. [Deut 6:4, 5] Per Apostle Mark’s Gospel Christ said,

The First of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord;
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
[Mk 12:29-31]

Per Apostle John, LOVING GOD is LOVING HIS children and keeping HIS commandments, which is the primary duty of all mortals. [Eccl 12:13; I Jn 5:1-3; Pro 8:17, 35, 36] LOVE is right doing in action first towards oneself and then towards other. [I Jn 3:14-18, 20, 21] However, in [Rev 2:4] after acknowledging all of their good characteristics, Christ reprimands the Church of Ephesus and all Christians who share their disposition, for LEAVING their FIRST LOVE. These Christians are heavy into the mechanics of ministry but have lost their fiery AFFECTION for the GOD and service of divine LOVE. [I Jn 4:7, 8]
*left Gk #863 aphiemi (af-ee-ay-mee) it means to intensely send forth, lay aside, forsake, let alone, let go, omit, put and send away

*first Gk #4413 protos (pro-tos) it means foremost in time, place, order or importance

*love Gk #26 agape (ag-ah-pay) it is affection and benevolence

1. affection is…
a. fond attachment and devotion
b. emotion, feeling and sentiment
c. the emotional realm of love

2. benevolence is…
a. desire to do good to others
b. goodwill and charitableness
c. an act of kindness or charitable gift

Per this passage, LOVE is AFFECTION that should be felt by those who give and receive it. Christian ministry is less effective when THE LOVE of THE LORD is no longer experienced by those who provide it. Christian ministry void of divine LOVE is like salt without savor. [Mt 5:13] Born-again believers must never forget that their primary duty is to LOVE Yehovah and obey HIS COMMANDMENTS. [Eccl 12:13; Mk 12:29-31; I Jn 5:1-3] It is fitting for GOD to begin this correction at HIS assemblies, as it is crucial to the administration of HIS LOVE through their ministries. [Jn 13:34, 35] In addition, continuing Christian ministry with a cold heart can lead into self-righteousness, ill-judgment of others and disrupt the sweet communion of Christian fellowship. [Mt 24:12] It is Yahweh’s LOVE that permitted Christ to become the Propitiation for all mortals, and empowers born-again believers to better appreciate the mercies HE bestows upon them with each new day. [Lam 3:21-23; I Jn 4:10, 11] It is divine LOVE that empowers Christian ministers to effectively overcome with challenges of evil, as they administer the Word of Life to souls who are predestined to be spiritually regenerated and nurtured through their ministries. Thus, their LOVE for GOD and HIS work must always be and remain the chief priority of their lives.

In [Rev 2:5] Christ offers these Christians the resolution to their lack. It is simply to REMEMBER from which they are FALLEN, REPENT and do their FIRST WORK again, which is go back to LOVING THE LORD like they did when they HE first revealed HIMSELF and HIS LOVE to them. In so doing, they will be permitted to continue representing HIS kingdom on earth. When one loves THE LORD and nurtures their relationship with HIM, it is evident to those they serve in ministry. This expression of LOVE is what inspires others to GLORIFY and LOVE GOD from within their own souls. [Mt 5:16]

*remember Gk #3421 mnemoneuo (mnay-mon-yoo-o) it means to exercise the memory, recollect, rehears and be mindful

*fallen Gk #1601 ekpipto (ek-pip-to) it means to drop away, lose, become inefficient and be driven out of one’s course

*repent Gk #3340 metanoia (met-an-oy-ah) it means to feel uneasiness or anxiety caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain

*do Gk #4160 poieo (poy-eh-o) it means to make or do

*first Gk #4413 protos (pro-tos) it means foremost in time, place, order or importance

*works/deeds Gk #2041 ergon (er-gon) it is an act or toil as an occupation or effort [I Cor 12:31; 13]

In [Rev 2:6] Christ commends them for HATING the DEEDS of the NICOLATIANS which HE also HATES. [Pro 16:4]

*hatest/hate Gk #3404 miseo (mis-eh-o) it means detest, intensely dislike, persecute and love less

*Nicolaitanes Gk #3531 Nikolaites (nik-ol-ah-ee-tace) it is a Nicolaite or adherent of Nicolaus



*Gk #3532 Nikolaos (nik-ol-ah-as) it means victorious over the people and refers to Nicolaus who was a heretic, which is…

1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions that are contrary to those accepted by the church or rejects doctrines prescribed by the church

2. anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle

The Christian historian Eusebius of Caesarea Maritime, who lived from 260 to 340 A.D., offers insight on this heretical group of false teachers, who usurped the teachings of Jesus Christ and genuine Christian teachers. They then created false Christian doctrines by applying pure Christian doctrine with erroneous translations, interpretations and allegories. Per Eusebius, the heretic Nicolaus chose to forego his marital rights to allegedly further his devotion to Christian Ministry. His cult embraced his proposal and created an erroneous idea of dealing with human sensuality in an inordinate manner.

In [Rev 2:7] As it was in times past, so it will be throughout future generations, that many philosophies are proclaimed and acknowledged. While THE LORD does not require HIS children to be knowledgeable of all philosophies embraced, HE does expect them to have an EAR to HEAR what the Holy Ghost SAITH to those of HIS CHURCHES.

*ear Gk #3775 ous (ooce) it is the physical ear and mental attentiveness

*hear Gk #191 akouo (ak-oo-o) it means to hear

*saith Gk #3004 lego (leg-o) it means to means to lay forth and relate in words systematically or by a set discourse

*churches Gk #1577 ekklesia (ek-klay-see-ah) it is a…
1. calling out
2. popular meeting
3. religious congregation be it a Hebrew synagogue or Christian community of members on earth, in heaven or both
In so doing, they will OVERCOME all challenges of evil influences and EAT of the tree of life in Yahweh’s PARADISE.

*overcometh Gk #3528 nikao (nik-ah-o) it means to subdue and conquer [II Cor 10:4, 5]

*paradise Gk #3857 paradeisos (par-ad-i-sos) it is… [Lk 23:43; II Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7]
• a park and specifically an Eden, which I
1. the place where Adam and Eve lived before the Fall [Gen. 2:8–24]
2. a place of future happiness
3. any delightful region or abode
4. a place of extreme beauty and delight
5. a state of supreme and perfect happiness and bliss
6. heaven, as the final abode of the righteous
7. an intermediate place for the departed souls of the righteous awaiting resurrection

PARADISE is also mentioned by Jesus Christ and Apostle Paul. [Lk 23:43; II Cor 12:4] However, it was first taught of by Yahweh through Enoch per his explanation of Sheol, the Underworld. [Eno 22] So then, this place of delight prepared for those who transition to immortality in righteousness, was know by mortals from the most ancient of time.

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