Chapter Two

With a population of about 250,000, Ephesus was recognized as the greatest city of Asia Minor and the third most important in the world after Rome and Alexandria. It was also acclaimed as the "light of Asia," the "Market of Asia," the "Capital of Asia" and the "Metropolis of Asia."

Agora (market)

Some of the outstanding landmarks of Ephesus were undoubtedly the theater, the port and the temple of Diana or Artimis. Measuring 425 feet long and 220 feet wide, the temple was four times as large as the Parthenon.

Theater

The first structure, which took 100 years to build, was finished in 400 B.C. Herostratus set fire to the building on the night that Alexander the Great was born. The women of the city gave their jewelry to help with the reconstruction.

Image of Diana from Ephesus

On his way back from his Eastern campaign, Alexander offered all the riches from the campaign to have his name carved on one of the temple pillars. This created a dilemma for the people, since they could not grant this request, nor could they refuse the request from so powerful a ruler. "If we put the name of another god on Diana's temple," they wisely replied, "it might make her jealous." Alexander accepted their decision.

There were 127 marble pillars 60 feet tall, each one the gift of a king. Thirty six were overlaid with gold. The temple was destroyed and even its exact location was unknown until modern times. But some of the pillars can still be seen as columns in St. Sophia in Istanbul.

The temple had great religious and commercial significance (Acts 19:24-41), but it provided much more. It was a source of personal and financial security. Temples were also treasuries, so this was one of the greatest banking centers in the area. And no one could be arrested within a bow-shot of the temple, providing asylum for those who could escape there. It's not hard to imagine the atmosphere near the temple.

Notice how Jesus addresses the church in the "Light of Asia." HE is the one who holds real light in His hands.

From Acts 18-20 and 1 Timothy 1:3 we learn that the church in Ephesus was served by Paul, Timothy, Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos. John most likely preached there, too.

One of the immersion baptisteries at Ephesus

Perhaps this is why the Christians placed so much importance on sound doctrine. But do famous preachers guarantee the "success" of a congregation? Judging from this letter, the answer is, "No!"

We must worship and serve God in spirit (love) and in truth (sound doctrine). To observe one to the exclusion of the other calls for repentance and threatens to snuff out our candle. Deeds done with the wrong motivation are useless.

Who were the Nicolaitans? Judging from other references to them in verses 14-15, their teaching was similar to that of the followers of Balaam. In fact, "am" and "laos" both mean "people," while "baal" and "niklam" both mean "to conquer." Remember that those who wanted to work had to belong to the trade guilds. To belong to the trade guild meant to offer sacrifices to the patron god of that group. Christians could not do this, so they could not work. So some came up with a compromise.

"We know that an idol is nothing," they rationalized. "So offering a sacrifice or some incense to nothing is nothing." This must have been already happening when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 10:14-33.

The church in Ephesus did not buy this rationalization. Obviously, God did not either. The way to get real food was not to give in, but rather to overcome (vs. 7).

Known as the "Crown of Asia" or the "Glory of Asia," Smyrna (which claimed to be the birthplace of Homer) was reconstructed by Alexander the Great. This city of 200,000 became a center of emperor worship long before Rome saw such a notion as anything but foolishness. A temple was erected to the deity Roma in 195 B.C. The city won a contest to erect the second Asian temple to Tiberius in A.D. 26.

Two congregations, Smyrna and Philadelphia, received no words of warning or condemnation from the Lord. The brethren of Smyrna were apparently faithful in both spirit and truth.

According to ancient writings (such as Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History), Polycarp was burned here in A.D. 155. Although much of the account is obviously exaggerated, the story is well worth reading (Boyles pp. 145-150).

Traiditional site of Polycarp's death.

"Revile Christ," the Roman official urged. "Eighty and six years have I served Him," Polycarp replied, "and he never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme the King that has saved me?"

When a threat was made to throw him to the beasts, Polycarp said, "Call them. For we have no reason to repent from the better to the worse."

Threatened with fire, Polycarp stated, "You threaten fire that burns for a moment and is soon extinguished, for you know nothing of the judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punishment reserved for the wicked."

As they often did, the Jews gladly gathered fire wood to burn Polycarp, even though it was the Sabbath.

To these faithful followers writes the One who was dead, and has come to life. They are not to fear those who say they are Jews but are really a synagogue of Satan.

To the victors in the "Crown of Asia" is offered the "crown of life." Of the two Greek words for "crown," this one is "stephanos," the victor's crown. The diadem represents the power to rule. That power can be obtained through strength or even deception. The dragon (12:3) and the beast (13:1) wear diadems. The stephanos is never awarded to them. Christ wears both (Rev. 6:2-stephanos; Rev. 19:12-diadem). Only He has both the power AND the right to rule.

And the second death will never hurt them. Did Polycarp get the message?

The official capital of the Roman province of Asia was Pergamum, also known as the "Throne of Asia."

Library

This important city was the site of the second largest library in the world. They tried to bribe Aristophanes, head librarian of Ptolomy II and thus keeper of the greatest library in Alexandria, Egypt, to defect to their city. The Egyptian ruler found out about the plan and made sure that Aristophanes stayed home. He also cut off the supply of papyrus. Pergamum was forced to develop an alternative writing material, and the resulting sheep skin was known as "pergaminium" (or vellum or parchment).

There were three temples in this seat of emperor worship, including one to Augustus erected in 29 B.C. and another to Trajan.

Temple of Trajan

Another important site on the acropolis of the city was the Temple of Zeus, chief of the gods. In the valley below was theTemple of Asklepios, god of healing.

Symbol of Asklepios

Who had the sharp two-edged sword? The Romans used this weapon in battle and also had the power of the sword in the form of capital punishment. Zeus claimed to have the power of life and death. So did Asklepios, who was said to have the power of healing. But Christ is the One who really has the sword.

Original location of temple of Zeus.

This "Throne of Asia" was the throne of the emperors, of Zeus; and of Asklepios. But Jesus calls it the throne of Satan.

Here we find the other half of Ephesus. There seems to be a loving spirit, but doctrine is slack. They tolerate false teaching.

Just as lack of love requires repentance to avoid loosing a candle, so also lack of sound doctrine requires the same action.

Remember what the Nicolaitans promised? Again, God promises real food to the one who overcomes.

A white stone was often given to the victor of a contest.

In the Bible, a name often does not represent what a person is called. Frequently it represents what a person IS. Notice how many times names are changed in the Bible. A name represents the character of its wearer. And only the bearer can appreciate what he has gone through to arrive at his destination.

Thyatira had no illustrious history and was scarcely mentioned by ancient writers. Since it had no natural fortifications, it had to be protected by soldiers and was thus a garrison town.

It was a center of commerce, including the production of purple dye from a root native to the area. Lydia was from this city (Acts 16:14). It is recorded that Thyatira had more trade guilds than any other city in Asia Minor.

Some coins picture Hephaestus, the Greek smith god, and Thyatira was very much a bronze-working town.

The Lord obviously has this in mind as He identifies Himself as the one "who has eyes like a flame of fire" and "feet... like burnished bronze."

Like Pergamum, the Christians here were having trouble with sound doctrine. In addition to the teachings of the Nicolaitans and the "Balaamites," there was the philosophy of this woman named (either figuratively or actually) Jezebel. According to this way of thinking, a person could not appreciate the goodness of God without having experienced the "deep things of Satan." God has already given His judgment on this philosophy through Paul (Romans 6).

Reference is made in verse 27 to shepherding with a rod of iron. It should be pointed out that a shepherd used a staff or crook to direct the sheep. The rod was used to fight wild animals. This rod of iron is used against the enemies of God's people and is not intended to beat His sheep over the head.

Broken pottery at Thyatira.

Revelation 22:16 and 2 Peter 1:19 add meaning to the "morning star."

Boyle, Isaac (1955), Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House).

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."