It was at the time that John was on Patmos,
that Caesar-worship was demanded. 96-98
A.D. not only marked the end of the era of
the apostles, but it marked the beginning
of emperor worship.

Roman citizens were to burn a bit of incense
on the altar of Caesar, and was given a
certificate that they had done so. Then they
were free to worship their own god.

Christians refused to burn the incense and
that made them outlaws.

Dictators and rulers who were able to make
themselves as gods usually had the power to
elevate themselves and their office over the
people.

That is what the Antichrist will do when he
takes control of the nations at the end of this
age.

To understand Christian life when the Book
of Revelation was written, we have to under-
stand how Caesar-worship came to be and
how it worked.

Rome's greatest problem was to how to put
together its huge empire. It was a mixture
of cities, states, and nations of every religion
and race. Something had to be done to bring
them altogether.

The church at Smyrna was the second of the
seven churches to be addressed by Jesus in
His letters.

Smyrna has always been from ancient times.
It was near Ephesus. It was outstandingly
beautiful and a number of pagan temples were
there. The Christians who lived in Smyrna saw
heathen worship everywhere they looked.

It was politically important. The people were
pro-Roman and it was one of the great centers
of emperor-worship.

The Church of John's day didn't listen to
the warning of the Lord, its power was
fading fast.

Something happened that worked for good.
It was the terrible persecution by pagan Rome
that lasted over two centuries.

There was no place for lukewarm believers
in the Church during this time which marked
the deaths of millions of martyrs. Christians
who had lost their first love wouldn't remain
in it for very long.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against
thee, because thou has left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou
are fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will remove thy candlestick out of this
place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:4-5

Jesus' warning to the Ephesians should
give all of us a reality check.

At the time Paul left the church at Ephesus
they were at the height of their spirituality.
It showed Paul's consecration, sincerity, and
devotion.

Now thirty-six years had passed and a new
generation was there. The children that were
there with Paul were now the leaders. Only a
few of the older members were left.

The wolves that Paul warned about had not
yet gained a foothold. But something had
been lost that could be disastrous to their
future.

Paul seemed to have a dreading that the
Ephesian church would lose its first love.
His last instructions were against spiritual
decline, and to be looking out for false
shepherds, wolves in sheep's clothing, that
would try to weaken or change them.

"For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock. Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by
the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears."
Acts 20:29-31

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However, the church of Ephesus had one
flaw which ended up being fatal. They had
lost their first love.

Religion had become a substitute. Other
things were taking the place of their intense
devotion to Jesus.

Without it, there can be miracles and super-
natural ministry, but the church will come
short of His standard and lose the prize He
had for it.

Jesus wasn't displeased with the Ephesians
works.They had worked hard. The didn't
tolerate evil in the church. Worldly men
weren't allowed to hold office.

The Ephesian christians had been faithful
and had not grown weary of well-doing.

It was to Ephesus, that Paul wrote his
most profound epistle, the letter to the
Ephesians. He tells the mysteries of God's
plan for the church.

Mysteries hid during the past ages, but
now revealed unto "his holy apostles and
prophets."

Paul shows that the full development
and perfection of the church required the
ministry gifts of the apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers.
(Ephesians 4:8-16)

The church at Ephesus, before it lost its
"first love," was the kind of church we
must have at the return of Christ, if it is
to come up to this standard.

Ephesus was also a church that was per-
secuted for being devoted to Jesus. Had
they worshipped the goddess Diana, they
might have gotten by but there was no
place for the immoral goddess in their
Christianity.

They preached the whole gospel. Paul
said that he had "kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you."

The members of the church at Ephesus
were believers who had been baptized in
water. They also received the Baptism of
the Holy Spirit with speaking in other
tongue. (Acts 19:5-6)

It was a church where miracles of healing
had occurred. (Acts 19:11-12)

It was a holy church that stood against the
goddess Diana and the evils of that day.
They burned books of curious arts valued
at 50,000 pieces of silver. (Acts 19:19

The Lord had warned that unless the church
at Ephesus repented, He would come quickly
and remove its candlestick out of its place.

Today it is in
utter ruin.

Its destruction
was regarded by
the Christians
of that day as a
fulfillment of prophecy. The extinction of the
first candlestick of Revelation; the desolation
is complete.

Among the ruins of Ephesus there is nothing
to identify the church of John's day; and
today is a picture of what happens to those
who leave their "first love".

Ephesus was a great commercial city in the
days of Paul. It also was very political. It was
a capital of a Roman province.

Acts 19:28-29 tells of it being the site of the
Temple Diana.

The worship was often weird and hysterical.
Shameless and immoral practices took place
there. It also was a haven for criminals and
fugitives of every kind.

The church at Ephesus is the only church
of the seven of which there is a record that
it was founded by an apostle.

(Acts 19:1) Paul lived there for three years
and founded it as a strong mother church.

The term, "apostle" in verse 2, indicates the
Apostolic Period. "Thou hast tried them that
say they are apostles, and are not, and have
found them to be liars."

In 96 A.D. the Apostolic Age with its Holy
Ghost ministry and gifts of the Spirit, was
quickly ending because of its losing its "first
love".

He said, "Repent. . . .or else I will come
quickly and will remove thy candlestick out
of his place except thou repent".

The Church of Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7 (suggested reading)

John, one of Jesus' apostles, was still alive
at the time the revelation was given to the
church that also was still in existence.

John died two years later.

So if the Apostolic Era was to include Church
Age, it was then.