Revelation 2:1-11
These letters to the seven assemblies in Asia describe in as many pictures the history of responsible Christendom. The Lord introduces Himself to each of these churches, noting down precisely what He finds there . . . and what He does not find there; He exhorts and promises His reward to the overcomer.
At Ephesus everything seemed to be going well on the surface (vv. 2, 3). But the Lord looks on the heart (Jeremiah 2:2). Sadly He could no longer see a response to His own love there; He no longer held first place there! Now if a river is cut off from its source, people living near its mouth will not notice this immediately. The banks will remain green as long as the water flows; things will look the same for quite a while longer . . . O dear friends, let us examine ourselves! Are we motivated by our own desires or are we led by our love for Christ? To stop this decline the faithful Lord uses the strange remedy of trials. He allows the bride to come under the power of Satan.
After Ephesus (the lovable one) comes Smyrna (the bitter one). This was the time of the martyrs under the cruel Roman emperors (in the second and third centuries). The Christians of Smyrna had the opportunity then to prove their love for their Saviour by their faithfulness unto death in the arena, with its wild animals.