<TITLE>10. Par 69-78</TITLE>L-69 Now, to break down tonight to show you a little bit about the service tonight, we're going to take the 2nd chapter, the first church age. Now, we... He's revealed and we know Who He is; He's God.
Now, the church age begin as I said, around 53 to 170. And (a) the city of Ephesus, one of the three great cities of Asia, often called the third city of Christian faith (First was Jerusalem; second, Antioch; and third, Ephesus.). (c) a city of great commerce and trade... (e) The government was Roman. (f) The language was Greek. Historians believe John, Mary, Peter, Andrew, and Philip were all buried there. And Ephesus was knowed for its beauty.

L-72 Christianity at Ephesus was where the Jews lived, at Ephesus. And it was founded about A.D. 53 or 55. Christianity was planted there by Saint Paul. Later, Saint Paul spent three years at Ephesus. Paul's teaching bore great influence to the believers at Ephesus. Next, Timothy was the first bishop of the church at Ephesus. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. In Paul's time it was a great church.
"Ephesus" means, the very name "Ephesus" means "let go, relax, backslidden," called by God, "The backslidden church." God--God acknowledged first their works, their labor, and their patience. God rebuked their living--leaving their first love, for backsliding, and for no longer bearing Light. Ephesus was not a deceived church; it failed itself by not continuing in perfect love.

L-74 Summary of Ephesus' fruits: without love, led to apostasy. The promises: Paradise promised to the overcomer of the saints of Ephesus in the church age, given to the Tree of Life.
Here's a beautiful thing. The Tree of Life is mentioned three times in Genesis, three times in Revelation. The first time it was mentioned in--in Genesis was in Eden, and Christ was the Tree. The three times it was mentioned in Revelations, was Christ in paradise. Oh, that's rich. The Lord bless.

L-76 Now, we're begin the 1st chapter of Ephesus--or the 1st verse of the 2nd chapter, the Ephesian church:
Unto the angel of the church at Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
John is the--the messenger at that time. Walking in the midst of these seven golden candlesticks was Jesus Christ, the Almighty God. What is He doing? He didn't say He was walking in one candlestick; He was walking in the midst of all of them. What does that denote? That He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, and in every church age to every believer. He comes to--with the Holy Ghost to every age and to every person: same yesterday, today, and forever.

L-78 "Holding in His right hand..." "Right hand" means His "authority and power." Holding in His right hand, under controlled, the seven messengers to the seven church ages. Oh, I like that. See Him walking around through these church ages, the Christ, making Hisself known to His people down through these dark ages, down through every age; while the church got formal and pulled out, and some went one way and some another, but that little minority of the church still held on, and Christ worked with them, confirming His Word; winds it right through.


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