To Ephesus and Smyrna
Day 697, Thursday, July 9
Revelation 2:1-11
Chapter 2 begins a section where we read letters to be sent to the angels of the seven churches.
Commentators differ on whether “angels” (or “messengers”) refers to the human leaders of the churches or if each has a supernatural guardian angel.
The seven churches listed are in the same general area of what is now western Türkiye, so they could have been facing similar issues, or the letters could have been sent by a single messenger. The number seven appears frequently in Revelation and implies fullness or completion. This could suggest that these seven churches were meant to represent all churches; in any case, the advice to them has usually been interpreted as applying to all churches.
Church in Ephesus
The church is commended for the endurance it has shown, but criticized for having “forsaken the love you had at first.” This suggests that the fire of love they first had for Jesus has cooled—and perhaps their love for each other. We are reminded of the danger of continuing the actions of living the Christian life without the passion that sparked those actions.
They are also commended for their rejection of the Nicolaitans. That was a heretical sect that taught that grace removed the constraints of living morally. This is similar to the challenge addressed in the letter of Jude.
Church in Smyrna
This also begins with commendation, but unlike the previous letter does not contain criticism. The church is warned of more persecution to come, including that “the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.” John often equates the Roman Empire with Satan. “Ten days” could be literal or it could be symbolic, assuring them that persecution, though painful, would be for a limited duration. He then reassures them: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
The “second death” in verse 11 is eternal condemnation; those who persevere will not experience it.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Thursday meditation

Ecclesiastes 7:1-10
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Prayer focus
Let us not fear the death that comes to all of us, and protect us from the second death.