VERSES 1-7. Unto the angel of the Ephesian church write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear them that are evil, and hast explored them that say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast endurance, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. But, I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

"Unto the angel of the Ephesian church write," signifies, for remembrance to those within the church who are in the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth from the Word: "these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand," signifies, from whom are all the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth; "who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands," signifies, from whom is life to all in the New Heaven and the New Church.

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy endurance," signifies all things that they think, will, and do, thus all things of love and faith in the spiritual and in the natural man: "and that thou canst not bear them that are evil," signifies, that they reject evils "and hast explored them that say they are apostles and are not, and has found them liars," signifies, also falsities, as far as they can be searched out.

"And hast borne, and hast endurance," signifies, resistance against those who assault the truths of faith, and zeal in instruction: "and for my name's sake hast laboured," signifies, acknowledgment of the Lord and of the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth which refer to Him: "and hast not fainted " signifies as far as they were able.

"But, I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity," signifies, that they do not make such a life as pertains to those who live in the beginning of the church, the essential of knowledges (cognitiones).

"Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works," signifies remembrance of former things, and hence that they have departed from the truth, and that the good of life, as at the beginning of the church, may come into mind: "or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent," signifies, if not, it is certain that heaven will not be given.

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate," signifies, aversion from the Divine in regard to those who separate good from truth, or charity from faith, from which there is no life.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies, that he who understands should hearken to what Divine truth proceeding from the Lord teaches and says to those who are of His church: "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life," signifies, that he who receives in the heart shall be filled with the good of love, and hence with heavenly joy; "which is in the midst of the paradise of God," signifies that all the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth in heaven and in the church look thither and proceed thence.