Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Revelation located in this region.

Paul had visited Ephesus earlier (Acts 18:21) and later came there to minister in AD 55 for over two years (Acts 19:8-10). He developed a very deep relationship with the Ephesians (Acts 20:17-38). Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome awaiting trial (Eph 3:1, 4:1 and 6:20)

Modern Day Istanbul was the Byzantine eastern capital of the Roman Empire - and still remains the divide between East and West. This is the longitude of the seven churches of Revelation. Travellers going from East to West have to cross the Sea of Marmara, which joins the Agean Sea of the Greek Islands. The Black Sea is just to the north. There are only two crossing points from East to West: in the north at Istanbul - or along the main trade route to the south crossing the Dardanelles at Gallipoli. This is the geopolitical significance of the location of the seven churches of Revelation.

Perhaps the most significant statement of Ephesians draws our attention to the master plan of God... here we find a canvas displaying the biggest of big pictures. In Ephesians 3:9-12 we read:

"It was given to me... to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

This "mystery" is one that the Church mostly fails to grasp... That God has chosen to express his wisdom through the Church to Satan, and all the forces in the universe (Eph 1:20-22). If the members of the body of Christ could grasp the dimensions of this purpose, they would undergo a radical transformation of outlook as a result of seeing that they are called to the highest purpose that exists. Only with such a world view can we start to come into connection with Jesus understanding of his mission and that of the Church.

However we can be sure that this significance was not lost on Satan. In fact he ensconced himself in the heart of these seven churches of Asia Minor (Turkey)... seating himself in the geographical centre of the path where the Gospel would pass from Israel to Europe - at the strategic centre where East and West are divide. This is made clear in the following Scripture:

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live - where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan lives." (Rev 2:12-13).

Here is the awesome reality of spiritual warfare centred at Pergamum - just north of Ephesus. Here we find Jesus Christ instructing the Churches in the seven letters of Revelation on how to live in victory over Satan - who had his throne on the high country in their midst. Here is the battle between the wisdom of God being expressed through the Churches to the principalities and powers - most prominently expressed in Satan who had (has) his throne in Pergamum.

This is the dynamic of the book of Ephesians. This is a book about spiritual warfare and spiritual reality... where we are called to be the Body of Christ through which God demonstrates his wisdom to every other force that exists. As Christians we have the highest calling there is - to be a dynamic part of God’s victory over evil.

This is the underpinning of our study of the book of Ephesians. This is why we don’t want to come out of this study with just more head knowledge... we are seeking application, transformation and participation.

Recommended Commentaries

Ephesians - The Mystery of the Body of Christ
R. Kent Hughes, Crossway Books

Also excellent commentaries are available by John Stott, F.F. Bruce and Martyn Lloyd Jones (who preached on this book at Westminster for two years)