Revelation 2:5 kjv

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:5 nkjv

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place?unless you repent.

Revelation 2:5 niv

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:5 esv

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:5 nlt

Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Revelation 2 verses

Revelation 2 5 Meaning

Revelation 2:5 calls the church in Ephesus to spiritual restoration by confronting their departure from their original devotion. The Lord Jesus instructs them to recall their former state of vibrant faith, actively turn away from their current spiritual complacency, and resume the loving actions that characterized their early walk. A severe warning follows: if they fail to repent, their existence and influence as a Christ-honoring church, symbolized by a lampstand, will be removed from its position of testimony and light-bearing. This warning underscores the vital necessity of heartfelt love for Christ, without which even diligent service becomes unacceptable.

Revelation 2 5 Context

Revelation chapter 2 begins the series of seven letters from Jesus Christ to the churches in Asia Minor, delivered through John. Each letter praises the church for its strengths, identifies its failures, and provides counsel, concluding with a warning and a promise. Verse 5 is addressed to the church in Ephesus, known for its tireless work, patient endurance, discernment against false apostles, and hatred for evil. However, their primary flaw, identified in Revelation 2:4, is that they had "abandoned the love you had at first." Therefore, Revelation 2:5 directly follows this accusation, outlining the path to repentance and the severe consequence of neglecting it. Historically, Ephesus was a major port city, a center of Roman rule and the widespread worship of Artemis. The church here was robust but had allowed its initial fervent devotion to Christ to wane, replacing heartfelt love with methodical labor. The threat of having their "lampstand removed" signifies the loss of their standing, influence, and identity as a true spiritual light in a dark world, implying God's withdrawal of His active presence and endorsement.

Revelation 2 5 Word analysis

• Remember (μνημονεύω - mnēmoneuō): An imperative calling for an active, deliberate mental process of recalling. It's not passive nostalgia but a purposeful reflection on a former spiritual condition. It implies understanding the stark contrast between then and now, crucial for true self-assessment and repentance.
• therefore (οὖν - oun): A logical connector, indicating that this command is a consequence or conclusion derived from the preceding statement (their having left their first love). It points to the direct necessity of their immediate action.
• from where (πόθεν - pothen): Implies a point of origin, emphasizing the spiritual height or state from which they had descended. It's a call to identify the source or cause of their decline.
• you have fallen (πέπτωκας - peptōkas): A perfect active indicative verb, denoting a completed action with continuing results. Their falling was not a momentary lapse but a sustained condition of decline from a spiritual state of fervent love. This isn't merely stumbling, but a departure from an established foundation.
• repent (μετανόησον - metanoēson): An aorist active imperative, signifying a command for a decisive and complete change of mind, leading to a change of heart and behavior. It means turning away from the wrong path (spiritual apathy) and turning back towards Christ with renewed commitment.
• and do (καὶ ποίησον - kai poiēson): An aorist active imperative, an immediate command to act. It links the internal change of repentance with outward manifestations. Repentance is not just regret; it's active restoration.
• the works (τὰ πρῶτα ἔργα - ta prōta erga): Refers to the deeds and actions performed when their love was fervent. These "first works" were characterized by unselfish devotion, joyful service, and pure motives, not mere religious duties.
• you did at first (ἃ πρῶτα - ha prōta): Reinforces the temporal aspect, calling them back to the quality and motivation of their initial actions. This is about reinstating a foundational commitment, not just surface-level activity.
• If not (εἰ δὲ μή - ei de mē): A conditional clause expressing a warning of imminent consequence for failing to comply with the commands to remember, repent, and do. It introduces the severity of divine judgment.
• I will come to you (ἔρχομαί σοι - erchomai soi): Christ's divine visitation, but in this context, it is explicitly presented as a coming in judgment or discipline against the unrepentant church, rather than a comforting presence.
• and remove (καὶ κινήσω - kai kinēsō): A future active indicative verb, indicating a definite future action by Christ. To "remove" (lit. move, shake, or take away) is a powerful metaphor for their spiritual demise.
• your lampstand (τὴν λυχνίαν σου - tēn lykhnian sou): In Revelation 1:20, lampstands represent churches. Removing the lampstand signifies the cessation of the church's spiritual testimony, its ability to function as a light-bearing entity for Christ in its locale. It means a loss of their privileged status and effectiveness as a visible representation of Christ's presence.
• from its place (ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῆς - ek tou topou autēs): Emphasizes that their standing and purpose in that specific geographic and spiritual context would be lost. Their position of influence and identity as Christ's witness would be stripped away.
• unless you repent (ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσῃς - ean mē metanoēsēis): A final conditional phrase that reiterates the paramount importance of repentance as the sole condition to avert the threatened judgment. It highlights God's patience and the pathway to restoration is always open for those who truly turn.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Remember therefore from where you have fallen": This phrase commands introspection and honest self-assessment. It highlights a prior state of spiritual health and a subsequent, definitive decline. The starting point for restoration is recognizing one's current fallen state in light of a former better one. It’s a call to gauge the distance traversed in spiritual decline.
• "repent, and do the works you did at first": This triad forms the solution for their spiritual ailment: internal change ("repent"), followed by active obedience ("do"), specifically manifesting in the pure, love-driven actions of their spiritual youth ("the works you did at first"). It emphasizes that repentance must be demonstrated through transformed conduct, particularly in their love for Christ and one another.
• "If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.": This entire clause serves as a solemn warning and powerful motivation for immediate action. It clearly presents the consequence (divine judgment resulting in the loss of their church's identity and function) contingent on their failure to repent. The repeated "unless you repent" underscores Christ's justice while still extending His mercy and allowing opportunity for transformation until the very end.

Revelation 2 5 Bonus section

The nature of the Ephesian church's sin – the abandonment of "first love" – suggests a subtle but pervasive spiritual illness that often afflicts even mature and orthodox believers. It's a danger for those who prioritize intellectual understanding, moral rectitude, and diligent service over a passionate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This verse highlights that good works and sound doctrine, while important, cannot compensate for a cold heart. God values the 'why' behind the 'what.' The gradual nature of losing "first love" means it's often unnoticed until severe consequences are imminent. This letter teaches that spiritual health requires constant cultivation of devotion to Christ, not merely the adherence to Christian duties or a defense of the faith against external threats. The removal of the lampstand underscores a critical biblical truth: God desires an intimate, loving relationship, and if that core love is lost, even outwardly successful endeavors lose their true value in His eyes, risking His direct withdrawal from endorsing or sustaining such an institution.

Revelation 2 5 Commentary

Revelation 2:5 encapsulates Christ's urgent call to a church praised for its doctrinal purity and diligent labor but failing in its fundamental affection. The issue at Ephesus was not a lapse in doctrine or service, but a spiritual erosion at its core – the abandonment of its fervent "first love" for Christ. This verse prescribes a clear three-step pathway to restoration: "remember, repent, and do." Remembering where they fell means acknowledging their decline from a previously vibrant spiritual state. Repentance requires a radical change of mind and heart, leading to a U-turn from their apathy. "Doing the first works" means translating this renewed love back into tangible, Spirit-driven actions, recapturing the initial zeal and joy that defined their early devotion, instead of mechanical duty.

The warning that follows is dire: "If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." This is not a threat of eternal condemnation for individuals, but a promise of removing the church's divine sanction and ability to bear witness as a living entity. The "lampstand" symbolizes the church as a local representation of Christ's light in the world. Its removal implies the church’s loss of spiritual effectiveness, its eventual disintegration, or its forfeiture of divine presence, turning into a hollow shell of activity without spiritual life. The repeated emphasis on "unless you repent" showcases Christ's boundless patience and grace, extending an opportunity for reversal even amidst a stern judgment. It affirms that true vitality for a church comes from its sincere love for Jesus, a love that fuels authentic worship, service, and witness.

Examples of practical application:

• A Christian who feels burdened by church service might "remember" their initial passion for God, "repent" of their weariness, and "do" joyful service as they did when they first believed.
• A ministry losing effectiveness might reflect on its founding purpose rooted in love for the lost, "repent" of mission drift, and "do" outreach with the compassionate heart of its origins.
• An individual struggling with spiritual dryness could "remember" their hunger for God's Word, "repent" of neglect, and "do" consistent Bible reading and prayer again, rekindling their intimate communion.