Ephesus was a leading seaport and the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Paul had evangelized it and used it as a base of operations for at least three years (Acts 18:19-21; 19; 1 Cor. 16:8). Timothy had labored there (1 Tim. 1:3) as had the Apostle John.73It was the largest city in Asia Minor and was "the Vanity Fair of the Ancient World."74Ephesus was definitely the first recipient of four New Testament books (Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Revelation) and possibly four more (John's Gospel and his three epistles). Paul also wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. It was a very important city in the early history of the church.
The "angel"who was the primary recipient of this letter was probably the representative of the Ephesian church who carried this letter, along with the rest of Revelation, to the church at Ephesus.75He would have made the letter known to the congregation when he read it publicly. It seems unlikely that God would have sent the letter to a spirit being. The word translated "angel"usually refers to a heavenly being in the New Testament, but it describes human messengers as well (cf. Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52). Another view is that the reference is to the prevailing spirit of the church personified.76However, "angel"is a very unusual term to describe such a spirit.
John described Jesus Christ figuratively as the One in authority over the churches' leaders and One who knew their situations. He was watching over them (cf. 1:13, 16).
