^2:5 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.

Consider how far you have fallen!

As with life, past experiences are vitally important to ongoing action. Don't do the things you did before if they were bad and do the things in the past that were good.

There is a parallel incident recorded in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 12:1-14 where King Rehoboam "forsook the law of the Lord". As a result, God allowed the King of Egypt to conquer Rehoboam and plunder the treasures of the house of the Lord, the temple.

repent and

Rehoboam humbled himself and bought temporary reprieve. The full anger of the Lord was turned away from him (v. 12).

do the things you did at first.

We do what we do for the Lord not because it is printed in a church bulliten or because "I like that person" - we do those deeds because we LOVE the Lord.

Rehoboam never did the deeds he did at first. In fact, he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord (v. 14).

or else I

1) I will come to you and

Those eyes of fire are coming to you (Revelation 1:14).

2) remove your LAMPSTAND from its place.

The lampstand is NOT destroyed; it just was removed. Why? Later in Revelation, the pseudo church will need these "removed" lampstands to form its organization. However, be aware that Christ does not walk in its midst.

unless you REPENT.

What is that FIRST LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 tells us exactly what that love is. The question before you then becomes: Do you 'fake your LOVE' or is it 'real LOVE'?