The leaning I have in the Spirit is that the blessings such as for those who overcome wrt Ephesus, i.e. that they will eat from the Tree of Life - and the admonishment to hear what the Spirit says to the churches - applies to each and every Christian. All of the words are food for us.
Also, the leaning I have in the Spirit is that the churches themselves should be seen as assemblies, congregations, groups of Christians - sharing in a common circumstance, fault, ability or challenge. Those who are among the church of Ephesus are those who match that description regardless of when or where they might live or which label they wear or where they worship. Each of us today would relate to one or more of those churches.
As an example, the church of Ephesus was doctrinally pure - careful to be correct in every detail and to put prophets to the strictest of tests. They contended for the faith vigorously and defended His Name. They held up to persecution. But they had a fatal flaw in that they didn't love God (and as a distant second, love their neighbor) as they should. Christ is threatening them collectively and individually - if they don't repent and try to love again, He will remove their candlestick, i.e. quit blessing them as a group. But even if the group fails, a member of that group can nevertheless overcome by repenting and returning to his first love.
Now consider the history of Christianity all the way to this very day - how many groups became obsessively "correct" in their doctrine but failed in their love - and consider how greatly they were blessed and grew and were effective in their work when they loved and how their numbers dwindled and how toothless they became when they did not.
And that phenomenon is true of individuals as well – those who are doctrinally pure but unloving should pay particular heed to what the Spirit says to the church of Ephesus.
That is the Spiritual discernment I have concerning Ephesus – but yours may be quite different, and that’s ok too.
We notice too that the letters are written to all churches and in all ages. The number 7 of course is a symbol for a perfect church, no matter how many congregations existed or exist. Each will have strengths and weaknesses but they make up a perfect church with Christ as the head. If there was ever only one big church, the letters would have been written to "the church".
Thank you for your thoughts.
I agree that "churches" are people, not buildings. I just feel that the admonition from Christ is much more specific than not loving God or others. That is His message throughout His ministry.
As Revelation is about revealing and after reading 1:18, I think the "wiggle room" is taken away. Jesus declared:
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am
alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and
of death."
To me, what He says after that statement must be taken to heart and not wiggled with.
His message points out the good these churches and or people do but tells them more will be required. At least, that's how I understand it.